There's a little notebook in the top drawer of my dresser where I recorded fun little stories about my kiddos when they were young. I'd write down the silly things they'd say, or questions they'd ask. Now and then I still pull it out, sit down and skim through it, which alway leads to calling my Mum and my sister Nancy. The calls go something like this, "Hey! Remember the time......" and 30 minutes later we're all still laughing, and remembering other cherished stories. Tonight I was up late when I pulled that little notebook out, so I won't wake either of them up. But just in case someday that little piece of history gets lost, or forgotten, or tossed in the garbage once I'm gone, I thought maybe I'd record a couple of fun stories so that they always have opportunities to read ... View Post
So Long, September!
First of all, I can hardly believe that September is over. It was absolutely thee fastest September I've ever lived through! High's: I finally got to have dinner and catch up with Rachel Sparks. I hadn't seen her since we took a trip with Ian to Chicago and I caught Parvo about 8 years ago or so. Yep. Parvo. Woof, woof! It was fun getting to hear about all that she's been up to over the last 8 years! Rachel went to high school and church with my sons, so it's pretty neat to see her all grown up, and educated, and doing so well - even if it does make me feel old! Took a Friday night and treated myself to a manicure and pedicure! I remember that night well. I needed it. You know - sometimes you just gotta shut the phone off and sit in a massage chair and pamper yourself. ... View Post
Awwwwwwww… See Ya!
Back when my 30-year-old son, Rory, was a 2-year-old Rory, he would say goodbye like this, "Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww....." and then a quick, "SEE YA!" He would hold his awwwwwww sooo long that he couldn't help but giggle halfway through it. We all loved that so much. Rory's extended "awwwww" is how I feel about the summer coming to an end. I don't want it to, but mostly because I can't stand driving in those snowy winter months. I-94 is bad enough in the summer. Add snow and ice to the mix, and .... well, I can't wait till that's over. Speaking of I-94, I have a 27.9 mile ride to work every day, and then 27.9 miles home. That drive is roughly 45 to 50 minutes, and it seems like each week, I try to dream up some new way to schedule all that I need to get ... View Post
Talking With A Mouthful
Tonight I ate scrambled eggs, sausage, and cinnamon raisin toast for dinner. And I know that my Mum taught me not to talk with a mouthful, but... I did! I talked with a mouthful! Doesn't everyone have that one friend who, there's NO WAY possible to catch up on all that you have to catch up with, over just one dinner? That's my friend Robin. I don't see her frequently. I sure wish I could, but we're both in seasons of life that just don't make that possible. So we pick up easily right where we left off the last time, and tonight that's just what we did! And we always laugh about having so much to catch up on, that we just have to talk and eat at the same time, or we just might be there so long that we close the place! But we actually ended up doing both! Work, home, ... View Post
Confessions of a Registered Nurse
Well, hi there! How are you today? How are things going? Are you feeling well? Eating enough? Taking in enough fluids? And, how are your chemotherapy treatments going? Just a few of the many usual, impersonal (and invasive) questions I must ask my patients within ear shot of several other patients. Some answers are short, sweet, and to the point. Some people just want a blanket, a pillow, and a closed curtain - some alone time to nap, and to be away from the world for a few hours. And that is O.K.! But then there are others. And this week, I think I met all of the others... "How am I? How am I? I'm an emotional mess!" followed by some forced, quiet laughter. "I'm leaving later this week to drive my son across the country for four years of college. He's my only child. I ... View Post
Sweet and Sneaky Friends
My community is currently under a "boil water" restriction, which was only supposed to last for a day or two, but today's already day five, and apparently this might last up to two weeks they say. We even made Fox News! A water main break over the weekend the culprit, we're now narrowed down from a few surrounding communities to just mine - and it's really not that big of a deal, because I've got enough bottled water for a few days, and take my empty bottles to work and fill them to return home. I make my oatmeal with bottled water in the morning, use paper plates, bowls, silverware, and cups, and if I feel like it, I can just go eat somewhere outside of my zip code. And you know what they say - This too shall pass! Tonight, however, my friend Sharon invited me to dinner at her home ... View Post
Counting Traffic Lights
A few weeks ago, I drove through my old childhood neighborhood, and went around the block reminiscing and remembering old friends and good times. I have so many good memories! I drove past Hosanna Tabor Church where my friends and I would practice hitting tennis balls against the brick side of the building, and then past Michelle's house where we would lay on the cement driveway for hours each day in the summer, smothered in baby oil trying to "catch a tan!" I drove down Elmira Road and laughed at how short a distance it actually was between our garage and Atkinson's garage, facing each other on opposite sides of the street. As kids, those garage doors served as hockey goal nets for my brother Larry and all of the neighborhood boys. The front lawn of our house on Hemingway was the ... View Post
Turning that July Page
Turning the page in your calendar to a nice clean month with empty boxes... Am I the only person who enjoys this? I can't be. July's been another month of all of my plans canceled. I missed a retirement party, a farewell party, the Lavender Festival, Brynn's family BBQ, dinner with Danielle, and a week's worth of work, just for starters. It was more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants month! I had a Gross Pointe Starbucks coffee date with Jennifer, along with a short blogging tutorial because my blog was updated beyond my technical abilities. What a sweet gal! There was a last minute Friday night dinner at the Chamberlains, a full day with Holly & the kiddos, finished a couple of books and started a new one that I'm savoring slowly, walked a lot of laps around my quiet ... View Post