Alert and Oriented (x4)

Today is the anniversary of my mom’s birth. If she were still alive, she would’ve been 80 years old today. She died at the age of 52, when I was 19 years old. I got married about six months before her death. I look at her two sisters: one lived to 90 and the other is still going strong at 91. Yet, her brother died at a young age, too. I don’t remember how old he was—just that I was in elementary school. Her own mom died as a result of complications from childbirth when my mom was only three weeks old. She had a hard scrabble life, but if there was a word to describe her, I would say sturdy. Steadfast. Ok, two words. She was forced to grow up long before her time, and I don’t think she got to experience much joy as a child. My mom abused her poor little body and it just plain wore out and couldn’t go on any more. I have very few of the bad habits she had, and I try to take care of myself. The closer my own age gets to 52, the more I realize how much of a vapor our lives re...

Linda, over at 2nd cup , has her Random Dozen theme meme up again. It's all about Jr. High. Or middle school. I guess it depends on your time era or your part of the country as to what you might call it. Personally, I went to Jr. High in 7th, 8th and 9th grades. Only went to high school for 3 years. I was the last 9th grade class in Jr. High. Then, in all their wisdom, Albuquerque Public schools went to middle school--6th, 7th and 8th grades. Folks: 6th graders don't belong with 8th graders. And 9th graders don't belong with 12th graders. But I digress. Here we go..... 1. Please share one middle school memory. It can be good, bad, ugly, funny. Pictures or words, I don't care, just share. Um, at the 9th grade dance I was walking in and it was REALLY REALLY windy. This was my outfit: (Yes, I wanted to be at the dance. No, I did NOT want my mother to take my picture) My skirt blew up. OVER my head. And completely blinded me. I looked like someone who had...

Missy, over at It's Almost Naptime is hosting a fun meme called Friday Favorites. This week, it's shoes...Your favorite shoes you own, and the shoes you WISHED you owned!! I did a similar post back in the day, but this one seems like a kick! (Pun intended). Because I'm trying to post more, I seem to be doing more memes. I think this is because my creative juices are dry. But ANYWAY..... These are my very own favorite shoes that I own. I love them SOooooooooo much that I bought them last June to wear to my bff's daughter's wedding on October 3. And I haven't bought the dress yet! Yea..I know. That's kind of backwards thinking, but that's how I roll. Anyway (drumroll, please....): Note the pretty gold band around the toe and the super sexy side vamp. Yes, patent leather slingbacks. Clinton and Stacy would be proud. Now I just have to go find a dress that goes with them. Good thing my Kohl's coupon came....30% baby!!! As to shoes I WANT to...

Conversely, however, just looking at this picture seems to make my hindquarters expand...sigh. Lidna, over at 2nd Cup , has a fun meme that I've now actually particpated in for 2 weeks running. I KNOW. So copy, paste and post and pop on over and visit Lid and get in on the linkage love with Mr. Linky. 1. Which is worse: a long, boring meeting or standing in a return/exchange line after Christmas? Standing in line. Inevitably, I’m next to someone with a suspiciously tubercular cough and within eardrum splitting distance of someone with a toddler who is either a) singing Dora the Explorer or Manny the Handyman or b) pitching a temper tantrum where pea soup comes out or his/her mouth as the head spins around. 2. Except for maybe Rosie O'Donnell or Ann Coulter, nobody likes confrontation, yet we all have to deal with it. When you feel cornered and defensive, do you "bite back" or become passive aggressive? If I am personally cornered, passive/aggressive. When I see ...

We all remember. Everyone who was living in the United States on September 11, 2001 more than likely remembers exactly what they were doing when they heard the awful news that our country was under attack. The very date evokes a memory in most people's lives. The events of the day don't even have to be recounted; the date itself reminds us all of where we were and what our initial feelings were. I was in my laundry room, attempting to find 4 pairs of matching socks for my kids to wear to school. It was an ordinary Tuesday. Ted, working at the airport, called and told me that he believed we were at war. Situated near, and sharing runways with, one of our key defense bases, the airport was under incredible tension. Within 2 hours, the tarmac was covered with planes that were landed immediately, in an effort to forestall any further attacks. I turned on the television and watched an airplane hit the second tower. Ted asked me to get as much cash out of the bank as I could. H...

Lidna, over at 2nd Cup , is hosting a fun meme. Please join in! 1. What is something that you have changed your mind about either recently or over a number of years? Hmm…tattoos. I don’t think they are nearly as creepy as I used to. Secretly, I kind of admire them, but would be afraid to get one. 2. Choose either subject, but does your a) church b) job feel more like a dental chair experience or an easy chair (recliner) experience? Hmm…I work at my church. Neither one really describes it. Maybe more like a controlled cyclone? Controlled most of the time, anyway. 3. Kisses or hugs? I actually typed "huts," which might have been a more interesting question. Usually hugs. Have an old friend (male) ALWAYS greets me with a kiss. Never fails to creepy me out a little. 4. What do you think is the biggest threat to families today? The acceptance of disrespect towards parents, dads in particular. Man-bashing has become a part of most sitcoms. When we don’t respect the aut...

I secretly love that my daughter borrows my scarves and jewelry and perfume and shoes and belts. Admittedly, I resent a little bit that she does all this with infinitely more style and grace than I have. And she rejects much of my clothing and accessories. She is smarter than me, more athletic than me, more driven than me and pretty much what I wanted to be when I was a teenager. Sometimes, I feel like it’s just the two of us protecting femininity in a sea of testosterone. She’s also one tough cookie and, according to her brother “slaps harder than most men hit.” Not that she would ever slap her brothers… We’ve discovered the secret to making mornings bearable. Like me, she is an unrepentant night owl. Owls are her favorite animal, by the way. She is grumpy in the mornings and can have an ugly temper. We’re all careful not to ask her too many questions; in general we stay out of her way in the mornings. But, if I wake her with a glass of orange juice, her blood sugar equalizes and she’...