Being a Kid Again...for a few minutes!

Last evening we had a thunderstorm. It came with wind and horizontal rain. It was fierce for a few minutes. But those few minutes did a lot of damage. There are limbs down all over town, and out in the country it's worse. Of course, it's more open and the wind had a chance to really blow. After the worst part was over and it was just showering, I took off my glasses, and went out into the rain. I stood and just let it rain on me, then the kid in me took over and I kicked off my flip-flops and went stomping in the puddles in my driveway. I splashed, and laughed. My neighbors who were peeking out their windows, maybe at me, maybe at the rain, probably thought I had lost my mind, but just for a few minutes, I was transported back to my childhood when Mom used to walk my brother and I outside and watch a storm moving in, explaining that storms were nothing to be afraid of. Then, after the rain we would go out and run around in the wet grass and stomp and splash in every puddle we could find.
Just for a few minutes yesterday evening, I was a kid again. Maybe the next time my neighbors will join me in the fun!

Peace,
JE

Cooking, cleaning and singing!

Tomorrow is going to prove to be busy day. I have been cleaning the house in prep for a visit from my brother and sister-in-law from Texas. I have swept and dusted, scrubbed and polished. Curley, bless her heart, came to my house on Monday, on her only day off, and helped me clean. Thanks so much, my friend. (But back to tomorrow.)
I still have the kitchen to finish cleaning and my bathroom. Neither will take very long, but I also volunteered to do some cooking. A gal that Prof works with is being treated for breast cancer. She is taking chemo and radiation both right now. So, the people that work with her, along with her church are furnishing meals for she and her husband. Since Prof has to work, and I don't, she asked if she bought the chicken, potatoes and etc, if I would prepare the food and deliver it. Of course, I said yes. I am the official chicken fryer in the house, and she is prepping the rest of the stuff for the oven tonight, so all I have to do is bake those dishes. Not a problem.
Then, the lady that accompanies me when I sing called today to set up a time for me to practice. The only time she had available is tomorrow! Did I tell you all that I am doing a solo concert on July 12? I am the official entertainment at the monthly birthday party at our Senior Center for July. It's been a long time since I have done solo work, so I am a bit nervous about the whole thing. I sorta let Curley (who works there full time) talk me into it, along with the gal who plans these monthly parties. Practice I must! So, I will get up early once again, finish the cleaning I need to get done (especially since I don't know exactly when my company is coming), then I will cook and deliver the food, and head on out to Susan's to practice. Choosing music for something like this is difficult. I am used to singing Christian music, but audiences like these like the oldies, and some country. So, I am sorta out of my comfort zone, but Curley said,"Most are old and deaf, so sing whatever you want." LOL! I will blog about the concert after it happens. Who knows, I may end up on YouTube.
I'd better get rested up!

Peace,
JE

"Back in the day!"

Someone asked the other day, “What was your favorite fast food when you were growing up?” “We didn't have fast food when I was growing up, I informed him.” All the food was slow.”
“C'mon, seriously. Where did you eat?” “It was a place called 'at home’,” I explained. “Mom cooked every day and when Dad got home from work, we sat down together at the dining room table, and if I didn't like what she put on my plate I was allowed to sit there until I did like it.” By this time, the kid was laughing so hard I was afraid he was going to suffer serious internal damage, so I didn't tell him the part about how I had to have permission to leave the table. But here are some other things I would have told him about my childhood if I figured his system could have handled it :

Some parents NEVER owned their own house, never wore Levis, never set foot on a golf course, never traveled out of the country or had a credit card. In their later years they had something called a revolving charge card. The card was good only at Sears Roebuck. Or maybe it was Sears & Roebuck. Either way, there is no Roebuck anymore. Maybe he died.

My parents never drove me to soccer practice. This was mostly because we never had heard of soccer. I had a bicycle that weighed probably 50 pounds, and only had one speed, (slow)

We didn't have a television in our house until I was 15.It was, of course, black and white, and the station went off the air at midnight, after playing the national anthem and a poem about God; it came back on the air at about 6 a.m. and there was usually a locally produced news and farm show on, featuring local people.

I was 14 before I tasted my first pizza; it was called 'pizza pie. When I bit into it, I burned the roof of my mouth and the cheese slid off, swung down, plastered itself against my chin and burned that, too. It's still the best pizza I ever had.

I never had a telephone in my room. The only phone in the house was in the hall way and it was on a party line. Before you could use it, you had to listen and make sure some people you didn't know (or did know) weren't already using the line. (We listened in sometimes!) An operator came on and asked you what number you were calling! She also recognized your voice and asked about your family.

Pizzas were not delivered to our home, but milk was. So was bread.

Movie stars kissed with their mouths shut. At least, they did in the movies. There were no movie ratings because all movies were responsibly produced for everyone to enjoy viewing, without profanity or violence or most anything offensive.

Growing up today is a lot different, isn’t it?

Up at the Butt-crack of Dawn? What's with that?

Is it a sign of older age that just maybe I don't need as much sleep as I used to? This morning I woke up wide awake at 3:59 AM. I tossed and turned, made a quick trip to the BR, and back to bed, then more tossing and turning, and finally at 5:05, I thought to heck with it. By 5:30 I had coffee made, and poured, and was sitting on my screened in veranda, wrapped in an afghan against the 52 F temperature, listening to the early birds chirping and eventually watching the sun come up over the cityscape. I cannot remember being up this early since retiring. Oh, wait, I did get up early on the morning I left on my last drive to Texas. But, since then...nope.
I thoroughly enjoyed the quiet time. Of course, being retired, I have a lot of quiet time, but having a daughter and 19 year old grandson living with me, there are times when I only dream of quiet.
Is this the way it's going to be from now on? Probably not. But if once in a while, I get the urge to arise earlier than usual, that's okay. I am sure when winter rolls around once more, staying snuggled down under the covers will seem more inviting.
Maybe it's just a matter of not wanting to waste a moment of my life as I grow older. As my dad always said, "Get up and get out there! You can sleep when you're dead."
Maybe he was right!

Peace,

JE

Beat the heat!

I decided to take advantage of the clothes line in my back yard. With 90 degree temps and 25 mph winds, its like having free dryer service. So, I get my whites hung up. By the time I get them all up and blowing freely, I look over into the west, and ALAS, storm clouds gather. Oh well, let it rain. The worst thing that could happen is that my tees and undies get an extra rinse!
Even as I type this, I hear the rain's "pitter-patter" on my window. It's pouring!

Peace,
JE

What not to read!

I just finished Mobbed by Carol Higgins Clark. I had never read any of her novels, but I have always read her mom's books, so I thought "why not."
Boy, was it a disappointment! the characters were shallow, beyond unbelievable, the plot was, well, was there even a plot? I felt it insulted my intelligence. I know, I could have put it down, but I kept thinking it would get better. It didn't. The only redeeming thing about Mobbed was the setting on the Jersey Shore. (It sound like a wonderful place to vacation.)
I wouldn't even give this novel one half star. And, sorry Carol, but I was so disappointed that I will bypass your works on my library's shelves.

Peace,
JE

*I realize this is only my opinion, but as an avid reader, I felt I could share said opinion with you all. I'm sorry if I offed someone.

Missing it!

I never thought I would say it, but I miss working with the kids. Retired now for two complete school years, I think I miss the interaction with the teenagers. My special-ed students were a handful at times, yet they were a delight most of the time. Most were eager to learn, and were at least willing to try. Some really struggled, and when, all of a sudden, the "got" it, it was like seeing a beautiful sunrise.
I see kids walking by with their backpacks, and think that they must need extra help and are attending summer school to get it. It makes for a shorter vacation for them, but just might be the "shot in the arm" they need to stay at grade level.
I have decided that next year, I am going to either put my name on the substitute teacher's list for Middle School special ed, or volunteer my time a few hours a week and go into the school to help out with those students who need help with reading or grammar. Substituting is a paid position, but also takes a whole day. Maybe I don't want that much obligation , and besides, subbing is really just "babysitting" for teens, and sometimes can reek with discipline problems. Whereas, volunteering is not. There is also a place where students can go for free tutoring. That, too, might be a good place to volunteer.

I also might take a job a couple days a week at a new Hobby Lobby that is being built in the town just south of me. It would earn me a little extra cash, but more importantly, would earn me an employee discount supporting my crafting habit.

These are the things rumbling around up there as summer vacation starts. We'll see it goes as time marches on.

Peace,
JE

Another Crafting Accomplishment

I am not one giving to bragging, so let it be known that some of my readers asked me to put some photos on here of my handiwork. This is the front and back views of my latest, and I think, my most accomplished work. I made it for a dear friend with whom I used to teach. She is going to be celebrating a landmark birthday in August. When I showed it to Prof, she said that it was totally "Teacherfriend." Hopefully, since we are both retired, we will be able to do lunch or dinner some evening close to her birthday.
I hope you all don't mind my sharing my stuff on here. It's just another way to get to know who I am and what makes me...me.

Peace,
JE

BTW: The model shown is "Percina Maude", Prof's antique dress dummy!
" All Shawl" free pattern by Doris Chan on "Crochet Pattern Central

Another good read.

For those of you who like historical fiction, you must read, The Color of Lightning by Paulette Jiles. It is the story of Britt Johnson, a free black man, who takes his family and leaves Kentucky to settle in north Texas towards the end of the Civil War. It's all about the life they endured.
Upon reading the acknowledgements, I learned that there really was a Britt Johnson, but little was known about him.Author research came from journals, articles, and oral tales. Ms. Jiles did a remarkable job of telling the story of this strong-willed man who loved his family and was brave enough to forge a new life for them.

I give this novel a big 5 stars!

Peace,
JE