Strange

We have two volunteer corn plants that are growing beside our driveway.

We have no idea how the seeds got there.

We thought we'd let them go and see what happens!

Fairy Love

Nothing says love like a painted fairy from the 6 year old niece. Happy Monday!

The Tree

For those of you who have read this blog since it began, you know I have a little tree I decorate every month.

Read about it here, here, and here.

I had planned to decorate the June tree with ladybug lights. But, alas, the lights were dead. Fixing this string is not as simple as some of my other light strings, so the tree has been bare for weeks.

However, Saturday I decorated for the 4th of July! Coke bottles and flags...are you ready?

New Mexico Bluebird

This post on Gather reminded me of our 2006 vacation to a cabin in New Mexico. This little guy came to visit us on the patio every day. He was our bluebird of happiness that week.

Here's a bit of information on Bluebirds found in New Mexico.

Home Decor by The Husband

So, as my regular readers know, I've been traveling during the week due to work.

I returned home last week and walked into the living room. There, front and center on the mantel, sat the Triple Bobble Head of three former Tulsa Drillers players The Husband got at a recent game. The former players are:

1. Juan Gonzalez
2. Rueben Sierra
3. Sammy Sosa

How's that for a bit of trivia?

The Husband told me on Sunday I could remove the bobble heads from the mantle. My comment was, "No, no. You spend more time here now than I do. They can stay here until I stop traveling."

It could be time for me to return home. Just saying...

Watermelon With A Twist

We made this watermelon recipe this past weekend.

It was tasty! You do not taste the liquor as much as you might think.

Thanks to 47 and Starting Over for sharing it with her readers.

Father's Day

The Husband and I went with my sister and her family for Father's Day brunch. A good time was had by all and we got to see the nieces:

The brother-in-law had a good Father's Day.

Coleman's Bakery in Okmulgee, OK

The Husband and I went on a drive Saturday that included a stop at Coleman's Bakery in Okmulgee.

We had old fashioned burgers with a little grease on the bun from where it had been warmed on the grill and the onion rings were delish! We admired the pies and the cookies...oh, the cookies...but didn't indulge.

Coleman's has quite a history and people were glad to see it re-open a few years ago. I can see why after my visit.

Heating Up...

As I've mentioned here, I've been traveling to Houston since April to assist with a big project for a global company. We are implementing a new system that is replacing existing systems and websites.

We are now officially a week away from the "go live" of the new system. There are tasks still to accomplish, decisions still to be made/agreed and action plans to be implemented. All of these activities are typical at this point in a large project.

A number of people have worked on this project 1-3 years. A good many of these folks have worked on this project for many months, and then there are newcomers like me who have arrived at, what seems to be, the last minute.

Personally, I had been tasked with keeping one of the old systems operational until it's replacement date. Since April, I've been juggling my old job, along with trying to understand the new system and the specific task I was asked to help with.

As you can imagine, people are tired and stressed. They are working 12, 14, 16+ hour days; and have been for an extended time. Some folks live in Houston, but many of us are traveling from far flung US locations every week.

Everyone's families are impacted. Personal milestones like children's school events/graduations, family birthdays, anniversaries, vacations, deaths, purchases of new homes, etc. have all, in MANY cases, taken second place. Let's not even discuss the impact to friendships.

We turn on the new system June 25th. I'll keep you posted on how it goes...

Clever, Clever, Clever!

To quote Merriam-Webster: Clever = mentally quick and resourceful

Thank goodness, there are people in the world who are "clever" enough to create this:

TOTUS

To make us think and laugh!

Dean Koontz

You've heard of the author Dean Koontz, haven't you? He's a prolific, successful author and I enjoy his books tremendously. I read an interesting article about him in USA Today recently:

Author Dean Koontz builds a dream home, dream career.
By Carol Memmott, USA TODAY

I found several pieces of information in the article interesting, but most particularly this; and I quote:

"The whole American celebrity fascination kind of creeps me out," says Koontz, who has never done a national book tour, hasn't done a TV interview since the 1990s and has done few book signings in the past few decades. (The logistics of setting up book-signings for rock-star equivalent authors like Koontz can be close to impossible.) "I'd just rather not be part of it."

A self-confessed homebody, Koontz rarely takes a day off, doesn't know how to send an e-mail and doesn't want to learn, hasn't flown in 30 years and has no interest in world travel. "There are a lot of things I just don't do which leaves a lot of extra time in my life" for writing."

I think it is very interesting that this man is so creative and is such a homebody. I have to wonder if he would be even more creative and prolific if he traveled the world?

I'm sure I will continue to look forward to and love his books. I definitely enjoyed a small peek into his private world.

Vanity Cards

Do you know what vanity cards are? Until last year, I did not.

They are the screen of text that is shown very briefly following most Chuck Lorre Productions tv shows:

• The Big Bang Theory
• Two and a Half Men
• Dharma & Greg
• Cybil
• Grace Under Fire

If you DVR the shows, during playback you can pause and read the text. Or, you can go here and read them.

The network has censored him several times, because these can be controversial. Funny, but controversial.

Taking Credit For The Work of Others

There is a controversy in the blogosphere regarding plagiarism.

I read Suburban Turmoil every day. It is a well written, funny, blog (not "all mommy, all the time") and I enjoy the stories.

The author recently posted a story that is very disturbing. Click here to read it.

I worked once for someone who took credit for a couple of my ideas that were implemented with great success at the office. This really hurt my feelings, but at the time I was young and not as self confident as I am today and I did not speak up for myself.

A few years later, there was someone, who was supposed to be a "friend," who took something I had discovered and touted it as their own discovery to mutual friends. The mutual friends told me about it and credited the other person with the discovery, saying "Isn't that person clever to have found this?" Well, yes, someone was clever and it was ME! Would it have hurt for them to have given me credit? No. But, again, I didn't speak up.

I hate when people take credit for the work or ideas of others. This is why I "link" to so many other websites in my blog posts. I want to be clear about where I get information for my blog.

Here's a shout out to Lindsay Ferrier of Suburban Turmoil for standing up for herself. You.Go.Girl!

"Who Is That Person In The Mirror?"

I promised you a baby shower story sharing a profound statement from one of the ladies I met.

To set the stage: I was at a table with four delightful, attractive women who are in their late 70's at the very least, and early 80's certainly, for one or two. These women are long time friends of the grandmother-in-law of Callie, the shower recipient. They were quite witty during the obligatory shower games, and sneakily competitive!

The ladies shared stories about their children, grand children and great-grand children. When you have five or eight children, it shouldn't surprise anyone (me) that you would have 15 or more grandchildren and given their ages, that you have 17 or 18 great-grandchildren with MORE ON THE WAY!

Obviously, they love their families, but as one of the women said, "I get up every morning and look in the mirror and don't know who that person is. I still think of myself as 25."

Similarly, during my husband's recent high school reunion, one of his classmates was repeating a conversation she had with her mother in which her Mom (paraphrasing) said she thought to herself during her children's visit at Easter this year, "Who ARE all these OLD people in my house?"

My takeaway from these conversations, and my own thoughts about my 50th birthday rapidly approaching, is I need to be EVEN MORE courteous to the elders I meet and take EVEN MORE time to speak to them and draw out their stories. Because, I have something in common with them...

I'm still 25 also!

Six Word Memoirs

I read an article in the recent AARP magazine titled "Six-Word Memoirs, Really Short Stories. 

You have probably already heard of these stories, but I had not. It was fascinating.

The original objective was to tell the story of your life in six words and tens of thousands of people responded. A book was published, Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure (Harper, 2008).

There is also a website: Six Word Memoirs

Of course, I had to give it a try for myself.

My life:
Mistakes Made. Lessons Learned. Happy Now.

Happier Than I Have Ever Been.

Loves Husband. Loves Family. Loves Self.

What I am:
Good Wife, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Friend.
Creature of Habit. Obsessive Compulsive. Organizer.
Avid Reader. Hard Worker. Low Maintenance.

I had such fun doing this little exercise in self-examination. I even got out of bed that night to scribble more thoughts.

I challenge you to give it a try and let me know your results!

Silvey Estate Sales

Silvey Estate Sales is at it again! Click here for details.

Fresh Veggies

The Husband and I went to Conrad Farms Market last Sunday.

We picked up a few fresh veggies, but what I'm most excited about is the package of Taboli Wheat from Bishop Brothers in Bristow, OK. As much as I love taboli, it is amazing that I do not make it.

With this package of taboli wheat and their simple recipe on the back, this is the summer Cindy is going to perfect her own taboli. Promise.

The Husband and I, unfortunately, missed the Taboli Festival in Bristow this year. I am going to make a special effort to attend next year.

Old School Bagel Cafe

The Husband and I went to the new Old School Bagel Cafe Sunday morning. They are located in Brookside, next to KJRH. They have not had their "grand" opening yet, but are having a "soft" opening for a few days.

They were busy. Lots of customers and staff. The staff was obviously in training mode, but it appeared as if one of the owners (or managers) was there and was overseeing all the activity.

The Husband and I were huge fans of the old New York Bagel Cafes (and added a few pounds as a result) and have heard that the owners of Old School were involved in the old New York Bagel stores. If that is true and they recreate that consistency in quality of food, we will be happy.

I always get a plain bagel with flavored cream cheese and The Husband always gets a flavored bagel with plain cream cheese (go figure!) We were both happy with our bagels that day.

The atmosphere was good. Comfortable chairs, tables and booth area; wide screen TV over a gas log fireplace and outdoor seating. We will most certainly go back.

40th High School Reunion

I went with The Husband to his 40th High School Reunion last Friday and Saturday night.

The Husband (center picture below) has been friends with "SL" (on the left) and "TH" (on the right) since school.

"SL"
The Husband
"TH"
The following group of four went to the Prom together:
And indulged me for a current photo.
A good time was had by all at the reunion. Lots of conversation, memories, laughter, and pictures.

We are looking forward to the 45th!

Baby Shower

A year ago today, The Husband and I were in Midland, Texas for the wedding of my husband's brother's, wife's, sister's son (got that?) to a lovely girl.

Yesterday, I was in Okemah, OK for a shower to make sure Katherine Elizabeth has everything she needs waiting for her at her debut in August.

Below, left to right, Margaret (Matt's mom), Callie, and Lisa (Callie's mom).

Erica, cousin-in-law and shower co-hostess, made the cutest diaper cake for the shower.  

The party was at a restaurant named the Hen House, which is just adorable.

I met some lovely women at this function and will share a profound quote from one of them in a future post.

Smile

Another video I have watched repeatedly and it never fails to make me happy.

Click HERE and enjoy.

Alzheimer's Disease

A sad situation.

Every family that faces this disease deserves support and love.

To increase awareness and contribute to Alzheimer’s research and care, read more here: Forget Me Not Ink

Organizing to Relieve Stress

Last weekend I was a bit obsessed about organizing our home.

So far, I have emptied 4 drawers and 1 cupboard, sorted the clothes by type and size, filled a huge garbage bag of clothes to donate to Goodwill, and put the remaining clothes back in nice, neat order in the drawers/cupboard.

I immediately took the donation bag to Goodwill, simply to get it out of the house. Right. Now!

One of my nieces shared an organizing tip she either read or heard on TV. Basically, you turn all the hangers in your closet to hang as below:
When you wear an article of clothing, hang it back in the closet with the hanger going the other way.
At the end of a season or a year (whichever you choose), those items on hangers that have never been turned are the ones you have not worn for the designated period of time. Meaning it is time for them to leave your house and live somewhere else!

I like this method of determining what to get rid of. It's easy and pretty much fool proof. I'm going to try it.

Purple = Happy

Resumption of Normal

For the last 10 days, we have lived in a bubble of grief and disbelief.

My husband and his brother lost their sister on May 21st. Which compounded our grief of losing their mother only 9 short months ago. Between their mother and sister passing, their cousin also lost her husband.

I remember my grief at losing my father. I can hardly imagine losing my mother, much less my sister or brother, as I love them endlessly.

There has been much death and grief in our immediate and extended family. May God grant us peace and relief from sorrow. As well as the ability to function in our "new" normal.