I was 19 on that day

Twenty-eight years ago.

This is the page from my work calendar. I'll tell the story later.

It's been quite the week

I started classes this week and I think I'm getting in the groove. My job is picking up. We've been busier than normal and I'm increasing my hours since I'm soon to go from temp to permanent. So, between work and school, my blogging has been neglected. I will try to dig my way out and into a schedule and return very soon.

Simple Woman, August 25, 2008

FOR TODAY August 25...

Outside My Window... The weather could not be any nicer for late August. Right now it is about 60° headed for a high of 78° with almost no humidity.

I am thinking... that my classes start today and I'm nervous. My books haven't arrived yet and I have assignments due tomorrow.

I am thankful for... my sister. We are closer than best friends.

From the kitchen... tonight will probably be hamburgers.

I am wearing... a blue denim dress and black slip ons.

I am creating... wedding pictures. A couple were married at our church Saturday afternoon and I took the pictures. I need to clean them up so I can give the newlyweds a CD.

I am going... nowhere but work today.

I am reading... still reading "The Choice" by Nicholas Sparks.

I am hoping... that this semester isn't really rough. I don't think it will be once I get going but you never know.

I am hearing... Dr. Laura.

Around the house... I cleaned the main rooms last night and my daughter will get the dishes done today.

One of my favorite things... soft sheets.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… I will be getting all kinds of packages this weeks: books and computer stuff.

Here is picture thought I am sharing..

My strawberry blossom.

Today is

Today is the first day of my last semester at the University of Illinois Springfield. I'm taking three classes, 12 hours, this time: Technical and Professional Writing, Greek & Biblical Motifs in Literature, and Early American Literature. I don't think it will be a really hard semester but my blogging may be a little more sporadic. We shall see.

You know it's time

You know it's time for a boy to graduate from a toddler bed to a big-boy bed when he's carrying the toddler bed around and making forts and bridges out of it. For the past week, every time one of us walks into Elisha's room his bed is another architectural wonder. He'll be five in November and I am certain that a big boy bed is on the agenda.

My Computer Journey

I am a Mac Geek! Yep, Apple all the way since 1989.


This was what our first computer looked like. It was an Apple SE with 1 mb of RAM and, get this, a 20 mb hard drive. We were screeching fast! I did publish, print and distribute a homeschool record-keeping system with this thing and we ran all of our church records on it.

The day came when the SE was just a little too sluggish. If you had a computer back then, you might remember clicking to open a file, going and doing a load of laundry and coming back to check if the file was open yet. That was fun. So we upgraded to this little baby — an LCIII otherwise known as the Performa 476. We had color and AOL with a portal to the World Wide Web. And boy, we had a 28.8 external modem. A new age had dawned.


For a little bit anyway. Then the Internet was starting to catch on and Steve Jobs gave us the iMac — one button access to the WWW. It was so popular that other companies started making toasters and curling irons in Bondi Blue. I still have a Bondi Blue scanner in a closet somewhere.


That little computer was my right arm for several years but eventually, it graduated to a designated church computer and I got the white wonder for my personal use. We lovingly named this guy Petrie because he reminded us of the baby pteradactyl in The Land Before Time. He could bob his head ever so cute.

Then last year, I moved up to the BIG time and I mean big — 24" screen. It is so cool for working in Photoshop. I can have two or three pictures open side by side and do all sorts of things. This is the computer I am using today to type this. This computer is not being replaced but rather I am adding to my collection. Any day now, the friendly delivery driver will pull up in front of my house and bring me one of these:
A MacBook Pro. And I am excited. For the past 10+ years, my Hero has forbidden me to have a laptop. He said it was for my own good because I needed to get away from my computer and my work sometimes, but he has finally consented. I can't wait to see the things I will be able to do with this new jobbie! I can sit in my recliner and watch Food Network and surf all at the same time… oh, yeah, and study and work on school, and do my church duties, too.

I got the job!!!!

I am now an employee of Palmer Chiropractic College! I am really excited and trying very hard to restrain my usage of exclamation points but !!!!!!!

I love going to school online

And I found this poem:

Gone High Tech
You may have noticed, teacher,
I am not in school today.
But the tape deck on my desk,
Will record each word you say.
Switch on my laptop's Webcam,
When you have something to show,
And if you pass out homework,
Find my fax number below.
I’ve a pager and cell phone,
So I won’t be hard to reach.
Since I don’t need to be in class,
I’ll do lessons at the beach.

From School Poems

I will sing

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever,
I will sing, I will sing!
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever,
I will sing of the mercies of Lord!
With my mouth will I make known
Thy faithfulness, Thy faithfulness!
With my mouth will I make known
Thy faithfulness to all generations!
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever,
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord!

"I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations."

Psalm 89:1

Simple Woman, August 18, 2008

FOR TODAY August 18...

Outside My Window... we are tying a weather record for 2008! This is our 5th straight day without precipitation. Since January 1, we have not gone longer that 5 days without snow or rain. It looks like we might break the record tomorrow.

I am thinking... about anything but the phone call I am anticipating.

I am thankful for... my husband's many skills. He had to re-plumb our bathroom this weekend and got it all done, even learning to sweat pipe. We have no leak now and a wonderful new shower head!

From the kitchen... tonight we are having chorizo, eggs, and potatoes with cornmeal muffins.

I am wearing... blue culottes and my t-shirt from our cruise to the Bahamas.

I am creating... chaos — as usual. This last week I didn't have much time to create, hopefully this next week I can crochet some more.

I am going... to work this afternnon.

I am reading... "The Choice" by Nicholas Sparks.

I am hoping... to hear about my job interview today. I have interviewed for the permanent position that I have been temping for the past six week and I really want the job.

I am hearing... construction equipment working in the housing development across the street.

Around the house... I'm hoping to get the office cleaned and organized today. My final semester of college starts next week and I need to be organized in order to juggle home, work and school!

One of my favorite things... puppy kisses.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… I haven't really thought that far ahead. If my financial aid comes in today, I have some online shopping to do.

Here is picture thought I am sharing..

Don't you wish photos came with smell and you could smell the chives?

A Special Category

I've decided that the Mommy Olympics should have a special category for Grandmothers. There's all kinds of events that could be held in this category: "Shopping for grandchildren," "Keeping the mouth shut when you disagree with the grandchildren's parents," "Crafting for grandchildren," and "Babysitting grandchildren."

My mom should be posthumously awarded a special medal for that last event. Ten days after my mom went to heaven, my Hero and I said goodbye to Samuel Mark Cannon. The little guy surprised us. We didn't even know he existed when he made his trip to heaven a little more than 4 months after he began to take form in my womb. Through our tears, we laughed at the idea that my mom, "Nanny," couldn't even go to heaven to escape babysitting!

Right now I spend my time training for the "Figuring out what the grandson is pretending to be" event. My form needs work.

The Mommy Olympics

I think there should be Olympic competition for the real life skills. And who has more real life skills than a Mommy? There could be the obvious events like "diaper changing," "laundry folding," and "speed vacuuming." But then there could be advanced events like "cooking while nose wiping without cross-contamination" and "helping an 8-year-old with math while burping a baby."

I think I would win the "listening to inane chatter while maintaining a smile" event.

What other events can you think of? What's your best event?

Notes to self

Blogging layouts are a pain. Fix it and leave it.

Beyond that, my days have been very uneventful. My back must have gone on a round-the-world tour because it has been out for a long time. My family, though, has been absolutely wonderful about picking up the slack around the house. For that, I am beyond thankful.

I have an interview tomorrow for the permanent position I have been filling as a temp. I really pray I get it. I love the job and the people and the situation just fits my life perfectly. Since I need to work, this is the job I want.

You know you are in for a doozie of a course when the professor e-mails the syllabus and schedule two weeks before class starts because the first assignment is due the first day of class. (swallows hard) Maybe this semester won't be as easy as I hoped. Either way, though, come December, I will be FINISHED!!

And, no, as of this moment, I am not going on for my Master's. (Ask me again in a year.)

This thing is all messed up

But I think I've almost finished fixing it. I'll get back on it tonight.

Simple Woman Daybook August 11

FOR TODAY August 11, 2008...

Outside My Window... it is just unbelievably beautiful for August. It is only 65° with a slight breeze and clear, blue skies.

I am thinking... about something.... I'm sure..... I just don't know what.

I am thankful for... my washer and dryer. I would hate to cart this laundry to the laundromat, or worse yet, the river, everyweek.

From the kitchen... It will be salmon croquettes this evening!

I am wearing... a denim jumper and a bright green shirt.

I am creating... I've been slowly working on the new afghan. My puppy interrupted me by unwinding and tangling my yarn but I got that straightened out.

I am reading... "The Watchman" by Robert Crais. I don't know what got me in this mystery mode, but it's fun. Here in a couple of weeks everything I read will be school related.

I am hoping... my back quits hurting soon. Later this week, I have the real interview for the permanent position I have been temping. I hope that works out well.

I am hearing... the news.

Around the house... I haven't been able to do much because my back is out. It's not too bad, though. My family has been keeping things straight.

One of my favorite things... comfy socks.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
I don't really have any plans. I guess I'll tackle each thing as it comes at me.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...


The sky was so blue on Friday. This is the I-74 bridge connecting Iowa and Illinois across the Mississippi River.

I think it's time for a trip up the east coast

visited 35 states (70%)
Create your own visited map of The United States or determine the next president

Sometimes I crack myself up

I was posting on my devotion site, Grace & Salt, and the introduction I have in the right column caught my eye. This is what I have written there:

"As the pastor's wife, I often teach lessons to our ladies. This is a sister blog to Nana's Faith — a place for me to record those spiritual thoughts as the Lord leads."

Then I started laughing at myself because I thought, "What's Nana's Faith? The place where I record my carnal thoughts?" Honestly, I was laughing out loud.

Don't mind me, I'm in my own little world enjoying myself.

Grandbabies

Emma (2 months).


So precious.


Elisha's Preschool graduation. (He starts PK-4 this year.)


Singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" with sign language.

It's only been a minute

A minute since he was born. A minute since he was tiny. A minute since he cooed. A minute since he crawled. A minute since he toddled those first few steps. In a few minutes I'll be going to his preschool for their end-of-year program. In a couple of weeks he'll start Pre-K4. And then elementary school will be in a minute. A minute until high school. A minute until college. A minute until he's married. A minute until he's a father.

Enjoy every minute.

Never a dull moment

When we moved into our house, this trunk was in a back corner of the garage. We cleaned it up and found it a home in our living room. Usually it sits in quietly in the corner and cradles our blankets and quilts inside.

Usually.

Last night, my Hero and I went out and ran a couple of errands and just spent a little bit of time together just the two of us. We came home and walked into the house and stood in the quiet living room continuing our conversation. We both assumed that our grandson was either with his mom in her room or in his own room playing. We were both wrong. After several minutes, the usually quiet trunk burst into giggles and out popped the smiling boy!!

There is very rarely a dull moment with this kid around.

Simple Woman Daybook, August 4, 2008

FOR TODAY August 4, 2008...

Outside My Window... it is starting to rain.

I am thinking... that I need to accomplish something today.

I am thankful for... air conditioning. It is unbelievably humid and hot today. It's the kind of heat that smacks you in the face when you walk outside. I think I'll avoid walking outside as much as possible.

From the kitchen... We are having beans and cornbread and fried potatoes tonight. It may be poor people food but it is so good!

I am wearing... a denim skirt and a red shirt.

I am creating... I started crocheting a pink afghan but I had to pull it all out and start again. So far, I've gotten as far as rolling the yarn up into a ball. I'm going to start again today.

I am reading... I'm waiting on a book by Nicholas Sparks from the library, I think the title is "Choice".

I am hoping... to work out some financial things today.

I am hearing... thunder.

Around the house... the house is actually pretty good even after the weekend. Since I've been working, the family has been stepping up to maintain things more.

One of my favorite things... a soft, well-worn quilt.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
I need to clean and organize my office in preparation for school starting back up.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

The plant in the background is my basil, but I don't know what this plant with the funny little pink "flowers" is.

My blog muse

My blog muse seems to have gone on vacation. Although menopause can be hilarious, it can also put your mind in a total fog. By the time I take care of the house, cook the meals, do my church duties and go to work, the brain is on absolute fritz.

I should be back with a vengeance any day now.