Pianissimo

Awwww.... would ya look at this baby? Her name is Pianissimo. Her mom's name is Fortissimo. (Hope I spelled those right.) She belongs to K12's voice teacher. The scab on her forehead is from banging her head on the screen door wanting to go out. I would say she probably weighs 2.5 lbs. Just thought I'd share one of God's cuties with you today!

~blessings~

Person of the Week, Month, or Year #4

This is my daughter, K15. Isn't she beautiful? K15 is the most patient and kind person I know. She always knows how to make me laugh, even when I don't feel like it. She just got her top braces off last week. She has waited a LONG time for this! Hopefully, she'll get the bottom ones off before her 16th birthday and can eat popcorn and caramel apples at her party!!! And who could forget peanut butter!!! She misses that so much! K15, thank you for being a great daughter! You have truly blessed my life!

"Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother." -- Lin Yutang

~don't forget to hug your daughter today~

It's Getting Hot Here!

It's getting so hot here, even hitchhikers are getting picky. We are in for a very hot summer! R was stung by a wasp today while mowing, stung right on the tip of the nose! It was his first wasp sting in his life, so we had to watch him closely (and the next time, too, if there ever is one). K12 got one contact lens this week; she is so proud.Took K12 and K15 to see Over The Hedge Friday night. VERY cute movie, but, boy, was it ever short! 1 hour, 10 minutes long. We are still schooling reading and math this summer, as always.The water in the pool is finally warm enough for me to go in; and wouldn't ya know, it's been raining today!

Did you know [sic] that more murders are committed at 92 Fahrenheit than any other temperature? I read an article once. Lower temperatures, people are easygoing. Over 92, it’s too hot to move. But just 92, people get irritable. - Harry Essex, screenwriter

~next time~

Now THAT'S Honesty!

Monday, our store had a sale from 9:00 to 1:00. We are usually closed on Mondays, so already things were out of whack in my head. I got distracted towards the end and forgot to lock one of the outside doors when we all left.

A while later... an older couple entered through the unlocked door, shopped around in the dark store, and brought their items up to the cash register to pay. There was no one there to check them out, so they left their items on the counter and walked out!

The couple returned the next morning to explain what had happened and then paid for their items! God is good! Wish I had been there. I would have given them a huge discount for displaying such honesty!

Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught. ~J.C. Watts

Droodle Day #1

Starting today, each week I will present you with a "Droodle," taken from the book Droodles, by Roger Price. In his words, "A 'droodle' is a borkley looking sort of drawing that doesn't make any sense until you know the correct title."

Above, this, of course, appears to be "A Mother Pyramid Feeding Its Child," but it isn't. It is called "A Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch."

I will attempt to draw each Droodle myself. Wish me luck, as I am not artisticallly inclined.

Got Jesus?

Have you got Jesus? This wrinkled T-shirt says it all (sorry, I didn't have time to iron.) Did you know he loves you and died for you and is coming back again? You might want to check that out! I'd consider that important information if I were you.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and these things will be given to you as well." Jesus Christ

The reason Jesus did not offer a second option is simple - there is none.

~peace~

It's a rose!

Look closely. This is one of the few things you will ever see that I have grown! I have been known to kill aloe vera plants from neglect. The deer managed to stay away from these three roses on my rosebush. Look closely, and you'll see that there a few other rosebuds surviving my brown thumb! BUT don't look too close! I took these pics a few days too late, and the flowers are starting to die already. But they were blooming - I promise!That's our house in the background. People in the neighborhood have always called it "The White House."

He who plants a seed Beneath the sod... And waits to see... Believes in God. - Anonymous

~blessings to you and your family~

Near Death Experiences

So.... immediately before I fell down the stairs yesterday morning, I thought to myself, "I'm gonna miss that step." And I did. BOOM! And immediately before I hit my head on the last step from the bottom, I thought to myself, "I'm gonna hit my head on a step." And I did. POW!

A friend said to me, "B, a person can die that way!"

Now, my question is, why did my body not work fast enough to catch up with my brain? I knew I was going to miss that step. Why did my foot insist on stepping in that direction anyway? The brain (and body) work in ways only God understands. Which is what I would like to talk about today.

As some of you know, I almost drowned when I was seven years old, and I had what I can only call a near death experience. Many people do not believe they exist, but those of us who have had one will tell you you are incorrect. Some people see their past, smell smells, taste tastes, and hear sounds of the past (this was my experience). Some people see a "white light." Some scientists try to explain NDE's by saying that there is no God, that this is your brain's way of shutting down at the end of life. Some Christians say this is the Lord's way of showing you a life review. Hmmm.... some people say they see "nothing." Does that mean they had no life or just no brains at all to begin with?

Why can't it be both ways? Why can't the Lord's way of showing you your life review or a "white light" be by shutting the electrodes in your brain down one by one, thus, creating a "filmstrip" frame-by-frame of all of your life's experiences? And those people who saw "nothing"? Maybe they don't need to be shown their life review. Maybe they've already made a decision about God; or, more accurately, maybe God has already made up his mind about them.

Remember, I was seven years old when this happened. I had no preconceived notions of what an NDE was. Some of what you read as Karla's NDE in my novel come from my own experience.

Anyway, if you believe that I'm nuts or making it up, sorry, it happened, and I believe it. It reinforced to me that God is definitely there, and he knows everything we do, say, smell, touch, taste, and hear. He is ominpotent and omnipresent. While some of the experience definitely was not pleasant, it made me fear death less.

Have you invited Christ into your life? Will you be shown a life review, or will you watch a blank slide show when you die? Just my 2 cents about NDE's.

The trouble with quotes about death is that 99.999 percent of them are made by people who are still alive. - Joshua Bruns

Held

My daughter, K12, did an amazing performance of "Held" by Natalie Grant at a local nursing home.

Below are the words to the song. Funny, you wake up one day and your 12-yr-old has the singing voice of a 20-yr-old! The voice lessons were worth every penny!

Two months is too little.
They let him go.
They had no sudden healing.
To think that providence would Take a child from his mother while she prays
Is appalling.
Who told us we'd be rescued?
What has changed and why should we be saved from nightmares?
We're asking why this happens
To us who have died to live?
It's unfair.

Chorus: This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.

This hand is bitterness.
We want to taste it, let the hatred numb our sorrow.
The wise hand opens slowly to lilies of the valley and tomorrow.

(Chorus) This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.

Bridge: If hope is born of suffering.
If this is only the beginning.
Can we not wait for one hour watching for our Savior?

(Chorus) This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.


“The only thing better than singing is more singing - Ella Fitzgerald

~God bless you~

Another Questionairre

Here's another cute questionairre to fill out in all your spare time. I am still suffering from writer's block and don't have access to my camera today for photos.

1) If you could be instantly fluent in one other language that you currently do not read or speak, which would it be? American Sign Language - I know a little bit

2) If you could have the starring role in any film already made, what would it be? None. I can't stand being on camera.

3) If you could receive one small package this very moment, who would it be from and what would be in it? A dozen roses from my husband.

4) If you could own one painting from any collection in the world but were not able to sell it, which work of art would you select? Any Norman Rockwell print. I’m not really into paintings.

5) If you were instantly able to play one musical instrument perfectly that you never have played before, what would it be? The hammered dulcimer, and one day I will!!!

6) If you could possess one supernatural ability, what would it be? To stop time
7) If you had to choose the most valuable thing you ever learned what would it be? Not to put mascara on while riding in a moving vehicle. I learned it the hard way, but I learned it!

8)If you could have only one piece of furniture in your house, what would it be? My couch.

(skipped a few questions here. be glad I did.)

11) If you could choose the way you will die, how would you want it to happen? Instantly would be nice.

12) If you could wake up tomorrow to learn that the major newspaper headlines were about you, what would you want them to say? That I helped someone in need.

13) If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? Faint.

14) If you could choose the music at your funeral, what would it be, and who would play it? I don’t want a funeral, thank you.

15) If you could take away the vocal chords of any person, who would it be? Joe Cocker

16) If you had to describe your idea of the perfect mate, how would you do it? My husband, hands down

17) If you could learn the total number of hours you have spent in your life doing one thing, what would it be? Hours spent on hold on the phone.

18) If you had to describe yourself as a child in one word, what would it be? obedient

19) If you could own a single prop from any film ever made what would you choose? Judy Garland’s ruby slippers. They’re worth a fortune. The witch’s broomstick would be second choice.

I tag txmomx6, Kim in Tx, and K12.

Lines from Dennis the Menace:
Don't ever hold a grudge, ... Just belt them and forget about it.
Dear God, No use tryin' to kid You... You know I done it.
I am giving you the right answers! You're just asking the wrong questions.
I bet if I sat right here in the tub 'til tomorrow, I'd havta take another bath !
I hate Telebishion when it writes stuff at ya !
I said I'm hungry enough to eat a horse ! I didn't say nothin' about carrots !
I'm shinin' all my Dad's left shoes for nothin' ! Then I'll charge him a dime each to do the right ones.

~have a blessed day~

Person of the week, month, or year #3

This is me and my friend, Max. Max won't mind me using his real name, I'm sure. Max is the inventor of the great trace erase board for kids. To find out more about his product, visit his website at http://www.traceeraseboard.com/. Max is getting ready to retire. I will be sad not seeing him at conferences, but I wish him all the best and a long and happy retirement! Max, you deserve it!!!

Albert Schweitzer:
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.

Retail Funnies

I am low on time today and am having a brain freeze. Good timing! So I thought I'd include a few retail funnies I found. Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with these stories. My customers are MUCH smarter than this!!!!!

Overheard this on a London bus:
First Woman: "I don't know what to get Fred for his birthday."
Second Woman: "Why don't you get him a book?"
First Woman: (after a moment's thought) "Nah, he's already got a book."

I was checking out at the local Foodland with just a few items, and the lady behind me put her things on the belt close to mine. I picked up one of those dividers that they keep by the cash register and placed it between our things so they wouldn't get mixed. After the girl had scanned all of my items, she picked up the divider and looked all over it for the bar code so she could scan it. Not finding the bar code she said to me, "Do you know how much this is?"
I said, "I've changed my mind; I don't think I'll buy that today."
She said, "OK," and I paid her for the things and left. She had no clue about what had just happened.



I was signing the receipt for my credit card purchase when the clerk noticed that I had never signed my name on the back of the credit card. She informed me that she could not complete the transaction unless the card was signed. When I asked why, she explained that it was necessary to compare the signature on the credit card with the signature I just signed on the receipt. So I signed the credit card in front of her.
She carefully compared that signature to the one I signed on the receipt. As luck would have it, they matched.

I used to work in an art supply store. We sold artists' canvas by the yard, and you could get it in either of two widths: 36 inches or 48 inches.
Customer: "Can you please cut some canvas for me?"
Me: "Certainly, what width?"
Customer: (confused and slightly annoyed) "Scissors?"

Albert Einstein:
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.

~now go relax, dears~

More Trip Photos

Steve Martin's footprints (tee hee)

This man was truly "hot"!

T, K12, and K15 "shivering" in Narnia.

Me with my good friend, Mary Tyler Moore, ha ha!
Speaking of celebrities, I met Vincent Price (his hands were truly cold and clammy); Michael Knight from All My Children; spent some time in high school with Carrie Hamilton (Carol Burnett's daughter who has,unfortunately, passed away. She was very talented); personally know Kenny Rogers' sister (does that count?); kissed the window of Barry Manilow's limosine (I suppose that doesn't count); and some other cool celebs along the way that I can't think of right now. Have you ever met any celebrities? Celebs that I would like to meet -- Jerry Lewis, Gloria Estefan, and K.T. Oslin!

Marlo Thomas:
Fame lost its appeal for me when I went into a public restroom and an autograph seeker handed me a pen and paper under the stall door.

~sleep tight~

Photos from Mother's Day

My grandma (soon to be 90 yrs old), my mom, and me

My mom and me. Some of my customers thought she was my sister!
My grandma, K12, my mom, K15, and me.

Alice Walker:
And so our mothers and grandmothers have, more often than not anonymously, handed on the creative spark, the seed of the flower they themselves never hoped to see -- or like a sealed letter they could not plainly read.

~peace~

My Mom

This is a photo of my wonderful mom. To find out how old she is, determine how old she looks and then add 25 years to that number! She's the most wonderful mother in the world! She's always smiling, even when she doesn't feel like it. She has helped me soooo much! I am truly blessed to be her daughter!

Why God made Moms -- BRILLIANT Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions!!

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you Your mother & not some other mom?
1. We're related
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms & dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home & dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

~have a blessed day!~

Some children's answers to church school questions - from the Church of England:
• Noah's wife was called Joan of Arc.
• Henry VIII thought so much of Wolsley that he made him a cardigan.
• The fifth commandment is "humour thy father and mother".
• Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day and a ball of fire by night.
• Salome was a woman who danced naked in front of Harrod's.
• Holy acrimony is another name for matrimony.
• The pope lives in a vacuum.
• The patron saint of travelers is St. Francis of the sea sick.
• Iran is the Bible of the Moslems.
• A Republican is a sinner mentioned in the Bible.
• Abraham begat Isaac and Isaac begat Jacob and Jacob begat twelve partridges.
• The native of Macedonia did not believe, so Paul got stoned.
• The first commandment was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple.
• It is sometimes difficult to hear what is being said in church because the agnostics are so terrible.

Franklin P. Jones:
You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.

~thank you for visiting~

Some more about me

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW? Wife Swap and Jeopardy, the only two shows I make time to watch
WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? nothing
FAVORITE MAGAZINE: People
FAVORITE SMELL: a clean house
WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD: being alone
BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD: feeling loved
THINGS TO DO ON THE WEEKENDS: work and go to church
FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK: Cats, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THOUGHT OF WHEN YOU WOKE UP THIS MORNING?: (in a motel) Wow, it sure is dark in here!
DO YOU GET MOTION SICKNESS?: only when moving
ROLLER COASTERS DEADLY OR EXCITING?: deadly.
PEN OR PENCIL?: pen with purple ink
HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE YOU ANSWER THE PHONE?: first ring if it’s a friend
FAVORITE FOODS: Mexican or Vietnamese - the spicier the better
DO YOU GET ALONG WITH YOUR PARENTS?: yes, thank God
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME?: nope, not so far
CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA?: chocolate!
CROUTONS OR BACON BITS?: both, but croutons are not on my South Beach menu
DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE?: nope, especially at night
DO YOU SLEEP WITH STUFFED ANIMALS?: does a stuffed Ziggy count?
IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY KIND OF PET, WHAT WOULD IT BE?: my sweet dog, Dusti. I would also love to have my Lucky back.
IF YOU COULD BE ANY TYPE OF ANIMAL WHAT WOULD YOU BE?: a monkey, because no one cares how funny you look, although I wouldn’t like swinging in the trees too much
IF YOU COULD MEET ANYONE DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE?: Jesus
FAVORITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK: strawberry Margarita with salt
WHAT IS YOUR ZODIAC SIGN?: Aquarius. What does it matter?
EAT THE STEMS OF BROCCOLI?: stems? yuck!
IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY JOB YOU WANTED, WHAT WOULD IT BE?: stay-at-home mom
IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY COLOR, WHAT WOULD IT BE?: red
IF YOU COULD HAVE A TATTOO, WHAT AND WHERE WOULD IT BE?: not interested
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE?: currently, yes!
WHAT IS ON YOUR WALLS IN YOUR ROOM?: paint that I’m tired of looking at
WRITE THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND: why was this questionairre so long?
IS THE GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL?: empty
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SNAPPLE?: don’t drink any tea
ARE YOU A RIGHTY, LEFTY OR AMBIDEXTROUS?: ambidextrous
DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE CORRECT KEYS?: yes, always
IF YOU COULD BE ONE GARDENING TOOL, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?: anything but a hoe
WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED?: catalogs and more catalogs
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NUMBER?: 9, Gordy Howe’s Houston Aeros number!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR?: purple, can't you tell?
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR: orange Pinto
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM CAR?: mini-Cooper or a red Mustang convertible
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: hockey
SAY ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: I gave it to myself so I plead the fifth

Bette Midler:
Cherish forever what makes you unique, ‘cuz you're really a yawn if it goes.

~I tag T and Txartcgal~

Spent a lovely day today with T and her beautiful family. What a great combination - shopping and eating with good friends.

My only regret is that their family lives so far away from us. I miss them already.
A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same. ~ Elbert Hubbard

~goodnight, my friends~

Person of the week, month, or year #2

Above is a photo of my good friend, L. She owns a Christian bookstore. Some things that I love about L: her warm smile, her caring heart, her love for her saviour, Jesus Christ. L welcomes you into her store as an instant friend. She LOVES to help, pray with, and witness to people! God has truly gifted her! I have known L for years, but we are just now beginning to become good friends. I look forward to spending more quality time with her and getting to know her and her precious family much better. L, you have TRULY blessed my life! :o)

Rabindranath Tagore:
Depth of friendship does not depend on length of acquaintance.

~treasure the friends you have! goodnight!~

Mystery Solved

I'm so glad that someone FINALLY came up
with instructions on how to use this ceramic
hole I've seen in restrooms all my life!
This was a sign in a restroom at Disneyworld's
Magic Kingdom! It did not appear to be for employees, either.

Thanks, Disneyworld! So good to see that my $67.00 per day ticket went towards solving another head scratcher.

Robert Green Ingersoll:
It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense.

Will Rogers:
Common sense ain't common.

~see ya tomorrow, t!~

2 Down, 27 to Go!

My life is a fulfilling game of rotating tubs, you know, the Rubbermaid kind that you get on sale at Walmart? I can't tell you what is in those tubs, as this is an anonymous blog, but in my business, tubs are important. People come in and fill the tubs; I am the tub emptier. Tub emptying is profitable in my business.It's how I make my dough. I went away on vacation and returned to all 29 tubs completely full. At the end of an hour, I had emptied two already! Woohoo! Bring on the cash! Hey, this might make a good Mad Lib!

Here is your list: adjective, adjective, noun, noun, adjective, noun, verb, adjective, noun, verb, adjective. Think of one for each, then fill in the blanks in order to make a story.My list and Mad Lib is below this one:


One ________ (adjective) day, a _________ (adjective) woman came into the store, carrying a bunch of __________s (noun) in her arms. "Hey!" she excitedly yelled, "I need a tub to put my _________s (noun) in! B put the _______ (adjective) _______s (noun) in the tub. "When may I expect payment?" the woman asked. "When I finish ______ing (verb) the items," replied B. B emptied the ________ (adjective) __________ s (nouns) from the tub and _________ed (verb) them, then put the empty tub away to await more _________ (adjective) customers begging for empty tubs.

My list: happy, exhilarating, taco, bottle, rusty, finger, smash, jolly, convertible, iron, smelly

And my story: One happy day, an exhilarating woman came into the store, carrying a bunch of tacos in her arms. "Hey!" she excitedly yelled, "I need a tub to put my bottles in! B put the rusty fingers in the tub. "When may I expect payment?" the woman asked. "When I finish smashing the items," replied B. B emptied the jolly convertibles from the tub and ironed them, then put the empty tub away to await more smelly customers begging for empty tubs.

~I need a life~

Firm Believer in Christ

Here's a prayer card I picked up at my friend's
Christian Bookstore. In the circle is a cross, and
it reads: Firm Believer in Christ Romans 1:16. On
the back it reads as follows:

The decision has been made, the die has been cast, and I have stepped over the line. As a disciple of Christ, I will no longer look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I'm finished with low living, sight walking, wordly talking, cheap giving, and tamed visions. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, power or popularity. I don't have to be right, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, walk in victory, and labor in love. The road before me is narrow and rough, but His commission is undeniable, thus my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have prayed up, praised up, paid up, and spoken up for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am a Christian, an Unashamed Firm Beliver in Christ!

~So praise him. Praise him every morning when you wake up! God bless you! Come visit again soon! ~

We Wore Many Hats

I don't think I saw anyone purchase a hat
at Disney the entire three days we were there.
Who needs to do that? Just walk
by a shop and try one on for a digital photo and instantly
become whomever you wish! What a child's fantasy!

Above is K15's friend T posing as Nemo.

T and K12

K15 and T after Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
We found out that we were there the last day the ride
was open!! They are closing it down to add new
characters from the new movie; reopening it when
the new film premieres! Our inside joke in our family
is that you know the ride is over when you see the pirate
dangling his dirty, smelly foot above the exit door. LOOK
FOR HIM!!

K12

K15 posing as Goofy. Wish I had her smile!

Leo Rosten:
You can understand and relate to most people better if you look at them -- no matter how old or impressive they may be -- as if they are children. For most of us never really grow up or mature all that much -- we simply grow taller. O, to be sure, we laugh less and play less and wear uncomfortable disguises like adults, but beneath the costume is the child we always are, whose needs are simple, whose daily life is still best described by fairy tales.

~goodnight~

Signs of Texas

A. J. Foyt:
I feel safer on a racetrack than I do on Houston's freeways.

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

How Much is that Iguana in the Window?

Who needs to go to Disney's Animal Kingdom to see wildlife?
We pulled up in the Disney/MGM parking lot to witness this
little guy sunning himself on the back seat of his owner's car.
My grandma said that the owner will be fined for leaving a
pet in a car. I told her, "Grandma, the windows were cracked."
"Doesn't matter," she said. "Don't you know how many people
are fined for animal cruelty for leaving cats and dogs in their
cars?" I said, "But, Grandma, an iguana is a reptile. He loves
the heat. Being in that car in 80 degree weather is cooler than
he would like." Grandma would not budge; she held her ground.
My grandma, a newbie animal rights activist!


Here Comes the Sun -- George Harrison

Here comes the sun, do do do do.
Here comes the sun, and I say It's all right.
Little darling It's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling It feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, do do do do
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right

Little darling The smiles returning to the faces
Little darling I seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, do do do do
Here comes the sun, and I say It's all right

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes

Little darling I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling It seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun, do do do do
Here comes the sun, and I say It's all right
Here comes the sun, do do do do
Here comes the sun
It's all right It's all right

~love you guys~

Karla - Section Three

Okay. This is where the novel begins to take shape, but in order to do that, there are things discussed that could offend some people who visit my blog, or whose children visit. So I will begin omitting BIG TIME starting today. I will include an excerpt from each chapter from now on. If you have not read "Reverse Skate" before, please go back to previous posts from "April 2006" and click on Preface and work your way through Karla - Sections One and Two. If you wish to read an entire chapter from now on -- which would make sense if you are wanting to understand the story -- please email me or bmail me, and request "section one, section two, etc." If you don't have my email address, just post a comment with your email address. i won't publish it here. i have the right to not send you anything if i don't know you or someone you know.

***
pale, blue curtains o salty popcorn o nights spent in front of the television watching “Roots” o Darth Vader’s breathing o the taste of Billy Beer o crying all night o Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders o sailing on the “Love Boat” o Barbra Streisand o sticky gum on the bottom of a tennis shoe o the Fonz o “No Coke, Pepsi!” o Toni Tennille haircuts o
“You Light Up My Life” playing on the radio,
a lavender, floral bedspread…

1977… Karla’s bedroom…15 years old…
Donna had been Karla’s friend since elementary school, but they had only recently become “best” friends. They had so much in common; it’s amazing they had never gotten close before now. They both loved the new “Star Wars” movie and bawled at the end of “The Goodbye Girl.” They had snuck into the theater to see John Travolta dance in “Saturday Night Fever.” Neither one of the girls were allowed to see Rated R movies. Karla told her grandmother she had gone to see the movie “Orca.” When asked about the movie, she said, “Just picture Bruce the Shark in the ‘Jaws’ movie, and replace him with a whale.” That seemed to be a satisfactory answer. Karla was usually good at lying, and that had been a clever one!
Karla and Donna would have loved to spend more time together, but Karla was very busy on weekends. “What do you do all weekend, Karla? Every time I call you, you’re not home. I feel like the only time I get to see you now is at school!”
“That’s not true, Donna. You’re here now; aren’t you?”
“Well, why don’t you tell me what you’re doing this weekend? Maybe I’d like to come along with you. It’s almost like you’re holding back, Karla.”
“Nah. Donna, I told you, I sometimes hang with the kids from my old neighborhood. You wouldn’t like them anyway.”
“Why not?”
“They’re just different; that’s all.”
“How are they different?”
“They’re not nice like you,” Karla said, laughing. “They cuss, drink, smoke. Shall I go on?”
“You’re making fun of me.”
“No, I’m not!”
“Yes, you are. I can be rude, crude, and socially unacceptable,” Donna teased, “if I try.”
“Well, I don’t want you to be. God knows, I need at least one good influence in my life.”
Karla’s room was currently painted lavender. It was a pig sty. Her grandmother was always saying, “How can you let your friends see your room like that?” But Karla didn’t care. Donna was family to her. If your best friend can’t accept your messy room, then she’s not your best friend! A poster of Andy Gibb covered the back of her door. Her newest poster was of a singer named Barry Manilow, described by her grandfather as a “long-nosed Jew.” But he could play piano and sing better than anyone she had ever heard. Karla slept in what was supposed to have been a canopy bed, minus the canopy, which her mom had promised long ago. Her bedspread was a lavender floral pattern, with lace around the bottom. She had matching pillow shams that you could not see because they were covered with about 20 stuffed animals, all in alphabetical order by first name. Karla was overly organized in some ways. She slept with the animals all at night. No one knew of her fear of the dark, not even Donna.
She and Donna were sitting cross-legged on the floor, going through cassettes and 8-tracks, trying to put them in their correct cases. “Oh, why don’t we just dump them in a box? They’re going to get all messed up again anyway!”
“No! I told you, you need to organize them! Then you can find them faster! Don’t you ever get tired of hunting for things, Karla? Do you have any A’s?”
“Oh, no! Don’t look at me like that! I am NOT, I repeat, NOT going to alphabetize them! That is insane,” Karla answered, looking back at her stuffed animals.
Donna laughed and leaned back against the bed, stretching her legs out in front of her. “I can’t wait until my birthday! I’m getting a phone line for my room with call waiting!”
“Good! Now I’ll be able to get a hold of you. Your brother talks on the phone more than any guy I know.”
“And my parents say I can go on a real date once I turn 15! Can you believe it? I thought they were going to make me wait another year.”
“Donna, you’ve already been on a real date, with Ricky.”
“Yeah, but my parents don’t know that. That disco was great!
(omitted for content)
What’s so great about that? I feel like I’ve been doing it forever, thought Karla with a sick feeling in her stomach.
“Karla, when is your mom going to let you date?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never really asked her. Besides, no one would ask me out anyway.”
“You’re crazy. Jason has a crush on you. You know what? I think you’re scared of dating! I think you’re afraid the guy would try to go all the way!”
“I’m not afraid!” Now that’s funny! thought Karla. “If Jason likes me so
much, then why hasn’t he asked me out?”
”Maybe he’s not allowed to date, either.”
“Well, we could still hang out at school together.”
“I don’t know; I just know that he watches you a lot. I bet he’s the one who wrapped your house”
“You’re imagining things, Donna. It was you who wrapped my house! You know what I’m going to get you for your birthday?”
“What?”
“A T-shirt that says ‘Brat’ on the front of it.”
Donna grinned, “Well, for your birthday I’m going to get you a shovel, because that’s the only way we’re going to get to your floor.


Audre Lorde:
The sharing of joy, whether physical, emotional, psychic, or intellectual, forms a bridge between the sharers which can be the basis for understanding much of what is not shared between them, and lessens the threat of their difference.

~c'ya~

My Day as a Jedi Master

That's me on the left and K12 on the right. Man, I wish that
was my body! We had this picture taken at Disneyworld's Magic
Kingdom while K15 and her friend were riding Space Mountain.
Yes, I chickened out! I'm too old for that sort of thing anymore
More pics from our trip later!


Jean Kerr:
I'm tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. That's deep enough. What do you want, an adorable pancreas?

~blessings~