Archive for August, 2012

Old Chicken Neck

Friday, August 31st, 2012

Who wants to look old?

I've shared before how the "forties" are trying to do me in.  It's not like I'm clinging to my youth; wearing Hollister tee's & getting a tattoo.  I simply want to keep things fresh and not look like I'm a hundred years old.

Which brings me to my neck…

It has come to this.  Oh cute clothes and a pretty make-up'd face can deduct a few years off of your "real" age but……ladies, you can't hide your neck!  As soon as you look a few inches down from your pretty eyes, there it is.  Now, I don't know the condition of your neck….but mine?  Is scraggly!  It looks almost chicken like.  Or as if I've lived a rough life.

I wish I could cry, "When did this happen?".  But I can't.  I watched it happen.  Slowly, of course.  Every bathroom session, I've rubbed cream and lotions up and down it's wrinkly skin.  Still, it stares right back at me….old and worn out!  Hanging there, like a piece of old leather.

Like the author Nora Ephron, I feel bad about my neck too!

I've kicked into serious maintenance mode even though there are no possibilities of running into an old boyfriend or classmate.  I've read up on the best foods to eat for your skin (I don't like most of them, of course) and I've even bought into some fancy creams that are supposed to help "tone it up"!

Once the neck goes, you're old!

I guess I started noticing I'm not 30 something anymore when my hair took on it's own life.  It turned wiry and grey (not 50 shades, just ugly grey).  Cutting it, styling it, coloring it…nothing makes it behave.  It just does what it wants to do as if it's trying to tell me, "Just get old and move forward!".  I'm still fighting it!

My method of punishment… is a ponytail when it refuses to obey!  But what can you do to an old neck?  You're stuck!  So, tell me.  What is your nemesis these days?  How do you hide from it or make it work for you?

For me, I'm making the best of it because the way I see it, I'm still alive!  That's worth celebrating even if my neck is saggy and my hair is grey.  So while I'm left here to love and enjoy my life, I'll do the fashion savvy thing and wear a scarf!

A scarf can hide a multitude of sins, right?

–neckline too low?  cover it with a scarf!

–belly too chubby?  cover it with a scarf!

–neck all saggy?  cover it with a scarf!

–outfit not so awesome?  cover it with a scarf!

Have a great long weekend, friends!  And hey, kiss August goodbye while you're at it!

 

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Fall Bucket List

Thursday, August 30th, 2012

 

Since my air-conditioning is still iffy in my extremely hot car…I thought it would only be fitting for me to dream a little about the crispy cool fall weather that is just around the corner.  It is just around the corner, right?  Oh, it has to be.  I can't sweat take it much longer.  Hot hot hot!

Oh Indiana!  I love your beautiful fall weather with your bright lovely leaves and your hoodies & jeans.  I don't think I could ever miss another cool autumn again by moving back to Florida.  Unless there's a beach house involved and if that's the case….I'm outta here, y'all!

I know, my loyalties are wishy-washy!  But a beach bum….I am!

 

FALL BUCKET LIST

Decorate my front door area with fall mums & pumpkins.

Cook my family's favorite soups.

Take a trip to Brown County.

Go on a picnic with my hubby on the Ohio river.

Ride bikes with my kids.

Go camping.

Sit by the fire pit.

Bake breads & muffins.

Can pumpkin butter & jelly.

Vote for my new President!

 

What's your favorite season?  How will you celerate & enjoy it to the fullest?

Isaac’s Coming

Tuesday, August 28th, 2012

When I first heard the news of Isaac….I had a funny feeling.  I knew he was headed up the Florida coast and aiming towards poor New Orleans.  But as I've experienced in the past, hurricanes/tropical storms know just how to find Indiana.

Hello, September 2008's Hurricane Ike?

I couldn't have been more shocked to get hit by a hurricane way up here.  That little incident tore up my little town and knocked out our power lines for a week.  School was closed, groceries lost and property trashed.

All the way up in Indiana!

So the news that this Labor Day weekend would be spent hunkering down once again by way of another visiting hurricane, bummed me out.  I don't mind the rain.  The wind, it bothers me.  Trees trees trees surround my house.  Gigantic old trees that sway and fall at the drop of a hat.  If lines go down in my town, my neighborhood is first to take the hit.

I don't mind dealing with a gloomy weekend…but no power or flooding?  No thanks, Isaac!  You can just pass on by, dude!

How's that for weekend plans?  Be safe, friends.  Keep praying for everyone in the path of this monster.

We Have No Choice

Monday, August 27th, 2012

—–WARNING—– This is a political post!  —–WARNING—–

Read at your own risk!!

 

On Saturday while I sat on my porch reading and listening to the birds.  I used the quiet time to catch up on what's going on out in the world of blogs.  I happened upon a post that literally made my blood boil.  A political punch in the belly might be more accurate.

Remember, I'm probably the most conservative person you will ever meet.  There isn't a smidge of "left" in or near my body unless you count my friend B and I'm not giving her up.  Besides, she's cool with thinking and believing differently than me and so that works for us.

Don't ask for a link to the post (I'm still trying to pull it back up).  Somehow the writer has it limited to who can respond or comment (Gee, I wonder why).  Even though the blog that I read the post on… is a blog I read frequently.  I was also logged in to leave a comment.  Still, it wouldn't take my comment.  Grrr!

I'm blown away by the crazy lies Obama supporters are willing to write down.  This particular blogger was pointing her fury at Paul Ryan and his supposed "war on women".  Seriously?  You did know that was the new smoke & mirrors, right?  I don't think I can take much more.  The idea that Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan are out to strip women of all their rights (when it comes to their body) is pathetic!  I'm not buying it and my prayer is that other women aren't either and that they're seeking out the truth!  Which is pretty much what the left wants to keep hidden from the American voter.

I've said it before and I'll say it again….our country is in trouble!  Something has to change.  (Thanks for all that change, Mr. President)  Every single day that goes by under our current administration is another day closer to complete disaster.  Politically speaking, we need to make it our priority to get involved and learn what's what in governmental business.  Too many Americans are sitting back and letting government have their way simply by not caring what they do.  Or trusting them to "handle" it, somehow.

That is dangerous!

When I hear a someone say, "I'm not really into politics!"….what I actually hear in my head is –> I don't care about what happens to my money, family or way of living.  Which is something I just can't believe!  As a citizen, each of us should be burdened when government steps across the line (and dudes & dudettes, they are doing it everyday) by making choices for you and me that are unethical, outlandish & outrageously expensive!!

Look where our economy is at the current moment.  It's drowning in debt and much of that debt was preventable.  It's time we get involved and stand up with our voices to big government.  I don't need them to pay my bills or provide my birth control but some may and I understand that.  Many in our society make it the government's job to support them and have no other plan of action as for caring for themselves.  Need versus entitlement are two different situations.  Somehow, our leaders have to step up to the plate and focus on what is most important.

Our job?  Is to get interested in politics.  No longer can you and I flutter through our days ignoring what the guys up top are doing.  It's of dire importance for each of us to read, read and read some more and be as informed as we possibly can.

November 6th is fast approaching…we have no choice!

PS-The left wants to paint this election as a war on women.  I hope you can see the war is on all Americans not just women.  No one is winning as it stands right now.  God, help us as we choose leaders of this amazing country.  Amen.

If you haven't heard of the documentary just released to play at select theatres across the USA–2016, I recommend you take the time to see it.  It's pretty eye-opening as to the roots and reasons for much of what our President has accomplished in his term.  I also recommend the book The Amateur by Edward Klein.

Saturday Morning Silence

Saturday, August 25th, 2012

I'm up early today because that's what I do now.  Actually, it's what I did all summer too.  My kids had to be up and gone for jobs & school so I conditioned my own self to do the same.  I hate that feeling of over-sleeping and then having to hurry all stressed out.  So getting up was my way of helping everyone get to their spots.

I know….I'm amazing!

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This morning, my girl pups and I are outside enjoying the newly arriving fall weather.  It's not quite cool during the middle of the day yet…but it is wonderful in the mornings and evenings.  I'll take that anyday over the boiling temps we've had all summer.  Thanks to the extreme heat we've paid mucho higher electric bills, water bills and lost two cars air-conditioning.  Both mine and Gavin's cars no longer blow cold air.  Each one of them too complicated for the shade tree mechanics to fix.  Oh and on my car?  The front passenger (also called shotgun) door and window do not work.  So, imagine riding in that seat after school when the car has heated up to a million degrees.  Go ahead, call me white trash!  This might make me deserve it.

It is a nightmare!  You have to wait for someone to let you out!  Awesome!

I had to make a grocery store run after school yesterday and by the time Gates & I made it back home (we also had to run through the bank drive-thru)….we were soaking wet and sick from the burning car.  Misery!

I'm thankful for a "paid for" car…just throwing that in here.

And for this morning, God arranged a cool shady breeze loaded with sweet whistling birds just for me.  I can sit outside on my back porch while the whole world seems to be quietly waiting to wake up and get started.  I'm glad I didn't sleep in and miss it.

Tell me–What are you doing this weekend?

Tow Trucking

Friday, August 24th, 2012

You know….there are just some things you shouldn't blog about.  When I posted all about coming UNGLUED yesterday, I had no idea that within hours…I'd be put to the ultimate mama test.

I'll give you a hint—-

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Yea, someone would break down on the side of a busy highway, while I was in the middle of class (and couldn't hear my phone) and all by herself!

Oh yes, that one.  The cute little blonde standing in the picture.  Of course she was far away too.  She was heading over to Bloomington to spend the day with her boyfriend after scoring a super grade on her first math test of the semester! She didn't quite make it there.  Her car had other plans, like a water pump malfunction.  On a long, lonely highway in Brown County (one of Indiana's most beautiful areas).

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I don't recommend this as a form of fun family bonding.  No, this was stressful and dangerous.  Both Ally & I went along with the guys (hubby & son) to "help" out.  I don't think we were anything but comic relief but hey, we were there to share the burden.

I will be honest.  Traffic is not safe.  Being broke down on a highway like that was uber dangerous.  The entire time we were trying to get that beast loaded, cars/trucks/semis, you name it….soared past us right beside us.  The majority of them didn't even try to scoot an inch over.

If I ever had a moment….  that I wanted to come Unglued.  

So, remember that shade tree mechanic Saturday we had last weekend?  Yea, we'll be doing that again this weekend.  I'm so grateful for the nice Sheriff Deputy that came by almost immediately and picked up my beautiful girl.  She was scared and crying…..and he certainly saved me from running straight out of a class full of students to rescue her.  I'm thankful my hubby dropped everything and took off for her…an hour away at that point.  I'm proud and thankful that her boyfriend (Tyler) grabbed his dog Leif and headed to her and stayed with her at the gas station/restaurant until her dad arrived.  And last, I'm so happy to have such a nice neighbor (Eric) that loaned us his car trailer.  

All of these blessings, reminds me……I have a wonderful God that cares about every single detail of our lives.  I don't have to wig out.  He is in control!

Have a great weekend, friends!