Title?? What Title?

I need to let you know that even though I'm feeling stress it's self imposed. Everyone is happy with everyone else and no one is having health problems - not real ones anyway. My stress has to do with needing work done on this 40 year old house - work that could prove extensive. If my fears prove justified then I'll just make the changes I've wanted to make to this house since 1985. When faced with situations like this, I sit around and have a pity party for a few days then get up and move forward. I can move forward like a freight train when I need to.

Workers promised to be here next Wednesday morning to begin taking insulation from beneath the house. It is collecting moisture but caught early enough that there should be no big problem. Humidity here is so overpowering that moisture problems are big. The good news is that termites aren't involved. We'll just have to wait and see. I expect to be told that some of the under house plumbing needs to be replaced. If so what an excellent opportunity to make changes that are normally really hard to make. I just have to wait and see.

James had his first day at pre-school. He was so excited and wanting to "tell all." He loves playtime, circle time, and lunch. Everything else is OK, too. At least according to James. It is sad (to me) to see both boys going out in the world, but it's natural progression. We'll have Baby Mav for a while yet and Mattie, too. We just wish Mattie could be here so we could spoil her rotten.

So many of my blog friends are working through really rough situations right now. Some have personal concerns and others unbelievable health issues. My friends, I hope you have a comfortable evening with peaceful sleep. I pray tomorrow will be a better day for everyone.

Nothing New

Today is James' first day of pre-school. The boys were here for a little while last evening. Two boys in different schools and a "parents must attend" orientation meeting for both scheduled at the same time. Mommy and Daddy are about to enter into several years of frustration. The boys always have a place here while parents take care of these "must attend" meetings - or any other time, for that matter.

I did sleep Monday night but was a big groggy all day yesterday. I'd never taken a whole Ambient tablet before and I did a number on me. I think if - and when - I ever take another sleep aid it won't be Ambien.

Today is another busy day with me doing very little. Jesse will be here after school while Mommy takes James to music class. Jesse likes to be busy all the time so I need to sit down and think of something fun to do. He loves tic-tac-toe and will play for a long time but I'm not much of a game player. We may do a bit of gardening if weather isn't too hot. He enjoys that.

I'm dealing with a bit of stress - not related in anyway with the kids - but will get a handle on it. I'm so much more lucky than several of of my readers that I feel like a wus for even mentioning it.

Shirley and I had a good shopping trip looking for rugs. She is looking for an appropriate oriental - wool NOT silk - rug. It's easy to find these rugs but hard to find a pattern and color combination that fits. I'm glad that Shirley is cautious and slow to make these decisions. We will be looking again in a few days and bringing a couple home to try. I don't believe we've seen THE rug yet, but in time, we will.

Nothing exciting here. Just another day in the life of a couple of old farts. That's a good thing! My best to everyone.

A Day "On the Go"

Is it Monday afternoon already? My, my how time does fly!! Maybe that's my problem - time flies and I just trudge along. It's no longer a puzzle as to why I'm so far behind.

Sunday was a lot of fun. The boys each brought a friend to Sunday gathering with them. The children were really well behaved. Not one problem. The youngest was almost 3 1/2 and the oldest 6. They watched the reefs, played in the bubbles from the bubble machine (outside), had snacks, played Legos and another little game that they made up. The grown-ups talked and/or watched the race. During that race there was a terrible wreck. I don't believe there were any serious injuries though. Baby Hooper decided to stay home. We missed them but soon they will be joining us for gathering on a regular basis.

This morning my friend, Shirley, and I shopped for new rugs for her home. She is doing a bit of redecorating and rugs are on the menu. We saw a L-O-T of rugs but only two or three that are candidates. Because this is a major purchase she's waiting to think about her selection. It's not a good idea to buy when you're on the crest of excitement. She's doing so well following her major surgery a few months ago.

Harry and I drove out to Baby Hooper's house this afternoon. We were only there for a short time but it was fun to see him - and Mommy, too, of course. He is growing like a little weed and Mommy is getting smaller. Her weight is beginning to settle into pre-preg mode. Daddy was at work so we just had to leave a "Hello" for him.

Well, folks that's what has been happenin' in my world. How about yours? I haven't been sleeping again for the last four or five nights. Tonight I'm going to get into bed, take Ambien, and hope to sleep through the night and maybe part of tomorrow morning. I'm so tired and sluggish that you'd think I'm old.

Could Fall be Knocking on Our Door?

It's a wonderful bright cool morning in my little corner of the world. It may rain later but for now it's perfect.

Yesterday Harry and I drove to two or three stores which are in the part of town where my office was located. I was shocked to see several stores on the main street out there were closed. Not little stores but large, previously busy businesses. As a matter of fact, I was planning on stopping to shop at one of them on the way home. We are in a period of growing because of the jobs moving here from various places, but still important stores are closing. Not a happy note! I can only imagine what's happening in areas not in expansion mode. Let's not dwell on the negative, though. This is just an observation not a prediction of doom and gloom.

I haven't done anything constructive so far today and I'll probably continue the trend. I'm looking forward to having the kids here later in the day. Feeding them won't be a problem. I'll just do easy stuff that doesn't require a lot of work. Can you say slow cooker and salad?

I only slept a little over 4 hours last night. I don't intend to take a nap today. Maybe that will help me sleep better tonight.

Let's have a fun day even if we have to dream our fun. Come on, we can do it. What would your dream be? Mine will be spending a long lazy day in the mountains beside a cool stream. I think I'll go there now.

Thanks for dropping in. Please come back whenever you can.

Lazy Saturday

It's a bright, cooler Saturday morning. I almost slept through it much to my disappointment. I couldn't get to sleep last night - I saw 2 AM on the clock through wide-awake eyes. Once I get to sleep I can sleep for awhile it's just hard to shut off the brain and relax.

I feel much more settled than I did when I wrote my last post. Thanks again for the kind words. There's nothing more healing than kind words and good wishes from friends.

There are a couple of must-do chores for today and I think I'll just let the rest of the list slide. I want to find something to do outside today. Not work - fun. I may just take a book and my comfy-outside chair to the shade and read.

There's not much to write about this morning. I think it's time to send wishes for a happy day to you and sign off. Later, my friends.

Highs and Lows

Yesterday was Jesse's first school day. He had mixed emotions about the whole deal. First, he didn't get to go on the playground. Why? Too hot - bummer!! The teacher was teaching them to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle" Jesse's been tinkling (on the piano) that "Twinkle" for almost two years. BORING!! He only knew one other kid in his class and that kid was too shy to talk among mostly strangers. Just the usual stuff, folks. I asked him if he would be ready to go back for the second day. He looked at me like I'd lost my mind and said, "Of course I will, Nana."

James has his first experience in half-day preschool next Wednesday. That'll be another story for another day.

It's really good to be Nana and let the young folks be Mommy and Daddy. Oh me, oh my, they have a lot of years ahead of them - it makes me tired just to think about it.

Harry is playing golf today in this sweltering heat and humidity. He's a hardy soul. I just wouldn't be able to handle golf today. I have to wait until cooler weather and by that time he'll be so much better than me that he won't want to have me tagging along. I'll just slow his game down.

I have many things I need to do today but may just sit and think about doing them. I wouldn't want to rush into anything that can wait until tomorrow. I guess I'm feeling a little low today. I found out that the last member of my mother's circle friends was killed when her tour bus crashed on Mother's Day, 2008. She was 74 according to the news report I found on utube. I counted and I think she was closer to 84, but you know how ladies of a certain age never want to admit it. I was also surprised to know that she was so well known. I remember her as the nicest member of (what Mother called) "The Special Six" (Six women who met once a year for a weekend of bonding.) They are all gone now and somehow it's the final note in their almost life long song. I feel a big hole in my heart even though the Special Six, as a group, didn't include me. Last evening I tried to tell Harry how I feel and - like most men - he just didn't want to take time to listen to me and wouldn't have understood even is he did listen. I love him but after all he's just a man and men don't have the same deep emotions we, as women, do.

Anyway, thanks for listening. I'm going to shake it off and have a good day. I hope you do, too.

Busy and Late

I haven't a lot of time this evening. It's been a long, busy day as was yesterday. Yesterday, we had the grandsons with us for the last time before school starts and we enjoyed the day. Today was tank maintenance day and we also went to a local high-end camera shop to ask questions and get direction on the best lens to use of various photography. I'm too confused to even think about the mechanics and really don't intend to do fancy stuff - that's Harry's department. It's all personal photography - nothing commercial. Heck, a crayon drawing is fine with me - I'm easy.



Need to get on with the things I need to do before going nite-nite.



Tomorrow is the first day of school. BOO HOO!!!