...and relationships.
I (occasionally) blog and enjoy reading blogs. My yardstick for "blog consideration" in my must-read list measures content by several criteria. I love Texas bloggers for one - pride of State and South. I love food bloggers - love of belly? Perhaps. :) I love bloggers who "keep it real", journal-ing their observations on life and their interactions within their own lives, not embellishing it for pride purposes, laying out their truths warts and all - especially young mother bloggers who are navigating the rivers of their life and attempting to circumvent the dangerous undertows which threaten to pull them under at times. There is a sense of community withing the blogosphere - a combination of "been there-done that" and "oh, WOW!" that I find appealing. And, as a "back from retirement" full time caregiver to one of our grandchildren, reaching out and being reached creates a sense of "I am not alone".
Yes, I do "have a life" lest you think I am an online lurker, seeking validation in a world of strangers whose moral fiber I know not of. :) But I believe there is value in blogging and reading blogs - nuggets of wisdom to squirrel away, loud signals of "WARNING!" when digesting the unfortunate consequences detailed, and a lifting of spirits when victories and/or hilarious happenings are sometimes regaled.
One of the blogs I follow in Google Reader had a great nugget today. I am taking the liberty of quoting from her post today. The blog is called Homesick Texan, written by Liz, and I've been a reader for several years now. I find this blog engaging on two levels - the aforementioned "Pride of State" (she's from Texas although living in New York) and "love of belly" (lots of recipes, true Texan recipes - often with a new twist). Having lived overseas many years while hailing from the Great State of Texas, I completely understand what it is like to live somewhere besides Texas yet attempt to find the ingredients to recreate the dishes I love and crave so much. I believe her blog was born of a desire to find/recreate/educate herself (and thus her readers) to that end. And, I am happy to report, she is in the process of writing her own cookbook and has a publisher lined up! (Liz writes, "And I'm excited to announce that The Homesick Texan Cookbook will be published by Hyperion in September 2011.") Guess who will be ordering copies for Christmas gifts this year?
Now that the introductions have been made, I (finally) come to the point of MY post today. Her recent post had a title involving pork chops. Not being a big pork fan, I almost skipped reading it. But the first paragraph, the very first sentence, intrigued me. "'Are you familiar with the pork chop theory?' asked food writer Virginia Willis." Hm, a pork chop theory? Okay, I'll bite (no pun intended, believe it or not).
Reading to the end, I got to the last paragraph where she elaborates and shares this wonderful truth:
"Willis, a veteran author, was giving me tips about what to expect when my book is published, emphasizing how all authors can help each other. To illustrate her point, she quoted Nathalie Dupree who came up with the pork chop premise."
"According to Dupree, if you cook one pork chop in a pan on high heat it will burn. But if you cook two pork chops in a pan, the chops will cook evenly as each chop’s fat will feed the other. As Willis has written, “It’s the ultimate in giving, sharing, and developing mutually beneficial partnerships and relationships. It’s not about competition, it’s about sharing the fat, sharing the love.”
So, pork chops aside, this "universal truth" is one that really spoke to me! Trying to do big tasks "on my own", whether for pride, reluctance to ask for assistance or just plain old stubbornness, have often resulted in my "being burned". But having a team, sharing the load - as well as sharing the credit - almost always ends in a sense of accomplishment and camaraderie. The Bible speaks of this as well when it says, "Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor." (Eccl. 4:9) But how often I forget this as I strive and yet do not succeed. I have often been the author of my own discontent by insisting on either doing it MY way, doing it alone or, worse, wearing the sackcloth and ashes of the "Woe is me!" personae that infers that she has it rough, "it's tough to be me" and becomes hostile to (dare I say) my husband for not reading my mind. Judge Judy would have a hey day with me on those days.
Anyway, that's my two-cents for the day. My "nugget of wisdom" to share. Take it for what it's worth. And I hope you'll meander over to Liz's blog, Homesick Texan, and enjoy the photos, recipes and insights she shares.
I still don't like pork chops. But I do like universal truths. Food for thought, the best meal of all?
10 June 2011
25 May 2011
In which both Lleyton and Timothy have birthdays...
...and I didn't even mention it. Actually, there have been LOTS of birthdays and in my "I'll get to it later after all a blog is for life, not just for Christmas" stupor, I rationalized I'd get it done sooner or later.
Welcome to "later". I swear, I'll be late to my own funeral. And no, I didn't get that idea from Liz Taylor. I had it first and if she was alive, I'd take her to task for getting the credit for the idea. At least I'M married to my FIRST husband.
So, missed birthdays include:
My mom. On tax day. Which is an easy way to remember it, except for THIS year when, for some reason, tax deadline was the 18th instead of the 15th. But I more than made up for it with several days of surprises, pieces of coconut cream pie and eating out. So either I'm good for the next few years or maybe, just maybe, I've made up for the past. Only my hairdresser knows for sure. And she ain't telling. (I'm a GREAT tipper!)
Timothy. 30 years old on 5/15. He's finally "all growed up!" Actually, he's been grown up for some time but between turning 30 and the realization that my middle child is NOW THIRTY, the fact hit me smack on the head. He's like a fine, sharp cheddar - mellow with a nice bite, best at room temperature and goes with a LOT of good things.
Jenjer. 28 years old on 5/17. Probably a strange birthday for her since it's the first "single" birthday in many years and Mirai is down here. She'll get to see her soon when we go down for a long weekend soon. Two years from thirty - or should I say, ONE year from her FIRST 29th birthday??
Lleyton. 4 years old on 4/30. We had intended to join the entire Tim Drennon clan at the San Antonio Zoo on his birthday but some family medical emergencies with Mike's mom came up and we headed north instead of west that weekend. We did get to San Antonio in time to meet at Pei Wei and have dinner and present our gifts to him so not all was lost. But I hate that we missed it. As a rule, I have tried religiously to be present at every single grandchild's birthday for as long as I can (and they'll let me and not roll their eyes - those days be comin' soon!) so missing the bulk of this one was an "ouchy".
Kati. My sister, on 4/26. Now, she lives in Canada. And I've lived (insert name of one of 12 different locations throughout the world the past 34 years since I left Lubbock) so it's obvious we don't see each other very often. But, as we get older, more and more I remember our childhood days, when we all lived in Lubbock, and wish we could see each other more often. I'll protect her dignity by NOT saying what her age is or that she is older than me by two years and that my age has been previously mentioned in other blog posts (as well as listed below). I have standards, you know.
Luke. His birthday is tomorrow. He will be four. The Class of 07 is turning 4 right now. First Lleyton, then Luke. Mirai will round out the trio on 7/2 with her birthday. We won't get to see him on his actual day but will be able to go to his party on another day. He's our not-so-little future quarterback/soccer player/fill-in-the-name sports enthusiast. He's built for sports. He's a natural. And I may finally have to learn the rules of some of those games if I'm going to keep up.
And then there was MY birthday back in March. March 12th. Put it on your calendars folks so you will know it's time to humiliate me, send me cards about how old I am and generally make me glad when it's over. I turned 54. I am not afraid of the number. It's just a number. Like my weight. Oh wait, I AM afraid of THAT number...
But it was a greater birthday in that all my children and grands and Mike were up in Keller to help me celebrate, complete with a big dinner out and a cake with a few token candles (didn't want to break any fire codes in a public place you know). Mike actually. did. shopping. On his own. Without any input. At a DAVID YURMAN STORE!! After I came to, I thanked him profusely in the hopes of giving positive reinforcement since I've heard that THAT can cause a person to repeat a desired behavior. Yes, putting those great parenting skills to work in my marriage as well! Not that I'm treating Mike like a child - far from it! I'm treating him like a responsible adult who GOES TO A DAVID YURMAN STORE TO BUY BIRTHDAY GIFTS ON HIS OWN!! That's all.
So enough of the fun and frivolity in our household. After a drought of no writing, the keys are fairly flying with two posts on one day. Anymore and my computer might start smoking or something (finally got it off drugs...) so I won't push my luck.
Take care peeps and I'll see if I can do another post before another month has passed. I can't very well get onto people whose blogs I read to keep posting if I'm not willing to share too. The blogger's mantra: "I'll post mine if you'll post yours".
I can hear my mom sighing...
Welcome to "later". I swear, I'll be late to my own funeral. And no, I didn't get that idea from Liz Taylor. I had it first and if she was alive, I'd take her to task for getting the credit for the idea. At least I'M married to my FIRST husband.
So, missed birthdays include:
My mom. On tax day. Which is an easy way to remember it, except for THIS year when, for some reason, tax deadline was the 18th instead of the 15th. But I more than made up for it with several days of surprises, pieces of coconut cream pie and eating out. So either I'm good for the next few years or maybe, just maybe, I've made up for the past. Only my hairdresser knows for sure. And she ain't telling. (I'm a GREAT tipper!)
Timothy. 30 years old on 5/15. He's finally "all growed up!" Actually, he's been grown up for some time but between turning 30 and the realization that my middle child is NOW THIRTY, the fact hit me smack on the head. He's like a fine, sharp cheddar - mellow with a nice bite, best at room temperature and goes with a LOT of good things.
Jenjer. 28 years old on 5/17. Probably a strange birthday for her since it's the first "single" birthday in many years and Mirai is down here. She'll get to see her soon when we go down for a long weekend soon. Two years from thirty - or should I say, ONE year from her FIRST 29th birthday??
Lleyton. 4 years old on 4/30. We had intended to join the entire Tim Drennon clan at the San Antonio Zoo on his birthday but some family medical emergencies with Mike's mom came up and we headed north instead of west that weekend. We did get to San Antonio in time to meet at Pei Wei and have dinner and present our gifts to him so not all was lost. But I hate that we missed it. As a rule, I have tried religiously to be present at every single grandchild's birthday for as long as I can (and they'll let me and not roll their eyes - those days be comin' soon!) so missing the bulk of this one was an "ouchy".
Kati. My sister, on 4/26. Now, she lives in Canada. And I've lived (insert name of one of 12 different locations throughout the world the past 34 years since I left Lubbock) so it's obvious we don't see each other very often. But, as we get older, more and more I remember our childhood days, when we all lived in Lubbock, and wish we could see each other more often. I'll protect her dignity by NOT saying what her age is or that she is older than me by two years and that my age has been previously mentioned in other blog posts (as well as listed below). I have standards, you know.
Luke. His birthday is tomorrow. He will be four. The Class of 07 is turning 4 right now. First Lleyton, then Luke. Mirai will round out the trio on 7/2 with her birthday. We won't get to see him on his actual day but will be able to go to his party on another day. He's our not-so-little future quarterback/soccer player/fill-in-the-name sports enthusiast. He's built for sports. He's a natural. And I may finally have to learn the rules of some of those games if I'm going to keep up.
And then there was MY birthday back in March. March 12th. Put it on your calendars folks so you will know it's time to humiliate me, send me cards about how old I am and generally make me glad when it's over. I turned 54. I am not afraid of the number. It's just a number. Like my weight. Oh wait, I AM afraid of THAT number...
But it was a greater birthday in that all my children and grands and Mike were up in Keller to help me celebrate, complete with a big dinner out and a cake with a few token candles (didn't want to break any fire codes in a public place you know). Mike actually. did. shopping. On his own. Without any input. At a DAVID YURMAN STORE!! After I came to, I thanked him profusely in the hopes of giving positive reinforcement since I've heard that THAT can cause a person to repeat a desired behavior. Yes, putting those great parenting skills to work in my marriage as well! Not that I'm treating Mike like a child - far from it! I'm treating him like a responsible adult who GOES TO A DAVID YURMAN STORE TO BUY BIRTHDAY GIFTS ON HIS OWN!! That's all.
So enough of the fun and frivolity in our household. After a drought of no writing, the keys are fairly flying with two posts on one day. Anymore and my computer might start smoking or something (finally got it off drugs...) so I won't push my luck.
Take care peeps and I'll see if I can do another post before another month has passed. I can't very well get onto people whose blogs I read to keep posting if I'm not willing to share too. The blogger's mantra: "I'll post mine if you'll post yours".
I can hear my mom sighing...
Untitled...but still the dot, dot, dot...
Noticed it's been a month and a day since my last post. This could be for one of two reasons: (1) either nothing is going on her or (2) there is SO MUCH going on that I don't have a) time, b) energy, c) brain power and d) enough hours in the day to check in and update.
I'll go with Option 2. Doing otherwise would make me sound like a total loser and a lazy slob. Must salvage what little reputation I still have.
So, we have been in Katy an unprecedented eight, count 'em, E-I-G-H-T weeks! Mike had one trip (a shorty - one week) during that time and one blessedly cancelled trip. I'm in my own personal Nirvana. I had decided to stay home the month of May anyway so Mirai could be present for all the remaining days of school. We almost achieved that - we missed the LAST most FUNNEST day of school (Splash Party! Treats!! Seeing friends before the summer!!!) - thanks, strep. Yup, the girl woke up the day before the last school day with a 103 temp UNDER HER ARM. Now, if I was a first time mommy instead of a 54 "back in the trenches-mighty experienced-not prone to hysterics unless a flying roach is involved" (grand)mom, I would have made haste to my local ER and demanded immediate attention. But I dosed her with Motrin and patted myself on the back for my calm, cool, collected, informed approach to fevers in a three year old. She didn't want to eat but she did drink - a lot. By afternoon, when two doses of Motrin hadn't even dented the fever, I decided a trip to the pediatrician was in order - just to be on the safe side. They had an appointment (yeah!) and we got in the car.
By the time we got there, she was pretty listless and wanted me to hold her. This has never happened at the doctor. Even they noticed it and got her in right away. Tests for flu and strep were done in short order with strep being the culprit. So a Tylenol/Motrin rotation, every 3 hours, started once we got home (after a massive, hair-curling-scream-induced penicillin shot was administered at the doc's) and we spent the next 6 days in "fever land". It took that long for her to finally get the fever below 100, feel like eating and have any enthusiasm for anything besides watching Blues Clues, sleeping and (thankfully) drinking lots of fluids. We even had to cancel our trip to Pflugerville we had on the books so we wouldn't chance infecting Kennedy and Lleyton. (It was Tim's call but I'm glad he made it because Saturday and Sunday BOTH were fever days after a low-fever Friday.) I was about to take her back to the doc a week later when, lo, and behold, the girl woke up without a fever, demanded her breakfast and, quick as you can say "Strep be GONE", she was back to her old self. Albeit 2 lbs lighter self - which, when you started out at only 32 lbs to begin with is a HUGE weight loss! She's put it all back on now as her appetite has returned.
But Episode Strep left us with several days of an unwanted side effect that I shall call "Little Princess Syndrome". Little Miss Thang got used to being waited on hand and foot and did NOT understand why SHE should put her shoes on/put her trash away/eat at the table/put her own clothes on/etc. It took about 4 days and lots of tears for her to realize that her perceived New World Order had only been a figment of her fever-induced delirium. Hard life lessons. Yup, that's what we're all about folks. Kill you with kindness then put you back on the road to reality.
She lived. And so did we. Fortunately, strep did not...
I'll go with Option 2. Doing otherwise would make me sound like a total loser and a lazy slob. Must salvage what little reputation I still have.
So, we have been in Katy an unprecedented eight, count 'em, E-I-G-H-T weeks! Mike had one trip (a shorty - one week) during that time and one blessedly cancelled trip. I'm in my own personal Nirvana. I had decided to stay home the month of May anyway so Mirai could be present for all the remaining days of school. We almost achieved that - we missed the LAST most FUNNEST day of school (Splash Party! Treats!! Seeing friends before the summer!!!) - thanks, strep. Yup, the girl woke up the day before the last school day with a 103 temp UNDER HER ARM. Now, if I was a first time mommy instead of a 54 "back in the trenches-mighty experienced-not prone to hysterics unless a flying roach is involved" (grand)mom, I would have made haste to my local ER and demanded immediate attention. But I dosed her with Motrin and patted myself on the back for my calm, cool, collected, informed approach to fevers in a three year old. She didn't want to eat but she did drink - a lot. By afternoon, when two doses of Motrin hadn't even dented the fever, I decided a trip to the pediatrician was in order - just to be on the safe side. They had an appointment (yeah!) and we got in the car.
By the time we got there, she was pretty listless and wanted me to hold her. This has never happened at the doctor. Even they noticed it and got her in right away. Tests for flu and strep were done in short order with strep being the culprit. So a Tylenol/Motrin rotation, every 3 hours, started once we got home (after a massive, hair-curling-scream-induced penicillin shot was administered at the doc's) and we spent the next 6 days in "fever land". It took that long for her to finally get the fever below 100, feel like eating and have any enthusiasm for anything besides watching Blues Clues, sleeping and (thankfully) drinking lots of fluids. We even had to cancel our trip to Pflugerville we had on the books so we wouldn't chance infecting Kennedy and Lleyton. (It was Tim's call but I'm glad he made it because Saturday and Sunday BOTH were fever days after a low-fever Friday.) I was about to take her back to the doc a week later when, lo, and behold, the girl woke up without a fever, demanded her breakfast and, quick as you can say "Strep be GONE", she was back to her old self. Albeit 2 lbs lighter self - which, when you started out at only 32 lbs to begin with is a HUGE weight loss! She's put it all back on now as her appetite has returned.
But Episode Strep left us with several days of an unwanted side effect that I shall call "Little Princess Syndrome". Little Miss Thang got used to being waited on hand and foot and did NOT understand why SHE should put her shoes on/put her trash away/eat at the table/put her own clothes on/etc. It took about 4 days and lots of tears for her to realize that her perceived New World Order had only been a figment of her fever-induced delirium. Hard life lessons. Yup, that's what we're all about folks. Kill you with kindness then put you back on the road to reality.
She lived. And so did we. Fortunately, strep did not...
24 April 2011
Hoppy Easter to All...
Knuffle Bunny is on the left while NEW Mrs. Knuffle is on the right
The Easter Bunny made his (her?) way to our house last night for the first time in a L-O-N-G time! I think the last time he graced us with his presence was quite possibly 1999. I'm glad he found us as we've only moved twice since then! But then, bunnies have a way of finding sweet children, especially cute little girls, on Easter morning. I think they share a GPS and Global Interface system with Santa Claus. I believe I've heard a rumor that the Tooth Fairy is outsourcing her Direction Acquisitions Department to this same sourcing, but it's going to be a few years before she needs to find us, I hope!
Mirai was very surprised and excited to see the basket of goodies left for her once she was dressed and ready for church this morning. We didn't have a lot of time for her to see what goodies there were but she was pretty quick, though thorough, going through the contents before we headed to the car.
After Bible class and worship service, we went to Perry's Steakhouse for our (first annual?? ;) Easter lunch. Mirai was good as gold which is quite a feat considering it is a very nice restaurant that takes approximately two hours to complete an entire dinner service. But she had Knuffle Bunny as well as Mrs. Knuffle Bunny (whom the aforementioned EASTER bunny - my what a lot of bunnies today! - had brought her) so she had lots with which to occupy herself. Those bunnies "ate" lunch and "drank" water just like we did!
She is now down for an afternoon siesta to recover from all the excitement - I plan to follow suit immediately after posting this! She has her two bunnies with her, of course. Mrs. Knuffle became an instant favorite much to my surprise given how enamored she is of Knuffle Bunny.
Happy Easter to all! May your chocolates be many, your weight gain be none, your nap uninterrupted and your family time be fun!
P.S. For those unfamiliar with Knuffle Bunny, I'll have to do a post later on extolling the virtues of this wonderful leporidae.
23 April 2011
An Easter egg in the basket...
...is worth none in the bush. This week has brought Mirai the wonderful concept of candy hidden inside eggs which are hidden in "plain sight", bushes and trees. There were two Easter Egg hunts - one at school and one at a friend's home for the younger children and their families from church.
Picnic supper before the Relay Race and Egg Hunt
Fernanda Cannon and Mirai
Getting ready to do the Relay RaceLast night we went to the home of friends from church, the Brockmans, and had another egg hunt as well as a relay race. Seeing a group of mainly preschoolers attempting to hold a plastic egg on a spoon and walk it across (without dropping it - right...) to the other side of the lawn was hilarious! Mirai did pretty good if I do say so - she dropped it only once coming and once going. Her concentration was intense as she cautiously walked and balanced her egg in that spoon.
Major concentration
Steady now!
Oops! Try again!!I don't know if it was her first egg hunt but it was certainly OUR first egg hunt with HER! If her reaction to the festivities is anything to go by, Sunday morning is going to be a blast!
Mrs. Palmer and Mirai after the Egg Hunt
Altogether a VERY fine day!Thanks to Mac and Beth for hosting the Egg Hunt at their home - we truly enjoyed it!
07 March 2011
From a Southern Lady...
A facebook friend posted this today and I love it.
"I am proud to be from the South - where tea is sweet and accents are sweeter; summer starts in April; front porches are wide and words are long; macaroni and cheese is a vegetable; pecan pie is a staple; Y’all is the only proper pronoun; chicken is fried and biscuits come w/ gravy; everything is darling and someone is always getting their heart blessed. Have a good day y'all!"
My only exception to that is my aversion to sweet tea.
But I blame my northern parents for that.
"I am proud to be from the South - where tea is sweet and accents are sweeter; summer starts in April; front porches are wide and words are long; macaroni and cheese is a vegetable; pecan pie is a staple; Y’all is the only proper pronoun; chicken is fried and biscuits come w/ gravy; everything is darling and someone is always getting their heart blessed. Have a good day y'all!"
My only exception to that is my aversion to sweet tea.
But I blame my northern parents for that.
Words from wise men...
Words from wise men, that never seem to fade too far from reality.
1. In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is
a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a Congress.
-- John Adams
2. If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed. If you do read the
newspaper you are misinformed.
-- Mark Twain
3. Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress.
But then I repeat myself.
-- Mark Twain
4. I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man
standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.
-- Winston Churchill
5. A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the
support of Paul.
-- George Bernard Shaw
6. A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which
debt he proposes to pay off with your money.
-- G. Gordon Liddy
7. Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep
voting on what to have for dinner.
-- James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)
8. Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people
in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.
-- Douglas Casey,
Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown University
9. Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car
keys to teenage boys.
-- P.J. O'Rourke,
Civil Libertarian
10. Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors
to live at the expense of everybody else.
-- Frederic Bastiat, French Economist (1801-1850)
11. Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short
phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
-- Ronald Reagan (1986)
12. I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.
-- Will Rogers
13. If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs
when it's free!
-- P.J. O'Rourke
14. In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as
possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
-- Voltaire (1764)
15. Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean
politics won't take an interest in you!
-- Pericles (430 B.C.)
16. No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.
-- Mark Twain (1866)
17. Talk is cheap...except when Congress does it.
-- Anonymous
18. The government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite
at one end and no responsibility at the other.
-- Ronald Reagan
19. The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings.
The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.
-- Winston Churchill
20. The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the
taxidermist leaves the skin.
-- Mark Twain
21. The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill
the world with fools.
-- Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)
22. There is no distinctly native American criminal class...save Congress.
-- Mark Twain
23. What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.
-- Edward Langley, Artist (1928-1995)
24. A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong
enough to take everything you have.
-- Thomas Jefferson
1. In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is
a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a Congress.
-- John Adams
2. If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed. If you do read the
newspaper you are misinformed.
-- Mark Twain
3. Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress.
But then I repeat myself.
-- Mark Twain
4. I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man
standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.
-- Winston Churchill
5. A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the
support of Paul.
-- George Bernard Shaw
6. A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which
debt he proposes to pay off with your money.
-- G. Gordon Liddy
7. Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep
voting on what to have for dinner.
-- James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)
8. Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people
in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.
-- Douglas Casey,
Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown University
9. Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car
keys to teenage boys.
-- P.J. O'Rourke,
Civil Libertarian
10. Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors
to live at the expense of everybody else.
-- Frederic Bastiat, French Economist (1801-1850)
11. Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short
phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
-- Ronald Reagan (1986)
12. I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.
-- Will Rogers
13. If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs
when it's free!
-- P.J. O'Rourke
14. In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as
possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
-- Voltaire (1764)
15. Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean
politics won't take an interest in you!
-- Pericles (430 B.C.)
16. No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.
-- Mark Twain (1866)
17. Talk is cheap...except when Congress does it.
-- Anonymous
18. The government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite
at one end and no responsibility at the other.
-- Ronald Reagan
19. The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings.
The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.
-- Winston Churchill
20. The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the
taxidermist leaves the skin.
-- Mark Twain
21. The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill
the world with fools.
-- Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)
22. There is no distinctly native American criminal class...save Congress.
-- Mark Twain
23. What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.
-- Edward Langley, Artist (1928-1995)
24. A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong
enough to take everything you have.
-- Thomas Jefferson
01 February 2011
The New Spectator Sport...
...is HGTV's "House Hunters". I've been a fan of this show for a long time but I realized today, as I was watching yet another episode as I'm recovering from a particularly nasty bout of 'flu on a Snow Day, that my motivation for watching has changed COMPLETELY from what it originally was.
I've always loved looking at houses. When we would be transferred, yet again, with an oil company, the hunt to find a home was always the carrot for me, motivating me to get with the program of moving to a new city or even a new country. Almost every single time I had unrealistic expectations of what we could afford but still I found it a fun adventure.
So when we moved back to the States five years ago, and yet another house search which I enjoyed more than all the rest put together, I was excited to discover this show. Mike thought I was nuts. I don't know how many times he'd walk in while I was watching and say, "WHAT do you see in this show??" I would just look at him and say, "I guess the same thing YOU see in sports?" He'd shake his head and walk away.
But today, after watching a couple who were particularly obnoxious, I realized that I no longer watch the show to see what the houses look like. I watch it because the people are often a train wreck. The dysfunction of the relationships has eclipsed the home features and prices. You know, where you watch in abject horror but yet can't turn away? Even with all the flashing lights and emergency vehicles??
You can tell which couples you'd like to actually know and the ones you fear might move in next door to you. The good ones are those who know what they want and are united in price. The ones who ask each other what their opinion is of a property/style/location. The ones who find things in a property to tell their spouse about because they know it's something that is important to the spouse. The ones who seem happy and obviously care for each other.
The latter seem to make up a lot of them. The ones where one spouse (in couples) is always talking about what THEY want (THEIR style, THEIR room, THEIR pool, THEIR kitchen). The wives who "give" their husbands 1/5th of the closet space. The husbands who demand their "man cave" over functioning kitchens and secondary family baths (and I HATE that term, "man cave" - like they are bears or something). The young professionals who make it abundantly clear they expect and can afford the very best and display an elitist attitude that dares anyone to tell them otherwise. The couples who belittle each other in an ill fated attempt to make themselves look more knowledgeable or "well-heeled". The wives who pout and just say, "I WANT this house. Get me THIS house." The ones who refuse to budge over a low-ball figure and then wonder why they don't get the house. The ones who give their realtor grief because they can't find the perfect castle in the best neighborhood for $150,000 or less.
And the show "Selling New York"? House Hunters on steroids?? Oh my, don't even get me started. Househunters International? The ones where the family are moving from the US to a foreign country for a job? I often wish for a "follow-up" episode to see if the family made it. Having been part of a group who helped soon-t0-be expatriates prepare for overseas assignments, I sometimes see the handwriting on the wall that THIS particular family has NO business moving overseas.
Having purchased eleven properties and leased seven in our marriage, I've often wondered how I've come across to the realtors/estate agents of the past, both home and abroad, who helped us find our homes. I hope I never treated them with the disdain some of these people exhibit. And I know I've made the "here's your little bit of closet" joke more than once (sorry, Mike). It has to be a study in patience as well as family relationships to be a really good realtor I've often thought. They have to have worse hours than a doctor sometimes when people come into town and have one week or less to find a house. I know we've looked at 40-50 houses sometimes in really high dollar cities (Chicagoland) where we'd try to find SOMETHING similar to what we left in the cheaper city (Houston) that would work for the extra $100,000 this new location was going to cost us to get half of what we had before (at least we always DID buy something eventually, even when the first contracts fell through - as they ALWAYS did in Naperville).
I remember Mike and I being torn between two houses when we first moved back to Houston in the early '90s. His boss took us out to dinner during the house hunting trip and asked us how the search was going. Mike told him we'd found a couple of houses we really liked but I liked one and he liked the other. His boss looked him in the eye and said, "Michael, buy the woman the house she wants. She's the one who's going to be living there." He did and I did. And I loved his boss, the dear, dear man.
So for me, House Hunters has become more of a study in relationships than home buying. The variety of homes one sees is of interest for sure but nothing beats the people who are the "home predators".
And some days I just feel sorry for the house.
I've always loved looking at houses. When we would be transferred, yet again, with an oil company, the hunt to find a home was always the carrot for me, motivating me to get with the program of moving to a new city or even a new country. Almost every single time I had unrealistic expectations of what we could afford but still I found it a fun adventure.
So when we moved back to the States five years ago, and yet another house search which I enjoyed more than all the rest put together, I was excited to discover this show. Mike thought I was nuts. I don't know how many times he'd walk in while I was watching and say, "WHAT do you see in this show??" I would just look at him and say, "I guess the same thing YOU see in sports?" He'd shake his head and walk away.
But today, after watching a couple who were particularly obnoxious, I realized that I no longer watch the show to see what the houses look like. I watch it because the people are often a train wreck. The dysfunction of the relationships has eclipsed the home features and prices. You know, where you watch in abject horror but yet can't turn away? Even with all the flashing lights and emergency vehicles??
You can tell which couples you'd like to actually know and the ones you fear might move in next door to you. The good ones are those who know what they want and are united in price. The ones who ask each other what their opinion is of a property/style/location. The ones who find things in a property to tell their spouse about because they know it's something that is important to the spouse. The ones who seem happy and obviously care for each other.
The latter seem to make up a lot of them. The ones where one spouse (in couples) is always talking about what THEY want (THEIR style, THEIR room, THEIR pool, THEIR kitchen). The wives who "give" their husbands 1/5th of the closet space. The husbands who demand their "man cave" over functioning kitchens and secondary family baths (and I HATE that term, "man cave" - like they are bears or something). The young professionals who make it abundantly clear they expect and can afford the very best and display an elitist attitude that dares anyone to tell them otherwise. The couples who belittle each other in an ill fated attempt to make themselves look more knowledgeable or "well-heeled". The wives who pout and just say, "I WANT this house. Get me THIS house." The ones who refuse to budge over a low-ball figure and then wonder why they don't get the house. The ones who give their realtor grief because they can't find the perfect castle in the best neighborhood for $150,000 or less.
And the show "Selling New York"? House Hunters on steroids?? Oh my, don't even get me started. Househunters International? The ones where the family are moving from the US to a foreign country for a job? I often wish for a "follow-up" episode to see if the family made it. Having been part of a group who helped soon-t0-be expatriates prepare for overseas assignments, I sometimes see the handwriting on the wall that THIS particular family has NO business moving overseas.
Having purchased eleven properties and leased seven in our marriage, I've often wondered how I've come across to the realtors/estate agents of the past, both home and abroad, who helped us find our homes. I hope I never treated them with the disdain some of these people exhibit. And I know I've made the "here's your little bit of closet" joke more than once (sorry, Mike). It has to be a study in patience as well as family relationships to be a really good realtor I've often thought. They have to have worse hours than a doctor sometimes when people come into town and have one week or less to find a house. I know we've looked at 40-50 houses sometimes in really high dollar cities (Chicagoland) where we'd try to find SOMETHING similar to what we left in the cheaper city (Houston) that would work for the extra $100,000 this new location was going to cost us to get half of what we had before (at least we always DID buy something eventually, even when the first contracts fell through - as they ALWAYS did in Naperville).
I remember Mike and I being torn between two houses when we first moved back to Houston in the early '90s. His boss took us out to dinner during the house hunting trip and asked us how the search was going. Mike told him we'd found a couple of houses we really liked but I liked one and he liked the other. His boss looked him in the eye and said, "Michael, buy the woman the house she wants. She's the one who's going to be living there." He did and I did. And I loved his boss, the dear, dear man.
So for me, House Hunters has become more of a study in relationships than home buying. The variety of homes one sees is of interest for sure but nothing beats the people who are the "home predators".
And some days I just feel sorry for the house.
27 January 2011
The Invisible Mom
This was sent to me today by a dear friend in England. I just had to share it. Thanks Kathleen for sharing it with me.
Invisible Mother.....
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'
Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this??
Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'
Some days I'm a crystal ball; 'Where's my other sock?, Where's my phone?, What's for dinner?'
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history, music and literature -but now, they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!?
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when she turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the greatcathedrals of Europe.
I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no, devoured - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: 1) No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. 2) These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. 3) They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. 4) The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A story of legend in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does.
No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, no Cub Scout meeting, no last minute errand is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a
turkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, he'd say, 'You're gonna love it there...'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible mothers.
Share this with all the Invisible Moms you know... I just did.
The Will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.
To all the wonderful mothers out there!!
May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.
17 November 2010
Cheri and Jennifer's REALLY. BIG. ADVENTURE.
I used to try to blog once a day. That lasted about, oh, a day. Then I went for once a week. Then once a month. You can just FEEL the commitment oozing out of me, right? Well, in a fit of guilt, I've decided to throw a curve ball and actually jot down a few words for posterity. Because I have been literally surrounded by 'posterity' all week! Tim and Megan have been in Boston and NYC this week; between Megan's "other mother" (first shift) and Jennifer and me (second shift), we've held down the fort in north Austin. The 'fort' of which we speak is Kennedy and Lleyton - along with Mirai, Ben, Luke and Emery. Yes, we do love our fun and frivolity (and muscle creams, ibuprofen, take-out food and Starbucks...LOTS of Starbucks...)
For some crazy reason, Jen and I thought it would be really fun to bring all the cousins together for a few days. What we obviously forgot was that it would be just the TWO of us 'token adults' taking care of the wee darlings. We also forgot that the average three year old has more energy than two adults. And we had THREE three year olds. And two adults. In my limited math ability, I figure that's a 3-to-1 ratio, three year olds winning. Add in two six-year olds and a baby and you have a classic 'Lions, tigers and bears, oh my!!' The name "Duggar" came up several times in conversation.
We had no single vehicle large enough to accommodate six children (with resultant car seats) and two adults. So we took Jen's minivan and my SUV which in and of itself was a source of "discussion" as we leave. The whom-is-going-with-whom-and-no-I-didn't-ask-you-you'll-go-with-whom-you-are-told discussion ensued on several occasions. All in all the transport divisions worked out very well and most of the time said posterity was pleased with their assigned seating. Now, getting them to put their trays in an upright and locked position as well as pay attention to the special safety presentation was another matter...
Bedtime was like herding cats - you'd get one in line and then one would wander off causing the others to follow to make sure they weren't doing anything more exciting than they were doing! And the tussling that just feeds extra energy - it's amazing how that is so absent in the mornings when we were trying to wake the kids up so we could get Kennedy and Lleyton out the door for school but was SO ever present just before bedtime. I have a new respect for
- parents of multiples
- preschool teachers
- calm people
- vehicles that are able to accommodate six car seats and two adults
- nannies
- the fast food industry
- PBS
- paper towels
Last night I presented the Christmas jammies for this year and attempted to get a photo. In preparation for this, I brought the children's stockings we have for our house along with me. I also brought their stocking hangers so we could put them on the fireplace mantles. Neither Jennifer or I anticipated their reaction to that. They really thought it was Christmas Eve and that the stockings would be FULL in the morning. Never mind that there was no tree up, no gifts wrapped let along, oh, the total absence of most of their parents!? :) Jen said she felt terrible when she tucked Luke in and he said, "I'm excited to get my Buzz in my stocking tomorrow!" necessitating another discussion of WHY the stockings were out in the first place.
FAIL.
Tomorrow will be tears since Jen and her three will be returning to Keller. Kennedy will miss Ben like crazy. And Lleyton has developed an affinity for Luke. Mirai and I will stay through Friday morning hopefully giving me time between Jen's departure and Tim/Megan's flight arrival to find the floor, put things back in place and generally compose myself to remark with practiced casualness, "Everything went really well! We all did GREAT!"
SUCCESS.
For some crazy reason, Jen and I thought it would be really fun to bring all the cousins together for a few days. What we obviously forgot was that it would be just the TWO of us 'token adults' taking care of the wee darlings. We also forgot that the average three year old has more energy than two adults. And we had THREE three year olds. And two adults. In my limited math ability, I figure that's a 3-to-1 ratio, three year olds winning. Add in two six-year olds and a baby and you have a classic 'Lions, tigers and bears, oh my!!' The name "Duggar" came up several times in conversation.
We had no single vehicle large enough to accommodate six children (with resultant car seats) and two adults. So we took Jen's minivan and my SUV which in and of itself was a source of "discussion" as we leave. The whom-is-going-with-whom-and-no-I-didn't-ask-you-you'll-go-with-whom-you-are-told discussion ensued on several occasions. All in all the transport divisions worked out very well and most of the time said posterity was pleased with their assigned seating. Now, getting them to put their trays in an upright and locked position as well as pay attention to the special safety presentation was another matter...
Bedtime was like herding cats - you'd get one in line and then one would wander off causing the others to follow to make sure they weren't doing anything more exciting than they were doing! And the tussling that just feeds extra energy - it's amazing how that is so absent in the mornings when we were trying to wake the kids up so we could get Kennedy and Lleyton out the door for school but was SO ever present just before bedtime. I have a new respect for
- parents of multiples
- preschool teachers
- calm people
- vehicles that are able to accommodate six car seats and two adults
- nannies
- the fast food industry
- PBS
- paper towels
Last night I presented the Christmas jammies for this year and attempted to get a photo. In preparation for this, I brought the children's stockings we have for our house along with me. I also brought their stocking hangers so we could put them on the fireplace mantles. Neither Jennifer or I anticipated their reaction to that. They really thought it was Christmas Eve and that the stockings would be FULL in the morning. Never mind that there was no tree up, no gifts wrapped let along, oh, the total absence of most of their parents!? :) Jen said she felt terrible when she tucked Luke in and he said, "I'm excited to get my Buzz in my stocking tomorrow!" necessitating another discussion of WHY the stockings were out in the first place.
FAIL.
Tomorrow will be tears since Jen and her three will be returning to Keller. Kennedy will miss Ben like crazy. And Lleyton has developed an affinity for Luke. Mirai and I will stay through Friday morning hopefully giving me time between Jen's departure and Tim/Megan's flight arrival to find the floor, put things back in place and generally compose myself to remark with practiced casualness, "Everything went really well! We all did GREAT!"
SUCCESS.
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