Mr. Garrett Goes To Washington

 I thought a political post was appropro on this, the eve of the President’s State of the Union Address. Unless you have been hiding under a rock in the US of A, you will know that this is a political year, mid-term elections…the democratic process is at work…and there’s lots of pain to go around.

It seems odd that I would know so many people who are running for office. I used to be so oblivious and I voted absentee straight ticket for years. I never cared who was running for County Clerk. But now I know, and it happens to be the lady who used to own the farm where the girl attended riding camp when she was eight years old. She sat in front of me at a dinner a couple of months ago and declared her candidacy to me. Horses and public service, they go hand in hand.

And I also know this guy. His name is Nick. And he wants your vote!

Nick is the boy’s guitar teacher and someone with whom we have a long history. He started teaching the boy when he was nine years old. The fact that he still really can’t play has nothing to do with Nick…

Anyway, we started out with Nick at a music place where he used to work. Then he left the music place and we followed him to his lawn chair adorned living room where he continued to teach the boy.

Then he decided to start his own music academy and we donated a couch for one of his music rooms. Then he expanded his music academy to the building next door where he holds music seminars.

THEN he decided that he was going to run for County Commissioner. Look how he’s grown!

I followed along when he filed his election papers. We wanted a really good photo of him to put into the newspaper.

I took several of him walking.

And walking some more.

And then I made him get back in the elevator so I can get a photo of him coming out of the elevator.

Don’t let anyone tell you that politics is glamourous.

So I sent him a few photos to look at.

He didn’t like this one.

Or this one. Come on Nick!

Aha, the perfect one. Geez Nick.

Here’s one of him pretending to wave to the hords of admirers. Or in this case, the husband.

The husband just came from the gym so he wasn’t dressed for the occasion but I got a photo anyway.

Now hear me…Nick is a centrist, a visionary for smart growth in our community and a fiscal conservative. The fact that he’s running for the opposite party as mine gave me some pause but we support him anyway.

Besides, he’s a good guy.

Hosted by Cecily and ???

January 26, Nutritional Value

Today is a salad day…can I do it? Can I do it?

iSpy A Baseball Bat

Posted on Mosaic Monday, hosted by Mary at Little Red House and Tracey Clark’s Best Shot Monday.

January 24, iHeartfaces Texture Challenge

I took a series of self-portraits hoping to use one for my bio on Vision and Verb. I didn’t use any of them but I thought I’d put this one in for my entry for the texture contest this week at iHeartfaces. Download the texture I used courtesy of Les Brumes. And the white specks on the photo? That’s toothpaste on my bathroom mirror. It’s built in texture.

Good Bye, Sis

Yesterday, my sister left her home in Virginia to live in Georgia. It was a sad good-bye for the two of us. And today, as I write this, it still is very emotional for me. All I can remember is her entire body shaking with her sobs as I left. And I couldn’t drive with all the tears in my eyes. She didn’t want to go. And I hope I wasn’t seeing her for the last time.

Four years ago, my sister was as healthy as you and me. Today she is an invalid with around the clock medical care and living with decisions that don’t reflect her wishes but she must accept them anyway. What a terrible disease this ALS.

However, before I can write about the unfortunate circumstances surrounding her departure, I want to remember this little miracle last Thanksgiving. It’s all I can do right now.

I drove my sister home to my parents’ house last Thanksgiving for a last visit at home before her move to Georgia. It was a nerve racking seven hour trip to be recounted another time. I’ll just say this…it’s tricky bringing your invalid sister to a public bathroom while in a wheelchair. I almost dropped her on the floor. I wanted to take her anti-anxiety medicine but I was driving:)

Like all siblings, my brother and my sister fought an awful lot as kids. They were so different those two. Though I can claim as many arguments, some of which resulted in a torrent of tears and slamming doors, I have to say, these two took the cake when it came to sibling disagreements.

As my brother leans in to understand her labored speech, I wonder at the miracle of time. He’s patient with her now. And since she’s bed-ridden, she can’t kick him down the stairs.

And then there’s this…he’s reading the Bible to her. Her favorite passage? 1 Corinthians 13:4 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”

As far as I know, my brother has not stepped foot in a church for 30 years. As far as I know, my sister is not a Christian. As far as I know, I’m the only one who took that not so traveled path in my immediate family. So what’s this all about?

I don’t know. Perhaps someone is speaking to them…both of them. And I guess I don’t know much, but that’s okay with me!

I watched my younger brother read the Bible to my older sister and I knew in my heart that miracles can happen. All the time.

Posted on Spiritual Sundays.

and on Gayle’s Monday Memories.

Desperate Housewives, Jan 2010 Edition – Desperate No More

Every time I do a bunco post I get a lot of googlers here because they think my place is the home of the popular show on ABC, you know the one. So I’m not calling us that anymore. I want people to come here, yet I don’t want people to come here…I’m just that way.

So from now on…the titles will be Smithville Bunco. Just so all five of you who come here stay informed.

The girls got together a few weeks ago and I’ll have to say, it was one of the most fun gatherings I’ve had in a while. Maybe it was because it wasn’t December when there was a lot of stress. I only have three photos from that night, which is a good thing since I really just wanted to forget it. Story later I’m sure.

We didn’t have any subs so all the original members were there. It was just casual, and natural, and just…nice. We just had fun, that’s all.

There was stimulating conversation about things that go on in our lives…and there is always something trust me.

Miss Debbie who has the most interesting job I know. You know she’s been to the White House more often than Nancy Pelosi? That’s all I’m sayin’. It’s nice to have her here because she’s on travel a lot.

And the lovely Miss Kiaisha, one of the cutest women I know…and Miss Yvonne, the most fit woman I know…just sayin’.

You can say it’s a coffee clutch…

But it’s not…

You can say it’s a gossip fest…

Except it’s not…

You can say it’s an excuse to drink wine…

Well, okay…

And you can say that I love these ladies…because I do.

I’m not a twitter-er-er-er- per se…so I’ll leave you this on my static and boring blog…I hope that it’s always a Friday night where ever you are!

January 22, Pain

There’s Lost and Confused Adolescent Teen Daniel getting his armed pulled out of the socket.

Because the boy has had so many wrestling events this week, my hard drive is not full of beautiful flowers, galloping majestic horses, or sunsets. Rather, it’s full of this…

And Lost and Confused Adolescent Teen Joey getting his head twisted.

…pain.

And this…this really hurts me, in more ways than one.

But I have to say…I’m starting to change my mind about this whole girl wrestling thing. Because these girls are tough…really tough. And they can hold their own. I’d say I’ve changed my mind about 110%. I’ll write about it when I’m 180% turned around.

Pants On The Ground

I know I said I would have a riveting horse story this week but I don’t. I don’t have a riveting wresting story either, I just have this story.

It’s been a trying time for the boy. He’s had four wresting events in seven days, and when he didn’t have an event, he had practice.

Last night he came home and collapsed on the living room floor, supine (I really use that word, it’s a yoga term) and put his arm over his eyes.

He said, “Mom, I’ve never been so tired in my entire life.”

I felt like I should pick him up and put him to bed but he’s a lot bigger than I am now.

He continues, “I fell asleep in math class. I feel my health slipping away.”

“I feel my health slipping away”…he’s more like me than I thought.

This hurts me, it really does. I don’t know how their arms stay in the socket.

So I said the only thing that could make the whole situation better…”Can I make you something to eat?”

In this moment of his continuing growth and maturity, the only people in his life who can get this much productivity and responsiveness out of the boy are – not his parents – his coaches. I can speak all day about these men, but for now, I’ll just say this – they’re tough.

And it surprises me how different the reaction is when they ask something of the kids as opposed to the reaction their parents get when they ask.

Every request is immediately fulfilled, and fulfilled in not only a timely manner, but in a “I’ll-hop-to-it-immediately Coach” manner. After every match the kids make a united effort to tear down and clean up. I can’t imagine this type of military efficiently in my home.

It’s awe inspiring. And a part of me can’t believe my eyes.

But I have a point about the title of this post. Really. Just setting the stage.

See the boy’s pants? This is a good day. For the last year or more he’s been wearing his pants clear down to his hips, sometimes so low you can see his boxers. Very unsightly, at least to me. So I do what every parent who doesn’t want to see her son’s blooming bloomers on display does, I nag. And I’ve been nagging about this very subject for over a year.

It bothered me so much that I had Santa bring him a belt for Christmas. Which he promptly put on his head. Hey! That’s not where that goes!

So this week, one of the coaches came up behind the boy and pulled up his shirt as he walked alongside of him. The boy said, “Coach, what are you doing?” The coach replied, “I thought since you like to show off your underwear so much, I might as well help everyone see them.”

Then he told the boy that if he didn’t wear a belt the next day he was going to do sprints.

And wouldn’t you know it? He came down the stairs with a belt on the next morning. Harumpf!

I should be offended. After all my requests were not taken seriously and all the coach had to do was threaten to make him run sprints and he got the results he needed. But I’m not offended. I’m grateful…really grateful for now, my boy looks like a nice young man, not a droopy drawered dipstick.

The next day at practice, the Coach had a talk with the boys (and two girls) about having a proper appearance. About how right or wrong, people will judge you on how you look and conduct yourself.

Somehow I don’t think that same speech would have resonated as well coming from me. But I’m putting my pride aside…because now his underwear doesn’t show! I thank God for life’s favors big and small. I’m beginnig to like this wrestling stuff.

Some Happy Things

Warm baths.

Good friends.

Sushi.

Knowing that your friends are just as weird as you.

Pretty shy girls.

Long naps…this photo makes me sleepy.

I guess randomness abounds on my blog lately.

Happy Love Thursday.

The Random Twelve

For some reason I feel the need to cheer myself up. I was over at Mrs. E’s place and read her post on twelve random questions and I thought, what the heck. Things are gettin’ kinda serious around here…can’t have that.

1. If you physically lock in one age for yourself, which would you choose and why?

41. I was wiser than when I was 39. I stilled looked 39. When I turned 42, I looked 52.

2. What is the best dish that you cook or bake (your piece de resistance?)

I don’t know…some were great, some were bombs. Maybe waterfall beef, or beef salad, yeah that’s it. Or maybe it’s egg rolls…

3. When you feel blue, what is one strategy you use to help yourself back to normal?

Well…It doesn’t happen all that often but I tend to be a slumper when I’m down. I pray then take cleansing yoga breaths. I try to do something creative. It helps.

4. When was the last time you danced in public?

Last August at Uncle Ed’s summer party with my hubby, to the band we hired for our wedding 17 years ago.

5. Do you consider yourself a realist or dreamer?

I’m realistic. Almost to a fault. I tend to try to immediately solve the problem…but then I get annoyed with the husband when he does it to me because I  just want him to listen and not fix it. He ought to know better;)

6. As a parent, what is one thing that you have done well?

This is tough. I’m so critical of myself that it’s better to ask what I don’t do well. However…I’d say… We’ve taught them respect for others. And respect for authority. And trust their instincts. And to treat others with kindness. I see the kindness in them, especially the boy.

They will sometimes come back with “Well so-and-so does it.” We tell them that they can’t control the actions of others but they can control how they react to it.

We teach them that there is forgiveness and that there is always something bigger than themselves. We teach them that God loves them always. Now I’m getting too serious. I can’t help it, it’s a stream of conciousness.

7. Which is your favorite character on the Andy Griffith show?

Opie I guess. I never really watched it. I was a wee babe and living in Thailand during Mayberry’s hay day.

8. On a scale of 1-10, how much do you know about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?

About a 5. Embarrassing I know. But every time I go to the Lincoln Memorial and look over the reflecting pool, I think of Dr. King.

9. What is your #1 driving pet peeve?

Even though the signs says, Right Lane Closed 1/2 Mile, it doesn’t give you permission to zoom ahead and cut in line buster!

10. Which color best represents your mood today? Care to elaborate?

Today? Hmmm…I’m wearing a hot pink shirt with a sapphire blue and pink pashmina. Not really feeling it though.

11. If your spouse were an animal, which would he/she be?

A polar bear? I don’t know. It was the first thing that came to mind. Wonder what that means?

12. What activity takes up the bulk of your time on an average day?

Computers, computers, computers. Running kids around. Cooking. But not cleaning! Wish it was sleeping.

Okay, I do feel a little better. Thanks for listening.

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