THE DUST WILL WAIT

Today I sat in an office waiting room and felt bereft because I left my phone at home on the charger. Every so often this happens, leaving me feeling vulnerable and sort of technically naked.  It was not boring as I watched people come and go. I got there a bit early  - just an offer to pick up someone else who had an appointment. I twiddled my thumbs,  is that even allowed anymore? A middle aged woman and an early teen age girl sat the closest to me, both nose deep in their electronics. Suddenly there was a loud wail from one of the offices hidden from view.  The sound caused the other woman and I to `eye meet` with a similar opened mouth surprised look. We began to talk about voices carrying, about kids with no inside voice control, and then she told me how her mother learned to "holler" clear across the military base to call her and her siblings home.  She pointed to the girl and said that her youngest could have put that crier we heard to shame wit...

We got elGee twelve years ago...... just temporarily.  She has been a timid cat that loves the two of us, but still runs and hides under the bed when visitors arrive. Her age hasn't been officially calculated, but everyone thinks she is fourteen.  Age can cause problems and she is currently fed carefully because of some kidney issues.   Another problem that may be part of her aging process is that she has become sort of chatty.  Lately when she attempts to meow to get our attention there seems be a crack in her voice or a lowering resonance that causes her to quite literally say, "hello!"   This happens every day.  Then last week she began to say "I love you."  We've gotten a lot of giggles and of course reply, "hello, I love you, too!" Today she said "Grandpa." She stopped right at the office door, sat down and looked at my husband and clear as a bell she said it. "Did you hear what I heard?...

We've been cat-sitting elGee since December 22, 2007.    I remember well that very first week when she hid under our bed. She still loves to take naps under the bed.  She also find solitude there when the grandchildren are around or if anybody dares ring our doorbell.  As a matter of fact, she runs and hides there if she even hears a car on our front drive. In the evenings she plays some kind of feline game I call "wishy-washy naps."  She chooses my lap to be her kneading source, and then cuddles in for a snooze.  For no apparent reason she will wake up and jump across furniture to repeat the process with my husband. Back and forth.  About every 15 minutes. ElGee is wishy-washy with her solitary naps, too.  Except she chooses one for 8 to 10 days.  One week I will find her in the rocking chair.  Then another week she is napping on a dresser in the guest bedroom... the window in the computer office ... the captains chair at the...

In early May of this year, a little mallard hen and her chicks spent several days in our backyard enjoying the security of our fence and the pleasure of our little pond. A long story made short --  she and her 8 babies were chased by a dog.  My 3-year-old and 5-year-old grandchildren helped me gather the surviving six ducklings and carry them into our yard.  Mama Duck needed no more encouragement to follow us then her babies excited peeps. She decided it was a good place to be. Eventually, someone left a gate open, and the Mama Duck decided it was time for her family to head out. Immediately they  encountered another neighborhood dog which paid no attention to them whatsoever. Unfortunately, Mama Duck squawked with alarm and they all scattered... leaving one duckling behind. We made some calls and another neighbor had a friend with domestic ducks who agreed to take the baby. But it had to be kept in its own container and not with the other ducks. ...

Goodbye 2012.

The earlier the morning and the more tired is my body, the more coffee smells like skunk.  I still drink it. Whenever I feel sleepy, a nap is inconvenient.  Of course, as soon as I can lie down, my eyes are like a big-eyed bird.  My husband can generally close his eyes and fall asleep anywhere. Except on weekend afternoons when I challenge his napping activity in front of the football game.    I say, “ crawl into bed and make it worth your while.”  So, he begrudgingly trudges back to the bedroom where he tosses and turns until he gives up and comes back to snore in front of the television. Why is it that a particular dish I need to use is always in the dishwasher… dirty.   And yet, if I have a dirty dish to put in it, the dishwasher is full of clean dishes waiting to be unloaded.  How can it be both ways? Q: What do you get when you combine my chapped split finger tips with the cold dry weather’s static electricity? A:  Some ...

Still watching my grandchildren while Karmyn is in Hawaii. Her computer (and my being busy) doesn't allow for any blog time. It should be salvaged by droids. Buttercup would act it out and make me be C3Po if I even suggested it aloud. Shhhh... She could be hooked up to a turbine and create electricity -- that almost six-year old girl is energy with a Capital E. The Caboose has been a great little almost 15 month old boy. He's been sleeping as well as one could expect in this hot weather. My morning starts about 5:30 when he rouses and I change his diaper and snuggle him in my bed. His hair is so fluffy and soft that it sucks up my nose when I breathe and tickles my face. Not a great sleep for me -- but somehow sweet enough to manage. Jammin (8) went to boy scout camp with his Uncle for three nights/four days. His first trip away from home without a parent. He toughed it out. Jammin: We were the closest bunk to the lake Grandma. If you got up at 6:00 and ran down t...

Fun Monday 's theme is Kid's Say the Darndest Things (or your pet does the darndest thing , whichever) and Karisma ( Karisma & Kids ) is the party hostess. Our daughters were no exception to making us and others smile. I decided to share a moment from each of my now grown up girls. (There are many more moments somewhere locked in my mind - but these are the ones that surfaced first.) (1) Once upon a time when Amanda was still a little Cakers..... I was driving home in my little yellow bug one evening when Amanda leaned forward and asked (with her five -year old raspy voice) one of those philosophical questions. “Mama? Is there an end to the world?" Karmyn, was in the passenger seat and her spreading smirk told me that she (the teenage smarty pants) was going to enjoy listening to my response to this one. “Well….!” I spoke slowly, to garner time. “There are people who think that the world will end in fire, and others who think the world will end frozen in an i...

Last week. The telephone conversation began: Amanda: Curlymop! Grandma is on the phone. Come and tell her what you got today. Curlymop gets on the phone: Hi Gwama. Gwama smiles through the phone: Hi Curlymop! Do you have something to tell me? Curlymop: I got this today. See? Amanda in background: Tell her what it is. Curlymop: One plus two is three. Gwama: Oh! You're learning how to add numbers? Amanda in background: Tell her what two and two is. Curlymop: Four. And when I'm nine I can drink Coffee.

MyHeritage : Celebrity Morph - Family history software - Family websites I'm not really out of blog fodder, I'm just being lazy. Also, wondering where I could buy that make up. Just saying.

I have eleventy jillion passwords in my life. At least it feels like it. Last week I locked myself out of one of my work related web sites. The protocol is very similar on most passwords. You may mark the little box to request they Email you a new one. My Email never came! Eventually, I called the toll free number for technical assistance and reached a man in a country on the other side of the globe. He took my name and business information. When he began to ask me the "Personal Question" I had written for just this scenario he burst into giggles. It took about 30 seconds for me to realize that he was still trying to finish asking me the question. That's when I felt a warm flush over my face as I recalled the problems on this web site the previous month. Every day the log-in page redirected me to the individual profile. For three weeks straight I had to set up new personal information before proceeding. It was time consuming and frustrating. One day my patience wore...

Today's conversation as Amanda backed her mini-van up to peer around the car parked next to us. She pulled back in to let some traffic pass. Amanda: That sure was a funny lookin ' woman. Me : What woman? Amanda: The one who was driving that car. Me: What car. Amanda: The one on the other side of the one parked next to us. Me: I'll take a look once you pull out. Amanda: Okay, I think it's clear now. Me: Whoaaa ... she's a dog!

I think they were humoring ME! The truth is in the question - which is not really about the intelligence of your blog - but rather how easy it reads. Or in English, I flunked.

The following are two entries for Robins Pensieve's Poetic License. What can I say? How can I get serious about Limericks. They are too much fun. There once was a guy name’o Arnie Who only liked chili con carne But on St Paddy’s Week He tried Bubble & Squeak And a green beer to wash down the Blarney There once was a green leprechaun Who conserved and recycled - doggone! And… about global warming She cried: “I’m informing-- You all that my Hot Flash is ON!” Have a wonderful day filled with poetry Robin.... and all the rest of you, too! Read more HERE!

Nikki is having a CONTEST . It is all about Elvis. Stay with me now..... Two years ago when our septic system was All Shook Up , we had to Rip It up . That meant tearing up the entire landscaped yard, except for the fence line. The hubby put on his Big Boots and I put on my Blue Suede Shoes . It was a total mess. Everyone in the neighborhood kept telling us to Clean Up Your Own Backyard. We had to place our Spring Fever on hold that year. First we had to Shake, Rattle, and Roll all the top soil and it took Today, Tomorrow, and Forever . The reason for the delay was an unusual monsoon season, and When It Rains It Really Pours . After three months we were still in A World of Our Own . We were Working On The Building for eight hours then came home to work in the yard for another eight. Yippie ya yo ya yeah ! I spent so many days sifting rock that I felt as though I was " Raised on Rock ." If you had asked me what my plans for the day were, my answer...

Late afternoon: Grandma: Curlymop, would you like some juice. Curlymop: I want some. Grandma goes to the kitchen and returns with juice for Curlymop and a glass of cold water for Grandma. Grandma takes two swallows: Burp. Excuse me! Curlymop: Gwamma, you boooped. Grandma: Yes, excuse me Curlymop. Grandma takes a couple more swigs: Burp. Burp. (Eyes open wide in surprise!) EXCUSE ME! Curlymop: Gwamma, you booped again. Curlymop runs across the room and pulls grandma’s cup down and peers intently into the clear liquid. Curlymop: What? It’s only water? 6:00 a.m. Grandpa has little fingers prying open his eyelids. Buttercup: Grandpa. Grandpa: Whaaa…whaaa…whaaaa. Oh Hi Buttercup. Buttercup: Grandpa. Grandma is still asleep. Mommy is all *jumbled up. I have to crawl into bed with you. (*note: jumbled up with her pregnant pillow, we assume) Grandpa: Okay then. Buttercups crawl up on the bed to sit next to Grandpa...

There must be a full moon. I don't remember when I've seen so many weird headlines. 81-Year-Old Aussie Nabbed Selling Weed (AP) SYDNEY, Australia - An 81-year-old woman was arrested and charged with growing and selling marijuana in eastern Australia, police said Tuesda y. Is anyone else a little doobie-us about a sweet little old lady doing something like that? Town Seeks Ban On Silly String HUNTINGTON, N.Y. -- Town council in Huntington, New York is getting serious about Silly String. The issue: a claim that the plastic goo mars the finish on the Long Island community's fire trucks. These firemen need a pool table. These guys have got to be hustlers... PRAGUE (Reuters) - Two Czechs stuck in a billiard table while searching for a ball had to call the fire squad and were freed only when rescuers took the table apart, a newspaper reported Tuesday. Then again - maybe not (see previous comment.) Oregon Town Abuzz over Mayor's MySpace Lingerie Sho t (AP) ARLINGTON, Ore...

Several weeks ago Tiggerlane tagged me with the education meme. The rules : Devise a list of 5-10 courses you would take to fix your life. It's more fun to be in classes with friends, so include one class from the person who tagged you that you'd also like to take. Tag five. (1)The amount of time that has passed since I was given this assignment proves that I already have a degree in procrastination. However, a refresher course in time management might be helpful. I would probably call it Personal Time Space Continuum 365 . (yeah, my own little universe) This class would provide an overview of the students one year journey around the sun. I just don't know if I can fit it in my schedule. (2) Especially at this time of year, Making Payday Last Forever $101 is highly recommended. We've all heard the saying "So much month left at the end of the money ," or " So long between Paydays, so short between Bills." Well, this class would apply th...

Robin (The Pensieve One) has invited us all to the debut of her first Pensieve's Poetic License . She's made it very easy by suggesting a simple Limerick about Thanksgiving. I've decided to join her group of rhyming bloggers and add my silly little offering. Thanksgiving Old Abe made a big proclamation That “thanks” be the prayer of a nation But Cranberries and yams And turkeys and hams Have since become glutinous temptation

Burning Chili Sparks Terror Alert A pot of burning chili sparked fears of a biological terror attack in central London . Firefighters wearing protective breathing apparatus were called to D’Arblay Street , Soho , after reports of noxious smoke filling the air. A Thai restaurant had been preparing Nam Prik Pao, a red hot Thai dip which uses extra hot chillies which are deliberately bur nt. That usually happens after we eat it at our house. Philippine Officials Find ‘Spider’ Mail Manila , Philippines – The package from Hong Kong looked innocent enough, marked “personal clothing.” But, when customs officials opened it, they were stunned to see about 300 live scorpions and spiders. I wonder if there was a card that read: Dear Harry, Here's a few items left behind when you walked out on me for that other woman. W. VA Man Flees Police on Lawnmower Martinsburg,. W.VA. – Michael Ginevan of Bunker Hill was driving a riding lawnmower on on Runnymeade Road ab...