4 things I was doing 10 years ago;
1. Revelling in the joy of living alone
2. Enjoying being healthy
3. Wishing I was a grandmother
4. Managing Midwest Tower
4 things on my to do list today
1.mail packages to my granddaughters
2.clean up my desk
3. Email my attorney on estate planning
4. picking outfits to pack for trip to Larry's wedding
4 jobs that I have had
1.Clerk at downtown Joliet Walgreens
2Traffic manager at radio station
3.Vice President of Kankakee Community College
4. Director of for profit day care center
4 movies I have watched more than once
1. Chariots of Fire
2, My Cousin Vinny
3. Moonstruck
4 West Side Story
4 places I have been
1. London
2.Paris
3. Berlin
4. Acapulco
4 places I want to visit
1. Vancouver
2. Boston
3. Albany NY
4 Montreal
4 TV shows I watch
1.The Daily Show
2The Colbert Report
3.Anderson Cooper 360
4 Reruns of Everyone Loves Raymond
4 things you may not know about me
1. I would rather be alone than at a party
2. I am an addictive person; the addictions just change
3. Most of my best friends are male
4. I never pass on chain letters or emails!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Anticipation
I never knew one could OD on anticipation.
The next two months are so jammed packed with events and deadlines that I am in a constant state of list making. This weekend is Larry's wedding (we're pretty sure) and I am flying with Robin and Steve. What to wear, what at wear? After all, I will be holding the position of stepmother once replaced! (Susan says no, she is Howard's wife, not the stepmother). It will be a gathering of the Dybedock clan whose typical concern with time is 180 degrees from mine. I will have to practice patience. And neither Erich or Carl can make it so that will be a downer for me, 'cause there is nothing like those 5 guys together!
When I get back I have minor surgery on some Basel cell carcinoma on my face, have some major overhaul on teeth, do the scary mammogram thing in Chicago and then take off for Albany the first of October for 5 days. That's a lot of anticipation, folks.
But, wait, that's not all! I leave for 6 months in Florida after the first of November and look forward to a whole condo to redecorate and shop for (I'm saving the guest rooms for you Patty).
That means a lot of organizing and wishfully shrinking a lot of stuff so it all fits in my car along with me, my brother, and Keto.
I am blessed to have all this in my life and to be able to anticipate such adventures, but just listing it tires me out.
And I forgot one of my main pieces of work that must be accomplished by Sept. 7. I have to prepare an 8 week program on prayer and meditation for the adult Sunday school class that I have been facilitating.
And, oh yes, we are still without the cleaning lady (hurt her back) so I am doing a lot of housework these days that I haven't done in about 30 years. I had not anticipated that!
The next two months are so jammed packed with events and deadlines that I am in a constant state of list making. This weekend is Larry's wedding (we're pretty sure) and I am flying with Robin and Steve. What to wear, what at wear? After all, I will be holding the position of stepmother once replaced! (Susan says no, she is Howard's wife, not the stepmother). It will be a gathering of the Dybedock clan whose typical concern with time is 180 degrees from mine. I will have to practice patience. And neither Erich or Carl can make it so that will be a downer for me, 'cause there is nothing like those 5 guys together!
When I get back I have minor surgery on some Basel cell carcinoma on my face, have some major overhaul on teeth, do the scary mammogram thing in Chicago and then take off for Albany the first of October for 5 days. That's a lot of anticipation, folks.
But, wait, that's not all! I leave for 6 months in Florida after the first of November and look forward to a whole condo to redecorate and shop for (I'm saving the guest rooms for you Patty).
That means a lot of organizing and wishfully shrinking a lot of stuff so it all fits in my car along with me, my brother, and Keto.
I am blessed to have all this in my life and to be able to anticipate such adventures, but just listing it tires me out.
And I forgot one of my main pieces of work that must be accomplished by Sept. 7. I have to prepare an 8 week program on prayer and meditation for the adult Sunday school class that I have been facilitating.
And, oh yes, we are still without the cleaning lady (hurt her back) so I am doing a lot of housework these days that I haven't done in about 30 years. I had not anticipated that!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Obama/Biden
So what do you think, Obama fans? I was actually cheering for Hilary as VP, as long as Bubba could have been sent to a remote island.
I know all the reasons the pundits have given for his choice but I have a different theory. I think he wanted a father figure in that role. If ever in his life he needed a wise father it is now.
I know, Biden brings a lot more to the table but he is kind of a loose cannon; I just have this feeling that when he went down the short list, the missing father thing influenced him.
I know all the reasons the pundits have given for his choice but I have a different theory. I think he wanted a father figure in that role. If ever in his life he needed a wise father it is now.
I know, Biden brings a lot more to the table but he is kind of a loose cannon; I just have this feeling that when he went down the short list, the missing father thing influenced him.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
the bad tree
In my backyard there are two huge trees; I have felt privileged to live in such close proximity to them. The beauty is the massive oak in the northeast corner. The BAD one is a black locust that has just had radical surgery.
We had a wind storm (some people thought it was a tornado) about 2 weeks ago. Our neighborhood is still cleaning up from the tree damage. And as usual with any wind of substance a major branch of the locust came down, this time on my neighbor's patio, destroying it.
BAD TREE! When Tim, the tree man, came to see what could be done he first decided that one of the large limbs needed to come down but the rest would be ok. That was before he went up there in his bucket. Once up there he discovered the main trunk had a split that made the whole thing a potential disaster.
So I said the words that no one in my neighborhood ever wants to say; "OK, take it down".
This is a tree that is over a hundred years old with a trunk that must be at least two feet in diameter. All the tops have been removed and what is left looks like a skeleton tree. Tim will take the rest down in the winter when things aren't so busy and the ground is frozen and I won't have to be here to watch!
Not to mention an expense you don't want. It took 3 guys over 7 hours to remove tops so you know it is not inexpensive. With all this going on here I forgot to worry about Fay and whether she did damage to the condo.
The joys of being a home owner/condo owner!
We had a wind storm (some people thought it was a tornado) about 2 weeks ago. Our neighborhood is still cleaning up from the tree damage. And as usual with any wind of substance a major branch of the locust came down, this time on my neighbor's patio, destroying it.
BAD TREE! When Tim, the tree man, came to see what could be done he first decided that one of the large limbs needed to come down but the rest would be ok. That was before he went up there in his bucket. Once up there he discovered the main trunk had a split that made the whole thing a potential disaster.
So I said the words that no one in my neighborhood ever wants to say; "OK, take it down".
This is a tree that is over a hundred years old with a trunk that must be at least two feet in diameter. All the tops have been removed and what is left looks like a skeleton tree. Tim will take the rest down in the winter when things aren't so busy and the ground is frozen and I won't have to be here to watch!
Not to mention an expense you don't want. It took 3 guys over 7 hours to remove tops so you know it is not inexpensive. With all this going on here I forgot to worry about Fay and whether she did damage to the condo.
The joys of being a home owner/condo owner!
Friday, August 15, 2008
About time
I know; I''m a slacker.
We just got back from Saugatuck and need about two weeks to catch up on sleep and energy; that crowd parties and drinks seriously. Had a great time as usual. Saw Evita at the local playhouse; visited Grand Rapids and the Meirer Gardens and ate some fantastic meals. Only slipped a few times on the sweets. Now it is back to the exercise and "hope I can stave off diabetes diet".
I am way behind on paper work and housework and reading so this is just a short note to family that I made it through all the construction and 80-94 and am home again.
We just got back from Saugatuck and need about two weeks to catch up on sleep and energy; that crowd parties and drinks seriously. Had a great time as usual. Saw Evita at the local playhouse; visited Grand Rapids and the Meirer Gardens and ate some fantastic meals. Only slipped a few times on the sweets. Now it is back to the exercise and "hope I can stave off diabetes diet".
I am way behind on paper work and housework and reading so this is just a short note to family that I made it through all the construction and 80-94 and am home again.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Happy Birthday,
Little Bro
He’s an interesting person, steady as the Rock
Full of contradictions, dependable as the clock.
Unshakable in his beliefs; no middle of t he road,
He’s a black and white kind of guy, I’m told.
A private person who doesn’t always share.
Hard to know what he thinks; does he care?
Yet at a party or socially engaged
He acts as if he’s comfortable on stage.
He can be selfish and humble and stone faced too.
No matter the subject don’t tell him what to do!
And then there is his Papa self,
Loving and playful, an oversized elf.
Ask the women in his life, and there’s a lot.
“Dear”, “Papa” ‘Dad” and little “Bro”
We all love you so.
And me? Well, I get the last word.
I think there is still much you’ve not heard
Did I mention he’s an artist? A builder, a great salesman?
Did I tell you how much time we spend laughing?
He can cook a mean stir-fry (stay out of the kitchen!)
His talents are many, so many I gave up the rhyme
Happy Birthday, Bro. Only one year to go
For the big one.
A new month
It's a new month and it seems fitting that I should take note of its beginning.
August is probably not on many lists of people's favorites; weather, you know. I think of it as a month of anticipation. For years it has meant a trip to Saugatuck and time with two of the people I love dearly, Park and Shar Davis. It is the month of my brother's birthday..August 2...and I look forward to the time we spend together in the winter, not to mention my gratitude that he is still around for birthdays.
August always offers up little hints of autumn, my favorite season. I am usually ready for summer to be over by mid August; by then it is easier to justify the condition of the garden.
And, of course, even still in my old age August brings the anticipation of school, which was always my first love. Now I experience it vicariously thru my son the professor and my granddaughter, the second grader.
August is rich with wonderful sounds too....the cicadas in the evening, the tree frogs all night, the sounds of neighborhood children playing out doors and the thunk of the tennis balls at the courts in our neighboring park.
Welcome, August, but I must warn you that my mind is on list making and preparing for the first part of November and departure to Florida. I will try to keep enough of my mind here to appreciate what you have to offer.
August is probably not on many lists of people's favorites; weather, you know. I think of it as a month of anticipation. For years it has meant a trip to Saugatuck and time with two of the people I love dearly, Park and Shar Davis. It is the month of my brother's birthday..August 2...and I look forward to the time we spend together in the winter, not to mention my gratitude that he is still around for birthdays.
August always offers up little hints of autumn, my favorite season. I am usually ready for summer to be over by mid August; by then it is easier to justify the condition of the garden.
And, of course, even still in my old age August brings the anticipation of school, which was always my first love. Now I experience it vicariously thru my son the professor and my granddaughter, the second grader.
August is rich with wonderful sounds too....the cicadas in the evening, the tree frogs all night, the sounds of neighborhood children playing out doors and the thunk of the tennis balls at the courts in our neighboring park.
Welcome, August, but I must warn you that my mind is on list making and preparing for the first part of November and departure to Florida. I will try to keep enough of my mind here to appreciate what you have to offer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
