Sometimes it's good to be a bother.

This afternoon, we all went over to visit my husband's aunt. We haven't seen her in a while, since before Thanksgiving, I am sad to say. We live in the same city, and used to see her on a regular basis. She is a second grandmother to my boys. However, her husband died a few years ago, very unexpectedly, and she really went into a downward spiral of depression. She got very weak and ill, and I felt like the boys were just too rowdy to be around her. Obviously, she quit getting out, so she wasn't coming to our house, and we quit going to her house, because I didn't want to bother her. I was afraid the boys would be too much for her to handle. 

She has had more bad days than good over the past couple of years. She quit eating properly, started having seizures, had problems walking and started using a cane, you name it. She began having what I think were panic attacks, and would end up in the hospital overnight, only to be sent home the next day because there was really nothing to do for her. I think she also has a problem with alcohol and, frankly, I can sort of understand. Her world was shattered by her husband's death and now all these debilitating problems, what reason was there to not self-medicate? But it certainly hasn't helped her issues.

Of late, she seems to be doing better, and today we called and asked if we could go over for a visit. Plus, we still hadn't given her our Christmas present for her, so we needed to do that. She said yes, and we had a great visit! She seemed to really love seeing the boys, and they were happy to see her, too. They were very well-behaved, and when they started to get a bit restless after 45 minutes or so, it was thankfully warm enough that they could go outside. I think it meant a lot to her to see the boys, and I think it really did her some good. I should have done it a while ago, but I plan to make it over to visit her at least once a month, hopefully every couple of weeks.

I am glad I bothered.

Announcing....

I am getting back to exercising! I went this morning for my first workout in forever, and made it through! I did the modified, beginner style, since it has been at least a year (more) since I did anything like that. And I only had to stop and rest once, when I got really lightheaded. Guess my heart isn't used to pumping that much blood!  I am doing this with a friend, at her house, and we have a standing appointment Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. So if I don't show up, I am letting her down as well as myself. Besides, I know she will shame me and ride me mercilessly if I don't show! LOL

I have announced this here and also on Facebook, so now I have to do it. Too many people know about it! All my friends out there, I need you to keep me honest.  And I need to remember that this is not just about losing weight and looking better but, more importantly, about being healthier and stronger and feeling better!

Hmmm, just wondering....

Is Barack Obama the first African American president, or is it more correct to say he is the first bi-racial president? Since his father was from Kenya and his mother was Caucasian, I tend toward the latter. Either way, he made history today!

But it was his job!

I happened to be in NYC on the subway with my brother when the US Airways plane went into the Hudson. What a freaky accident! And while I agree that while it might have seemed an amazing thing the pilot did, it was no "miracle on the Hudson." It was his job. He was excellent at his job that day. He deserves large kudos and congratulations, slaps on the back, all that, but I don't feel it was an incredible miracle sent from God. If you want to look at it that way, then who sent the poor geese? 

My husband is a pilot, and a good one, and I know that they are trained diligently and extensively for just this sort of situation. Pilots are trained to be level-headed and clear-thinking in just such an emergency. The US Airways pilot definitely deserves credit for remaining just that way, and being able to do his job.

Don't you wish the people running the drive-through window at McDonald's were so dedicated to their jobs?! Sorry, poor customer service and rude people running those windows are my pet peeve.

Kudos, Captain.

Where were you when...?

There are a number of events that make people ask, "Where were you when...?" I know where I was when Challenger exploded, when 9/11 happened, when Elvis Presley died (yes, I was young, but my Mom was a huge fan, so it trickled down to me!), and when OJ was found "not guilty." And now I will know where I was on January 20, 2009, the day our 43rd president, Barack Obama, was inaugurated. I am staying home today and watching it all on television, or listening to it on the radio.

Just a tidbit. Many people think he will be our 44th president. It is just semantics, but technically, he will be the 43rd person to be president. We have had 43 presidencies, so this will be the 44th presidency, but Grover Cleveland was elected president twice, in nonconsecutive terms. That means that today marks 44 inaugurations, but only 43 different presidents. But I will still refer to him as the 44th president, as that is the majority thought. Just had to share that!

Today is an historical day! This election, no matter the outcome, was going to be history-making. But I feel like there is an electricity in the air that I haven't felt in a long time. I pray that this will be a good thing for our country, our people, and our world.

ABC Game

I need something to blog, so here it is! I found this on a blog I read sometimes, and she said we should play the ABC game, so here it is!

A. Attached or single? attached

B. Best friend? Yes

C. Cake or pie? It depends on my mood. I like both

D. Dog or cat? If you know me, you know that I have a multitude of dogs, and 1 cat. I think I would say I am a dog person, though.

E. Essential item? cell phone 

F. Favorite color? Royal blue, though green is a close second 

G. Gummy bears or worms? Neither. I do like Gummy Lifesavers, though!

H. Hometown? I consider Malvern, Arkansas, to be my hometown. I was born in Memphis, but grew up in Malvern.

I. Favorite indulgence? internet

J. January or July? July 

K. Kids? Yes, I have three. : )

L. Life isn’t complete without? My family and friends.

M. Marriage date? October 6, 1990

N. Number of brothers and sisters? 2 sisters, 2 brothers.

O. Oranges or apples? Both

P. Phobias? Nothing comes to mind right now.

Q. Quote? "Bless it and release it!" My kids would say it should be, "Lose the attitude!"

R. Reasons to smile? My kids and husband

S. Season of choice? Fall

T. Travel dreams? I love to travel and am game for anywhere. I have never been to Europe or Australia and would love to visit there.

U. Unknown fact about me? I have a secret desire to be an avid scrapbooker. Own all the supplies, but have never done it!

V. Vegetable? I like most vegetables, except for turnip greens.

W. Worst habit? I can be verrrrrrrrrrrrry lazy.

X. X-ray or ultrasound? I have never had an X-ray, and won't have another ultrasound, hopefully, since I don't plan to have more kids. So, I guess X-ray.

Y. Your favorite restaurants? depends on the type of food

Z. Zodiac sign? Leo

Have you ever...

Saw this on a friend's blog and thought it seemed like fun, so I borrowed it. (Thanks, Liz!) I marked the ones I have done with an asterisk. 

Have you ever...

1. Started your own blog *

2. Slept under the stars*

3. Played in a band*

4. Visited Hawaii *

5. Watched a meteor shower*

6. Given more than you can afford to charity **

7. Been to Disneyland *

8. Climbed a mountain *

9. Held a praying mantis 

10. Sang a solo* (ya think? lol)

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm *

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch*

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning*

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables *

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight *

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill*

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping*

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse*

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset*

31. Hit a home run*

32. Been on a cruise*

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors *

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language*

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied*

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing*

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke (I know, can you believe it?)

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant*

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight*

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling*

52. Kissed in the rain*

53. Played in the mud*

54. Gone to a drive-in theater*

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business 

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies*

62. Gone whale watching*

63. Got flowers for no reason*

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma*

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check*

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy*

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial*

71. Eaten caviar*

72. Pieced a quilt*

73. Stood in Times Square*

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person*

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car*

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper*

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House*

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating *(does fishing count?)

88. Had chickenpox*

89. Saved someone’s life*

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous*

92. Joined a book club*

93. Lost a loved one*

94. Had a baby*

95. Seen the Alamo in person*

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a mobile phone*

99. Been stung by a bee*

100. Read an entire book in one day*