June 5

Happy Birthday Brenda!

I have a sister who is 3 years younger than me. We don't see each other too often as she lives about 5 hours away in West Virginia.

I looked but couldn't find any pictures of us on the computer. I will have to get one next time we are together.

I keep hoping one of these days she will get online. Something about living in the hills of WV and cable not readily available.

Stacy

June 4

Today's Prompt: What's the first thing that pops into your mind when you think of your father?

My dad's jacket hanging in my closet. Fishing. Beer.

Stacy

June 3

Today's prompt: Define 'FREEDOM'

Websters has 17 definitions for the word. Seventeen!

So how do I define 'Freedom'?

With these pictures:

Because of these brave: (This is our Honor wall at my house)
And these brave:
And they were proudly honored Monday by these students and many citizens:

And finished by playing Taps on the hill.

Teen is the far one on the left. His friend John was the first player and my son was the echo. We were so proud of him. My heart swelled until the tears fell from my eyes that day. I cried not only because of the pride I had for my son, but also for what so many have done for us.

Stacy

June 2

Today's prompt: What is your favorite poem?

I'm not quite sure I have a favorite poem. Although I am not big on poetry, I can pick a few that I do like for various reasons.

Naturally there is Robert Frost - The Road Not Taken - I think everyone at one time or another had to read this in school. And this poem is also used a lot in Commencement speeches.

I have always been fascinated with darker subjects as well, which brings me to Edgar Allan Poe - The Raven - This is not his only work that I like. He is probably the poet/author I remember most from Literature classes. Perhaps reading him in high school is where I got my love of horror movies. I loved reading - The Cask of Amontillado, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Fall of the House of Usher (and the movie with Vincent Price was good too), and who doesn't know The Tell-Tale Heart?

Then there are the complete opposite with Emily Dickinson - Hope is the Thing With Feathers how beautiful and thought provoking are her poems.

But one I remember reading the most (besides Poe) has to be Helen Steiner Rice - This Too Shall Pass. Her poems were everywhere at my Grandma's. I may even still have a poetry book of hers on the shelf from my Grandma's collection. I remember also reading her work in a magazine I think was called Reflections?

And of course the poems that I read the most now would have to be the Psalms and Proverbs in the Bible.

Even though I couldn't pick just one poem, is there one that is your favorite?

Stacy

June 1

I have really gotten out of the habit of blogging a few times a week lately and have fallen more into the once a month. I want to change that and go back to blogging more often. So I am going to try to do the June NaBloPoMo to get me going again. The theme for June is Now and they are also giving daily prompts. That can be a big help if I get stuck. This month will be sprinkled with some of the prompts and some of my own stuff.

I'll start with a prompt though: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Hmmm....I can remember wanting to be a teacher. I played school a lot. I remember the girl down the street, Kelly, who had a blackboard and everything in her playroom and we would trade off being the student and the teacher.

I can also remember wanting to be a mom. But that is probably most girls dreams.

And a funny one I remember wanting to be was a private investigator. It was the time of Remington Steele (who, btw, I was going to marry) and Moonlighting.

One thing I didn't want to be was a nurse. My mum is a nurse and I heard too many horror stories. Not just about patients, but the doctors and the industry in general.

The funny part about that last one is when I worked in the orthodontist office, I really really loved it. I loved the patients and the constant change but yet the same.

I have considered taking classes to be a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) but as much as I love the elderly and would love talking with them and helping them, changing adult diapers and bathing them does not appeal to me in the least.

So for now I will work in an office until I can find a way to get where I want to be. I recently figured that out, just have to see how it plays out in the future.

So, when you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Stacy

Tail Tale

Last week I had to take Tween to the doctor. While we were taken back to the room almost on time, we still had to sit in that room for a while until the doctor came in.

Anytime I know we are going to the doctors and know there is going to be a wait I try to make sure I have something in mind for Little S to do.

Many times we just play tic*tac*toe on the paper covering the exam table.

Sometimes I have him draw pictures. Above is his family and below are boxes with his favorites. SpongeBob, blowing bubbles, riding the slide, his cat, etc

And sometimes we have educational times. Like when we read Highlights (a timeless staple in every doctors office) and do the activities in it. Or I make up some little game or something.

Last week I decided to quiz him about where certain body parts are. I started out easy with eyes, nose, toes, etc. Then I got a little harder with eyebrows, thigh, shin, earlobe, etc. Once we got through those I started on some tough ones such as shoulder blade, gluteus maximus, phalanges etc.

We were having fun and laughing and then I asked him where his tailbone was. He got a puzzled look on his face and quite seriously told me: "Tailbone? I don't have a tail!" lol

The more I tried to explain it to him the more he thought I was just being silly. The kid cracks me up.

Stacy

Vehicle

Not long ago I wrote a post about my car and all of the accidents and dings that had happened to it: Car

My car had finally hit the point where it was nickle and diming us on top of the fact that we still owed money on it. We were going to have to put a lot more money into it to pass inspection than what we would ever get out of it in the end. So hubby and I decided to start looking for a newer vehicle.

It was the end of the month when dealerships are looking to make a deal so I decided to start looking around. I wanted something different this time. I have been driving a minivan for many years now. I love the room and the third row seating, but so many Crossovers and SUV's now have the third row seating.


We looked at many different cars online and on lots. I decided that I really liked the Dodge Journey so I went to the local dealership as there was one listed on their website.




When I got to the dealership it did not have the third row seating that I wanted. And after looking at the lot model I decided that it just didn't have the roominess that I was looking for. I guess after driving and riding in a van for so long I have gotten used to all of the leg room and cabin space.


What they did have on the lot was an '08 Chrysler Town & Country Touring model. My last 2 vehicles were Chevy Ventures but Chevy no longer makes that model and neither of us cared for the newer Chevy Uplander.


As determined as I was not to get another van when I sat in the Chrysler I fell in love with it. It had so many of the newer features that we really liked. Among them Stow n Go seating, second row windows that go down not just pop out, deep drop trunk for more storage, separate driver/passenger/rear air controls, lots of storage, low mileage and so many other just little things that I really liked.


Here is a picture of our new car:

Ours is actually silver. We have had it for two weeks now and I just love it. I again feel comfortable driving my car. I am not afraid that it is going to break down or fall apart while I am on a trip or even just around here.

This is the first time I dealt with a dealership mostly on my own due to Hubby's work schedule and outside activities. I am proud of myself for getting them down almost $6K on the price and for being strong and not caving into their tactics.

The highlight of the whole deal was when I walked into the dealership with a check in hand and the title to my old vehicle and asked the salesman for an additional key. See they aren't keys so much as little computerized things. This is the key:The salesman balked and asked if I knew how much those cost and that he couldn't just give me another key. I looked at him and said "I have a check in my hand for that vehicle out there and I have the title to my old car. I can just as easily take this check and my car and go somewhere else. So if you are willing to lose a deal over a key then we are walking out the door."

My Hubby was so proud of me! The salesman hem hawed around a little more but when he realized I was completely serious he magically didn't have to special order a key after all and within 20 minutes I had a second key.

I have to give a shout out to our Credit Union because without them backing us, we would have never been able to afford a newer vehicle. I will never use a bank again. We have been with them for over 10 years and I have never had a problem with them. Plus it makes it so much easier to deal with car salesman when you are holding all of the cards and they are not looking at your credit telling you what you can and can't do.

Stacy

Busy

Teen is now a licensed driver. WooHoo! He passed on the first try. The hardest part of the test in these parts of the woods is the parallel parking. And for the life of me (and many others) I can't figure out why you have to parallel park to pass your test. I actually think that the permit (written part) test is much harder to pass.

I am so glad that prom is only once a year. I don't think I slept at all last weekend. Well maybe a few hours.

We started out Friday afternoon by going to W*Mart to get prom pictures, then to Taco Bell for late lunch as dinner wasn't until 8:30 pm, then back here for pictures and on to Grand March.

Prom was until midnight and then the school sponsored and after-prom until 2am. The kids left about 1am and headed back here to crash. The boys in Teen's room and his girlfriend and I in the living room (the other girl went home).

I have to mention how much I love our florist. Look how great the flowers matched her dress. Plus they put the flowers on a bracelet that she can keep long after prom.

We got back up bright and early Saturday as Teen had to run an early errand. The kids then went out on J's uncles boat for a while. It was cold and rainy and windy. Even though the boat has a cabin (with kitchenette, living room and bath) it was still too cold and choppy to do much and the fish weren't biting at all. As they were tarping the boat the wind kicked up and took Teen's Steelers hat and fishing license right out into the water. lol

They all came back here and crashed for a few hours, ate and then headed out to midnight bowling. It ended at 2 am so I was again up late.

Sunday morning we were up bright and early again for church.

Everyone had a great time and I am almost caught up on my sleep.

Lots more soon!

Stacy

Recovering

I am recovering from Prom. No I did not attend or even chaperon. I did however let some over tired giggly teens spend the night here after prom. They finally settled down at 3 am. I went to sleep around 3:30 but kept waking up all night. I probably got 2 straight hours of sleep all night.

Then I had a busy & drama filled day today.

So for now I will leave you with this:

Not sure if Teen will ever be serious...lol They had a great time.

Stacy

Question Bucket

Sorry for the lack of postings, this is a really busy week. I will be back shortly with lots of pictures and details. The good news is the busy stuff is mostly fun!

There is a lot of end of the school year stuff to get through as well. One thing that Teen is working on for his 'Life Skills' class is a Bucket List. He has to list 100 things he wants to achieve before he dies. He's got about 45. He is stuck and mostly everything I mention he has already added.

So think back to when you were a junior in high school and tell me a few things that perhaps your adult self has accomplished but something your 11th grade self would add to your list.

Thanks,
Stacy