Happy Birthday, Ron!

It is with immense pride that I recognize my son, Ron, today on his 38th birthday. I can't believe the little blonde, blue-eyed baby boy I held in my arms so many years ago is now 38. Even harder to believe, is how his age dates me. I feel very fortunate to be the mother of such a fine man and I appreciate so much about him. He's funny, responsible, talented, and he used to be handsome. You might find these latest pictures of him to be quite shocking. Perhaps it's the fact that he is turning 38 that caused him to slip into a mid-life crisis, but I was shocked to see what he'd done to his thick curly hair.

Ron has never paid much attention to the fact that his dark, golden locks might need to be trimmed. It's not unusual for him to go months without a haircut. I've mentioned a few times that he needs a haircut, to which he agrees, but nothing is done about it. Well, as you can see, he did something about it this week. He had his daughter, Candice, shave the top of his head bald, leaving the thick clumps of hair in the back and on the sides. He even threatened to do a comb-over. I admit he got a lot of laughs from everyone at work, customers and employees alike. My fear is that as the years go by, what will he do next. Perhaps an orange mohawk? He assures me he will show up at work with his head totally shaved. Maybe it will be an improvement, but I doubt it will be much of one.

Regardless of the damage he has done to the good looks he was blessed with, I still wish him a very happy birthday, complete with homemade chocolate chip cookies. He's invaluable to me at work, and even more invaluable to my life. He may have a new Bozo "do", but I love this kid.

Happy birthday, Ron. You're the best.

Perogies Anyone?

About a month ago my son, Ron, asked for perogies for his 38th birthday. Mind you, perogies are a lot of work. I considered this request and came to the conclusion that since I hadn't made perogies for him since his 30th birthday, it was really not an unreasonable request.

So, like a dutiful and loving mother, I busied myself in the kitchen for hours and toiled over 56 perogies. Making the dough and filling are the easy part. It becomes time-consuming when each perogie is cut out, filled, and the edges crimped with a fork. They rest on clean towels until the last one is made, then they are dropped into boiling water. Once removed from the water they are placed in a bowl and covered with melted butter and onions. A lot of work, but oh yum! Robin and I sneaked a few to eat with our smothered steak for dinner. The rest will be taken to work tomorrow for Ron, along with a carton of sour cream.

His birthday is three days away so I'm sure I'll be back in the kitchen on Tuesday night for homemade peanut butter cookies with extra peanuts. No, Ron isn't spoiled, he's just one of my kids and I love them all very much. Besides, making perogies isn't so bad when they only have to be made every 8 years.

Our Foster Cat

Here's Weasil, our official foster cat. We took him in over a year ago so his Dad could relocate in a place where a cat would not be welcome. Things have not changed. He's still with us and Robin and I have become very loving foster parents. In this picture, Weasil is enjoying some snuggle time under the blanket.

BB's Having A Birthday!

Best Buddie, Cheryl, is celebrating a birthday today. I'll be kind and not mention her age. I will say, however, that she's exactly 13 months younger than me. We've been great friends for 13 1/2 years and her presence in my life is certainly a blessing.

Cheryl, I wish I could take you to lunch to the restaurant by the river in Bandera like you did for me last month. We could repeat the birthday experience with Blizzards, Yahtzee, gifts and naps. Okay, if you really want to go, we can arrange it. Pack your jammies.

Happy birthday, Cheryl, and much love to a cherished friend.

On My Soapbox, 4

Celebrity + Courtroom = Circus. This has always bothered me and now that I have a forum with this blog, I can vent. Why, why, why, do we tolerate the expense of a trial or court hearing so judges and lawyers can draw out their time in the spotlight? This latest circus surrounding Anna Nicole is just another example of the media frenzy that turns a simple court proceeding into a long, drawn-out affair.

I'll be the first to admit that she left a tangled web that is far from simple. I also admit that I have no legal training and can't speak with authority on the issues. But I do have a lot of common sense and it is telling me that if these circumstances involved an unknown, they would have been settled by now.

This is how I would have handled it: Do the autopsy and collect enough DNA to satisfy all concerned parties, and do the embalming the next day. If foul play is not an issue, bury the body after a decent funeral in the area where the deceased has purchased a plot. Make sure all potential fathers have blood drawn and sent to a lab for processing. When a match is found, unite father and daughter and consider the case closed.

Court dockets are full of cases that need to be heard, long trials or hearings cost the county money, and camera-loving judges and attorneys aren't worth the expense. If this story had involved an unknown it wouldn't have been much of a story. It's fodder for the media and they prolong it as long as possible. And, the current media blitz doesn't say much for our legal system.

Judge Larry is a joke. He's in the spotlight and loving every minute of it. While the cameras are rolling, he can make his little jokes (as if the whole process is a laughing matter), take control of the questions (why are lawyers there anyway?), and make his moment of glory last longer than is necessary. I'm sure he's taping these shows to watch over and over in the privacy of his own home. Lucky Larry, Anna Nicole fell into his lap.

This frenzy reminds me of OJ and the ridiculous length of his trial, only to come back with a verdict of innocent. If I, the unknown, had been accused of the same crime, my trial would be over in a week, I'd be carted off to prison, and the key to my cell would be pitched into a bottomless pit. The public feeds on celebrity, the sensational, and the private secrets of those in the public eye. And the individuals who handle the legal side are caught up in their own moment of glory. Do they really hear the case or are they more concerned about their "hair" day? Oh yeah, Judge Larry doesn't have hair.

Florida, California, Texas, and the Bahamas need to join forces and consider what is best for the baby girl. She's the only one who matters right now. If she indeed stands to inherit a large sum of money, set it up in a trust to be given to her at the age of 21, and provide a monthly expense check to help her father raise her with certain advantages. Then bury her poor mother. What's so complicated about that?

Mystery Case Files

As if I needed another computer game to keep me chained to the desk, Cheryl introduced me to the world of Mystery Case Files: Prime Suspects. I've always enjoyed hidden picture puzzles. When Angela was small and had a subscription to Highlights magazine, I grabbed it first and looked for the page with the hidden pictures. Such a simple challenge, but I found it fun.

Robin has complained more than once that I spend too much time in the back room on the computer. Now, I set my laptop on his coffee table in his den and play Mystery Case Files. He even joins in and points out hidden objects that I'm trying to find. This is fairly unusual since Robin isn't into any kind of games. He enjoys this game very much, to the point of having me order Mystery Case Files: Huntsville, which we fell in love with after playing a free trial game. But although he likes the game, he isn't obsessed. He knows when to stop. I don't.

If I'm not at work, cooking dinner or sleeping, you will find me searching for all kinds of fun stuff in this game. I will play it over and over. Cheryl told me the game is very good exercise for the brain since it involves so much memory. So I tell myself it's a healthy form of exercise that my body needs. I can pretty much zoom on through and find everything, but I do get stumped often since some new items are on the list to find. It's safe to say I spend hours exercising my brain. I even exercise in my sleep. Even in my dreams I'm looking for frogs, a lizard, or an artichoke. It's pretty bad when you close your eyes for sleep and see the puzzle, except, of course, if you are taking your mental workout to the limit.

I'm happy I've found a game that Robin and I enjoy doing together. Many times we will sit together on the floor in front of the coffee table and look for objects. Soon, however, Robin gets bored and turns his attention back to the TV. I wish I had his self-control.

One could say I've earned this time to do what I enjoy. There were many years when my time was divided and stretched with family. Now that the pace has slowed, I still feel overly indulgent. There are more productive things I could be doing. I have two books started that I want to finish writing. I could clean baseboards and closets. I could exercise other parts of my body that are being neglected while I stimulate my mind.

More than likely, though, I will wear out Prime Suspects while waiting on Huntsville to be delivered. My body might be entering a vegetative state, but my mind is sharp as a tack. Happy playing.

Post-Valentine Post

Robin and I usually discuss the upcoming Valentine season and consider if we want to join the commercialism or disregard it all together. We never eat out on Valentine's Day since neither of us wants to wait two hours for a table, reservations or not. I haven't lost my sense of romance with age,but have gotten a little more practical. If we do decide to celebrate by eating out, we do it the day before or after.

This year we decided to give each other a little token gift. Robin said he needed a belt and I wanted a new , thicker chain to go with the necklace he gave me for my birthday. I went shopping and selected two belts, one brown and one in black. Then, I spotted the Tommy Hilfiger boxer shorts with hearts and thought I'd like to see my guy in a pair of boxers. I added a fourth little item to the box, a tin of Altoid mints covered in chocolate. It wasn't much, but it was something he asked for and I was happy to oblige.

Robin handed me my little jewelers box and I fully expected to open my new chain. Imagine my surprise when I saw the beautiful pink sapphire and diamond earrings to go with my Christmas ring and birthday necklace! Not just surprise, mind you, but egg on my face as I glanced at his heart-infested boxers! We were definitely NOT on the same page. I scolded him for spending so much on me for a simple occasion like Valentine's Day, all the while ripping those earrings from their box and sticking them in my ear. Notice I didn't demand that he take them back.

Thank you, Baby, for making me feel like a princess!

"I told You So!"

In a previous post, under "The Joys of Marriage" I reflected on the thermostat wars in my home between Robin and me. To refresh your memory, he is always cold but in summer attire, and I'm dressed for winter and burning up. We sneak around and lower/raise the thermostat until the other complains. I was always responsible for the electric bill so I tried to use common sense and monitor the thermostat.

Well, times have changed. The mortgage is now paid in full and I gladly handed the electric bill to Robin to pay. His first payment was last month, well over $600. I made up my mind that I'd quit being a pain in the neck about it since I no longer had to pay the bill. I gave Robin full control over the thermostat. The result: The bill came in yesterday at over $800! He was shocked. I don't know why he was shocked. But I do know why it was higher. The "thermostat monitor" had left her post.

I'm willing to bet that Robin will be more conscious now when he dresses or nears the switch that sends enough warmth in our home that we could become nudists and feel comfortable with it. I'm thinking that this new pain in his wallet will wake him up.

Last week he was walking around the house in a summer T shirt and telling me he has felt so cold all day long. In the meantime, I'm standing there peeling off layers because the heat is so high in the house. I finally told him, "I know you won't believe this, but I actually saw people dressed for winter today because of this weather." You're kidding.

Oh well, at least I don't have to foot the bill any more.

Tainted Peter Pan

When the story broke about Peter Pan possibly containing salmonela we quickly checked our brand new economy-sized jar of crunchy peanut butter. Sure enough, the numbers on the lid began with 2111. It's now sitting on the counter to be sent for a refund or trashed all together.

The interesting part is that it had been opened by us once, and smeared on my mother's homemade wheat bread with some honey. We suffered no adverse effects from it. Either the salmonela is hiding lower in the jar, is not present at all, or the healthy flaxseed, cracked wheat and wheat germ in my mother's bread counteracted the dangerous properties of salmonela. Good vs. evil.

I prefer the last explanation. I like to think that all the hard work and good ingredients that go into the making of all those loaves of bread that keeps 30+ kids coming back for more, has power over a simple thing like salmonela. But to be on the safe side, we will not eat any more of it. My reasoning for that is that sometimes Robin eats peanut butter sandwiches on regular, white, store-bought bread. I just can't imagine! The empty calories of white bread could never ward off the dangers of salmonela, so we aren't taking any chances.

Sophia's Dedication

Sophia was dedicated to the Lord on Saturday, February 10. It was a lovely ceremony with a slide show of the family and a sweet picture of the star attraction left on the screen. I tried to post the picture but the blog wouldn't accept the format.

Sophia's grandpa, Jerry, an ordained minister, performed the ceremony. Having an important member of the family doing the dedication makes it very special. Sophia, of course, was well behaved and never made a whimper. She's such a good baby.

After church services, Allison treated us to a delicious pasta meal with homemade Italian bread, which I really indulged in. Dessert was another homemade specialty, pound cake with a topping of strawberries and blueberries. I ate so much that I crashed on Allison's bed while she was nursing Sophia. Within minutes, the two of them joined me in slumber. I hope Robin, Jerry, Sharon, and Brian will forgive us for leaving them with a messy kitchen and two active children.

Welcome, Sophia, to not only our house, but God's house as well. We love you so much.

My Real Age is OLD!

I found an interesting site where one can do the survey and see how one's calendar age relates to their real age. I took the test and was amazed by the results.

In all fairness to me, many positive things contributed to a "younger" me, like the age of my living parents, lack of a history of ovarian and breast cancer in my family, my driving habits, my BMI, and the fact that I swim in a very healthy gene pool.

My failure to exercise in all the ways the survey suggested aged me considerably. As did my diet. Too much red meat, not enough flossing, or fruits, or vegetables or fish. I will disregard the recommendations about fish since I won't eat anything that ever lived in a body of water. My junk food fixations also added a few years to my calendar age.

The good part about the survey - once recovered from the shock of the new age - is that it gives a detailed pattern to follow to reverse the aging process. If followed, the next test results could be much lower than the actual age. Unfortunately, one has to be disciplined and put the plan into action.

I must admit that the list of what I was doing wrong was longer than the list of things in my favor. I'm wishing I'd had a total vegetable meal last night instead of a Frito Chili Pie that tasted ohhhh so good. I have nothing against vegetables. In fact, I love most of them. The trick will be getting the husband to try again those foods he's always hated. And, to discipline myself to coming home from work and washing, dicing, cutting, and cooking vegetables instead of choosing an easy, less nutritious meal.

If you dare discover your "real age", go to www.RealAge.com and answer the questions. It takes awhile, and an hour or so for the results to be e-mailed to you, but it's worth the time spent. If you're looking for a self-improvement course, this is it. Change your lifestyle and extend your life.

I'm still in somewhat of a shock over my Real Age so I won't reveal it right now. It's bad enough that I just had a birthday and thought that new age was shocking, without adding some years on top of it. Let's just say I need to end this post and see if my dentures are still soaking or have somehow made it back into my mouth.

Valentine Baking . . .

Or How To Make A Mess With Grandchildren.

Robin and I kept Jude and Baylee today so their parents could have a deserved day out. Part of our activities included decorating heart-shaped cupcakes I'd baked the night before. We used a strawberry cake mix for its pink color and the complimenting strawberry frosting. We had sprinkles and small heart-shaped cookies to adorn the tops of the cakes. This was Jude's and Baylee's special Valentine surprise for their parents.

As a boy, Jude found the activity fairly mundane. He ate the second cupcake he iced, and opted for sticking a cookie on top of the thrid cupcake without any frosting. Then he was off for more male-oriented fun.

Baylee, however, stayed interested long enough to frost 5 cupcakes. She had her own technique: ice a streak on the cupcake, lick the knife, ice a streak, lick the knife. I made sure those cupcakes made it home with Mom and Dad. Both little angels had "Happy Valentine's Day" ready when their parents arrived to take them and their masterpieces home.

On My Soap Box, 3

I would like to know the definition of the word "accountability". I think most people have forgotten its meaning, at least as it applies to personal accountability. It's everyone else's fault but our own. We are constantly pointing fingers and take no responsibility for our own actions. This really grates on my nerves.

Is it really a restaurant's fault that we do not know what a normal serving looks like or what constitutes a healthy meal? Do we need to be told the coffee is hot and we should be careful? And if we aren't careful, we can sue the restaurant because we don't know how to drive and drink coffee at the same time. Isn't the act of driving our only responsibility at the time?

If I choose to indulge in a Big Mac every day I can now sue the company for making high-calorie burgers. It's no longer necessary for me to assume that my diet is my responsibility. Oh no. The restaurant has made me fat and has clogged my arteries to the point that I have shortened my life span, and someone other than me needs to pay the damages.

And what about our kids? They are perfect, of course, and the teachers and the police and anyone else who attempts to correct them will end up in court. If Little Johnny brings a gun to school, can the school be blamed for a lack of stronger security measures? It wouldn't surprise me. I remember the "old days" when teachers were right and the child had to prove their innocence to their parents. Somehow, parents have become blind to the actions of their young. They don't want to be accountable. Rather than raising them with a healthy respect for authority, it's easier to encourage bad behavior by blaming someone else. The children grow up and continue the process because they have never learned to be held accountable for their own actions.

If we make a mistake we should make it right or suffer the consequences. We shouldn't point the blame elsewhere. So many lawsuits end up in court when they have no business to be there. If fast food restaurants want to grill their high-calorie foods, let them. We have a choice. We can go there and indulge, or opt for foods that are high in fiber and nutrition. If we are a slave to a certain food or habit, we need to look in the mirror and point a finger. No one forced us into that situation.

It's lunch time and I'm heading out to buy a junior burger and fries. If I tip the scales tomorrow or end up in cardiac arrest over it, I will be held accountable. I could have chosen oatmeal.

Good-bye, Bandera

It's Friday evening and Cheryl and I will pack up in the morning and head to my house. This is always a bittersweet time for us. We miss our families and we want to stay here. We can't have both. Today was strictly pajamas, junk food and more Yahtzee. We've played 162 games so far (the night isn't over), we have laughed soooo hard, we have talked and talked. I was reminded that our week was coming to an end when Cheryl told me she was tired of seeing me in the red velour shirt I've worn over my pajamas for warmth.

Note the three deer who were grazing in front of our condo. Also, I've included more pictures of our fun-filled week. This is our fourth visit to Bandera and I have a feeling it won't be our last. We keep coming back for the beauty and solitude. I don't know when we've felt so relaxed.

Bandera, it's so hard to say good-bye.

Rooms with a View

More pictures of our condo. Due to drought conditions, the creek we love to hear at night has dried up a lot, but still a little water. Deer in the front yard are a common sight. We even saw four just sitting in someone's front yard like dogs! So cute. Friday, as always, will be another pajama day as we take full advantage of our last day in paradise.

My Baby's Having A Baby!

How thrilled I am to learn that my daughter, Angela, and her husband, Clayton, are expecting their third child. They suffered the loss of two miscarriages last year and have been on pins and needles waiting for the Ultrasound that was performed today. It showed a healthy 8-week baby with a strong heartbeat. Praise God for answered prayers! The due date is September 4, and this Memaw will be there helping the new family of five while Angela gets on her feet. What a blessing! Number 9 is on the way!

Thursday in Bandera

We finally cleaned up and stepped out of the condo for the second time. I actually washed my hair and applied makeup, something that is rare when we have our week in Bandera. But, it actually felt good to be clean and we went to devour some Mexican food. After that we made another stop at Piggly Wiggly for a few things we needed, bought more Blizzards for the freezer, and headed back to change into our beloved pajamas. We pack more pajamas for this trip than regular clothes but it fits our lifestyle so perfectly.

The pictures are of us in the restaurant and some random shots of our condo. This place is beautiful! We spend so much time here that we definitely get our money's worth. We both needed this journey to Paradise in Bandera.

Bandera - This is Life!

We finished our Butterfinger Blizzards under the cover while watching Criminal Minds on TV. Notice the hair and lack of makeup. Holed up and lazy. There is nothing like it. We're having a ball, not to mention getting plenty of rest and calories.

Trivia: I was the first to break down and shave my legs (Cheryl has bows for hers) but Cheryl was the first to wash her hair. I'm still waiting.

Piggly Wiggly

What fun we have at the local Piggly Wiggly in Bandera. They changed the name of the store, but it's still Piggly Wiggly to us. Once the trunk is free of luggage we go shopping to stock the condo's kitchen. And boy! do we stock it! Keep in mind, this is Friends Week and all diets are on hold. This is a special time of indulgence and Cheryl and I know how it's done! We bought a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts and a few cream-filled, an assortment of candies, a coffee cake, chips and dips, crackers and cheese, sodas, breads, lunch meat, and for good measure, a few tomatoes and bottled water. It is now Wednesday and we've only ventured out once to eat out on my birthday. We have enough food to stay inside and let the world around us turn cold.

We have played almost 100 games of Yahtzee, taken naps every day, and watched very little TV. We are so calm and relaxed! I could really get used to this. I'd love to buy this condo and retire here. Impossible right now, I know, but a lovely dream of mine.

Here's Cheryl in the frozen food aisle picking out our Sarah Lee coffee cake. yum!

My Bandera Birthday

What a beautiful place to spend a birthday! Especially if one wants a very relaxed atmosphere. Cheryl treated me to our favorite restaurant on the river and our waiter, Robert, gave us a complimentary slice of banana cake with one lighted candle. Then it was back to the condo and pajamas. Cheryl gave me four gifts during the course of the day: a mouse for my laptop which I so wanted, a mauve blouse, a matching camisole, and a pretty tan purse. I feel very spoiled and pampered. I also got phone calls from friends and family which completed the day for me. Oh, did I mention that we indulged in Butterfinger Blizzards? A birthday isn't complete without ice cream!