The Students Are Back

Last week was "rush" week at the Universities. I'm not sure exactly what happens during the week besides pledging to Sororities and Fraternities along with getting moved into apartments and dorms, but I do know that on Friday, around 5:00 PM of that week, the students of legal age (yeah, right!) are allowed to buy alcoholic beverages. This they do with great gusto here on the Palouse. I'm sure there were many a sick puppy after this past weekend.

Today classes started for these same students. I always drive through the UI campus on my way to work each morning. This morning it was just before 7:30 as I drove past the Frat houses noting the local Disposal company placing fresh dumpsters for the trash these guys would generate. I am very certain that most of the students were in class today, maybe a little hung over but nonetheless, in attendance.

This evening, after leaving work for the day, I reversed my route through campus past those same Frat houses. I am not certain about the number of hours a student spends getting acquainted with classes on this first day but as I passed by, I again took note of those freshly placed dumpsters from my morning trip to work. It was now 7:00 PM and those huge blue metal boxes were overflowing with boxes of every brand of beer known to mankind. Oh, the resilience of youth! Yes indeed, the students are "back" and feeling their oats. May the Force be with them for the next nine months.

Things About Me You Probably Don't Want To Know

My daughter Michelle posted this same title on her blog Creative Treasures this morning. I don't know whether I can come up with 100 items but my wrists will ache from trying. Here goes...

1. My mind and body don't cooperate well. Body believes it's sixty-three. Mind believes it's still a spring chicken.
2. I love to dance; swing to rock n' roll or 'sleaze" (up close and touching) to love songs
3. I love doo-wop and big band music
4. I am a good cook when the urge hits
5. I am a twin; I call her my clone
6. I am very spiritual but do not believe in organized religion
7. I am very tender hearted about people
8. I love people of all cultures
9. I believe God does not judge and there is no such thing as Hell
10. I am short; 5'2" on a good day
11. I love the sound of the ocean; the power is incredible
12. The smell of fresh baked bread is heaven in my nose
13. Butter is definitely better
14. Vanilla ice cream, sliced bananas, chopped walnuts and chocolate syrup. FAVORITE!
15. The gold in my natural blond hair has turned to silver
16. My kids have never seen me with long hair; I prefer quick and easy
17. I've never had a perm nor learned how to use a curling iron
18. I am a shower person
19. Freshly shampooed hair and a blow-dryer are my friends
20. I've worn Maybelline Royal Blue mascara for nearly 40 years
21. I am fluffy, not fat
22. I love to read...whether books, newspapers, magazines or on the net
23. I believe I am likable
24. I enjoy being a little naughty at times
25. I can cuss like a trooper when the occasion arises
26. I love people but am cautious about true friendships
27. I love and adore my family
28. I consider my daughters as my best adult friends
29. I am outgoing but like my "go inside myself" time
30. I too, like big, hairy men. Nothing sexier than thick chest hair!
31. I love beautiful clothes but prefer to wear jeans and t-shirts
32. Fresh tomatoes from the garden, for me, are like caviar to the rich and famous.
33. I am not a huge meat eater, but I love a rare rib-eye steak.
34. I have four dogs and a cat. I love them, messes and all.
35. My dream for retirement is a small house, a beautiful yard and enough money for ice cream
36. I sing in the shower to drown out the fact that I can't carry a tune in a bucket
37. I love all the music of ABBA
38. Sam Elliot is a sexy, sexy man
39. Soldiers and firemen are my heroes
40. Laughing makes me feel whole again
41. Sometimes I talk too much
42. Patience is a virtue; I forget that on occasion
43. I am confident, except when I'm not
44. People feel free to tell me their innermost secrets and fears
45. I love to work but can no longer do very hard physical jobs. This is frustrating.
46. My current yard is a discord in the music of my life. I have found it impossible to find help in beautiful downtown Moscow, Idaho.
47. I wasn't in line when talent was passed out. My kids must have received theirs from their father 'cuz I don't have any!
    
48. My kids got their good looks from me, 'cuz their dad didn't have any. Just kidding.
49. I am (was) a seamstress. Anything from underwear to men's suits. And, I was very good at it.
50. I love surprises.
51. I've learned that anger hurts you more than the person you are angry with.
52. I love the smell of the earth after rain.
53. I've had bones broken; by accident and on purpose. One hurts no less than the other.
54. Sleeping well has eluded me for my entire life.
55. I believe a sense of humor is vital to living, it's inherited from God.
56. Hugs and kisses are also vital to life.
57. One of Michelle's favorite quotes is: " Help me to look at other people the way I want God to look at me." (Or, something to that effect) I am eagerly pursuing this counsel.
58. I am anal about my handwriting. It must be legible. (thank you, Miss Ziebarth)
59. No matter how expensive the perfumes I've tried, I always go back to Wind Song, my favorite.
60. It takes me less than an hour each morning to shower, shampoo, blow dry, brush my teeth perform the miracle on my face, get dressed and head for work.
    
61. I am very fussy about my grooming.
62. I iron all of my clothes. I don't believe there is such a thing as no-iron fabric.
63. I have a sweet tooth for bakery goods. The devil makes me eat that stuff.
64. I get skinny when I fall in love. I get fat when I fall out of love. I need to fall in love very soon, please.
65. My eyes are green, like my Mother's.
66. I am not a hot weather person. Never been into sun tanning, therefore I have lived my life with what I call the "embalmed look".
67. I no longer care when I have stubble on my legs. Armpits are another thing.
68. I have always had "good" skin. Hardly ever had a zit in my life. I'm making up for that with wrinkles.
69. I wear contact lenses because glasses don't sit straight over my broken nose and it drives me crazy. That's dangerous when you don't have far to go.
70. I like to own and drive a large, four door sedan. No SUV or sports cars for me, although I would like to own a Tundra.
71. I want to die laughing or dancing.
72. I would prefer not to have a funeral. Just cremation; then a celebration with lots of food, laughter and fun, for the new adventure I will have embarked upon.
73. The towels and bedding in my linen closet must be folded perfectly.
74. I miss the old Sears catalogue.
75. I do not like to shop- for anything! It is just one of life's necessary evils.
76. I am a home body.
77. I enjoy doing absolutely nothing on some of my days off.
78. I want a slave so that I can do more of absolutely nothing.
79. I have a weak back but a strong will. Sometimes that leaves me unable to walk fully upright for a day or two.
80. I don't have all of my natural teeth and am thankful that my kids did not inherit the "bad teeth" gene from me. Thank you, Lord (and my employer) for good dental insurance.
81. I am discouraged and disappointed by the politics of today.
82. It troubles me that so many parents today, do no give their kids responsibilities or teach them respect for other human beings and their property. No is not a four letter word!
83. I love a clean, organized house but was born with an innate hatred for housework. Where the hell is that maid I have a desire for?
84. I love my sons-in-law. They love my daughters.
85. I am proud of the adults my babies have grown to be.
86. I am a klutz when it comes to anything mechanical but am fascinated with what makes things work.
87. Color is the clothing of life.
88. I don't like beer but I love an ice cold red beer. (half tomato juice) Doesn't make sense to me either.
89. I long for family reunions in the city park.
90. I love casinos but they don't love me so I don't go often.
91. Watching the stars on clear nights help me to dream of wonders yet to come.
92. I have above average intelligence but have not always used it to my advantage. A girl has to have fun, you know.
93. I have learned that giving always comes back tenfold.
94. I am the head cheerleader when it comes to seeing people climb the rocky road to success, (in all aspects of life) no matter the pitfalls along the way.
95. I am an optimist and believe the world will come together in peace and harmony sooner than later.
96. History is fascinating, today is all there is, the future is the result of history and today.
97. I am not a telephone talker or a card or letter sender but the people I love and care about are always in my heart and mind.
98. I am not a technology geek but have learned that it is not dangerous to try. Besides, I can always call or e-mail my kids to rescue me from my screw-ups.
99. I have lived from a time when there was no television or computers; only the wealthy had telephones, cars or indoor plumbing; imagination was the biggest part of playing and the world was slow and easy, to wireless everything; instant gratification; multi-cars, homes and bathrooms; and time warp speed for living, working and playing. It is an exhilarating experience which I would not trade for anything.
100. Yes indeed. LIFE IS GOOD!
     

August Sixteenth...In My Memories

August 16, 1916
Salt Lake city, Utah

On this day, 92 years ago, a wonderful human being came into this world. She was bright, beautiful and a joy to be around. Her life was difficult, her health was a constant battle but she rarely complained. She married, her senior year of high school, to a young farmer named Clyde. She worked hard as a farmer's wife, cooking, cleaning, running errands; all those tasks required by folks who feed the world. In her spare time she gave birth to eight children, five daughters and three sons. After being widowed at thirty-nine, these children, their children, and even their children, were the great love of her life. She loved unconditionally, she died unconditionally, surrounded by the family who loved her with the same intensity as was shown to each of them throughout her time in this world. At 10:30 AM on September 30, 1994, she opened her bright green eyes with a look of wonder as she sighed her final goodbye to those who loved her so much, and who miss her still, so many years later.

You are in our hearts forever, Mom. We love you and miss you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM...HOPE YOU'RE HAVING ICE CREAM!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

A FOURTH GENERATION OF LOVE

Some Things are Just So Irritating

Last week I went to Boise to visit family for a "mini" family reunion. I had a wonderful time; peaceful sleep at Michelle's home, great visits with family members, food to die for, shopping with my daughter, grand daughters and sisters, visits with former co-workers. When it was time to return to the North, I was relaxed and happy, ready to face the "coal mines" again.

This week, which just ended for me, greeted me with a lot of catching-up-at-work. It was a busy week with the normal challenges of managing the business and personnel who keep it going. Regardless of the fact that I sometimes find myself wondering whether it's all worth it, I love my job, the people who work with me and the customers who are the "real" signers of my paycheck.

In spite of the aforementioned proclamation, there are a couple of things that are just plain irritating to me; one being the people who are so afraid of germs, that they pee (or worse) all over the toilet seat, or leave the paper lid cover (which they peed or worse on) where they left it for the next person to dispose of. Then they go to the sink to wash those filthy little germs off their hands, take the ten paper towels they used to dry those same hands, to cover the handle of the door as they leave. Ok, I can live with that, but why do they toss them back onto the floor before the doors fully closes?? I've seen them do it! Obviously, they could not care less about the person who has to clean-up after them. Eating a little dirt as a child would probably have added years to their paranoid lives. AAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGG!

Second irritation: the drivers who can't read the stop signs on the road which runs in front of the store entrance. Our parking lot is nearly always full, meaning that there are a lot of people, many with small children, entering and exiting the store. We all know that even with very attentive parents, small children tend to leap before they look. It's almost as if they have an innate urge to run as soon as the outdoor air hits their faces. I can't begin the recall the number of times I have seen near-misses as someone barrels through the stop signs, oblivious to the danger they create for other people. And, to make matters worse, most of these are supposedly mature adults, not the teenagers and college students. One busy weekend day, I stood there and counted 25 vehicles go through the stop signs before one actually stopped. We had over 3000 (not counting children) customers crossing that speedway that day. Go figure!

Now that I have vented, I still have to admit that "Life is, indeed, good!"