Approaching Glory

Help, Helpers, and Helping

Max has become my computer "helper".  Every once and awhile he wakes up and comes over for a kiss or two.  What he really wants is for me to hold him, but for some reason I can't seem to type and do that at the same time.

I woke up this morning for an early morning session with Jbird - because I wanted to "help" him study for a test today.  Let's just say that it was less than productive and I did well to hold my temper.

Jen has let me borrow her digital camera and I went to Best Buy where they were very good at "helping" me get the memory card reader I needed.  Another one of those moments when you feel old and out of step with current technology.  This unit is adaptable to the sd card that fits the camera as well as the one that I use in my cell phone.  Cool beans.

Then I went and spent a few hours visiting with my friend.  Nice day - relaxing.  Just what I need right now.

Meet Mini

Sorry about the quality of this one.  Jen is lending me her camera - I just have to get the cord that uploads to my computer.  Anyway - this is Mini.  So called cause - she's SO little. A very short haired tortoise kitty,  Mini likes to be held but she is not a talker or cuddler.  She loves to play and jump and attack Max (who has finer, softer fur and a big swishy tail).  Got to love a tiny female who isn't afraid to take on the big guys - lol!  However, you'll most often find them both wrapped around each other in their bed washing each other or snoozing away. (after I've spent a good part of my day chasing them around with a squirt bottle of water)

Meet Max

Finally found a way to get some recent pics up - still don't have a camera yet though.  This is our new male tabby cat - Max.  You can't tell in his pic, but he has huge paws and he's gonna be a big cat.  He's a talker and a lover.  Max enjoys cuddling.  This little kitty has let the dog know that he now rules the roost.  Poor Tango.

Rear-Ended

Son calls from college - hands are swelling and breaking out.  I'm kind of wondering how serious this is or if he is attempting to avoid classes.  So I tell him he needs to go see the doctor then he needs to make his own appointment.   And he did!  Wow - shocked me.  He comes home, I'm driving, and we get rear-ended.  The guy behind me almost hit me at three stops and then... he finally did.  Thankfully, no damage to the car - just my nerves.  Jbird is on meds for a histimine surge and a change with his other meds.

College,Teens, and Responsibility

I should have a t-shirt that says, "Be kind to me - I have two teens/college students who live with me."  The only place I really want to be today is in bed with the covers over my head.  Really - it is a beautiful fall day out and where I'd like to be is on a road trip.  However,  here I am with a bunch of stuff to attempt to get accomplished before next week comences.

BTW, Hubby woke up this morning fighting a fever, sore throat, sick stomach, and sneezing.  Right.  From J to me to Hubby.  Jbird is feeling cruddy and I feel weaker than yesterday.  Please don't let Jen be next.  Add in two kittens who rank up there with having toddlers - well - I'm a little testy today.

MY plan is to continue to try and go over the material that Jbird doesn't understand.  Remember - this is a disabilities student and he learns his own way (which is rarely the way things are taught).  So I am learning music theory (think circle of fifths, diminished and augmented chords).

But today's plan goes out the door because I find out that Jbird has an assignment that he hasn't even begun and it requires research down at the college.  Right.  It appears my son has adopted my procrastination.  But it is not JUST procrastination - it is truly that he has difficulty understanding directions - knowing what the assignment wants from him - and he is at the stage where "I want to do this by myself" and doesn't want to have to ask anyone for assistance (which includes the parents, the disability services, the campus counselor, or other support services they have in place)  This is definitely not a good thing considering all his other challenges.  Which includes a funky immune system that allows him to catch and recatch everything that comes down the pike.   And I must admit I lost it with him - which is also never a good thing because he can take an argument and turn it around real fast.

College is definitely different from when I attended.  If you had an assignment and you didn't get it in -you got a zero.  Get this:  an assignment that Jbird was given wasn't completed by over half the class (they didn't understand the assignment  - or so I was told by J) so the professor sends an email extending the deadline and the rest of the email sounds like something a teacher would say to elementary kids who need to get their rear in gear.  It appears the same lack of responsibility that my Hubby sees and I had begun to really see when I taught over ten years ago - goes up the chain.

And the child wonders why I've decided to attend a family support group at NAMI.  One of the ladies in my painting class has a child who came back from his service time with mental health issues (which our government acknowledges is their fault but won't tell the family what happened - thankfully the gov is taking full financial responsibility).  Anyway - she told me how much they have helped her.  I remember Jbird's pediatrician telling me years ago that when J reached this age it would be really difficult and that we all might need some counseling.  I guess he was right.

Well - if you've read this far - thanks for hanging in there.  When I get my stamina back I'll be in better shape to handle the daily challenges. :)

Returning to Home Base

Several things have happened around here.

1. 1.  I joined Facebook and I have spent some time getting accustomed to it.  I'm slowy but surely warming up to the idea - maybe - could be.
2. 2.  Still making adjustments to two teen's college schedules.  I'm definitely getting old - it is taking me quite awhile to figure this all out.
3. Jbird got the flu (thankfully not swine variety).  He then gave it to me (thank you very much) and we battled it for two weeks.  Jbird lost an entire week of college - not a good start to this semester.
4. Upon getting rid of said flu, I came down with a nasty case of sinusitus.  I am currently taking antibiotics and decongestants to kick this out.  I'm very weak and tired - but slowy returning to normal.
5. I missed my Typepad birthday.  Let's see now - my blog is now officially six years old!  Wow - that's awhile to write.
6. We are now the owners of two (yes count them) two kittens.  The Humane Society went up on their price per kitty (from $70 -$100).  On the day we were there they had a 2/1 special - at which my "that's a bargain" Hubby jumped.  Fine by me - I knew the kitties would keep each other company.  Max and Mini are now the rulers of our house and dog.
7. My digital camera died.  Somehow posting without pics doesn't really cut it with me.  Besides which, you need to see the kitties, my progress in knitting, and my new art work - right?
8. I am still looking for a job - nothing yet.  I am working very hard on not getting overtly sensitive about this - but it is barely working.
9. I am considering going to a college and begging for a scholarship. For me.
10. We have been inundated with water for over ten days now.  The tomato plants have drowned.
11. I have been bad and done something horrible and I will confess next week.  Maybe  Could Be  Hmmmm.....

I'm learning to like you Facebook - but there's NO place like home.

Goodbye Dear Friend

There are days when I hate being an adult.  This is one of them.  You know the times.... when someone has to make everyone face facts and make hard decisions.  Marmalade has been member of our family for fourteen years.  He has survived the longest of all our pets.  Over three months ago I noticed a big change in him.  He was always a huge cat and he was slower but surely losing alot of weight.  Then it got to where he was getting sick all the time.  We tried every remedy we could find.  He would get well for a few days and then begin getting sick again.  And he would cry because he wanted to eat.  To make a long story short - this is the day I finally got through to Jbird that Marmy was suffering and that he needed to go to the Vet to be put down.  As I type that is where they have gone.  I could not go.  I've been crying already.

In other news - please be praying tomorrow.  I will be taking my friend Judy to surgery at 5:15am for major surgery.  They are repairing a huge hernia that formed after her cancer surgery of last year and also removing her gallbladder.  She'll be in the hospital for four days and then come here for awhile to recooperate.  Yeah - I know - niece is moving in this weekend also.

I figure if God wants so much on my plate than it is up to Him to enlarge the plate to handle it all.  I do believe Tango will miss his buddy as well as the rest of us.

Oh My Goodness!

I absolutely have NO idea how people are affording the cost of tuition and books for their children.  Thankfully, Jbird is attending an in-state two year college where the tuition costs are relatively minor (around $1500 for 15+ credit hours per semester).  If he had attended a public high school the tuition wouldn't cost us anything due to the Hope scholarship program (must maintain a B average) - and we'd get $100 toward the cost of books.  However, because we homeschooled J, he has to maintain at least a 3.0 for his first year of college and then we will be reimbursed for the tuition money we've paid out.  Which is what we are hoping to achieve by the end of the fall semester - he currently has a 4.0.

However, the book costs are crazy.  Today I had to go pay the tuition and while there decided to get more of his books.  I'd already doled out close to $200 on two classes.  So I did not expect the cost of today's purchases - $400+.  Give me a break!  We still will have to adjust his schedule during drop/add and then buy more books.

I looked at the school I first started attending back in the 70's.  Tuition costs are now over $36,000 per year - not including books of course.  No wonder these kids are coming out with loans over $100,000.  Absolutely crazy.  I read about the girl who just graduated with over $70,000. in loans and is suing her college because she can't find a job.  I wonder if that would work retro-actively with me - now that I can't find a job in my profession?  Right - nope.

While They Are Sleeping

These past several days have been a fog of medicines and sleeping.  So now that I'm awake as a little snake - the guys are in bed sleeping away.  It's okay though - it gives me a little time to myself.  I won't have too much of that for too long.

Hubby, after spending all of last week in math workshops, (his last week which was supposed to be free) officially has to report to work tomorrow.  And then on Friday he will have to take his first furlough day (without pay).

SIL is totally moved into her new apartment.  I guess my niece will be arriving next weekend sometime since her school starts on Monday.  My goal this week is to get the downstairs totally clean and ready.

Tomorrow I get to drive down to the college and pay the tuition for this coming fall semester.  Also will need to get some more books.  I'm pleased to announce Jbird got an "A" in his summer class.  Now if we can get his class schedule sorted out - I'll be a happy camper.

Me?  Well - I'm feeling better but bummed that we didn't get a quarter of what I hoped we'd get down for this summer.  Looks like I'll be working on the projects slowly by myself.  I continue to look for a job but it is a dry market out there.

Hope you all have been doing well....

Uploads and Downloads

I had downloaded the Adobe Photoshop software to see how it works.  It does indeed have some great features.  However, my trial came to an end.  I then started to re-download the Roxio software to my computer and in the midst of it, I decided to go back and give Paint Shop Pro another try.  I used JASC for years and years and never had any problem with the program - except one.  I lost my registration number and when the computer crashed I lost the email info that had the replacement number in it.  Add to that - PSP was now several versions ahead of my old program.  So - I'm downloading their latest and will give it a test drive.  As you can tell from this post - I'm looking for a photo editing software program - perhaps with video capabilities.  I'm not at all happy with the Roxio stuff I bought last Christmas.

Meanwhile:

• Hubby continues to recover with hip issue
• SIL got moved to Rockdale County
• Jen found out that her AP test scores are going to give her six hours of college credit and she had to change her fall college due to new class exemptions - woo hoo
• still trying to get J's final fall schedule completed - ugh
• new vacuum should be in tomorrow
• Hubby found out that the state is going to demand three furlough days (without pay) for teachers before January (cute) and 5% more will have to be cut from the state's school budget for next year.  How stimulating.
• Hubby will have to take GRE in August and start his application to Georgia Southern to work on his EDS in January.

Kinda feeling left behind - again.

Puppets Versus Free Will

"God created things which had free will. That means creatures which can go either wrong or right. Some people think they can imagine a creature which was free but had no possibility of going wrong; I cannot. If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having." CS Lewis

Somedays I think that creating puppets would have been a whole lot easier on all of us.  Okay - I'll repent now :)

Dear Mr. POTUS

Dear Mr. President,

Sorry to hear about the death of TOTUS (your much relied upon teleprompter).  I'm sure it was replaced ASAP.  I found a couple of things interesting this week and thought you'd want my thoughts concerning them.

So - you're going to push forward on the national health initiative.  Did you approve the following quote from an article on Bloomberg written by Chen?:

“Ultimately, this is not about a process, it’s about results,” David Axelrod, Obama’s senior political strategist, said during an interview in his White House office. “If we’re going to get this thing done, obviously time is a-wasting.”

I highlighted the word that struck me as being important.  Because - well - to me, Mr. President, it is about the process.  I grew up believing the process was about the voice of the people - all the people - as in democracy.  I really would like your administration to stop treating me like a child - as if I am incapable of correctly thinking for myself just because I don't agree with your idea of government.  Actually, I think I am quite able to select who I want to attend to my physical needs.  Just like I still believe that I cast my vote for who I want to represent my voice.

I do believe sir, in your quest to turn our nation towards socialism, you have chosen to turn a deaf ear to the majority of our nation's people. (not to mention those who will never have a chance to have a voice due to the legislation you've already enacted)  Here's a quote for you:

"He promised you order, he promised you peace, and all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent."

Hmmm... apropos statement. BTW - it's from the movie V for Vendetta.  You might want to catch it sometime.  Yes, it is a little bloody and might disturbing.   It may be a road we are heading down as long as you stop asking and I quit voicing.

Oh and about that soldier?  His deployment was revoked?  Is this a joke?  What's up with that?  A soldier who doesn't want to recognize you as his legal Commander in Chief and he gets away with this argument?  Interesting gate open there.

Well - I'm sure you've got more important things to try "push" through.

As always - May God bless you and your family.

Reader's Digest Condensed Version = Facebook

I've always been a fan of Reader's Digest Condensed Version books.  Back in the 60's, I was introduced to them at my grandmother's summer cottage.  Throughout my marriage I've had a sort of love/hate relationship with both the books and the company.  I've been a subscriber off and on due to issues with the company (as in automatically being sent things I never requested, don't want, getting charged for them, having to deal with customer reps who are difficult, being told it is my responsibility to send items back - sure it is/not).  However, when the book comes in the mail I find myself hypnotized until I finish each selection.  My life stops and I become immersed in print.  It's truly pretty sad.  Having just cancelled my subscription (yet once again over an unrequested item), I will be saved from this torture until I miss the books SO much that I can't stand it, or I decide it is time to go to my local libarary or download audiobooks (which I repeat are wonderful to knit by).

That all being said - I have made a correlation between the different methods of delivery of information on the Net and the condensed books.  In our ever increasing need for speed  - the following pattern has emerged:

• webpages
• blogs
• social networks ie: Facebook
• instant message ie: Twitter

Of course, par norm, there are people who do it all and there are those of us who do one or two of the above.  But the pattern I have noticed is that - here on my blog I have space to write.  I share more of who I am and what I feel about what I am doing.  In other words, if you want to know me at all - this is where you come. And if Facebook is a fast brief blurb, then Twitter is a sentence. I have not figured out yet who would be interested in my life in one line ie: "Just finishing up a bowl of weight control oatmeal - yum!"  Not much room there for intimacy (or into me see - as Jack Frost used to say it).

I've been on Facebook for little over a week.  I marvel at the folks who have around six hundred friends.  I think we may have a different definition of friendship.  I personally prefer more intimate relationships.  But then again, I'm also the person who can relate to Elijah in the cave!

And what's up with the people who get on Facebook and never post anything?  This means that what they wanted was to "connect" in what fashion I can't imagine, or perhaps they have a life that is SO filled to the brim that they have no time to write a Reader's Digest Condensed version of it.  Whatever.

So to sum it up - for right now I can blog and Facebook my life.  However, if you ever see me Tweet - remind me of this post please.

Paul Hemphill - Author - Teacher

Many years ago I attended a creative writing class at Brenau University taught by Paul Hemphill.  I remember my first impression was that he was tall, lanky, scruffy, and more than a little rough around the edges.  It appears from the articles I've read about him yesterday and today that I wasn't too off in my assessment.  He was indeed an interesting character.

And - he was an excellent teacher.  I was in a class with a bunch of young college girls who were barely wet behind the ears.  I was in my thirties at the time (he probably thought I was just a young whipper snapper too).  His mantra of "write what you know" still resounds in my head today.  Most of the girls in my class didn't have enough life experiences to know much of anything.  In fact, I remember one girl being totally at a loss as to where to start.  I can see him standing there patiently trying to pry a topic out of her. 

In one of my assignments for the class I made an attempt to write about the hurt of not having a child.  He called me in his office and told me that I was too close to the subject - nothing had yet been resolved - wait a few more years and then pen it again.  At the time I thought there would never be a resolution to my problem.

I still have a piece of writing that he red marked all over.  I ended up writing about a day in my life when I was a  young child.  It was a day that changed my perspective on life and my family forever.  Entitled, The Child, I never tell the reader the child's name or any real description of the main character.  He was impressed.  Mr. Hemphill couldn't believe I had successfully engaged the reader without telling them the details that are often taken by writers as "a must".  He selected it for publication in the college's anthology.  I got calls from all around the campus (I was employed as the secretary for the Department of Fine Arts at the time) telling me how much the story meant to them.  One lady was even crying.  My selection had brought back a lot of memories for her.  So I had achieved my goal - writing something that allowed the reader to identify with the character - almost putting themselves in their place.  The Child is still one of my personal favorites of my writing.

Thanks for the advice and encouragement Mr. Hemphill.  I'm still trying to write what I know.

Hubby's New Toy

 Hubby now has a new toy.  It is a 2001 Ford F150 v6.  He got a great deal on it and he has ALWAYS wanted a truck.  Years ago when he bought the Cavalier, it was supposed to be his car.  Right.  It became the car my niece (not the one who is coming to live with us - her sister) drove and smooshed the right front panel.  Then - it became the car I drove because the manual Saturn was hurting my back.  Finally, it became the car that Jbird drove and ultimately totalled.

So when Hubby told me he had found a great deal on this truck - well - I said go for it.  He is a man who does very little for himself.   Besides which, he had taken his best bud down to look at it with him and M agreed it was a good thing.  I figured two guys would know better than I.  I am totally clueless when it comes to vehicles.  If it gets to point A to point B and carries my stuff, I'm a happy camper. 

M was here with us until after 11 P.M. so as soon as he left I asked if I could sit in the "new" truck.  I hadn't been able to give the real support and interest in his new baby that I suspected he needed to affirm his choice.  So all three of us go out to inspect the new vehicle and when I sat in the seat and grinned at him, "Ummm.... I think we need to go get an ice cream cone to celebrate."  Hubby was more than happy to oblige - and off we drove to MickeyD's!  Sweet ride.

Revelation Song and the Rest of the Day

Some days are just "those" days.  Again - another day where what I thought was going to happen didn't at all.  But - God did show is faithfulness in a myriad of ways.  I started my day by worshipping the Lord by joining Phillip, Craig, and Dean sing, Revelation Song from their new album, Fearless.  I've always loved PCD's songs.  It is wonderful that these vets in Christ are ministering so effectively for Christ.

Since the wreck our lives have been in a mini-tornado - lots of "stuff" and questions spinning around us.  However, when I began worshipping Him, all the cares of the world just faded away - I could see things from a totaly different perspective.  And I was reminded of all of His faithfulness.  Joy flooded over me. 

So - here's the day in a nutshell

• took my SIL to the doc because of one thing and the Lord used it to expose something else - please pray for K - she ended up being scheduled for MRI/MRA procedures

• came home ate lunch headed to GSC

• met with niece's advisor - she's scheduled for her classes and will be in the honor's program

• got Jbird entered into the Alternative Media Access Center which I must say is one of the most awesome resources I've ever seen for learning disabilities.  He will have his Spanish and Music Appreciation texts made available with text to speach
• Jbird has decided to declare a music major - so we have re-worked the fall schedule  - still need some permission stuff to get a required course scheduled
• off to eat some dinner
• hubby has spent the day scouring out vehicles.  The Cavalier is being declared a total - oh well.  It appears we are getting a used truck - for which we will take out a small loan - but this allows us to have money to pay Jbird's tuition and perhaps have enough to get another small car to drive the kids back and forth to college
• drive to the imaging center - I watch home improvement shows whilst waiting on SIL
• come home - get her a cup of tea and watch the pilot of Glee to get her mind off the day

Write to music prof. and tell him latest developments.  Talk to hubby - talk to son - I'm exhausted.

Overflow

First - good news.  My niece has been accepted at GSC.  This means she will indeed be coming to live with us - attend Hubby's high school and also attend college.  I saw all that because we got a letter in the mail saying that she had NOT been accepted.  After a call to the college this morning - it appears they had made an error in their GPA calculations.  And may I never have to deal with their admissions department again!  Lovely school - but we had the same bad taste in our mouths with the admissions department.

Okay - now this is where my day gets hairy.  Wake up at 5:30 and decide that my sleep is over.  I get up and go out to read and Jbird is getting up right behind me.  Not good.  Did you forget meds?  Nope.  Oh no.  This is called a break-through and that doesn't bode well. It is in large due to the fact that emotionally the wreck is still sinking in.  He is agitated and the realization that he could have been killed now has hit him. But you should leave him alone when he's in this mood.  Sure enough we get into a discussion.  I should know better by now.  Should have gotten up and made some decaf coffee and something for him to eat and shoved him back in the direction of his bed.  But I didn't.  I got into it with him.  We are too much alike - this boy and me.  When he is on this path, he can twist and turn anything you say to mean whatever he wants it to mean.  I finally did get him back to bed and he slept for a couple of hours.  Hopefully, he'll come home from school and take a nap.

Then the calls to the insurance company, the tow truck company, the body-shop - meanwhile the phone is ringing with messages from SIL (the good news - another call for the advisor appt - Thursday at 2), my cousin calling to say hi - and where or where is the title to this car?  (we've got the titles to the other car but not this one - cute)  Considering the book value of our little old car - well - let's just say that it is going to have to be a God thing for us to get a decent car.

And Jbird calls from class to me to let me know that he missed a deadline for a Regent's exam test - wonderful.  I tell him to head to the disability department and see if he can straighten it all out. 

I see a nap in my future. Chocolate cookies are calling my name (and if I ate them I'd probably have a doc calling my name!)  I see visions of a Calgon commercial in my head....

Pleasantly Surprised

I have to admit, that for the past week I've not been that good about sticking to the diet/exercise routine.  In fact - I done terribly (especially on the exercise -using Hubby's bad back as an excuse not to go to the Y).  I've also been avoiding the scales as well.  I fully expected to find that I'd gained up to five pounds.  So imagine my surprise when I got on the scales and have lost another 1.5 pounds!  Woo hoo!  Four more pounds and I will have reached one of my current major goals.  Okay - time to regroup and tomorrow I get back on the diet for serious and start going back to the Y as well!  Let's see if I can reach that goal by the end of July.  I have a secret goal to reach by October and it is going to take alot of work to get there - but it is for a special reason.  And after that I have another goal set for December. 

After that -  I forget that I've lost anything and pretend I am starting as a brand new dieter.  I know it sounds strange but then again - so am I.  Somehow or another - this is how I think I can manage the amount I want to lose.

Stirring Things Up

Sonny boy is sore but emotionally more calm.  Very down about it all.  We just keep on trying to reassure him that we love him and stuff happens in life.  It is how we respond (as opposed to react) that makes the difference.  We go forward from here.

That being said - there's been another thing happen that is potentially a real twister.  I can't say anything about it yet - phone calls must be made on Monday to clarify points.  However it goes there is going to be alot of adjustments and some potential woundedness.  And I can honestly say - I never saw this one coming.  Like I said - stuff happens.

I decided to watch Wives and Daughters on Netflix.  I'm so glad I did.  I love Jane Austen type things and this definitely fit that genre.  It was a made for tv series by the Brits and there are four episodes.  If you get Netflix it is on instant watch.  Okay - it's a chick flick thing and I enjoyed watching it by myself!  I left the room when the guys decided to watch Troy!  I had NO desire to see that.

Missed the streaming fireworks - man that bummed me.  The next door neighbors were doing their thing though.  Poor Tango thought it was thunder and started a panic attack.  Hope you had a wonderful 4th.  Blessings to all those who serve us so faithfully in our armed forces.

Into The Woods

Jbird crashed the car on the way home from his bud's this morning.  Let's just say it is the phone call every parent dreads.  I knew the minute I heard his voice that he was both panicky and going into shock. Breathe deep I tell him, tell us where you are, and call 911.   Hubby goes flying out the door with the house phone in his hand and leaves me at the house!  Right.  Had I ever needed to go to the hospital to deliver a baby I have a feeling I would have been left behind then too - lol!

God is good.  What could have been a really nasty accident wasn't.  I can't say the same for the officer I could hear in the background as I tried to calm Jay down.  I definitely feel that he is into the idea of "teach these teen drivers a lesson."  He immediately asked if J was on the phone, changing channels on the radio, or just looking down - none of which Jbird was doing.  I heard him say several times that this would be a good lesson.  Really.  What happened was his tire left the road on a place where there is a deep rut and he couldn't get the tire back on the road, he over corrected - went into a skid and flew backward in the woods, landing between two trees.  J is shaken and slightly sore but otherwise okay.  Can't say as much for the car - it may be totalled.  We'll find out more on that on Monday.

So now we face a ticket (failure to maintain), the threat of driver's school, a totalled car, increase in insurance, and one kid who is afraid to get back into a car.  Finances being what they are around here - this is NOT a good thing.  But cars can be replaced and my son can't - so I'm thankful in spite of the other stuff.