The Sweetest Thing

I found out today at work how important friends are. No matter how bad something feels or seems, friends are the ones that get mad because of the injustice that is served on you, they are the ones that have you laughing at yourself and the situation and they just understand. The last couple of days have been tough but tonight things seem a little better. I have a lot of good, good friends at work and also away from work. I realize how lucky I am.

Dance is one of the most powerful forms of magical ritual... It is an outer expression of the inner spirit.

I posted that picture along with that phrase tonight on Facebook and it brought back so many memories of my younger days of when I moved back to MO and made new friends. We use to pile up in one or two vehicles and go to all kinds of street dances in the summer and fall. It was so much fun, we'd travel distances to hear the bands and just dance the night away. In the winter when it was to cold for the dances we would all congregate at the bar in Urich, The Town Tavern, and play pool, listen to the jukebox and sometimes the owner Jr Anderson would have fish fries, mountain oyster fry or what ever. There would be a potluck, everyone would bring in a dish and the place would be packed. Of course there has never been a hamburger as good as Jr's and there never will be. Nothing but ground beef and some seasoning but they were delicious. I can still taste them. It was a good place ran by good people. There will never be another Town Tavern like that one.

When we weren't doing that on the weekends we would play Volleyball. Now for those of you that know me, I am not much of a sports player, let alone volleyball. It was a serious game and man, you could get hurt playing. My husband, Josh's dad, was very competitive and him, along with his best friend Bo....you'd better get out of the way because they were going to get that ball no matter what. It was fun though but really more fun to sit on the sidelines and watch.

Bringing up Bo reminds me of a funny story about him. One night there were about three of us out riding around and it was quite late. We decided to run by Bo and Elise's house and get Elise to come and have fun with us. Why we thought she'd want to come with us I'm not sure, especially since she had two little ones, Josh and Andrea. Anyway, we stop by like at 1:30 knocking on the door. All lights are out, no TV on....ya think they were probably in bed??? Well anyway here comes Bo to the door, now visualize this. The only thing he had on was a TUBE SOCK!!! Cracked us up. He goes in his ever famous Bo talk, "I had to put on something, mama wouldn't let me answer the door stark naked!!!" We had some good times.

Well, I'm getting off here. Enjoy life people and make the best of it. It makes for some fun memories.

Coulda Been Better, Coulda Been Worse

Today was definitely a day I want to write off. It wasn't totally terrible. I woke up in Harrisonville this morning around 5:30. I had to be in El Dorado Springs at 8:30am. Had packed the car the night before so all I had to do is get up, get dressed and leave. Placed Terry's Valentine's card in a place that he would be sure and see it. In the bathroom on the sink. Off I drove and everything was good. While I was in El Dorado my work phone rings and they were sitting me up for an interview for another position I am applying for. After this one I am going to lay low for a little while I think. We'll see what comes around the pike. Got to the office and that is when things got a little sticky but it will all be okay. Long story and don't feel like getting into it. Then I get a call from a facility in Joplin and I had to run down there this afternoon. I drove a little over 300 miles today so needless to say, I am tired and a little cranky. :o)

Apartment stinks. Forgot to dump the trash Friday and didn't get back to the apartment until today. I am trying to think what I made last week. I know I made homemade vegetable beef soup with cabbage and I also made beans with ham hocks too, I think. I know I put it all in the freezer and can just grab a freezer bag out when I want. But whatever I have in the trash it smells like a rotten cooked cabbage fest in here. Man, it stinks. I have one of those burners where you put the scented wax in and turn the light bulb on. I got it last year from Jenny (my daughter in law) for Christmas. I love it and use it all the time. Well, it's not cutting the cake with this smell. I am going to have to buy some Fabreeze (or however you spell it) tomorrow. Along with some laundry detergent. I meant to pick it up in Harrisonville this weekend but I forgot my debit card down here. Wasn't that just as convenient as all get out. LOL

Cutting it off short. I'm tired tonight. Maybe I will be rested up and will write more tomorrow. We'll see. Good night all.

Sleep, sleep, sleep

Well, what do you think of it? I get tired of the same background and the winter background just doesn't feel right. We really haven't even had a real winter or a real snow here this year. I mean, I'm glad we didn't get what the East Coast got but we sure could use the moisture. We truly aren't out of the drought. It's scary in this neck of the woods.

As I prepare for Valentine's Day, walking into the stores I think of the sadness this day has connected to it. In 20 years, I may have gotten two gifts at Valentines and didn't get Christmas or Birthday presents either. It use to hurt me but after a while the hurt just turned in anger and then into hardness. It was hard for me to get back into the romantic-ness of getting each other little tokens. I am learning and after three years you would think that it would be easier but it isn't. Hard to explain and I don't plan to tonight. Just gives me a lot of mixed emotions.

Spent the day with Patsey, driving around the area getting errands done. We had a really nice lunch together just visiting. We have been friends for so long that we don't have to explain anything. We both know our history, that is what is nice about friends you have had for a long time. No explaining why you say what you say!!! As always, we had fun.

Well, getting off of here. Will have more to write tomorrow maybe. This is a fun song and fun video. I hadn't heard it before or the artist, that I can remember. Enjoy and Be good.

Emma Grace

She's 5 months old today and she is one of the most beautiful little girls I have ever set my eyes or lips on. Well, maybe second most beautiful. Madison has 9 years of that place in my heart but Miss Emma Grace runs a close second. Terry and I ran to the store to pick me up a new computer and we were eating at Famous Dave's. A really good BBQ place, not my favorite but isn't a bad replacement for the favorite. Anyway, we were sitting there and Terry goes, "I got a text from Jeremy." I'm like what does it say and Terry has the best smile any Grandpa could ever have on his face (it just glowed) and turns the phone so I could see and there she was. That gorgeous little sweetie. I told Jeremy she is adorable and that we loved getting the pic!!! I told Terry we need to get back out there as fast as we can, she is nothing but skin and bones!!! We are lucky individuals, we have two beautiful little girls, two beautiful daughter in laws and the daddy's aren't bad either. I've said it before and will say it again....love my family! Remember, if they don't remember anything else, they will remember how you made them feel as they were growing up.

Excited about my new computer but I have Windows 8 now. The salesman was really good about showing me stuff but it is taking me a little time learning everything but am so happy to have my own computer. We will take my other one to get it fixed but it was going to cost us a new computer to get it fixed. Granted a new cheaper computer but still a new computer. I was going to get an IPad because I have an IPhone and all. Plus Jeremy and my Josh both have been telling me I need one. I will, I think by summer I will. Then I'll have three computers, is that not crazy. One for Springfield, one for Harrisonville and one for travel. LOL. I'm a mess.

I loved watching the Grammy's last night. Music is one of my favorite things in the entire world. It blew me away when I was out at Jeremy and Barbel's house last October. He thought he was introducing Terry and I to a group and I was like...THE BLACK KEYS!!! I love The Black Keys. I was really glad they won the Grammy last night. Can't remember if it was the best song or what but they rock. Was glad Stronger by Kelly Clarkson got something too. The best song was another one I love. Wasn't to crazy about Frank Ocean or whatever his name is. Love Adele and she is awesome along with Mumford and Sons. There are some good artists out there now. I love them all.

Getting off of here. Going to see if I can figure YouTube out on here. This whole Windows 8 concept is a different concept for me to figure out.

Promise, It Will All Be Okay.

August 2013, there is going to be a change in our lives. For me, it isn't really going to be that big of a deal but to some it will have a big impact. What that impact could be, I'm not sure but I am sure some are going to be upset because of this big decision. The post office will not be delivering mail on Saturdays. I can see where it will save money for this organization. Wages for the carriers, gas and mileage on the vehicles used to deliver the mail. They say that if you have a post office box you can still pick up your mail, it just won't be delivered to your home or business.

Everytime I think about the post office I think about the individuals that do stamp collecting. Why I have no idea but when I see the beautiful stamps that are available I think of these individuals. I only know one person personally that collects. I have never seen his collection but know he collects. We would talk about it sometimes and I would see him in the post office buying sheets of stamps he didn't have. John Kukovich, my preacher at the Christian Church in Garden City. I really like John as a person, pastor and friend. He made an important impact on my life as a person, as a Christian and as a community servant. He is a good, good man. Also love his daughter Cindy and wife Alma. I didn't know his boys that well but know they are good people too. Anyway, got off the subject there.

My friend dated a guy that had the neatest collection too. Now I saw his and looked at his books and it was so impressive. He had different types of stamp collections but I loved his Disney collection and that is the only one I remember, even though he had volumes and volumes of collections. I once embrodiered a piece that was the Love stamp. I did that while I was pregnant with Josh, for something to do in the evenings when I was sitting there by myself. I'm not sure if I still have it or not. If I do I have no idea where it is packed away at. Be kinda cool if I find it sometime and I might. That's another one of those "one of these days" story.

Tonight is the Grammy's and I can't wait. I am a nerd when it comes to award shows like that. There are a lot of fabulous up and coming artists out right now. I like the sound they are going for now. If I haven't said it or you haven't noticed but I love music. Music soothes the savage soul. I like all but Opera, that's another story, oh and hate music. That's not music that's hate.

If we can't be sure of anything else, we can be sure of change. It happens every day, every second, every moment of our lives. It's okay, if we didn't have change our lives would be boring. Enjoy.

Change

Age, date of birth, account numbers, expiration dates, 20% off, 60% off, address, last four digits of your social security number, phone numbers, gas prices, grocery prices, sale prices, drivers liscense numbers, mileage.....it goes on and on and on. Can you see where I am heading yet with this topic? Numbers. When did our lives become so involved with numbers? Maybe it always has been but in my earlier life I didn't notice, or care. Not that I really care now but for someone that is number remembering challenged, it can be overwhelming. I know my social by heart and of couse my date of birth but the rest is a challenge for me. I barely remember my own phone number let alone the two other phones that I have for work. I am a proud owner of three phones and to remember those, let alone a fax number too. Yeah, it's a challenge.

I do pretty good remembering birthdates of my immediate family and my two granddaughters, but get outside of that realm and I am toast. Talking about the three telephones I am the proud owner of, I also have two addresses to remember. I can remember this one in Harrisonville but my address in Springfield, yeah, no I can't remember that....let alone what apartment I live in.

Before my tenure at the State, I was a bookkeeper for a tax office and a propane company. Balancing out books and finding errors I enjoyed. Those numbers are fun, and also math, algebra and such. I don't mind that but memorizing numbers isn't real good for me. I still struggle a little with the multiplication table. 7's and 8's are the biggest challenge. LOL. I know, I'm a mess.

I have one other weakness besides numbers and that would be that I am direction illiterate. Yeah, that will be another blog. Just give me right or left, none of this north or south, east or west. Just saying.

Got a surprise text from Brandon this morning, they are having their Chinese New Year right now. He said that the fireworks had been going off all day long. I told him at first I thought he was in a war zone or something. Him and his dad Skyped the other day and talked for over 3 hours, they both told me it was a good conversation. Sometimes we just need that. I know when Josh was little, staying at mom's he had a special place on her kitchen cabinet that he would sit and just talk to her about his day and such. Him and I would have those special moments also, I loved that time when they just want to talk to you.

Josh is doing good right now. They are working 10 hour days and last week he put in 60 hours. Tonight when he came home he said he was worn slick. He really likes this job but 6 ten hour days can make an old man out of you fast, but of course he is only 25. Now if this 56 year old fat little lady tried that they would have to put me in traction. Nope, couldn't handle it.

Terry is watching basketball, guess we are gearing up for the Big 12, even though his team MU will be in the SEC instead. He just told me Missouri and Texas A & M left the conference. Guess Nebraska and Colorado left a couple years ago. Bless his heart, he tries so hard to educate me on sports. I like basketball and baseball though and understand those games, just not so much on football. Of course I don't remember all the key players on the teams unless I think they are cute. Billy Butler of the Royals, I like him even though he is the designated hitter. Ole' Country Breakfast. I have yet to figure out why they call him that but I do know that him and his wife do some awesome charity work in and around KC. Good people.

Been doing laundry all day and getting ready to finish. Going to get off here and finish up supper dishes and relax for the evening. As always I hope I can stay up for SNL aka Saturday Night Live. They crack me up!!!

Stay Classy

That Red Dirt Road!!!

YOU

You may not think that the world needs you, but it does,
For you are unique like no one that has ever been before or will come after,
No one can speak with your voice, say your piece, smile your smile or shine your light,
No one can take your place, for it's yours alone to fill,
If you are not there to shine your light , who knows how many travelers will lose their way as they try to pass by your empty place in the darkness.
So, YOU go out and shine and let the world know the difference you make!

Growing up in a small community brought many an awesome person in my life and this inspirational piece came from an icon of my childhood. Ruby Neuenschwander. I knew Ruby and her husband Amos very well. They always had a smile on their face and a kind word every time I saw them. They were strong supporters of my dad when he was in the nominated County office during his life. Growing up, I admired their two daughters Cindy and Sara Gay. They were older than me and I thought they were the coolest. So beautiful, talented and smart. They were much older than I so I never could dub them as friends but since we have graduated and grown up I can truly say, Cindy is a dear friend of mine.

Ruby has recently passed away as so many from my childhood have done. Cindy posted this today on FaceBook. As they are going through the memorbilia in their parents house, she said her mom carried this piece of paper in her wallet. This did not surprise me at all. It sounds so much like Ruby.

I am closing this piece off with a picture of my Great Great Niece. Taylor is in 2nd Grade and is reading to Otis. One of his job responsibilities in the classroom is to listen to the children read....Taylor's mama Christal said that Taylor LOVES Otis. How cool is that for the school to have a reading buddy like that. Such an awesome incentive to get children to read.