A WAKE UP CALL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am actually up and writing in my journal...wow...I shocked myself...but I wanted to share something...it is not important to anyone but me....but nevertheless. I was woken up by a phone call from Aruba....I do not know anyone who lives in Aruba...that was a first for me. However it turns out that my parents are hanging in Aruba for a couple of days during their cruise. They will not be returning until March 9th. It sounds like they are having a wonderful time....I guess next stop are a couple of south american countries and then mexico..who knows.

Well my father called because they wanted to know how their cat was. They have a long haired blue point Siamese cat. That is their lil pride and joy. Her neck has some sort of infection and they wanted to know how it was doing. Then my father said he wanted to call to see how I was doing. Because I have NEVER missed an opportunity to go to their house and eat my mom's cooking and all....so they knew something must be wrong. I reassured him that the cat is fine and I am ok. When I asked him when was he coming home he told me the 9th....so I told him to make sure he got me some nice gold from mexico...like a bracelet or something....he laughed because he knew they were going to miss my birthday and to pacify me ...it is best done with jewelry...lol. (YES I AM SPOILED)

He said he is collecting a ton of postcards for my daughter.... she collects them. Then he told me that he has picked up shot glasses for my hunnie...so they already took care of the him....but of course I am the hardest to please...teehee. Actually they always come back with some awesome stuff...so I am fine with all of that. Now on the other hand my hunnie seees this as a grand opportunity to tell him how much my parents love him more then me.... it does THRILL me that my father is so fond of him... they hit it off fromthe beginning...and that meant the world to me... they are really too funny together.

Now as a little side note... I asked my dad how the cruise was in general....of course they are loving it...but he said they have one complaint...and I asked what that was and he said they are on a cruise for senior citizens. He said that everytime you turn a corner there is an old coot. GEEEEZ!!! my parents are 81 years old.... he just cracks me up...I told him that perhaps he was one of the old coots and he said no because he needed a faster cha cha to dance to. LOL Now that sounds like my father....him and my mom LOVE to dance and eat out....always!!!!!

Well after my heart stop pounding so hard (because at first I thought something bad had happened)....we said our goodbyes...and left each other laughing!

Okay...now onto my next news....my son (who lives in Tennessee) is flying down here on wednesday to help me celebrate my birthday...he is my gift...which is the best I could receive. HOWEVER.....he has called every night to explain to me how I am probably getting on in years...and perhaps AGE is getting to me...what a smart ass he is. He wanted to know if I needed any geritol and such....he thinks he is sooooooooo funny. But he did have me laugh.....and that felt great.

Well that was my wake up call and my bedtime calls for the week...my family is just toooo much. Below are a couple of quotes from one of my favorite authors/poets...Thoreau...Have a GRAND weekend all!!!

PEACE!!!

WISDOM FROM THOREAU

"The question is not what you look at,
but what you see."
     ~Henry David Thoreau

"To be awake is to be alive."
     ~Thoreau, in Walden

"Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the
fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each."
     ~Henry David Thoreau

IT'S ME AGAIN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Someone made me the animation graphic you see at the top of my entry...and I loved it so much I just had to use it right away...lol.

I know again I disappeared...I really do not mean to...I have just run out of things to say lately...and sleeping almost 24 hours a day does not leave alot of puter time. My life is basically boring. Especially since I am homebound and I am too scared to go out 99% of the time. I know that sounds NUTS to most people...but I am trying to deal with it.

Well enough of my psychotic self...My parents today left for their two week cruise. I am so thrilled for them...they are going around south america and such. I wish I was going with them...but that is ok...as long as they enjoy themselves then that is all that matters. They went with a group of friends of theirs...so I know they are in for a GRAND time...they travel alot with this group and really have insane times. We were invited to go to their house this past saturday...my daughter is going to feed and take care of their cat and keep their house tidy....so she had to get her "official" instructions and they wanted to make us dinner and such. Well my anxiety got the best of me and for the first time...I was unable to go to their house. All I could do is cry. I have no idea what is going on inside my head...but it is scaring me. My hunnie and kid went and had a good time and my mother sent back a huge plate of food to me...so I was a happy camper. I am more concerned with them seeing my daughter then me seeing them. I want her to get as much time with them as possible... with my parents being 81...time is very precious.

In 8 days it will officially be my birthday...GEEZ!!! I am ok with birthdays...they have never bothered me...but 45 years old and a prisoner in my own home...just really bothers me. I have one son (the one in Tennessee) who will be arriving at the airport on my birthday to spend a couple of days with me....so I am thrilled. That is a GREAT birthday present in my opinion. The other son who lives in south florida said he would try to get up here but hee may not be able to get off from work...but he cannot stand when his brother does things like that and he can't ...so I just may see him. They are twins and VERY VERY competitive that way.

Okay then...below are some quotes that I thought I would share with you all...Again I am getting tired and need to lay down...I hope whatever is going on...soon passes. Have an AWESOME week everyone...thanks for hanging in there with me.

PEACE!!!!

THOUGHTS OF THE DAY  

"Love is the master key which opens the gates of happiness."
Oliver Wendell Holmes 

"Hearing is one of the body's five senses. But listening is an art." Frank Tyger   

"In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us."
Flora Edwards   

 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

 

 

 

 

 

HELLO one and all!!!...I first want to wish you all a very LOVING Valentine's Day. This is one of my most favorite days of the year...a day set aside that extra LOVE is shown..teehee.
Well...I am still sleeping a GREAT deal...They think it might be a lack of oxygen that my body is getting while I sleep...I am suppose to use oxygen but I have not for a few weeks because I really wanted to get weaned off of most things that I am on...BUT--that was a big mistake..so say a little prayer for me...that all I need is the oxygen again...because I am so TIRED of sleeping...

Below I thought I would include the meaning of things associated with VALENTINE'S... I hope you all enjoy it...and Have a SUPER LOVING day!!

THE VALENTINE SYMBOLS  

HEART Emotions are feelings such as love, happiness, anger, or fear. A long time ago, people believed that all the emotions were found in the heart. In later years, they thought only the emotion of love was connected with the heart. The heart is still a symbol of love, and because of this, it is also a symbol of Valentine's Day.  

RED ROSE The rose was a favorite flower of Venus, The Roman goddess of love. Red is a color that stands for strong feelings. This is why the red rose is a flower of love.  

LACE Lace is a pretty fabric made by weaving together fine threads. Hundreds of years ago, women carried lace handkerchiefs.  If a woman dropped her handkerchief, a man nearby might pick it up and return it to her.  Sometimes a woman might see a man she wanted to meet. She might drop her lace handkerchief on purpose to encourage romance.  Soon people thought of romance when they thought of lace.  They began using paper lace to decorate chocolate boxes and Valentine cards.  

GLOVES Years ago, when a man proposed marriage to a woman, he "asked for her hand." The hand became a symbol of marriage and love. Soon gloves also became a symbol of love.  

RINGS In some countries, men and women exchange rings when they become engaged or marry.  Two or three hundred years ago, Valentine's Day was a popular day for giving an engagement ring. An engagement ring usually had a stone or jewel set in it. Diamonds are common in today's engagement rings.  

LOVE KNOT A love knot is a series of winding and interlacing loops with no beginning and no end. It is a symbol of endless love. People made love knots from ribbon or drew them on paper.  Often, a message was written on the love knot.  The message had no beginning or end. It could be repeated endlessly.  

LOVEBIRDS & DOVES Lovebirds are colorful parrots found in Africa.  Most have red bills.  They are called lovebirds because they sit closely together in pairs.   Doves were thought to be favorite birds of Venus.  They remain with the same mates all their lives. The males and females both care for their babies.  Because these birds are symbols of loyalty and love, they are also symbols of Valentine's Day.  

CUPID Son of Venus, goddess of love.  He could cause people to fall in love by piercing them with one of his magic arrows.

 

SUPERBOWL WEEKEND

Yes I am here finally but to be totally honest...I really have nothing to say. The only thing is that I have been sleeping my life away. I know that the medications are suppose to subdue me so that my lungs do not work so hard....BUT..I really thought after all this time..(over 5 years) that I would have built a tolerance...but it only seems to be getting worse. Sleeping my life away is not always a good thing...but enough of that....at least I managed to stay up long enough to watch the SUPERBOWL. I thought the game was great... lots of fun...and I am very happy for the PATRIOTS...

I came across a site that you can have the president speak for your journal or whatever.... so here is a look at what President Bush had to say about my journal:

Now that is pretty cool...I did not think he had time to read my journal...but I am impressed......LOL
The weather here has stayed quite cool....strange for the sunshine state.
The daughter dating thingy is still going on.....I still have not met this boy....but hopefully we get to meet him this weekend. Again she went to his house to watch scary movies...and she had a nice time...so far so good...things are staying innocent.

Okay then...... I do hope you all have a GRAND week...I am hoping to write more sometime this week..... I just need to find some sort of motivation...or just the impulse to do something other than sleep.

PEACE!!!!!

A NICE WEEKEND-SO FAR!!!

It has been a somewhat busy weekend...not that I mind...just busy.
Friday night we went to my parent's house for dinner...My dad called us and wanted us to come over since we had not been there in a while...also we bought him a cellphone so that we would not have to worry about him on the road...so I wanted to get that to him. Of course what is truly priceless is eating a meal my mother makes...Lord I never wanted to leave the table.LOL

It was nice to sit and eat and chat...my dad was totally comical which was different for a change...BTW...I did receive a couple of email concerning my father in an entry I wrote a bit ago...so I will answer some questions here...He just turned 81 years old...my mom will be 82 in a couple of months...they DEFINITELY do not look their age..it shocks people. My parents were both born in Puerto Rico...and come from very strong ties of strick Roman Catholic backgrounds...this made for an interesting childhood..but I would not really change anything..because looking back on it all...I realize I was spoiled...and my parents did their best to give me the best of everything... My parents are not REAL emotional people...my mom would give us a kiss every morning before leaving for school...we used to say a blessing in spanish in which she would respond...but my dad was not that way at all. He should his love other ways like...getting things you wanted or surprising you with something...or taking us out to dinner or a movie...whatever!!! So like I said in a previous entry...for him to say I LOVE YOU...almost gave me a heart attack..and I will always cherish those words from him. This july my parents will be married 56 years ...WOW... that is so rare to hear...but I love it!!!

Anyway...saturday my daughter had a date...OMG...I did not see this one coming. His name is Roy and he lives just a couple of miles down the highway from us...he is 18 years old and goes to the same high school as my daughter...they ride the bus together. GEEZ!!! Out of the blue, while I was still half asleep my daughter asked me if she could go to his house to watch movies...OMG...the good thing was that his parents were home..so that made me feel better about things. So I gave her a time she had to be home and sure enough he had her here right on time..(WELL..that impressed me). Here is the problem...he is 18.....my daughter is 15. My hunnie's answer to this dilemna is that she is jailbait and he will see him in jail if anything happens...it is so good to be open minded like him...GEEZ!! The other thing is the boy makes her laugh...and that says alot...apparently he held her hand during the movies..(they watched scary movies) and he kissed her when he dropped her off. Of course she had to run in the house and tell me...and I felt the grey hairs multiplying on my head and I think my heart stopped for a few moments. But she was flying on cloud 9 the rest of the day so I guess that is a good thing. Ahhhh young puppy love.....to be young again...NOT!!!

I can tell that this is already going to make me crazy...but I refuse to tell her that. She has always told me everything...no secrets between us...and I trust her. So I just have to take a few more Valiums and I should be good to go.....LOL

I have been working on my stained glass votives...I think they are nice....but I am still working on my technique...I gave one to my mother and she thought it was awesome...so that meant alot to me. Now I am making duckies for my daughter's  bathroom..she has a huge mirror in there so she wanted duckies all over it..that child is just not right......LOL
Okay...I think I have printed all the news I can and still keep it G-rated...LOL So you all have a WONDERFUL weekend...stay warm...here we will stay cool..and hug someone you love.
Enjoy the story below.....I read this YEARS ago...and my hunnie and I have always done this from the very beginning of our relationshil...those initials speak volumes...I hope you enjoy it!!!!
PEACE!!!!!!

SHMILY

My grandparents were married for over half a century and played
their own special game from the time they had met each other.

The goal of their game was to write the word "shmily" in a
surprise place for the other to find.  They took turns leaving
"shmily" around the house, and as soon as one of them discovered
it, it was theirturn to hide it once more.

They dragged "shmily" with their fingers through the sugar and
flour containers to await whomever was preparing the next meal.

They smeared it in the dew on the windows overlooking the patio
where my grandma always fed us warm, homemade pudding with blue
food coloring.

"Shmily" was written in the steam left on the mirror after a hot
shower, where it would reappear bath after bath.

At one point, my grandmother even unrolled an entire roll of
toilet paper to leave "shmily" on the very last sheet.

There was no end to the places "shmily" would pop up.

Little notes with "shmily" scribbled hurriedly were found on
dashboards and car seats, or taped to steering wheels.

The notes were stuffed inside shoes and left under pillows.

"Shmily" was written in the dust upon the mantel and traced in
the ashes of the fireplace.

This mysterious word was as much a part of my grandparents'
house as the furniture.

It took me a long time before I was able to fully appreciate my
grandparents' game.  Skepticism has kept me from believing in
true love - one that is pure and enduring.

However, I never doubted my grandparents' relationship.
They had love down pat.

It was more than their flirtatious little games; it was a way of
life.  Their relationship was based on a devotion and passionate
affection which not everyone is lucky enough to experience.

Grandma and Grandpa held hands every chance they could.
They stole kisses as they bumped into each other in their tiny
kitchen.  They finished each other's sentences and shared the
daily crossword puzzle and word jumble.  My grandma whispered to
me about how cute my grandpa was, how handsome and old he had
grown to be.

She claimed that she really knew "how to pick 'em."
Before every meal they bowed their heads and gave thanks,
marveling at their blessings: a wonderful family, good fortune,
and each other.

But there was a dark cloud in my grandparents' lives: my
grandmother had breast cancer.  The disease had first appeared
ten years earlier.  As always, Grandpa was with her every step
of the way.

He comforted her in their yellow room, painted that way so that
she could always be surrounded by sunshine, even when she was
too sick to go outside.

Now the cancer was again attacking her body.  With the help of a
cane and my grandfather's steady hand, they went to church every
morning.

But my grandmother grew steadily weaker until, finally, she
could not leave the house anymore.  For a while, Grandpa would
go to church alone, praying to God to watch over his wife.

Then one day, what we all dreaded finally happened.
Grandma was gone.

"Shmily."  It was scrawled in yellow on the pink ribbons
of my Grandmother's funeral bouquet.  As the crowd thinned and
the last mourners turned to leave, my aunts, uncles, cousins and
other family members came forward and gathered around Grandma
one last time.

Grandpa stepped up to my Grandmother's casket, and taking a
shaky breath, he began to sing to her.

Through his tears and grief, the song came, a deep and throaty
lullaby.  Shaking with my own sorrow, I will never forget that
moment.

For I knew that although I couldn't begin to fathom the depth
of their love, I had been privileged to witness its unmatched
beauty.

           S-h-m-i-l-y: See How Much I Love You.


~by Laura Jeanne Allen~

A NICE WEEKEND

 

 

 

 

 

I actually got to spend some grand time with my son. Just as a quick reminder--I have twin boys..they are 19 years old (soon 20) ...one lives in South Florida and the other just moved to Tennessee to attend college. The one that went to TN...is the one that came for a visit. He looked wonderful...and REALLY helped a great deal around the house. He got the heavy stuff moved to my daughter's room and also...cleaned up stuff that I just could not do myself...alot of ladder work.

Of course we had to spoil him while he was here...I paid him quite abit for all the work he did....I could not believe the changes in the house...we also bought him a cellphone...the one he had ...he had to give back to his aunt...(it does not cover tennessee) so we bought him one like ours that does...that way he is not on the road without help a phone call away. My van (remember that vechicle???) well my son always liked it...well something is up with the motor...it just does not run right at all...so he is sending us the money for a new motor and I gave him my van. We also took him to his favorite restaurant and we all oinked out....it was delicious...and alot of fun. Now I took dozens of pics of course...I always do...but my camera decided to die and now I need another one...it will not even upload the pics that I took...I am so devastated...but it figures. It can only happen to me.

He is back in Tennessee now...and I already miss him but he is so happy with the way things are there, that I could not be happier for him...boy is it rough letting go. I think we also bought him some clothing stuffies he needed and a pair of sandals...we are definitely a sandal family...lol.

The son and daughter got along GREAT this time seeing each other...I think being away from each other makes their hearts grow fonder...and they were inseparable...and so funny. They had me laughing the whole time.

Well right now...that is all the news fit to print...Below is a bit of advise sent to me...so I am sharing it with all of you...

PEACE!!!!!! 

NATURAL HIGHS!!     1. Falling in love.   2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.   3. A hot shower.   4. No lines at the supermarket   5. A special glance.   6. Getting mail   7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.   8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio.   9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.   10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.   11. Chocolate milkshake. (or vanilla or strawberry)!   12. A bubble bath.   13. Giggling.   14. A good conversation.   15. The beach   16. Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter.   17. Laughing at yourself.   19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.   20. Running through sprinklers.   21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.   22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.   23. Laughing at an inside joke.   24. Friends.   25. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.   26. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to   sleep.   27. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).   28. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.   29. Playing with a new puppy.   30. Having someone play with your hair.   31. Sweet dreams.   32. Hot chocolate.   33. Road trips with friends.   34. Swinging on swings.   35. Making eye contact with a cute stranger.   36. Making chocolate chip cookies.   37. Having your friends send you homemade cookies.   38. Holding hands with someone you care about.   39. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.   40. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you.   41. Watching the sunrise.   42. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day.   43. Knowing that somebody misses you.   44. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE LIFE OF ME

I guess I will have to just add to my journal when something inspires me...because for the life of me I could not figure out what I wanted to write about all this past week. This block really has me puzzled. If you met me in person...you would know that I can talk up a storm...I am never lost for words. But for some reason I am at a stand still...

Now for today I did have something I wanted to mention...My dad called me last week just to say hello. That is not so unusual...however I could tell his mood was different. Seemed more solemn. We chatted about several things going on...and especially my daughter. My dad has always had a special place for her. He loves all his grandkids and great grandkids...but Because my daughter was born 3 months early and was extremely ill for so long...he has a special place for her...
he wants to make sure that she has a reliable car for when she starts driving. He wants to make sure that she is thinking of her future and planning ahead...he wants to make sure that she has everything she needs.

I keep reminding the old man (my personal nickname for him--of which he loves and will not allow anyone else to use it) that I was born first....and he said he was finished with me...and now it is her turn...well geez!!!
Well at the end of this very long conversation...my father mentioned that I should really concentrate on my writing and crafting abilities....he said he sees so much talent but does not understand why I do not pursue it all professionally...I used to write some serious articles and poetry and stories way back when...but I let that go...and now the crafts I am doing...he loves it all. My father has never ever told me that......I had my mouth hanging open.... but the more shocking news is that at the end of the phone call my father said "I LOVE YOU"..I could not believe it........he actually said those words to me. My father has NEVER said those words to me in my lifetime. Whenever I have said them to him his response was also God Bless You...but deep down in my heart I always longed to hear those words from him and sure enough...my heart is at total peace.

My dad was raised that men do not express their feelings. So he has always been that way all my life...but when I heard those words from him...all I could do after hanging up is cry...I cried for hours...In my house...we say those three great words constantly. I always knew that is what I wanted for my children. But growing up I never had that...I know for a fact that he has not said those words to my brother or sister. But THANK GOD I finally got to hear them. It feels like something has been completed in my life.

I know this must sound so trivial to some of you...or infantile...but to me it means the world. ..Now there I have figured out what to write about and it feels good to see it written down. Thanks for letting me share my story and I hope you all have a FABULOUS friday!!

PEACE!!!!