Who Do You Remember

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

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

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

I have some announcements:

1. 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.



2. 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.



3. 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.



4. 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!

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

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

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

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

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!

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/