Generation PerpleXed

Catherine's Wishes and Wants List 2009

2009-11-04T22:29:00.011-06:00

Catherine’s Wishes and Wants List 2009
Note: High Priority Items listed first in each category.

Acts of Kindness:
Clean my car (Shane has claimed this one)
Help me repot my fichus in the new pot I asked for (see below)
Install two door knobs I bought 5 years ago.
Help me clean my garage (yes again)

Items Needed:
Charger for my Verizon LG enV3 cell phone
Black and Decker retractable tape measure

21" Terra Cotta pot for my Fichus (see pic below)
Garbage Can (wheels and a locking lid)
Door Mats (3) so I can wipe my feet
Set of Queen Size Sheets (cream, light pink, or white)
Towels for my pink bathroom (brown, sage green, white)

A Year’s Supply of any of the following:
Toilet Paper (Quilted Northern or Charmin)

Air Filters for my A/C unit (the kind that filters out allergens)
Quaker Oats Breakfast Cookies (only get oatmeal/raisin.please)
Folgers Classic Roast Coffee (vacuum sealed bricks) OR
Folgers Half Caf (18 of whatever it comes in)
Laundry Detergent (Tide with or w/o Bleach or Gain)
Paper Towels (Brawny or Viva)
Light Bulbs (the spirally kind)

Gift Cards at the following:
H.E.B. to purchase items mentioned above.
Starbucks (available at HEB and Starbucks)

A Gift Certificate at:
Bay Window in Rockport (I want a wallet)
Golden Needles Quilt Shop in Rockport (I want everything)
Bath and Body Works (home fragrances)

Charitable Contributions:

Rockport Young Life: P.O. Box 1603, Fulton, Texas 78358

The June Project: Horizon Vet Clinic, P.O. Box 190, Fulton, Texas 78358

The Birthday Fichus

Heeeeeere's Johnny!

2009-08-05T16:46:00.011-05:00

Who lets their elementary age child stay up past 10:30 p.m. on a school night to watch the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson? Carlene did and man do I have some funny memories because of it. So what I always fell asleep in school.

In my last post I paid homage to Johnny and his character Carnac (some spell it Karnak) the Magnificent by using the phrase hermetically sealed. Here's how the skit worked: Johnny Carson came out as Carnac wearing a bigger than life turban and black cape. He always tripped on the step leading to the Tonight Show desk. Once settled at the desk he used his mystic powers to "predict" answers to questions sealed inside envelopes.

The dialogue always started with Ed McMahon validating Carnac's power by saying: "these envelopes have been hermetically sealed and kept in a mayonnaise jar on Funk and Wagnall's porch since NOON today".

Carnac would hold an envelope to his forehead and say: "sis, boom, baa".
Ed would repeat: "sis, boom, baa".
Carnac would tear off the end of the envelope, blow in it, take out the card and read the question: "Describe the sound a sheep makes when it explodes?"

And as always, when Ed stated he had in his hand the last envelope the audience would break out in applause, and then Carnac would put a ridiculous curse on them, such as: "may a bloated yak change the temperature of your jacuzzi". So ridiculous and so funny.

Do yourself a favor; go to YouTube and look for some Carnac. He's there, and you will laugh (if your older than 40).

Hi-oooooooooo!

Wedding Bells

2009-08-04T22:06:00.005-05:00

My brother Bill has a daughter named Leslie (pictured above). She's getting married next month. It is hard for me to believe, because in my head she is the age you see in the picture. How can this be, she's just a baby girl. Well, this picture was taken in the 70's and she is not a baby girl. She's a graduate from UT who majored in Finance (uhhh, excuse me, I mean Marketing) and now works for Nike in Amsterdam.

I was recruited to make the veil. It was a piece of cake, but I have to work on it while in a cat free zone because Leslie is allergic to cats. I work on it during quilting meetings at the First Baptist church fellowship hall. When in my house the veil is in a hermetically sealed bag.

One of the things I still have to do is go on-line to the couple's wedding website and list 5 songs that would "guarantee" to get me on the dance floor. So far I only have two:

Can't Touch This by MC Hammer
Hey Yea! by Outcast

I'm also thinking about some Waylon Jennings: She's a Good Hearted Woman or Mama's Don't Let Your Baby's Grow Up to be Cowboys. I haven't committed to my final list yet, so suggestions are being accepted. What songs would "guarantee" to get you on the dance floor?

Motherhood

2009-07-30T11:24:00.003-05:00

Luna could not be a better mother. She is attentive, protective, and so very loving.

Luna's litter consists of one girl, with a black face and white tummy, and one (very demanding) boy with a black and white face.

My good friend Lucas is adopting the boy and since the kitten is black AND white he is naming him Jackson, or MJ, after you know who. I have decided to call the girl LaToya.

Latoya

Jackson (MJ)

Luna Love

Luna's Kittens

2009-07-25T01:26:00.003-05:00

At the time of this post, Luna has had two kittens, both are black and whites. She was EXCELLANT, but she had a great midwife in Anne Gambill. I just sat in the back seat with Cookie and watched the show. Eeewwwww!

Meet Luna

2009-07-17T21:18:00.008-05:00

While leaving Whataburger late one night I looked across the street and saw this kitten laying around in the DQ parking lot. I decided (irrationally) to go over and introduce myself. I offered her some grilled chicken and she ate it right up. She was vocal and seemed to appreciate the meal and the company....but didn't want to be touched!

I was told she had been at DQ for 3 weeks panhandling for food. She was skinny.

The compassion of Christ compelled me (yes I said it) to return the next night at the same time with cat food. I shook the bag and she came running. I decide to rescue her and made arrangements with a friend to take her in. Luna was going to have a new home.....and it wasn't mine.

Until I got her home and realized she was pregnant. How can this be....she's sooooo young. So now we sit and wait. When she sleeps I can see her belly teaming with life. Kittens are wiggling around in there.

She is a sweet, baby girl.

Confessions of an Occasional Art Student

2009-07-06T22:23:00.007-05:00

When I was called to come to Rockport for a job interview, I asked my mom what Rockport was like. She described it as an "artist colony" on the coast. She was right. Rockport offers many local artist, galleries, exhibits, and art classes. I have taken classes down town at Estelle Stair Gallery and learned to appreciate things like: line, color, and composition. I see the elements of design everywhere now.

That being said, I was recently at Anne's mother's house and I notice a picture on the wall. I liked it a lot, so I asked where they got it, and Anne said, "Wal-Mart."

Really? So I took that moment to confess to Anne (and confess to you here today) that I like hotel art. Happily, she replied, "Me too!"

This is a picture that hung above the toilet in a hotel I stayed in while on vacation in New York. I took the picture because I didn't want to forget how pretty it was. I don't know why I like it, because it wasn't until I was flushing the toilet that I took notice. Aaahhhh the irony, and poses the question:

Should "art" be in the bathroom and if it is, is it art?"

Brotherboy Update

2009-01-05T20:26:00.003-06:00

After 13 days in the hospital undergoing physical therapy, Brotherboy came home. They told me he could walk and use a litter box (those were the goals) but he had problems walking on tile floors. Hummmm, my whole house is tiled; this will be interesting.

At home he looked like we all did the day we learned to use roller skates. Sometimes his front or back leg (on the gunshot side) would slowly slide out from under him. Regardless, he has improved/adapted everyday. He can jump up on the couch and bed (that took him about two days to figure out). He got a release from his doctor to go outside again and he frequently visits the scene of the crime (probably trying to get closure). He looks like a normal cat most of the time, especially outside where he can get some traction. But while inside, he sometimes shows signs of clumsy goofiness.

What I haven't told you about this story is that two days after I found my cat in the ditch, another cat in my neighborhood was shot. Because of all this cruelty, people in the community have put up a $300.00 reward for any information leading to the arrest (and dismemberment) of the assailants.

CSI - Rockport

2008-11-29T20:19:00.010-06:00

The other day I was leaving the house and saw my cat Brotherboy laying in the culvert of the ditch behind my house. No big deal; that is his hangout.

His back was to me, so I rolled down the window to talk to him. He just laid there and then looked back over his shoulder and started talking.

Crap! Cat's don't do that....just lay there I mean...in a ditch.

So I got out and crawled down into the pit to find my BroBro couldn't move his legs on one side.

He was filthy and smelled like a ditch. He told me all about it.

I called the vet and she was heading back to Rockport from her holiday. Six hours later we met at the clinic and she determined Brotherboy had been shot in the neck with a pellet gun.

Now he is being pumped full of steroids and we are hoping when the swelling goes down and he heals that he will one day walk again.

I took this picture last week, at the time, I did not know it would become a crime scene. If you look close....you can see Brotherboy in the pipe.

I just have one question: Who shot my cat?

Thanksgiving

2008-11-26T22:26:00.003-06:00

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I am.

I Heart Home Ec

2008-11-23T23:30:00.006-06:00

Today Laci and I went to the store and pre-shopped for her next food lab. Laci has to buy 250 eggs in the morning. I don't miss that part of my job. You see, I taught home economics for 15 years and LOVED it. My favorite subject was Food Science and Nutrition.

I grew up before Food TV and used to watched Julia Child every Saturday with my mom. Mom had a lot of cookbooks and was always trying things out she read about or saw on television. She and my brother Bill like to talk and read about food. They go to grocery stores for fun. I do too.

Now that my friend Laci is teaching Food Science and Nutrition at Rockport-Fulton High School, I get to go up there and help out. I recently got to show her how to make biscuits from scratch. I had to laugh when I was showing her because I slipped back into teacher mode. It was just me and her but I was talking like I had a class of 30 sitting there in anticipatory set. Demos were my favorite.

Right now they are learning about eggs and cheese, so naturally an omelet lab is in the works. I used Julia Child videos (along with my demo) but Laci is using the more hip and trendy Alton Brown DVD. Same technique just a little more appropriate for this Food TV generation.

My friend Stacy teaches junior high home economics in San Antonio. We talked today, at length, about omelets. She told me about a very successful lab she used with her 8th graders....Omelet in a Bag.

I was hooked and had to try it. If I were teaching I would soooooo do this in class. First they would do it the classic way (French/rolled) and then the wacky, mad scientist way. Man, where is a classroom when I need one?

For a copy of the Omelet in a Bag recipe please, click here. I encourage/dare you to try this at home, and if you do tell me about it. As Julia would say, "Bon appetit."

Noodle Returned to the Earth

2008-11-20T03:12:00.012-06:00

Well, this has been an odd month. First of all, my apologies for being absent from the Twelve Days of Catherine. I didn't post once about it, or even publish my annual Wants and Needs Birthday List (which, by the way, is still available if you're interested).

In my defense I was VERY busy with the Young Life Fish Fry fundraiser. It being an all consuming fry makes it hard for me to get into the spirit of Catherine. I wasn't bummed, just too busy.

Then there was the Noodle factor. Her health slowly deteriorated until I decided on the night before my birthday that the next morning I would take her to the vet and have them pull the plug. Instead I woke up at 3:30 a.m. thinking about her and decided to go check her status. I scratched her ears and she kicked her leg a little. I said her name and she opened her eyes. Then she took a deep breath and left me. It was 3:58 (I got that from watching ER).

I got flowers for my birthday, so after a day or two I took them out and put them on her grave.

Carlos and I have formed a support group.

Noodle

2008-10-31T23:00:00.003-05:00

Being that it is Halloween, I thought I would dedicate this post to my black cat named Noodle. Why? Because the clock is ticking. She is 17 years and 7 months old and basically a fossil.

Her best friend is Carlos (another black cat). Carlos loves her very much and they have both lived out in the garage for years, but when Noodle started getting feeble I brought her inside. Soon Carlos moved in to help take care of her. I'm serious. He guards her, grooms her, and sleeps near her to keep her warm.

She tells me things, but I don't know what she is saying. She is really sweet.

Salisbury Steak

2008-09-30T00:18:00.005-05:00

I have such fond memories of school cafeteria food: corn, Salisbury steak, fish sticks, pinto beans, turkey and dressing (OMG), so many good things. Attending school in Brazoria County, we got great meals served to us on mobile steam carts. You could buy a lunch token (red) or get lunch for the whole week (5 tickets). You also had the option of buying an extra milk token (white). We ate them right in our classrooms. They would also put a big bowl of pinto beans with extra white bread in every room during lunch. Then in the afternoon we all got a carton of chocolate milk.

Recently I told my friend Laci, the new Family and Consumer Science teacher at RFHS, to email me when Salisbury Steak was on the school menu. There are only three places to get this kind of a meal: TV dinners, hospitals, and school cafeterias. So today I had Salisbury Steak, cabbage (with corn in it) and potatoes au gratin. I love that stuff, but you have to eat it before it cools off because then it gets rubbery. :)

Parting Shots

2008-09-21T18:07:00.012-05:00

No one seemed too curious as to why I had blood work done a few weeks ago (remember that's how I found out I had high cholesterol). Well with the blood work I also had an EKG and wore a Holter Monitor for 24 hours. We are trying to figure out why I am having heart palpitations. I ignored the symptoms for a week or two until I started having numbness in my left arm. DANG! One or the other isn't bad, but those two symptoms together are ALARMING.

As symptoms would have it, the minute I go to the doctor, they [the symptoms] disappear. Regardless, I will follow these medical precautions to the end. I said all that to say this:

I went to the cardiologist Thursday and he asked me if I drank coffee. I said yes, but wasn't forthcoming about the quantities. He somehow knew, because he gave me this look, and I caved. I confessed my addition and asked if I could just go half-caf. He said, "How about all caf?" What a HACK! So I told him I would quit on Saturday because Starbucks was closing in Rockport for good on Friday.

Gina making my last latte. As always she made it with love!

Susan was my most frequent Starbucks partner.

I told the manager about my pending heart attack, so he gave me a free lb. of decaf. I drank some last night....it's like drinking brown water.

Baristas I love and will miss.

Above: Jamee (straw in nose) always had a joke of the day when I went through the drive through. He got them off his Laughy Taffy. The girl in black is named Glory....just like my sister. That is rare.

More baristas. Aaron (blue shirt) came back from school for the customer appreciation party.

Goodbye Starbucks drive thru.

Good-bye to the best Starbucks EVER! :(

Private Bander

2008-09-21T17:50:00.003-05:00

Rockport, Texas is a pit stop for the southern migration of hummingbirds. Where they are going I am not sure, but during September they are swarming this town like gnats.

My good friend Susan is a certified bander of hummingbirds and has a back yard filled with feeders. She was scheduled to do demonstrations during this year's Hummingbird Festival but it was canceled due to the pending hurricane.

I work with the Odyssey After School Enrichment program and we collaborated with Susan on a field trip to her house for a private banding session. I have lived in this bird loving town for 15 years and have never seen anything like this. It was great. Here are some pictures.

Merritt Madelynn

2008-09-21T17:25:00.006-05:00

While I worried about what cats to take with me during my Ike evacuation, my friends Anne and Seth had a more complicated problem. Anne was on the brink of childbirth.

They evacuated to Austin where Anne gave birth to their first baby on September 12th. You can see a video of the news coverage by clicking HERE.

Merritt Madelynn

9.12.07 ~ 4:43 a.m.

20 inches ~ 9 pounds ~ 14 ounces

Ike SIKE!

2008-09-21T13:11:00.003-05:00

The following is Catherine's Ike Chronicles:

Tuesday of last week I was aware that there was a hurricane named Ike headed for the gulf. At that point the only thing I had heard on the Weather Channel was: "Once it gets into the Gulf, it's got to hit something." This prediction was not alarming because the Gulf Coast is expansive and the odds of it hitting me were slim.

So I left the house and went out into my community, where all hell was breaking loose. There were long lines at the gas stations, the grocery stores were over crowded and people were boarding up. Then I heard they cancelled school for the rest of the week. They even cancelled the Hummingbird Festival. All this and Ike wasn't even IN THE GULF yet.

By that evening Ike was in the Gulf and had left in his wake a path of destruction over Haiti, Cuba and part of Florida. All models had him heading straight for Rockport/Corpus Christi. I started having heart palpitations.

Wednesday morning Shane got my window's boarded and I went to the store to by a gallon of water for me and a gallon of water for my dog. I bought Twix bars and Dr. Peppers. I got some extra cat carriers from a friend. My friend Amanda found a kennel in Wimberly that would take 11 cats. I was ready to go, but decided not to leave until Thursday morning.

Thursday I wake up to find that in the night Ike had taken a turn and headed up the coast to Freeport/Galveston. I was safe, but now my mom and all my brothers were not.

Saturday I watched Ike crash into Galveston. It was terrible. And yet, in Rockport we didn't even get one drop of rain.

My mother and brothers fared well also. No one lost their home and power was restored in a matter of days instead of the weeks they had predicted.

In conclusion, I came to one very dramatic realization. I am no more prepared for a hurricane than the man in the moon. How can you truly prepare for something like that. How much money would you have to save to be able to take care of yourself in a crisis like Ike?

You can never fully prepare, that is why community is so important. My thanks to all the people who called me and offered shelter from the storm. Thanks to Shane and Addrian for boarding my windows. Thank you to Amanda for finding a kennel that will take 11 cats at a seriously reduced special evacuation rate.

Regardless, I still need to buy flood insurance and maybe a van for transporting cats.

Perspective

2008-08-31T18:16:00.008-05:00

I love life, living and all things about being alive. That being said, I would also like to say that life and living and being alive has it's annoyances. So today I want to write about perspective.

I am frail and physically weak. My whole life I have been very underweight. I was so skinny that I have been accused of being anorexic (always behind my skinny back mind you). My struggle with weight is closely linked to having cancer as a child and all the treatments I received to free me of that disease, but people don't know that when your 30 years old. So, as long as I have memory I have been encouraged to eat any and everything. I have never really thought about my diet other than JUST EAT.

I got a call from Dr. Haun's office this week (I had blood work done) informing me I have high cholesterol. REALLY? ME? I have been extremely annoyed by this information. All week I kept thinking of all the modifications I will have to make to my eating habits. While laying in bed last night thinking about how I was going to write you about the cruelties of cholesterol it hit me:

Three years ago I was on life support, and it looked grim to say the least. Today I have to give up corn dogs. Now how is that for perspective?

Isn't life GREAT! :) High five everybody!

Addiction's Bad Attitude

2008-07-10T23:13:00.008-05:00

Alright, before I wax philosophic about the local Starbucks closing, I think I need to address an issue that has popped up a few times in my comment section. It has been implied more than once that I might have an caffeine addiction problem.

First of all, you can't tell me anything. I am fully aware of my addiction and frankly, do not consider it a problem. The problem (as I see it) is I don't care that I have a problem.

Sure, from time to time, I think about my health and wonder about making positive lifestyle choices. When I get on this vein of thinking I will list the reasons why I should stop/cut back on drinking coffee, they are:

The only fluid I consume is coffee (or some other form of brown, like Dr. Pepper or tea). I'm sure that can't be good.

I only have one kidney and at this point I'm sure it's mocha colored.

My resting heart rate is 120 beats per minute. RESTING! The doctor prescribed a Beta-Blocker to get it down some. I take the pill every morning with a cup of coffee. Ironic?

Knowing all this, I still don't care. I will just drink the coffee. No need for an intervention. I will fight you. Dr. Drew can just step off.

Starbucks Rockport is Getting the AX

2008-07-10T08:48:00.004-05:00

When I read that Starbucks was closing 600 corportately owned stores nationwide I was not worried. Why worry, our local Starbucks is the only coffee shop in town. Even when I learned that they were closing stores that opened after 2006, I still wasn't worried.

I am a niave fool.

Word began spreading Monday that Rockport Starbucks was shutting down (Portland Starbucks which is 30 minutes away is not). Two of the four in Corpus Christi are closing, as is the Kingsville store. Last night in the drive through Aaron said they have 60 days at least.

I want to write about this some more and probably will, but right now I am experiences all of the stages of grief at once (except of course acceptance). So to my brother David, as many times as you have asked me: How can Rockport have a Starbucks and Lake Jackson can't? Now you know. Obviously we can't.

Happy Independance Dog

2008-07-04T22:07:00.004-05:00

July 4th in Rockport is a lot of fun. There are all day activities on the water and at the Beach Park. We have an annual Art Festival that brings people in from all over Texas and beyond. Of course, it always rains for a portion of the day making us all wonder if the BIG SHOW will go on. The BIG SHOW I am talking about is the fireworks show, and I'm not kidding, it really is a BIG SHOW.

Here is a picture of Cookie and me watching the spectacle (Cookie was so well behaved). I regret the fact that my camera cannot capture the "magic" of the show, so just take my word for it.

The funniest part of the evening is the RACE to your car the minute the show is over. Everyone is trying to beat the traffic jam that is about to ensue. No time for good-byes or hugs, you just run like a maniac trying to be the first one on the road. So to the people I sat with tonight, I bid you a belated adieu. And to the pedestrians I may have "clipped" on the way out.....here's to a speedy recovery (pun intended).

Billy Thomas

2008-06-15T16:16:00.030-05:00

My dad was named Billy Thomas Hanna, but he liked to go by B.T. Last week I meet a Young Life kid named Billy Thomas. He too goes by B.T. In my whole life I had never run into anyone with the same name as my dad, but on the day I did, for some strange reason it made me happy.

Here's a picture of my dad looking rugged.

I never new this dad, because by the time I was born, my dad was older. He sat in a recliner and watched T.V. while smoking Eve cigarettes.

My dad did laundry. When I brought my laundry to his house while I was in college, he repeatedly instructed me to change loads during commercials. To this day I still don't have the hang of it.

My dad liked to have Bar B.Q.s. I can picture various members of our blended family there in full 1970's style apparel. [Right now I would like to insert something about the difficulty of being in a blended family.....always on their "turf", always with "them". But I will restrain as I don't want to be a kill joy.....uh oh too late.]

My dad mowed the yard in cut-off shorts. He would roll the legs up and the waste band down until it looked like a blue jean Speedo. Thankfully he did this when he got to the backyard. As embarrassing as this may sound, today I do not care and would let that nut case mow my yard any day of the week.

Happy Father's Day to all.

classmates.com

2008-06-15T15:50:00.006-05:00

Back when I first started enterwebbing, I logged on to classmates.com and registered. Nothing happened much back in those days of the www, so I never got in the habit of checking out the site.

About a week ago I got an email from classmates.com saying there was some activity on the site that I would interest me. Being a curious cat I went to look and saw that someone I went to high school with posted a "shout out" on my personal profile page, so I responded. She wrote me again and is now waiting for my response. How nice is that, to reconnect with high school friends? So I spent some time updating my profile.

Well, now classmates.com is telling me I have another person who signed my "quest book". So I clicked where instructed and ended up on a page inviting me to become a GOLD member. In order to see who signed my guest book I have to subscribe: two years for $59.00, or 1 year for $39.00, or I could satisfy my curiosity for a mere $15.00 (3 month subscription).

Couldn't this be classified as a "bait and switch"? WELL I'M NOT FALLING FOR IT!!!

So if you are the one who signed my quest book I will never know, but thank you anyway.

Frog Blog

2008-05-29T00:53:00.010-05:00

I had a broken terracotta pot. and I noticed I had some toads.

So I turned my broken pot upside down and made a terracotta hut: a frog sancuary if you will.

They moved in and it makes me happy.

This beautiful vine (Morning Glory) is killing my Azalea.

I must now kill the Morning Glory.....again!

Who Do You Remember

2008-05-26T13:44:00.016-05:00

Memorial Day is a day to remember those who serve in the armed forces so that we can live free in a country such as ours. So today I remember Jeff Nelson, a former student, who is serving now in Iraq with the United States Army.

Today I remember B. T. Hanna, my dad, who served in the Construction Battalion of the United States Navy. Pictured below on the right.

I remember my brother Bill who served in the United States Air Force in Korea.

I remember Garrett McLead, also a former student, who served in the United States Army. He was killed last summer with 17 other soldiers when the Black Hawk he was in went down in Iraq.

Today and everyday is day to remember those who are serving or who have served. It's also a time to remember that sacrifices are made by wives, sons and daughters, moms and dads every time a soldier puts on his uniform. Freedom is never free and should never be taken for granted.

Not a Square to Spare

2008-05-25T22:05:00.005-05:00

The unthinkable has happened: I ran out of toilet paper. Two and a half years ago for my birthday I asked the YOUniverse for a year's supply of toilet paper and I have been using that TP ever since.

So imagine my surprise and COMPLETE SHOCK when today I looked under the bathroom cabinet and found nothing but cotton balls. Talk about girl interrupted (vague movie reference).

I just got back from buying a 12 pack at the store.....and tomorrow I may go back and actually buy the toilet paper. :)

Bowling for Gasoline

2008-05-19T08:39:00.011-05:00

Tonight was the annual Young Life Bowl-a-Thon. This year the committee participated in order to raise money to help defray the transporation costs of each camper.

I had the standard flat rate sponsors. Those are my favorite because my bowling game doesn't affect the donation. That being said, I bowled the worst game ever! Forty nine pins the first game. GUTTERS GALORE! Then 70 pins the second game. I redeemed myself a little in the second game by hitting a strike. There was no third game due to fatigue and shaky muscles. It was like someone kept coming over and trading out my already heavy, pink ball for an even heavier, pink ball.

And yet, there are those sponsors, who insist on paying per pin. I wonder if they are trying to motivate me into playing the best game ever, or instead have they sized me up and are banking on my deficiencies?

The baristas at Starbucks (5 of them) sponsored me. They didn't have a hat to spare (pun) so they gave me an apron to wear. When I arrived, one of the campers said, "I didn't know you worked at Starbucks." I replied, "I don't, they are my corporate sponsor."

Cyndea, Shane, Bobbi, Catherine, and Ryan.

Patti, Cat, and Leslie.

I'm telling you now that bowling BEATS having a rummage sale any day.

Googled and Found

2008-05-13T21:29:00.009-05:00

I have some announcements:

I just googled "generation perplexed" and we showed up in the top 5 hits (number two to be exact). Oddly however, it was a post I wrote called "Recipes from the Crypt". I read it again and then read your comments. You guys are funny! It was like looking at a photo album but instead of your faces I saw your words.

I had a person make a comment on my blog a few times and so I went to read his. He is funny and weird. So I check out his blog from time to time. I noticed in his "links" in the sidebar he has a link to my site. How friendly is that? I will return the kindness and put him in my links.

My pastors (see my links) write interesting/funny blogs. Pastor Scott recently wrote one about music. I think I will investigate what my iPod says about what I listen to now that he has brought it up.

Did y'all notice I didn't Mother's Day post? What a rotten daughter. By the way Mom, your card wasn't locked in the YL office after all. I found it today in my garage. David, Glory, and Bill really do love you the most.....so PLEASE start loving them as much as you love me.

This concludes our evening announcements.

Get the RAID!

2008-04-24T16:46:00.011-05:00

My mom and dad were militant roach exterminators. My dad use to hit them with his bare hand. My mom sprayed them with Raid until they were swimming (backstroke) in the stuff. THEN she would put the can on top of them because it (the can) was concave. This gas chamber technique was mainly used to prevent the "enemy" from dragging its Raid soaked body up your leg as you later sat watching TV.

I don't have roaches (or flies). If one does on occasion show up, it isn't long before one of the cats gets it. I only have to watch and make sure they don't leave it for me on my pillow as a gift.

When I woke up this morning I saw sitting on my beautiful wall by my beautiful cork board a hideous roach. I have checked regularly and he has remained there all day. Until recently, while typing this blog, he moved to the picture on my cork board (pictured above....can you see him?) I WILL NOT hit a roach (my weapon is a broom) when it is over my head. Are you kidding me? They fly like like kamikaze and I am always their target. UGH! So I am waiting for my cat's to step up and I hope before bed.

Then this afternoon I got an email from Martha Stewart with a picture attached and the subject "Our Best Spring Party Plans". I like lanterns and I like butterflies. As a matter of fact I ran into a butterfly last week with my car and was REALLY upset about it. But in light of what I have been dealing with today this picture creeps me out. Too many insects in one spot maybe?

How realistic is this decoration in South Texas? June Bugs, Cockroaches, Woolly Worms, Mosquitos now that is what we have down here this time of year. So how funny would it be to make these lanterns and glue fake cockroaches to them?

Come to think of it, not to funny. I would run screaming from that back yard party like a crazy women looking for a broom.

I wish I was like my mom or dad.

Punch List

2008-04-07T10:05:00.004-05:00

In the construction biz they have what's called a "punch list". I don't know how I know that, probably HGTV, but the punch list is made up of all the tiny details you have to complete before a house is ready to move in to. My punch list has things on it like: switch plate cover, lamp, plant, metal rings for curtain, etc. I am going to Lowe's today with Anne to buy all the things I need to complete my list. The Closer (pictured below on right) is coming Wednesday after work to make sure I did what I was suppose to do to finish the room. So, even though the project has a few loose ends, I still wanted to put up some after pictures. Isn't it lovely?

The crew: Marsha, Jeri, and Joanne.

Gratuitous cat picture.

The bedding will arrive in increments through the summer.

I made the curtans. And plan to put bamboo shades behind them.

Think Pink

2008-04-04T23:32:00.003-05:00

Carcinoma in situ can be translated: cancer in it's place....this spot right here. I remember when the nurse told me. I got the news over the phone. I was stunned and went a little weak in the knees. Although I felt this thing in my breast I never thought cancer, and yet it was.

Cancer affects more than the people who get it; it affects their close community. For me, one of the hardest things was telling people I had breast cancer. My mom, Glory, and Gail....those were the hardest. I was struggling with fear and I knew by speaking the words to my family and friends they too would have to struggle with fear.

Now when I hear someone has breast cancer the fear I know they are dealing with almost bothers me more than the cancer. How can you treat that? One day my friend Susan heard the same words as I did, "carcinoma in situ". So we talked and I tried to tell her everything I could remember about my experience. Eliminating some of the unknown eliminates some of the fear. I made her a pink quilt to take with her in the hospital.

Three years ago at Relay for Life I walked the first lap....the survivor lap. This year Susan did.

Consolidation

2008-04-03T22:41:00.006-05:00

I have been prepping the bedroom for this weekends "extreme makeover". Since I only have a one bedroom house (with a two car garage...go figure) I have to put all my sewing/craft supplies in my bedroom.

I was amazed at how many things were in my closet. I tried to throw things out as I was packing but it's hard. I noticed that as the day wore on and I was still dealing with my "stuff" it became much easier to just chunk it.

This picture is of part of the fabric and sewing supplies that came out of my bedroom. I have spent the last couple of hours consolidating the boxes and throwing somethings out. And yet the task ahead of me is daunting. I am determined to stay the course, because if this bedroom is ever going to look like a bedroom I must SIMPLIFY.

If I fail, I will leave all my stuff to my brothers and sisters. None of whom care I'm afraid. At least it will be one last way for me to get on their nerves.

The Closer Strikes Again

2008-04-03T13:34:00.008-05:00

Remember when I wrote about me being a starter and my friend Joanne was a finisher? She, like my sister, is the type that likes to close the deal. Me? Not so much. I am known for it, thank you .

The pictures attached are a perfect example of me starting a project and not finishing. More than 5 years ago I painted my bedroom this Hunter Green color. While painting the second coat on the last wall I decided I HATED it and quit. My room has remained unfinished all this time. UGH!

Gratuitous Cat Photo

Notice it doesn't quite go all the way to the ceiling. That was because I was going to put in crown molding. Yea, right.

Since Joanne and I (mostly Joanne) painted my bathroom Romeo Pink I have realized it is the only room in my house or life that has ever been complete. No more finishing touches needed. I think however that my bedroom has been driving Joanne crazy. So out of kindness or compulsion (to me it doesn't matter) Joanne gifted me (birthday and Christmas 2007) with a bedroom redo. She's coming to my house Friday at 4 p.m. and we are spending the weekend "finishing my room". Stay tuned for the "after" pictures because with a "closer" involved there will be some to take.

What Day is It!

2008-03-28T12:19:00.010-05:00

I was doing a Google search to find out when National Quilting Day is and it turns out I missed it (March 15th). One thing lead to another and I found a whole list of days and weeks and months.

Since March is almost over I feel I should get you ready for April. Notable "awareness" days celebrated this month include:

National Humor Month
International Guitar Month
Keep America Beautiful Month
Lawn and Garden Month
Poetry Month
National Pecan Month
National Welding Month
Records and Information Management Month
Stress Awareness Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Personally, I will not participate in Sexual Assault Awareness, because I am aware that would stress me out. So instead I plan to eat pecans in my garden while writing a poem and playing my guitar. I may pick up some trash for my country. Sadly, I can't weld. Please keep this post for your records and information.

Of course April 1st will be April Fools Day but did you know that April 4th is Tell a Lie Day and April 14th is Blame Someone Else Day? I can't wait.

And btw, I just looked it up, today (March 28) is SOMETHING ON A STICK DAY.
So go out and eat a corn dog...or Popsicle. Bon Appetite!

To research more days go to: http://www.holidayinsights.com/

Tiger Woods Update

2008-01-04T12:06:00.001-06:00

Do you guys remember me rescuing a kitty from the Rockport Country Club golf course? I named him Tiger Woods, then later adopted him out to Shane and Cyndea. They named him Harley because he purs so much he sounds like a motorcycle. I wanted you to see what a handsome man he has become.

Little Drummer Boy

2007-12-30T16:46:00.000-06:00

The Christmas season is coming to an end and I could not help putting up more Christmas pictures. Here is my brother David one Christmas morning holding his stocking.

I assume it is Christmas day because of the "Christmas mess" that is all over the floor. If I am right, then when this picture was taken, David will be celebrating his birthday in 5 days.

December 30th (today) is David's birthday.

This picture is prophetic, because David (in the center) grew up a drummer. Glory and Mom were clarinetist and I a flutist. None of us are practicing musicians, but with David I ALWAYS think of him as a drummer.

Drumming WIPE OUT in the garage on 11th street until the police (prompted by the neighbors) told him to stop. Drumming in the living room on his trap set. Drumming on glasses, chair arms, me, or anything that made a noise. His favorite noise is the sound cymbals make.

Later (much later) he was a drummer in church (I played the flute). That's when he became the founding member of The David Hanna Band (think Spinal Tap). The David Hanna band has never cut an album, or even made demo for that matter, but it is my favorite band because of David.

Happy Birthday Baby David.

The Power of the Poinsettia

2007-12-27T23:09:00.000-06:00

Shane, Julie, Lesa and I delivered poinsettias to all those people (25) who hosted tables at our Young Life fish fry (remember that?).

People would light up like we where walking in with roses or diamonds. Poinsettias are pretty and they have the power to make people happy; or more accurately I should say showing gratitude has the power to make people happy. So show some.

Extreme Dog Make-Over

2007-12-27T22:25:00.000-06:00

About two weeks ago we had a cold morning so I put on brown tights and a skirt and went out into the world. Later that morning I looked down at my legs and realized with tights on I had become a human lint brush. I have a great dog, however she has a lot of fur and during the course of the morning I had picked up a lot of fur on my legs.

ENOUGH ALREADY!

I took her in for a new furdoo. We were both scared. I told the groomer that I wanted all that mess gone, but I still wanted Cookie to look like Cookie. Not sure I was doing the right thing, I left the kennel, thinking "it can grow out." After all was said and done, I think Cookie likes her new look. She seems sassier. It took me a little while to adapt to the new dog....she looked younger, so I just pretended I got a new puppy. She is so cute.

Before

Afters

Deacon of the Week

2007-12-03T23:30:00.000-06:00

I have been a member of First Baptist Church of Rockport for a couple of years. Since I didn’t grow up in the Baptist church, I sometimes feel like an observer of Baptist culture.

One thing that I like about the church is Baptist have men who serve as deacons. I googled deacon and found that the word can be translated servant, or waiter. The office of deacon was established by the Apostles. For historical reference please read the following scriptures:
Acts 6:1-4 in those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, it would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.

Every week at First Baptist Rockport they have a Deacon of the Week and his name and phone number is published in the weekly bulletin. We are instructed to call on them if we have a need. I am not a widow, but I am not married. I don’t have a tool box or a ladder or many fix-it skills. So I save up odd jobs around my house that I really need help with and when one of my friends is Deacon of the Week I call them. They always come through like champs. I love deacons and their Acts of Service (there that phrase is again).

Here's Deacon Barney fixing the flag on my mail box. He also added a handle to the door so I could open it easily without scruffing up my fingernails. Aren't deacons a great idea?

How Long Will It Last?

2007-12-01T20:27:00.000-06:00

Well, December 1st is here and thanks to Anne, my tree is up. This tree was purchased by one of my coop classes at RFHS. They collected money from everyone in the room ($3 and some change) and then sent a representative to Castaways for the sole purpose of getting us a tree. As you can see it is delightful.

If you recall, last year the tree was toppled and shattered by Buttons and Bo, then only being kittens, on the 23rd. I feel they have matured and believe we can make it until the 25th without any tree disasters. For added insurance, there are very few breakable ornaments on this season's tree. I will now suggest that someone start a pool to see how long before this becomes a tumbling tannenbaum. The count down begins.

Also, on a completely different note, I would like to make mention that tonight I went out for coffee with friends and the City of Rockport put on a fire works show. I've heard of Christmas in July, but not the other way around. It was fun.

Bo starts his investigation.....the clock is ticking.

Standing Tall

2007-11-29T00:00:00.000-06:00

Today is Bill's birthday.

The first born of B.T. and Carlene Hanna.

Look how well he represents his family.

Leading by an example of kindheartedness,

he is first in line, then Glory, then David,

then me and Tom.

Bill really is a very nice person.

I hope he has a very nice birthday.

I know, come to Rockport!

1.5%

2007-11-23T22:09:00.001-06:00

Do you know there are recommendations/guidelines for what percentage of your yearly income you should spend on housing, groceries, utilities, etc.? For instance, when I was in college it was recommended that consumers allot 25% of your income on housing. Since that was a long time ago, I know that percentage has been increased. After a little research (Googling) I found that it is now recommended you spend 30 - 33% of your yearly income on housing.

Today I heard on the news that Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) recommends you allot 1.5% of your yearly income on Christmas expenses. Those expenses include: gifts, cards, postage, increased grocery costs (Spice Tea, Cookies, Divinity, Fudge, Chex-Mix, that Peppermint Bark stuff), travel expenses and pet boarding expenses. I like CCC because they remind consumers of all the things we don't think of in an effort to help us prevent indebtedness.

So I did the math and I think I can spend $225.00 on Christmas this year. The problem is I don't have $225.00. I should have done the math in January 2007 and then put $18.75 in savings for this purpose every month prior to December 2007. Sadly, I didn't do that.

But that's OK, I have ideas in my head/heart and I have PLENTY of gift wrap. we've already started.

Glory's Birthday Blog

2007-11-18T17:55:00.000-06:00

My sister and I share a few things in common. The first is our compulsion for white shirts. Put either of us in a pair of khaki pants and a white button down and we are ready for ANY occasion. People I know refer to it as "my uniform" but people Glory knows take it one step further.

Last year everyone at Glory's works dressed up as GLORY for Halloween. They donned blond wigs, glasses, neutral slacks and white button down shirts. The sign of authenticity was Starbucks cups and coffee stains on the front of their shirts. (Hanna's are dribblers).

My sister is the recipient of the most sincere form of flattery....imitation.
I am proud of her, her life, and her antics.......Happy Birthday Golly!

Love Languages

2007-11-10T09:39:00.000-06:00

There is a book out and in it the author proposes that we all demonstrate or receive love in one of five different ways. I haven't read the book, but all the young newly marrieds I know seem to read it, so I hear things.

Let's review what I know about a book I haven't read....shall we?
The five love languages are:

Quality Time- if this is your language, then you love spending time with people..."quality time"....whatever that means (you can see this isn't my language).
Physical Touch- hugging, touching, squeezing....the idea makes me want to run for the hills.
Words of Affirmation- you need to hear you are appreciated and special and important.....what a wiener.
GIFTS - bingo! You got it. I love gifts. But what is cool about people who receive love through gifts is the gift doesn't have to be grand. In my case, if you gave me a roll of TP, and said "Here, I got this for you." I would feel the love.
Acts of Service - I like this one too. HELP ME! I was having trouble deciding between this and gifts, then I learned you could have a primary love language AND a secondary language. Since this is my secondary language, I have decided to add Acts of Service to my Needs and Wants List (2008). You are so welcome.

So there you have it, the five love languages. If you want to tell me you love me effectively then buy me something, or help me out with the laundry and heavy lifting.

But more than that, I would appreciate it if you would keep your hands to yourself.

Catherine’s Wishes and Wants List 2007

2007-11-07T22:03:00.000-06:00

Note: High Priority Items listed first.

J. Crew City Fit Chinos in size 2Tall - Thank You Jerry and Marsha

A Year’s Supply of any of the following:
Folgers Classic Roast Coffee - Thank You Anne and Seth
Laundry Detergent (Tide with or w/o Bleach or Gain)
Paper Towels - Thank You YL for the leftovers from the Fish Fry
Cat Litter (Tidy Cat)
Crest White Strips
Northern Quilted Bathroom Tissues - Thank you Cecelia...I was getting desperate!
Easy Macs - Thank You Bootsie and Lesa

Gift Cards at the following in order of importance to me:
H.E.B. to purchase items mentioned above - Thanks Mom!
Starbucks - Thank you Helen, Julie, Cecelia, Jerry and Marsha, and my favorite Barrista Ashley
iTunes - Thank you to everyone who gave me a Starbucks card because I took the cards into the store and used them to buy the Starbucks cards that had the free iTunes downloads on them......I can't believe they let me do it. Now I have 24 free downloads and counting.

A Gift Certificate at:
Bealls (we have one in Rpt) for Clinique foundation and mascara
Radio Shack (ask for Chris at 361-729-1751) so I can buy:
1. iGo Auto ($29.99) - Thank you Seth and Anne!
2. A32 Power Tip for my Razor MV3 - Thank you Seth and Anne!
3. iGo Power Tip A61 for my iPod
4. A Motorola Razor Clear Shield to protect my new free Razor mV3 phone
5. A clear shield for my iPod, but they are out of stock right now.

Presents of Interest
New Black Pumps to go with the fancy new clothes Glory got me.
A “Plug-In” room freshener from Bath and Body Works (heard they were great).

Birthday Philosophy

2007-11-04T17:08:00.001-06:00

I have a very definite birthday philosophy that I wish the world would adopt. So, knowing you won't go back into the archives and read what I wrote regarding birthdays last year, the teacher in me feels it is time for a review.

One day is not long enough to celebrate the life you have been given. It was for that reason I celebrate the Twelve Days of Catherine, starting on November 1st and ending on my actual birthday, the 12th.
By dragging out your birthday, you are doing your friends a service. No longer are they pinned down to one day to pat you on the back. They have 12 days (in my case) to do something. Pick a day my friends....it's all good.
Enjoying your birthday is your responsibility. It's all about attitude....or should I say gratitude.
Have humble expectations. Don't dream up wild birthday wishes that no one can fulfill. Learn to acknowledge the life you have been given as "the gift". The apostle Paul wrote that he "learned" to be content whether he abased or abound.

With this review in mind I would like to say that today I am filled with inner birthday struggles. The Young Life Annual Fish Fry is also scheduled for November 12th. I don't mind sharing the night, after all, what a great night to have 200 of my closest friends in one spot for dinner. The problem lies in the fact that every day leading up to the Fish Fry I am responsible for coordinating all the little details that go into pulling something like this off. UGH! When am I going to find the time to coordinate all the little details that go into the 12 Days of ME! It's enough to drive the most stable person crazy.

Now you see my dilemma. I feel like the kid who's birthday is December 25th. My heart goes out to all you holiday babies. So this year during the 12 days of Catherine I am really being tested. I'm having to walk the walk in spite of the circumstances.

That being said, "the review" was for my benefit. God bless me.

On the First Day of Catherine

2007-11-02T00:17:00.000-05:00

The government gave to me my Medicare card. I applied for it two years ago and got it in August (of this year). It became effective today. So on the first day of Catherine I took it down to Dr. Haun's office and got a flu shot.
The accountant told me the bill was $30.00 but when I whipped out my card she said, "Oh, then it doesn't cost anything."
I took a picture of my Medicare card to share with you but then I realized it had my social security number on it. I didn't feel posting that information on the enterweb would be prudent.

Surprises!

2007-10-31T22:53:00.000-05:00

I want to record for posterity Carlene's 81st birthday surprise at Starbucks in Pearland, TX.

On October 17th I drove to Freeport to spend the night with Mom in order to take her to Starbucks the morning of her birthday (Oct. 18th). The closest Starbucks to Freeport is in Pearland (45 miles) and Mom was all for it.

What she didn't know was Glory was flying into Houston the same morning for her Brazosport High School 40 year reunion. We didn't know who would get there first, but either way, it was going to be a surprise.

As Mom entered Glory pats the chair next to her and says, "Hey, why don't you go ahead and sit here." Mom stared at the chair, then looked at Glory for a minute. .....processing.....then it hit her. Next came the hugging and some weepy babbling. Then in a moment of clarity Carlene looked at me asked, "Did you know about this?"

We all had our coffee and told Mom all about our scheming. Bill called my cell phone to say happy birthday, so I gave her the phone and they talked for a bit. Then about two minutes later HE WALKED IN and kissed Mom on the cheek. I had no idea and neither did Glory. It was such a good switcheroo that it felt like it was my birthday too. We all sat there together, drinking coffee and basking in our cleverness.

Happy Birthday Gweema!

Halloween or Hallowon't?

2007-10-31T21:29:00.001-05:00

Halloween is hard. I am conflicted. I have taken two approaches to this night. The first is to turn off all the lights and hide in my house, sometimes I just evacuate all together. The second approach is a mild participation in the "festivities". I buy a bag of candy and wait for the little ones to come to my door dressed as ghouls, ghosts, pirates, and hookers.

Tonight I sit here with a bag of candy and NO ONE has knocked on my door. Such is the case with me and Halloween. If I don't buy the candy they swarm my front porch like scary moths, but if I buy the candy they stay away like vampires avoiding the sun. I remember last year going outside and snagging kids off the street trying to get them to take my candy.....then I saw this strange look in one dad's eyes and I thought maybe I was being a little pushy. So I retreated to my house and turned out the lights.

My friends Gail and David mailed me this coin purse with a Starbucks card inside for Halloween. The card came with a sticker on it saying I could download two iTunes for FREE. What a great, goofy thing to get in the mail. Sue sent me a cute card with a kitten wearing a witches hat. It is this goofiness that makes me like Halloween....and my goofy friends. Thank you friends.

I also want to apologize to all the people over 40 for the orange font color. I KNOW IT IS HARD TO READ!

State of Mind

2007-10-05T23:27:00.000-05:00

Glory and I covered a lot of ground during our trip. We have roamed the USA several times in our lives together. This got me to thinking about all the different people I have taken road trips with and all the place we had been.

Let this post serve as my official 2007 State Visitation Inventory. The criteria for this inventory is NOT that I had a quality experience. All I had to do was cross over the state's boarder, if only briefly, by land (not air).

TEXAS - born here

Oklahoma

Kansas

Iowa

Minnesota

Nebraska

Missouri

Arkansas

Louisiana

Mississippi

Alabama

Georgia

Florida

Virginia

North Carolina

Tennessee (I think, with Glory once)

Washington D.C.

Maryland

Delaware

New Jersey

Pennsylvania

New York

Connecticut

Rhode Island

Massachusetts

New Mexico

Colorado

You might want to think about taking your own inventory at this time.

Dorothy Was Right

2007-09-29T17:27:00.001-05:00

There's no place like home.

Reconnecting

2007-09-29T17:13:00.000-05:00

Back in Atlanta I got to reconnect with a friend of mine from my college days in Dallas. She and I both attended the same megachurch and met in a home cell group. I haven't seen Anita in 15 years (since my last road trip to Florida). I had to google her several months ago to find her in fact. Isn't Google convenient and scary?

We all met at P.F. Changs (hence the horse sculptures) and it was like NO time had transpired between us. I love that. I love you Anita; our lunch was one of my favorite parts of the trip.

Everyone needs to think of someone they need to reconnect with RIGHT NOW....who is it?
Call them.

Lost in Harlem

2007-09-29T16:20:00.000-05:00

Glory and I spent our last night in New York in a town called White Plains. I strategically suggested it because I new that the oldest pet cemetery in America was on the same road several exits up in the Hamlet of Hartsdale.

We had to get on the road and return the medical equipment, the rent car, see the Statue of Liberty and make a 3:00 p.m. train to Washington D.C. Glory demonstrated great patience in humoring me on my odd adventure. So while Glory sat in the car with the motor running, I ran around the cemetery like a girl "picking daisies" in a meadow. It was fun.

The last picture you see here is of the War Dog Memorial where heroic dogs of "the world war" are buried. When they made the tombstone, little did they know another world war was on it's way.

We continued our trek into the city and got lost in Harlem. Then we got locked down in traffic by Central Park. Then we got lost in Battery Park. Finally about 2 hours and 45 minutes later we could see our destinations with our eyes but didn't know how to get to them with the car (major road construction as it was Ground Zero).

We were able to return the equipment and rent car, but I never got to see Lady Liberty. I did however get to see Malto Mario in Penn Station. Those of you who watch Food TV will know of whom I am speaking.

For those of you who are interested, I added more pictures to the "Road Trip" album; click and see.

Why Would a Friend Do This?

2007-09-27T18:26:00.000-05:00

I received this in an email WHILE I was on vacation. Doesn't Cookie look PITIFUL?

Divine Providence

2007-09-21T22:15:00.000-05:00

When leaving Cape Cod I suggested (repeatedly) that we we drive through Providence, Rhode Island to get a picture of the First Baptist Church in America.

My history with the Baptist has been short, therefore I felt I could benefit from a "pilgrimage" of sorts. I met a lady named Diane and told her about joining my first Sunday School class. I told her we were studying Matthew and she said, "That's an undertaking." I could tell I was talking too much so I grabbed a brochure and got the hell out of there.

http://www.fbcia.org/

A Morning on the Beach

2007-09-21T22:02:00.000-05:00

While we were driving to Cape Cod I got on the phone and called Amanda so I could say, "Glory and I are driving to Hyannis Port to get some seafood." I'm horrible, but think about it, when will I be able to say that again.

We ate seafood, but I've got news for all you Gulf Coast residence, New Englanders don't fry their seafood. There wasn't a Fried Seafood Platter on ANY menu. Glory had the steak and lobster. I ordered Halibut....... for the hell of it.....literally just so I could say that.

Now enjoy our pretty pictures (more in Cat's Photo Album).

Mark Twain Had Eleven Cats

2007-09-21T21:35:00.000-05:00

Glory and I left Massachusetts and headed to Hartford, CT. It seemed like a nice place to stop for the evening. I noticed on the map, in microscopic print, the words: The Mark Twain House. So after finding a hotel we determined to visit the home of Samuel Clemens (his real name) in the morning. Sam's (as the tour guide referred to him) had a very swanky house. It was fitted with the most modern conveniences: electricity, indoor plumbing, a telephone, wall to wall carpet. Glory got reprimanded for touching the piano. She toured the rest of the house with her hands clasped behind her back. I had an uncontrollable urge to plop down in a chair.

After our tour I found out I wasn't the only Texan in Connecticut that day.

On the Road

2007-09-21T20:46:00.000-05:00

Glory and I left NYC and headed north to the Adirondacks. We stayed with her friends Al and Nancy in Chestertown, NY. They took us on a tour of the area which is the same setting for the novel Last of the Mohicans. It was a place of winding roads and scenic views. After two days Glory, Al and Nancy plotted our path and we were off again.

Heading to the Birkshires our next stop was Stockbridge, Massachusetts to see the Norman Rockwell Museum and the Red Lion Inn (est. 1773).

In 1941 President Roosevelt gave his State of the Union Address and in it he declared Four Freedoms that all Americans were entitled to:

Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Worship
Freedom from Want
Freedom from Fear

Norman Rockwell was so inspired by this speech that he created four paintings illustrating each and all four were covers for the Saturday Evening Post. These four paintings were used to promote the purchase of war bonds. No other campaign did as well in the war effort.

Almost two hundred years earlier at the Red Lion Inn colonists/farmers met and organized a protest of British oppression and unfair taxation. Lead by Daniel Sheys, Stockbridge became know as the headquarters for "Sheys Rebellion".

You can see pictures of our road trip in Cat's Photo Album in the sidebar. I encourage you to google "The Four Freedoms". You can also read about the Red Lion Inn at http://www.redlioninn.com/.

Reluctant Tourist

2007-09-19T22:48:00.000-05:00

I never intended to go to Ground Zero. I just don't think of it as a place for "tourism". That being said, when we arrived at our hotel, Glory called me over to the window .
There it was: Ground Zero. I couldn't believe it.

I knew that since we were there, then the church that served as a sanctuary for workers and volunteers during the aftermath of the disaster had to be near by.

St. Paul's Episcopal Chapel (est. 1766) answered the call to an unexpected ministry that lasted from September 11th until June 2nd.

Can you see in the picture on this sign how much debris is in the churchyard? It took them two years to clean up the fall out.

Below is a "monument" of patches from the service workers uniforms. It is displayed in the sanctuary.

You can see more pictures in Cat's Photo Albums (Ground Zero) or read more about the church at http://www.saintpaulschapel.org/.

The Big Apple

2007-09-19T21:06:00.000-05:00

Arriving in NYC can be described as SUPERsizing life. I was overwhelmed with the magnitude of people and spaces. I just started taking pictures. When you look in my NYC photo album (found in Cat's Photo Albums in the sidebar) you may think the pictures are random....well they are, I was snapping from buses, cabs, windows, street corners, etc.

There is so much to do, so we started by taking a tour bus around a small section of the town. We got off the bus to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and found ourselves in the middle of a parade.

Turns out the parade was not for Glory and me, but instead it was the 50th German-American Steuben Parade. The Grand Marshal was Henry Kissenger (no picture...sorry Kissenger fans).

I forced my sister to take me to TWO quilt shops. She was very tolerant and suggested this photo op. I stood in the pink section for the picture as it is my favorite color.

It's hard to write about Jersey Boys. Know in advance that there is no way I can get the experience down in words. How can you describe something so sensory? But I want you to know how I came to be a fan, so here it goes.

It all started last year when I made a birthday CD for Glory. I got Bill, Sue and David to tell me songs she loved when she was in high school. One of the songs on the CD was "Can't Take My Eyes of of You" by Frankie Valli. I was intrigued and I ended up downloading more songs by him and the Four Seasons for myself.

When asked what play I wanted to see while in NYC, the first thing that came to my mind was Jersey Boys. Tickets of course were sold out, or cost $345.00 a seat, but as the boys say "Big Girls Don't Cry".

Glory managed to get "actor's seats" from someone, who knew someone ,who had a nephew who was a producer. We were 8th row, center and the whole thing was wondersful. I sat there and sang all the words to every song. I even got a little emotion when he sang "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You. I am happy that most of the songs are already on my iPod.

How much do you think these two bags of chips cost? Go ahead, guess. The answer is in Cat's Photo Album under NYC. I laughed out loud when the clerk told me.

Guardian Angels

2007-09-14T15:26:00.000-05:00

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phil. 4:6 (NIV)

Last night as I was thinking about loading up all the luggage and dragging it to Union Station. I became apprehensive. So I decided to pray and make my petition known. After I prayed the thought came in my head, God could send us a guardian angel. Then I went to bed.

This morning I was able to CRAM all my new clothes in the already full suitcase (I bet it weighs more than 29 lbs now) and we were ready to go. The bellman took our bags to the lobby. The cab driver loaded our bags in the car and then took them out at the station. Then, as Glory and I were strategically dividing the bags between us, a man with a cart came up and hollered, “Red Cap Service!” So this nice fellow loaded our bags and escorted us to ticketing. Before we got there, he sent me to Starbucks (I had mentioned taking a cup on the train) and told me where to met him and Glory. He helped Glory buy the tickets and then he took us to the correct train and loaded our bags in the luggage compartment.

I told him, “I prayed for a guardian angel today.” And he said, “See what happens when you pray?” You’ve got to love it!

What is Your World Made Of?

2007-09-13T21:06:00.000-05:00

The American History Museum at the Smithsonian Institute is being renovated, so they temporarily moved 150 items of Americana to the Air and Space Museum (BORING). I walked the expanse of the building ignoring all the space gadgetry and went straight to what it was I came to see....goofy stuff.

One of the first items I saw was Kermit the Frog. He sat right next to Lincoln's Top Hat and Edison's light bulb. I turned a corner and found the first artificial heart, created by Domingo Liotta and implanted by Denton Cooley. For those of you new to my life, Denton Cooley was a world renown thoracic surgeon that operated on me when I was a tot. Dr. Fernbach (pediatric oncologist) could get no other doctor to perform the surgery. They all thought he was crazy trying to save my life at a time when taking risks was not the norm. Denton Cooley was a risk taker....thank you very much....and now he is in the Smithsonian.

It didn't hit me until I saw this aluminum tray that they are a thing of the past. Seeing it made me think fondly of my childhood, sitting in front of the TV, with a TV dinner on a TV tray watching things like All in the Family and M*A*S*H.

I would officially like to state that IT IS a Barbie world....or at least it is for me.

Now, go to Cat's Photo Albums and look at the album titled, Smithsonian. I got a lot of really cool pictures and there are a few quizzes. Also, I would appreciate it if you would add thoughts or comments about the things you see. There is a place to add a comment right below each picture. Then it will be like we went there together.

Here's the Thing

2007-09-13T15:27:00.000-05:00

Sue Laza told me she was mailing me my Christmas present BEFORE I went on vacation. I wondered what it could be and even thought things like: a scarf, gloves, something to wear in colder weather. When I got the package I was surprised to find inside a Mr. Monk Bobble Head. I was BAFFLED. Since she instructed me to call her as soon as I got it, I picked up the phone and gave her a call. She and I are both Mr. Monk fans, so I thanked her and then inquired as to why I needed this gift BEFORE I left town.

Well, it turns out, that the USA Network is have a little thing where people take their Mr. Monk Bobble Heads with them on their vacations and then send in pictures. On their website, you can see Mr. Monk at Mt. Rushmore, Old Faithful in Yosemite Park, and Lincoln Memorial. Hopefully, soon the world wide web will see my Mr. Monk at the Nation's Capital. I uploaded my picture last night and am waiting for the "moderator" to approve it. How could they not?

So here's the thing, when you see my photos, you may see Mr. Monk Bobble Head a few times. Blame Sue!

To see the Washington D.C. photo album, click on Cat's Photo Album in the sidebar.

Documentation

2007-09-12T22:46:00.000-05:00

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

The Declaration of Independance is housed in the National Archives (pictured above). I had a list of three things I wanted to see: Lincoln Memorial, The Smithsonian Institute, and the Declaration of Independance.

I could not take pictures, while inside, but even if I could, it wouldn't have mattered because the actual document is very faded. I could barely make out John Hancock's John Hancock.

Dinner on the Potomac.

They Aren't Playing Today

2007-09-12T21:41:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Glory and I flew into Washington D.C. and yes, it was on September 11th. The day started at 4:30 in the morning Atlanta time. Keep in mind I operate on Texas time (one hour earlier). I learned a long time ago that since I was the person responsible for my own luggage that I should always pack light and always have suitcases with wheels. I had one 29 lb. bag on wheels (I know this because they weigh them at check in now). I also had my carry on which was nothing more than my Bi-Pap machine. Glory decided to put the Bi-Pap machine in a small suitcase with wheels (smart) and include her overflow items. We couldn’t zip her luggage up, so out came another suitcase (no wheels). Glory has not mastered the art of packing light. At this point we were now up to 4 suitcases and a carry-on that had magazines, books and a laptop in it. We were doomed.

We loaded into a cab at 5:30 a.m. (4:30 TX) and headed to the airport. When we get to the airport Glory asks, “Where’s my suitcase with all my clothes in it?” I said, “I thought you got it.” She said, “I THOUGHT YOU GOT IT!” MAN! It was horrible, but we had to release it to the Universe and move on. Glory started her vacation with only T-shirts, underwear, dress shoes, and the clothes on her back.

Moving in to check-in, the woman at security wearing a Bridgett Wig was checking everyone’s id and boarding pass. In line I could hear her mantra: “They’re not playing today.” I didn’t have my id ready when I got to her and she said, “They’re not playing today, have your stuff ready.” Glory apologized and told her we were “a mess” this morning. She said, “You can’t be a mess ‘cause they aren’t playing today.”

From there we proceeded to the scanning part of the process. I had to remove my shoes and jacket. They scanned and picked through everything. They took out my lip-gloss and perfume and travel sized face soap and put it all in a zip lock bag. You can only take 3 ounces of liquid on a plane now.

We made it on the plane and had a very uneventful flight. The pilot flew us up the Potomac and then banked left to the Ronald Reagan Airport. I looked out my window for something recognizable, when there it stood: The Pentagon. I was so amazed. It was real and right there in front of me, not a scratch on it. I was so happy to see it and so proud. I have been experiencing a lot of feelings here in this great place. Washington D.C. is only 6 square miles in size and every inch of it is packed with our history.

God Bless America!

Evolution of a Bathroom

2007-08-17T00:20:00.000-05:00

I moved into my house in October of 1992. I love this place. I feel more at home here than in any place I have ever lived. That being said, if you look around my house, it looks like I haven't fully settled in. As a matter of fact, when Glory came to visit she pointed out that I had a tendency to start projects and not finish them. Like that was a revelation to anyone. I am a starter. Glory is a closer.

One day about 6 months ago the housekeepers call me into the bathroom and TA-DA they have purchased and installed a new burgundy shower curtain. I think they felt my plaid one wasn't feminine enough. I was so taken with their kindness that I decided to go with the new curtain and decorate all around it.

I tried to recruit Lucas to help and of course he said yes. Time passed and when days turned into weeks turned into months I gave up. Then someone else volunteered, but their life got in the way of that as well.

One day Joanne Ray came over to get something at my house and said, "Harry's leaving town Friday, let's paint your bathroom." I thought, suuuure, O.K. and I left it at that. What I forgot: Joanne is a closer! Eight a.m. Friday morning she shows up and hauls me out of bed. I had to commit to a color and there was NO TIME for indecision, or coffee! I had two ideas in my head: Northern Green or Romeo Pink, but what to choose. So since I have wanted a pink room since high school, I decided to let ROMEO make my dreams come true. Man, this pink looks delicious. Like cotton candy.

Joanne worked hard. She kept kicking me out of the bathroom because I was wheezing. So, she painted while I sewed curtains for the window and vanity or took naps. I got a new towel rod and matching toilet paper holder. Joanne made a frame to go around my mirror and we painted it Northern Green (I had a quart on hand). Rick Stanley came over and intalled the frame on the mirror and the cat door to the bathroom closet. I hung a picture painted by Dana Taggart that I got in the YL Rummage Sale.

Joanne spray painted the white wicker stool brown and the cats got a new perfectly pink drinking cup provided by my sister Glory. Now finally, I think I can say that for the first time since moving in, one room of my house is completely finished.

Cute cup for the cats. They'll break it, I'm sure.

A bathroom within a bathroom.

And after all that, I would only change one thing: the shower curtain!!!! LOL!

Don't Ask Questions

2007-08-14T23:12:00.001-05:00

I need to adopt the motto of my brother David: "Don't ask questions." Why? Because asking questions draws you in to the arena of the involved.

Case in point, I went to visit my teacher friend Kimber two weeks ago and she asked me if I wanted a kitten. People think that if you have a "slight" tendency to rescue things that you are open to any and all rescue opportunities. Like I'm a super hero or something. As a matter of fact, they rely on you to be the one to act and therefore don't act themselves.

Of course I told her, "NO I don't want a kitten (lie)!" And of course, I didn't leave it at that. I started asking questions.

"Where is the kitten?" I asked. She informs me she was jogging in the back of Rockport Country Club and stopped at one of the greens to look in a water hazard for frogs. In the tall grass along the water's edge she saw a small kitten rustling about. She said it was young. "HOW young?" I queried. Pretty young was her response. So I made her show me with her hands. She made a shape about the size of a biscuit. Then she added, "I just don't want it to get eaten by an alligator.

THAT'S IT, I'm ON the CASE! Ladies and gentlemen, there is a sucker born every minute, and I AM that sucker.

I arrived at the appropriate green and saw something moving back in to the grass. When I got out of my car there were some old geezers in plaid pants trying to sink their putts, OBLIVIOUS to the wild screaming of a kitten in distress. I walked over to where the little one was hiding and asked if he needed help. He ran out of the grass STRAIGHT to me, yowling at the top of his lungs. I scooped him up only to find him covered in fire ants at which point I started yowling. We then went home to prepare a bottle and start looking for adopters. Thankfully the kitten I fondly called Tiger Woods was adopted by Shane and Cyndea Sampson. He goes to live with Tag the cat, Bo the Great Dane and Merle the German Short Haired Pointer. Good luck kitty, at least you aren't sleeping with the alligators.

More Tales from the Crypt

2007-07-19T23:15:00.000-05:00

I was in Cedar Hill, TX this week visiting the Luster's. During one of our errands Raymond asked if I'd like to go check out the pet cemetery. I'm not kidding, the minute the possibility was out there I new it was going to be the HIGHLIGHT of our vacation. I can't explain it, but once we got inside the Pet Memorial Park we ran around "like kids in a candy store".

We marveled and the age of some of the tombstones,

the oldest one being Ginger 1933-1947.

It looks like from her picture, Ginger was Jo and Sam Donosky's Boston Terrier. I wonder if Jo and Sam are still alive?

In the back of the cemetery we found a bunch of tombstones belonging to the pets of Janis Fisher. She put a scripture on every headstone.

A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal,

But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.

Proverbs 12:10

Both Raymond and I decided our adventure was blog worthy, so we returned the next day - kids, camera, and Kleenex in hand. I also grabbed my bible so Raymond could read the scriptures on Ms. Fisher's tombstones.

You guys don't have to be told again how much I love scripture (or pets), but reading them in a pet cemetery was so funny. I laughed so much I wondered for a minute if I was being disrespectful. It was so much fun...and endearing.

Laughing or crying? You decided.

Oh yes, and I wanted to mention that another thing we marveled at was all the names. You could find the stock pet names like Skippy, Buster, and Happy. But there were also some high brows in amongst the muts, like the Duchess of Bordeaux Hill and Lambchop Von Hertz (Lamby the Loyal).

And of course, there were A LOT of Gingers!

Please click on Cat's Photo Album at the right hand side of this post and then look at ALL the Pet Cemetery pictures. I took lots of pictures of tombstones knowing that each one represents tons of happy memories.

Deer Me

2007-07-07T19:26:00.001-05:00

When you look out my kitchen window you see this pretty little table and chairs. I was inspired to put a pot of Impatients on the table so when I do dishes there would be something lovely to look at. The Impatients were a perfect fro of green foliage with a crown of delicate pedal pink flowers all over the top. And then one morning......

I looked out and notice half of the plant was gone. At first I thought in a panick: CUT ANTS! I ran out to investigate and immediately realized that it wasn't cut ants because there were three flowers left, (cut ants would have striped it bare). That's when it hit me......deer!

And then they returned for seconds.

What is YOUR Favorite Scripture?

2007-06-30T21:22:00.000-05:00

What is YOUR favorite scripture? I concede how hard it is to pick a favorite verse especially if a person is new to Christianity, but I venture to say that most Christians could pick a favorite verse or maybe even rattle of several favorites. My favorite scripture (for the past couple of years) is pretty much all of Philipians 2, but here is just a sampling:

5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

As Christians we are asked to empty ourselvse of our attitudes and take on Jesus' attitude. We are to not regard what we think we are ENTITLED to as a thing to be grasp but instead humbly serve others. Noble aspirations indeed.

Dog Days of Summer

2007-06-29T19:44:00.000-05:00

Rusty the Golden Labratriever

I'm a dog sitter. I don't know how this happened, people just started calling me. So I made up some business cards and the ladies at Be Stylin' pass them out for me.

I called my service "Relief Sitter" because I know first hand the relief of having someone really care for my pets when I'm away.
Even though I like dogs now, this was not always the case. Cookie (my dog) is the one who enlightened me about the world of dogs. Dogs like us (humans) and dogs get lonely. So when I go to someone's house I try to go several times a day. If I don't have to spend the night in the dog house I will rent a movie and we watch it together before I go home for the evening.

Latley one of the perks to dog sitting is great views. So I just pretend I'm on a vacation retreat and sip my morning coffee while looking at the view. The dog will usually do it's business, roll around in the grass, chase things that don't exist and return to join me on the porch.
Until lately business has been so slow that I don't even consider it a reliable source of income anymore, so when I do get a job, it's gravy. In other words, I get to spend the money on things I need/want but are outside the budget, like haircare products and little pony Dr. Peppers.

On the downside however, jobs that last more than two days can be hard because I end up suffering from separation anxiety when the job is over.

I Just Called 911

2007-06-17T01:18:00.000-05:00

For real....I just called 911!!!!!

Calling the police is nothing unusual for me, well not since, you know, that unfortunate home invasion back in 2002 (give or take a year). I didn't even call them that night. I'm still kicking myself over that one. Who did I call? Well Anne of course. She was the one who ended up calling 911, while I was dodging the knife welding sexual assaulter. And even though I emerged unharmed it was still NO bueno...ugh. They didn't catch him.

Since that fateful night I have called 911 3 time, well 4 if you include tonight. Here is my call log:

I called one night because while watching TV at 1 a.m. I noticed my cat who, lying there peacefully, suddenly became alarmed and looked at the curtains covering the sliding glass door. I looked only to see the shadow of a man swaying back and forth trying to see in the curtains. They didn't catch him.

I called again on a later date because there was a knock at my door after 11 p.m. and the knocker would not identify himself. They didn't catch him.

I also called because my garage door opened for NO reason. The cop asked me if I could have opened it accidentally. NO, that's crazy, how could that have happened? After he left I went back to digging in my purse for a pen. Turns out my garage door opener was in my purse. I DID DO IT! And although I was a person of interest, they didn't catch me.

Tonight I called because while Cookie and I are trying to go to sleep we heard a horrible bang outside...like a boom....like a gun. So the dispatcher asked me to state my "emergency" and as I told her it sounded like a gun shot, I realized I didn't know what I was taking about. What does a gun sound like anyway? So I said, maybe a small explosive, like a fire cracker. Anyway, I think I used enough adjectives to get my point across. In the belief that it is their job to "protect and to serve" I asked if they would send an officer out to parole the area. And they did, I saw him driving behind ACE Hardware with his floodlight blazing.

I wonder if they caught him?

Bowling for Campers

2007-05-16T17:48:00.000-05:00

For the past two years Shane Sampson, our local Young Life leader, has arranged for kids to "earn" some or all of their camp cost by particiapating in a Bowl-a-Thon. This year I decided to join them getting sponsors of my own. Shane said we would get paid per pin, counting the best two out of three games.

I don't think I have EVER bowled higher than a 90. As a matter a fact, in the 80's I would go bowling on Saturdays with the "singles" group of a church I was attending. Singles consisted of me, my brother David, my mom, my future sister-in-law Marla, a single mother named Holly and her 6 year old daughter....well you get the idea, we were a diverse group. I think I have bowled twice since those days back at the Branches of Faith, so as far as my game goes, I am not that big a threat to any of my sponsor's pocket books. Let's put it this way, back in the 80's, the 6 year old consistently beat me. I hated her.

So at 5:30 p.m. this evening I showed up at Sully Lanes in Aransas Pass hoping to reach my first goal, which was finding a ball that weighed less than 8 lbs. I found a lovely pink one.

During the course of the night I got two strikes and two spares, however my score for game one was 87. All games from this point on had plummeting scores due to exhaustion. I knocked down 83 pins in game two. And game three was a dismal 53: gutter balls galore!

To my sponsors, I say THANK YOU!

I was able to raise $131.40 for campers.

To all others, if you would like to sponsor me

"after the fact" feel free

to send a check made out to Young Life.

You can put "camp" in the memo!

Labrador of Love

2007-04-23T23:09:00.000-05:00

Yesterday on the way to Sonic, I saw a Labrador unattended at Walgreen's. Later as I was leaving Sonic (Dr. Pepper in hand) I saw the little guy trotting up the road. He was definitely out on the town unattended, so I nabbed him. My thinking at the time was this would be an easy rescue because he has tags.
We got home and I found out his most current tag was dated 1998. But not to worry, they were issued by a local vet. So I called the vet at his house and he said, he doesn't keep records back that far. RATS!
The vet suggested I call the local paper and more often than not pets are reunited with their owners without ever having to put an ad in the paper. Being that it was Sunday, this meant I would have to keep Bo (that's what his name turned out to be) over night. Cookie was NOT happy.
Bo, a black lab, was still very young. Obviously those tags were a lot older than he was. You could tell he was being trained to hunt. He would sit on command and shake your hand if you asked several times. What a sweet boy. I knew his owners were worried.
So today I was able to connect with his owner by calling the paper. They came to retrieve their Retriever and there was a joyous reunion. I was rewarded with 18 fresh eggs from their very own chicken coop. And from the way they talked, when it comes to their eggs I have unlimited access.
Now get this twist, when she opened the back door of her SUV Bo AND Cookie jumped in and laid down ready to go.

It's Kitten Season

2007-04-23T22:27:00.000-05:00

Spring is in the air and you know what that means, puppies and kitties galore.
And if there is a kitten to be found, somehow I am the one who finds it. I'm doing my part tomorrow to prevent over population by taking in all my impregnable kittens (Buttons and White Kitty) for a spaying. AND Bo, who has the potential to impregnate, will not escape the knife either as he is going in for a neutering.
I have not discussed the procedure with the "kids" so as far as they know, tomorrow will be just another day. But we all know it will be a day that will change them forever. Uhhh, Bo's changes more visable than the others....if you know what I'm saying.
Pray for me as I have to have them there by 7 a.m. And then pray for them, as I cannot afford the "pain package" that the vet always tries to push on me.

So the top picture is of Buttons and Bo (Bo in front).

Buttons is in the sink.

Bo is curled up with the White Kitty.

What did the fat lady sing?

2007-04-22T13:02:00.000-05:00

As you learned in my previous post we had so much "rummage" donated to Young Life's Yard Sale that it was spilling out into my drive way and yard. Well now that it is over, all I can sing is, "exhaustion is just another word for nothing left to move!"

Young Life Committee members and some high school kids work Thursday night pricing and setting up. At the end of the evening what we weren't able to cram back in the garage we "hid" in the back yard.

Shane and future campers hard at work!

Friday night however we had to set up for the next day and leave it out all night ready to go. To prevent pillaging, Shane and 4 high school students set up the mattresses and "camped" out guarding the stuff.

My hope for the sale is that we would raise $1,000.00. That's enought money to help sent two kids to camp. Saturday morning a barage of buyers bought enough of our junk to send five kids to camp. We raked in $2,500.00.

I had a great time and am so thankful for the help that Shane and the committe gave me (esp. the last three days). Please click on Cat's Photo Albums in the links at the right of this post. I have a lot of great pictures of the event and I want you to see the faces of the people that helped me.

One Man's Junk...

2007-04-18T11:13:00.000-05:00

Denise wants me to post again, but I am busy....very busy. My garage, that I worked so hard to completely clean out, is now busting at the seams with "rummage". I am comforted by the fact that none of it is mine.

During the garage sale I had with Shane and Cyndea about a month ago I got the bright idea that we at Rockport Young Life should have a rummage sale to raise money for Young Life campers.

So the committee heard my idea and unanimously agreed that we should do it. We set the date for April 21st, 2007. I then sent out a mass email to all the donors on our mailing list. The stuff started pouring in. I guess when they got my email they began cleaning out every nook and cranny of their homes. I started receiving, clothes, bedding, furniture, household gadgets and appliances, lamps, rugs, Papasan chairs (3), garden pottery, art work, books and the list goes on.

What started out as a trickle turned into a flood of rummage. There is no room in my garage to park my car or even walk for that matter. As soon as I organized an area and cleared a space, some generous soul would stop by and fill the hole. It's incredible.

People would much rather give away their junk than throw it out. Here's an example, I was sorting donated items yesterday and found in a bag some pant legs.....not pants, just the legs. Why is it so hard for us to just throw it away?

Someone donated this questionable book. The pictures are too risque for a Christian organization to have laying around, so it's not going in the yard sale. I will however offer it to the highest bidder here on-line. I promise to mail it discretely in a brown wrapper.

LOL - OUT LOUD!

April Announcements

2007-04-11T12:05:00.000-05:00

I want to take a moment to bring to your attention changes I have made to my side bar. In doing so, I lost things, like my photo album. But I quickly retrieved it and it now appears in "links".

And since I am talking about links, I suggest you go see who I like to check in on every now and again. Some of my favorites are: Farm Girl Fare, New Life Emerging, Mini Smith, and the NEWLY added Scrappin' My Life Away (my friend Denise's blog). Denise took me on a scrapbook store shop hop on the 4th day of Catherine. At the end of the day I had spent 25% of my grocery money for the month on PAPER. It was great fun and the paper made into tasty sandwiches.

Oh and by the way, today is Denise's birthday. She probably wants you to know she is younger than me, but I want you to know it is only by fractions.

Happy Birthday Denise!

The Project Linus Retreat

2007-03-10T19:45:00.000-06:00

Every year the Rockport Chapter of Project Linus (www.projectlinus.org) has a 3 day, 2 night retreat at The Retreat House on Club Lake Road.

The first year they had it Sue Laza came to town and we went out there together. She showed up with her cute fleece blankets all ready to turn in. I on the other hand got sick. I don't know, some kind of bronchial pneumonia. So while Sue sewed labels onto blankets, I sleep on the couch under a human size roll of polyester batting. Sue became a blanketeer 2 years before me.

The second year I was sick again and didn't even show up. I still had not turned in one blanket, but this time my friend Cheryl brought to my house a "kit" of fabrics to make at home and turn in next year. The "kit" is the one featured in my last post: "On Becoming a Blanketeer".

This year I was determined to make it, even if it meant wearing a hazmat suit. Not only was I going for all three days, but I also decided to show up with 5 (O.K. 4) quilt tops all ready to go into the final steps of batting, backing, and binding.

Lori came down from Dallas and we decided to sleep at the Retreat House (www.theretreathouse.com). Cheryl and Stacy both took a day off work and each spent one night (consecutively). We had the freedom to come and go as we pleased. Some spent the night while others went home. Those who stayed could stay up into the wee small hours of the morning and then emerge the next day and sew for a couple of hours in their pajamas. We got to raid the fridge and take naps whenever we wanted, but mostly we made blankets.

As blanketeer's finished a blanket they yell, "TA-DA!" and then the place would yell back "TA-DA!" and she would get a round of applause. Kindness and laughter abounded while our pile of blankets went from 0 to 130 in three days.

My friend Mary Ann sewing on her Singer Featherweight. She is also the person who took most of these photos.

Project Linus' Chapter President Marsha Files (far left) receiving a SURPRISE gift quilt of appreciation. At the last retreat Cheryl (second from right) passed out 6 inch squares of fabric that had Linus and Snoopy on it. We were instructed to create a 12.5 inch block using shades of blue, AND to keep our mouths shut. We did it and when Marsha was presented her quilt we were all laughing and crying at the same time.

Cheryl's first TA-DA!

Lori's 1st TA-DA!

Lori kept flip-flopping on how she was going to finish this quilt. GET IT!

Stacy hard at work and me, well...

Stacy's first TA-DA!

My first TA-DA and the quilt that made me a blanketeer can be seen in my previous post. You can also see more pictures of quilts my friends and I made at the Retreat by clicking on Cat’s Random Pics to the right of this post. Once there, click on “my public gallery” and look for the album titled: Project Linus Retreat. There are 81 pictures and I KNOW some of you will not want to look at all of them, so I moved all of mine to the top of the list.

Your Welcome!

On Becoming a Blanketeer

2007-03-10T00:36:00.000-06:00

First you must clear a space.

Then cut your fabrics.

Sew them together.

Laugh with others when they point out the caption on the bulletin board behind you, especially when it applies to your quilting experience.

TA-DA! Strike a pose for the paparazzi.

Project Linus

2007-03-07T22:48:00.001-06:00

I want to tell the enterweb about my experiences at the Project Linus Retreat but then I realized that if you aren't a quilter, or "Blanketeer" as they call us in Project Linus, you would NOT know of what I am referring.

For some background information please (pretty please) click on the link below and watch this short news report on what Project Linus does and how it got started. Maybe you should get a tissue if you are the sensitive type.

Once on the site, click on the word "launch" under the cute child's picture. She's holding her blankee.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16711082/

Recipes from the Crypt

2007-03-04T14:34:00.000-06:00

While sitting here at Command Central waiting for my computer to "defrag", I grabbed the recipe book my step-mother made for us before she died. The thing about recipes from my mother and step-mother's generation that interests me is they always give credit to who they got the recipe from. For instance, who is Ona Gifford? She is only known to me by her Chicken Spaghetti recipe. What about Coyla? Evidently she made an awesome cheese cake and now I have the recipe. And someone named Alice Beth was famous for making a great chocolate cake. My Aunt Fern (also dead) gets credit for a recipe titled: "Yummy Salad". It's made with those colored marshmellows from Kraft. I think I'll make it again for Easter.

At this time I would like to note that in my step-mother's recipe book there are two recipes that do not give credit to whom credit is due, the recipes are: Broccoli and Rice Casserole and Pineapple Ice Box Cake. I know that these came from Carlene so today I give her credit for them here on the web. Mom, do you remember where you got them? And do you know Ona Gifford?

Chicken Spaghetti from the kitchen of Ona Gifford (serves 10-12):

1 fat hen
1 pkg. long spaghetti
1 green pepper (diced)
1/2 bunch celery (diced)
1 large onion (diced)
1/2 lb. grated sharp cheese
1 can cream of mushroom soup (undiluted)
2 pods garlic (minced)

Directions: Stew hen to make plenty of rich broth. Reserve the broth. Debone and dice the chicken. Skim 1 cup of fat from the chicken broth and saute all the vegetables and garlic. Add cheese, soup, chicken and spaghetti (that has been cooked in chicken broth reserve). Let simmer about 30 minutes to mix flavors. Umm, Umm, good!!!

Shop Hop

2007-02-14T19:56:00.000-06:00

I was looking at my blogspot profile and I realized that maybe I should spend some time blogging about my "interests". So today I will talk about my involvment with the Piecemakers by the Bay Quilt Guild of Rockport.

Recently we went on a "Shop Hop" traveling from quilt store to quilt store by charter bus. We started in Rockport at Golden Needles then loaded the bus and headed north to Port Lavaca, then on Blessing and back south to Victoria, TX.

I am the guild treasurer and somehow that translates bus stewardess, as I had to take up lunch money, pass out gift bags and administer cookies during the trip. I had a great time with these good friends.

Golden Needles Quilt Shop of Rockport, TX

Catherine Passing out Gift Bags

Look at those REDS in Blessing, TX

Quilter's Patch in Victoria, Texas

Cat Nap

To see all my Shop Hop pictures, click on Cat's Random Pics in the right of this post and then look for and click on "my public gallery". Then look for the album titled: Shop Hop.

Standing on the Brink of Greatness

2007-02-08T21:17:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I went to see the doctor and for the first time in my life I saw them record something on my chart that had never been recorded before: 100 lbs.

For those of you just joining us, about 6 months ago my doctor prescribed an appetite stimulant (a progesterone) because I weighed 80.5 lbs. and had no appetite.

First of all, not having an appetite is a phenomenon most people can not identify with. It would be like me trying to understand someones experience with Social Anxiety Disorder; I just don't get it. I've tried to understand it, but I can't and yet I know it is real to them.

So let me explain my experience. It's simple: I had NO appetite. I ate only because the clock said it was time to eat and most of the time I forgot to look at the clock. Who forgets to eat? When I did eat, nothing appealed to me. I don't know where my appetite went, all I knew was it was gone and I was losing weight....again. I was frustrated and worried.

Yesterday at the doctors office, I told him that when he prescribed the medicine I was skeptical that it would work, and he confessed to me that he didn't think it would work either. So needless to say he was thrilled with my progress and never imagined that I would do so well. He calls my weight gain "reserves" for the next time I get sick and he wanted me to start lifting weights to develop some muscle mass.

It feels good to have an appetite. It feels good to get cranky when dinner is late. Everything tastes good to me: Mac and Cheese, meat, burnt brussel sprouts, whatever..........gimme, gimme, gimme, my name is Jimmie!

Comic Relief

2007-01-22T00:13:00.001-06:00

I interrupt my thoughts on death with a glimpse of my family in their underwear.

Suelaza wrote me in an email a while back the following:
"The first time I went to the Hanna household on a Sunday afternoon, everyone, everyone, Mr., Mrs., Billy Carl, Glory, David and Catherine were in their UNDERWEAR. It was one of life's strangest moments but obviously not that shocking because I kept going back."

Dad putting on the BVDs!

Billy Carl and Glory on laundry day.

Glory Baby Dave with what appears to be a wedgy.

Catherine Camille

Thomas Guthrie

You might be thinking it is no big deal running around in your underwear when you are just a mere babe. But the sad truth is, we never stopped.

Once while out of town, Carlene stayed at my house to babysit the cats. When I called her she told me the pastor came over. The FIRST question out of my mouth was, "Mom, did you have your clothes on?"

And just a few short weeks ago, I got caught in my front yard wearing boxer shorts and a tank top.

Preparing for Heaven in 2007

2007-01-21T23:35:00.000-06:00

Preparing for Heaven in 2007 is my motto, mantra, mission statement, for the year. I don't know exactly what that means, but it is something I want to do.

My sweet Aunt Barbara died a few months ago. She was sick a long time and died at Carlene's house under hospice care. Barbara Lou had made all the necessary arrangements so when that fateful day came all Mom had to do was make one phone call. The funeral home came and got her, cremated her and then mailed her "cremains" to her daughter in Alabama. Done!

Well except for one thing, all the crap she left behind. They emptied her storage unit and now it fills the room at Mom's house that Barbara use to live in.

So preparing for heaven to me means throwing away my crap today. If you begin thinking like this you will see that your house is filled with STUFF that just takes up space. George Carlin has a great perspective on how we place such importance on our "STUFF". (For all you 20 somethings reading this, George Carlin was a famous comedian in the late 60's and early 70's. You can see him on www.youtube.com)

When Glory came to visit in November she noted that I was a project starter but not a finisher. I know that. But in preparing for heaven in 2007 I feel I need to finish the projects I have started around the house.

I need to make lists of what needs to be done with my left overs after I am gone. I think the term for that is Last Will and Testement. I need to squander my money so that I have nothing to leave my family and friends but my house. Who wants my house, it comes with a dog and 11 cats?

Don't worry, I'm not dying soon but I think about it a lot. My current goal is to out live my pets.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

Ps. 139

Wimsical?

2007-01-21T23:08:00.000-06:00

If you go back and read the last comment on the post "Party Dog" you will see that my friend Denise wants me to write something "witty and entertaining".

I could do that, but I would rather write about death. So to start, here is a poem by Billy Collins (my favorite). I can identify with what he writes and I think it is witty and entertaining.....what do you think Denise?

My Number

Is Death miles away from this house,
reaching for a widow in Cinncinati
or breathing down the neck of a lost hiker
in British Columbia?

Is he too busy making arrangements,
tampering with air brakes,
scattering cancer cells like seeds,
loosening the wooden beams of roller coasters

to bother with my hidden cottage
that visitors find so hard to find?

Or is he stepping from a black car
parked at the dark end of the lane,
shaking open the familiar cloak,
its hood raised like the head of a crow,
and removing the scythe from the trunk?

Did you have any trouble with the directions?
I will ask, as I start talking my way out of this.

Thomas Guthrie

2007-01-21T21:24:00.000-06:00

O.K. let's face it, the 60's were not a good time for the Hanna family. Everyone of us (Carlene, Bill, Glory, David, Catherine and Thomas) can stop and recall countless MAJOR events that happened during those years that has had a lasting effect on how we live in the present.

The "Norman Rockwell" family portrait was on the verge of disintegration, but right before it did Thomas Guthrie was born on this day in 1965. Tom was born into chaos and has lived in chaos his whole life.

Tom, if I were to give you a gift for your birthday it would be the gift of bravery: bravery to battle the demons within, bravey to be real about the issues that keep tripping you up, and bravery to let go of the fact that your family fell apart long before you could do anything to stop it.

Happy Birthday and next year lets eat cake!

Party Dog!

2007-01-10T17:58:00.000-06:00

I got my dog in May of 2003 off the streets of Corpus Christi. Her leg was broken and the vet said it had been that way for a whole month, but if you would like to read about the whole story, please click on the link at the right titled: Cookie Belle.

In May of 2003 the vet said she was 5 months old. I didn't think much of it because I wasn't going to keep her. I was going to help her and then get rid of her....can you believe that? Anyway, one day I came home from work and was greeted at the door by my sweet girl and without any premeditation at all I said, "Happy Birthday!" It was January 10th.

So that is the story of how Cookie got her birthday and now I want to share how we celebrated her day?

First we tracked some vermin in the back yard.

Then we went to Panjo's and shared a burger and chips.

Then we ran down the street with a ferral labrador.

Then we went to Starbucks and they gave her a cup of whipped topping.

Then we went to Moore Than Feed and got a new pink color AND a tag with her name and phone numbers on it.

Happy 4th Birthday Cookie.

Which makes her 28 in human years right?

Baby David

2006-12-28T02:24:00.000-06:00

My brother David was born on this day... a long time ago. He was a handsome baby and an adoreable child. Carlene still has the "curl" she cut off the top of his curley head when he was a babe. You can probably see the beginning of the infamous curl in the first photo.
What is interesting to me however is the last photo. It is a picture of Baby David and Baby Catherine, but it looks like Matthew (David's son) is holding me. The power of genetics amazes me.

Happy Birthday David!

P.S. Does it looks like Baby David is trying to crush my head? Nah, I'm being paranoid, he would never do anything like that.

TIMBER!

2006-12-24T00:49:00.000-06:00

I proudly decorated my Christmas tree a week ago and I must say it was beautiful. It was decorated in silver balls, dangling silver snowflakes and stars. It had 300 white lights on it and it looked like a Winter Ice Sculpture. I would have taken a picture, but it was so sparkly that a photograph could not do it justice.

The kittens, to my amazement, have pretty much been ignoring it. Tonight however, when I returned home from Anne's birthday party, I entered the house to find the tree on the living room floor. There were ornaments in the kitchen, entry and bathroom. There were shards of silver glass under every piece of furniture I own.

So, I swept up the damage, gathered all my ornaments from the outer regions of the house and then preceded to dismantle the tree. It now stands naked in the corner waiting to be put in it's box. I'll be honest, I'm kind of mad right now.

MERRY CHRISTMAS from one of the culprits!

Christmas Confessional

2006-12-16T02:04:00.000-06:00

Being a Christian, it’s in my spiritual DNA to love this holiday. I do love Christmas, but today I want to confess, one of the reasons I enjoy the holidays so much has nothing to do with the “reason for the season”.

I love the colors, smells, and decorations of Christmas. I like Christmas trees so much that I want to have a Christmas Forest. Currently I have three trees and none are decorated, go figure. Regardless, I have lots of ornaments, expensive ones (purchased half price on Dec. 26th through the years) and homemade ones. Remember the ones we made in Elementary School out of Styrofoam egg cartons and pipe cleaners? Weren't they tacky?

I love the baking that is traditional with the holidays. This is the time of year when Russian Tea Cakes, Divinity and Fudge abound. This is also the time of year that Mom made Spiced Tea and the only time we drink it.

I like the movies and music we all associate with the holidays, especially the old stuff. Bing Crosby singing Jingle Bells or White Christmas is the best. Oddly enough, however, I can't stand Christmas Cantatas.

If you are a lost soul (Christian or otherwise), rent It’s a Wonderful Life and watch it like finding your happiness on earth depended on it. I think it sums up the meaning of life pretty well.

I like the idea of Santa Claus. I remember vividly the day I realized there was no Santa, it happened just last week. My favorite part of Christmas as a kid was the stocking. Mom hung our stocking on the post of our beds. It was great to wake up at 4 in the morning and burrow through that billowing bag of benevolence while we waited for the adults to wake up....would they EVER get up?

I love gifts. I know they say it is better to give than to receive, but I like both. I like to wrap presents because I like boxes and paper and bows and the little tags we put on them. And I LOVE IT when I receive a gift that is wrapped exceptionally well (in a box). It is my believe that a mediocre gift wrapped well will be well received. It's the attention to details that make the difference.

As you can see, I am a sucker for packaging. The Christmas season is “packaged” so magically. It glitters, twinkles, and sparkle and I love every frivolous, goofy thing that comes only during this time of year.

Forgive me.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2006-12-15T21:44:00.000-06:00

To me, the most wonderful time of year starts in October and ends in January, and these are the reasons why:

Fall Colors

October begins with the Brazoria County Parade and Fair. This is a big deal to ANYONE who grew up in Brazoria county. Schools shut down early and ALL the high school bands marched in the parade? Who out there on the enterweb marched in the parade? I did! Also, the weather changes in South Texas during this time of year and it had such a huge impact on me growing up that I call the first cool front "Brazoria County Fair Parade weather." Oh, oh, oh and I just remembered that I entered a Needlepoint (or was it Embroidery?) project in the fair and got a ribbon. I think a red ribbon.

Texas High School Football Season and Homecoming (mums)

The clothes, I look better in layering and bulky sweaters.

October 18th starts off the Hanna Family Birthday season with Carlene's birthday, then Catherine, Glory, Bill, Dad, David and then Tom in January.

Halloween, pagan, I know, but it is fun and I love the colors. I love pumpkins, carved or not.

The Twelve Days of Catherine

Thanksgiving, again with the colors. I love Pumpkin Pie.

Christmas (more on that later)

Did you know Glory and I were in Time Square together one New Years Eve? Can someone say CROWDED?

Resolutions and the hope that comes with a new year and a new beginning.

Oh, but there is one thing I don't like about this time of year: day light savings time. It's dark at 6 p.m. and that makes me tired. It's all mental, I know.

Today is Dad's Birthday

2006-12-06T13:31:00.000-06:00

Today is B.T. Hanna's birthday?
It's interesting to me how a person can be dead but we still remember them on their birthdays. I guess it's because I have had more years remembering (and sometimes forgetting) Dad's birthday than I have remembering his deathday.
Dad died in May (can't remember the year). It was final exam week and I remember the first person I told he had died was Philip Shirley; we were standing outside the annex at RFHS.
I have all these vivid memories, but I can't remember the day it happened.
I miss him..... a lot.

My Brush With Fame

2006-12-02T22:54:00.000-06:00

This weekend I visited with my good friends David and Gail Roaten in San Marcos. David reminded me several times to bring my guitar, and of course I forgot. I wasn't worried because I knew David had 3 guitars of his own: a Hernandez classical guitar, an Ovation, and a custom made Collings.

When I got to town David told me their neighbor had a best friend from high school visiting. This "best friend" was from Nashville and turned out to be the lead guitarist for the group Lonestar.

http://www.lonestar.mu/

So how great a surprise it was to spend a couple of hours listening to Mike Britt playing a great guitar greatly.

O Tannenbaum

2006-11-30T00:02:00.000-06:00

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
How loyal are your leaves/needles!
You're green not only in the summertime,
No, also in winter when it snows.
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
How loyal are your leaves/needles!

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
You can please me very much!
How often has not at Christmas time
A tree like you given me such joy!
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree,
You can please me very much!
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree

Your dress wants to teach me something:
Your hope and durability
Provide comfort and strength at any time.
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree,
That's what your dress should teach me.

Prince William

2006-11-29T00:05:00.000-06:00

Since I have been organizing Carlene’s old black and white photos I can’t help but notice how many shots there are of Billy Carl. He is the first born and naturally B.T. and Carlene couldn’t get enough of their heir to the thrown. Look at him for heaven sacks, he’s adorable, and today is his 60th birthday.

I Don't Think You're Ready for this Jelly

2006-11-19T23:08:00.000-06:00

For those of you just tuning in, I was prescribed a "hormone" to stimulate my appetite. I was pretty skeptical at first, but it appears to be working. I am wondering how "fat" I can get. I wonder if I will acheive my life long goal to one day weigh 100 lbs? Hanna women gain weight in their butts first, so I am telling you all now that I will need new pants for Christmas. I love it!

Glory Hallelujah!

2006-11-18T00:24:00.000-06:00

Today is my big sister Glory's birthday. She is MUCH older than me. Here are some thing you need to know about her:

Type A personality

Punctual/organized

Generous

Band nerd

Drama geek (even still)

Bossy

Morning Person

Vente Quad Breve Latte

Funny

My favorite sister!