Paul McCartney.. stay home.

I don't know if you've paid attention amidst all the real news about the nightmare in our ocean.. but while our coastal neighbors were worrying about how they would make a living now that the oil on the beach has forever changed their lives...our president was being serenaded by Paul McCartney... on OUR tax dollar.  But, that's not what bothers me the most.  No.  What really gets my step-ins in a wad was McCartney's totally tasteless, unnecessary and definitely UNfunny remark about President Bush.  Maybe Mr. Mc deserves the Gershwin Award..woopie do...but to turn around and smack America in the face is beyond the reach of civility.  The award was given at the Library of Congress and after thanking the audience, he quipped how nice it was that "after 8 years to have a president who knows what a library is".   You know what, Paul, we wouldn't insult your queen.  We revere your royalty and pay them the utmost respect because that's how we do things here in America.  You were given the award by US and for you to turn around and insult us is pretty sorry.  Your rendition of Meeeechele to the first lady was touching but you shoulda stopped there---with singing.  Next time you're here, do us all a favor, just shut up and sing.

Who are you and why are you inviting me???

Overheard  between two recent high school graduates:   "Hey man, how much did you make off your graduation?"   "Man, I got almost six hundred dollars!  Lots of checks and some cash.  You?" 

...and so the conversation continued.   You may wish to blast me for  this blog, but blast away, at least I'm not "obligated" to send you a check.   Having said that, let me ask:  Am I obligated to give a gift to everyone that sends me an invitation?

 Yes, I know it's an accomplishment when one graduates from high school, but it used to be that it really was a big deal.  However, that was yeeearrrsss  ago.  Nowadays, high school graduation is pretty much a given.  The bigger deal is to graduate from college.  Look, I don't discount that there are many wonderful young people who have obtained the highest educational level that they'll be able to reach and it is for them that I truly celebrate.  I applaud them and will lavish them with praise and a check.  Now, back to the ones who we expected to graduate h.s. and for whom it's just a bump in their educational road to higher success.  I sit here looking at no less than 27 invitations to various graduation ceremonies and 6 of them I don't even know.  What's with that??   Do I plan to send them a gift?  Truth? No.  Thank you for letting me know that you made it.  I'm pleased for you.  Glad you made it.  Who are you?  

Yep, those of you reading this may have a whole new opinion of me but I'm willing to risk it.  I just don't think that graduation should be made into an easy 'money-making' venture nor do I think anyone should feel obligated to shell out moola to someone they don't know simply because the sender invested 43 cents to let me know they made it.  Perhaps your invitation should read:  "I graduated from high school.  Your prompt check will be appreciated".  But, to those of you who I've watched grow up, cheered your successes and actually feel a tweak of pride for you and for your parents, I will celebrate with you.  Watch the mail.

I'm a QVC Addict

Hello, my name is Sid and I am a QVC addict..... .  

And that's exactly how it'd be IF there were a support group for us. There should be!!!  I just ordered the Ninja Master Prep Professional Food and Drink Maker.  By June 10, I'll be whipping up strawberry diaqueries, iced coffees, and homemade soups.  I get giddy just thinking about putting the ground beef AND the cheese into the machine and mixing them together BEFORE I pat the burger out.  Oh my....wait.. ITALIAN ICE!!  I can't stand it... it's a "frozen banina" or something like that.,.. I couldn't hear the little guy over the sound of the powerful motor. BUT I DON"T CARE!... I'm going to be grinding out guacamole and my very own salsa while the rest of you poor dears are schlepping it to the grocery to buy that jarred stuff.  I think I'll hook up my web cam and do my own in-kitchen demos for you that weren't fast enough to get your own thingamajig.  Oh, gee whiz....they've just taken that one off the air and just in time!  I got it ordered!!  I got it ordered!!!! UPS is coming to my house!  I can just imagine the thrill of the doorbell.  I'll let you know when I'll be firing up the webcam.  Stay tuned....

And, by looking at what Jane (the QVC hostess that is my BFF), is pushing now--YIKES! ....the clock is ticking and they've already sold 28,670 and there's only 36 seconds left..... I'm going to be chopping, dicing and mixing wearing a new Flower and Solid Turble Twist Hair Towel.  And it comes in a pack of 6!!!

I CAN'T STAND IT!!!!   This is too much. I've gotta go lie down.

Recovering from Vacations

Back to the grind...  have been gone to the beach for a solid week!  It was beautiful, weather perfect, surrounded by 2 precious grand babies and 2 of our 4 children, no oil in sight, no crowds, pure delight.  So, why do I feel like poopookaka?  Could it be because I actually SAW myself in a swim suit and made up my mind that, as soon as I got home, I'd hit the ground running with exercise??  Yep.  I did.  So, for 2 days, I've water jogged in the pool wearing 3 pound weights on both ankles plus weights on my wrists.  I even went walking for an additional 3 miles afterward.  After 6 days of unrepentant snacking, unbiblical gorging, and voracious grazing, I deserved post-vacation exercise pain. Well, it's time to get ready for work and  I can't move.  I'm 'stove up' from sleeping like a potential corpse brought on by all that stupid exercise. What was I thinking??  What made me think that I could pay for 6 days of "calories don't stick when you're out of town" thinking with just 2 days of "a little exercise and this will fall off" behavior modification?  I must have been out of my mind!  Well, I've learned something valuable about myself.  ... something that I think I'll be embracing from now on:  I shed guilt a lot faster and easier than pounds.  So, with that new resolve, I'm calling in sick claiming that I'm suffering from post-vacation exhaustion and then, I'm headed back to bed!!!  Happy Last Week of May everyone! 

Let's talk about affairs.....

Okay, this topic is "heavy', but I feel the need to say it.  As a Counselor, I see a LOT of married people...well, truth be told, I see a lot of ONE part of the married couple.  I've been a Counselor since 1974 and so I've seen and heard a LOT.  More often than not, the one I see is the wife.  So, it is with that in mind, I'm simply going to make some observations that are directed to the husbands....
1)..  The phrase, "We're just good friends" doesn't wash. " Good friends" are generally not a man and a woman nor do they  spend countless hours on the cell phone either in conversation or in texts.
2)...  I know that the 'new woman' is fresh and exciting, but don't fool yourself into thinking her breath won't smell and she won't nag.  One day, she'll be just like the woman you married that you think is so 'yesterday'.  All new brooms sweep clean.
3)... Don't think that your new relationship will last.  If it was born from an adulterous affair, it's foundation is made of sand.  Trust me.  You've fallen for a cheater.  So has she.  Who can trust a cheater??
4)...When you divorce your spouse, you divorce your children.  You and your wife were their foundation.  You've cracked it.
5)... Talking ugly about your ex or soon-to-be-ex to your children is sending the message to them that part of them is "bad".  They are half you/half mom.  You're telling them that half of them is no good.
6)... No matter how much you think you'll be in the lives of your children and that it won't change a bit...you're wrong.  Picture another man (woman) parenting your children.  It's going to happen.  And you can't do a blame thing about it.
7)...If you're divorced and you keep taking your ex back to court over child support, you're doing nothing but using your children as a source of income.

....There's plenty more where that came from and I might get into it later in another blog. I've just been so burdened by several counseling cases I've been involved in lately and felt the need to say some of these things.  If it pertains to you, I hope you'll heed my expertise.  If none of this pertains to you, forgive me for getting off the path.  

Whew!  I feel better.

It's quiet in the hospital room.....

I knock softly on the hospital door hoping not to disturb anyone in the room.  Slowly, quietly, I open the door and peek in.  The room is quiet; no one stirs.  I look at the patient and I see the face of an elderly and beautiful woman.  She's White.  She's Black.  She's Indian.  It doesn't matter.  Etched on that face are wrinkles that life put there, formed by years of devotion, joy, sadness, pride and determination that her children would grow in the love and admonition of the Lord.  God chose this woman to be the mother to the children He gave to her--- to mold into His image through her heart and hands.  The covers are pulled up to her chin.  I can see nothing of her other than her face.  But, I know.  I know she's a GOOD mother.  How do I know?  Because sleeping on the sofa beside her hospital bed, having kept vigil all night, is her adult child.  It's her son.  It's her daughter. It doesn't matter.  That person is there because he or she loves the woman in the bed...the same woman that, years and years earlier, sat by the crib that held her child, that listened to her baby's breathing, that touched the child's soft cheeks and marveled at this creation she had a part in. But life has come full circle.  The baby now keeps vigil...  I stand there and hear soft breathing and  I know they're dreaming..different dreams yet common dreams from memories made together in a life that they shared. Their days are numbered and they want to spend the few they have left together.  That is as it should be.  They were together when it started.  They should be together when it ends.  Her work is done yet it will go on as the circle continues...as her love is passed to the next generation and the one after that.....until that day.... May everyday be Mother's Day.  

The Producers

Oh my stars!  What a delightful evening I shared with a friend... well, a room full of friends...at the Meridian Little Theater last night.  I wasn't really sure how they were gonna pull off something as challenging as The Producers, but they did it!  It was pure charm and fun.  As Berryl was saying as we exited, "I didn't think it'd be very good since it was about Nazi's", but she was as surprised as I.  It just was.  Jimmy Pigford and his crew has given us another hit and if you have time, go!  If you don't have time, make it!  Tickets are still available and the show just opened last night so there's plenty of time to find a couple of free hours to sit back and be thoroughly entertained.  If you miss it, then grab the next copy of 393 because Joy was there snapping away---and looking cuter than a newborn pup---and you'll get to see who all showed up!  Be there or be square.

....now, off to find a small little something for a small little mom who is the best momma in the world.. MINE!