After a really busy weekend (funeral and the BOW workshop (www.iowadnr.gov/bow/) it seems that this week has been dragging along. I need more sleep but life keeps on trudging along. I'll try to recap more later but for now just wanted to thank those of you who have sent me warm wishes via email, PMs, comments and snail mail - it has helped a great deal.

 

I have some really awesome friends. *hugs*

  

This morning Jim went to be with the Lord and is now looking into the face of God. I try to focus on the knowledge that he is now with my father - but I can't find that comforting just yet. I know in the future it will be, just right now it is much too fresh.

 

Blessings, Jim. You are already missed greatly.

I put up the garage door and was walking around the back of my car when a butterfly fluttered past. I saw him land on the tree in the front yard and I rushed inside to grab our camera. I came out and he was still in the tree, just higher up. I think I got a pretty good photo of him considering he was a good 15-20 feet overhead. What a beautiful sign that fall is on its way.

 

Zambrano pitched a no-hitter last night, against the Astros - in Milwaukee. For us Cubs fans, at this point in the year it doesn't get any better then that. Thank you, Carlos, for giving me a couple of hours away from the "negative bubble" I seem to be floating along in currently. It helped wonders.

 

Congrats on accomplishing something that hasn't happened for the Cubs since 1972. You deserve it.

This afternoon a wonderful man was moved to hospice after having spent the last 3 months battling brain cancer. He appeared fine prior to that and I'm struck at just how fast life can change.

 

Please keep Jim and his family close in your prayers as they go through this tough time. I know for a fact that it was only God and prayer that got me through the last days of my own father's life.

7 years ago today. How can time have gone so quickly?

 

That morning's timeline has been burned into my head. Every morning I would manually push "record" on the VCR to record the Little House on the Prairie re-runs on TBS. That morning I was recording the episode - but had turned off the TV as it was the episode in which Mary dies in the fire that is set by Albert leaving a burning pipe in the basement of the house. I remember thinking "I don't want to watch this one as it will bother me all day."  

 

I was living in an apartment at that time and had to drop something off at mom and dad's house. I headed over there and when my father didn't meet me at the door I let myself in only to hear him saying "Hey, come here, have you heard what is happening?" He had sadness and shock in his voice and my first thought was "he's watching Little House??" I turned the corner to see him before the TV and that's when I saw it... the twin towers on fire. A heartbeat later the second plane hit the other tower - on live TV. I held my breath and the world stood still.

 

After hugging my father tight I headed into work with the radio turned on. I heard then about the Pentegon and the ditching of the plane in PA of which they feel may have been heading towards towards the capitol. At work people were watching a TV in the conference room. Rumors were racing that all governement capitols were under watch and all I could think about was that Iowa's capitol was across the street. We all know nothing more happened that day ... but that feeling of smallness, fear and worry was so real that day and I know I'll always remember that day.

 

My thoughts and prayers are with those family members who lost a loved one on September 11, 2001.

 

 

Usually I turn to TV and sports for a way to unwind, kick back and enjoy a couple of hours away from the hassles of work and such - but lately I've found them to make me even more stressful. *smirk*

 

My beloved Cubbies... may be choking. Hard to watch.

 

My KC Chiefs... I'm afraid I couldn't even tell you who is on the lineup anymore. They change so drastically every year I feel that they aren't "my Chiefs" anymore... they are just the "players in Chiefs clothing." Bah.

 

My soap opera... Days of our Lives. Sliding downhill quite quickly. For awhile there this spring and summer they were getting back to the "old days" where there was actually a believeable plot line, great acting and relationships I wanted to see. Now it's all vendetta this, mind control that ... argh.

 

So now I'm just waiting for the fall line up of Big Bang Theory, Grays Anatomy, NCIS, Survivor, ER (final season) and will continue to watch my Project Runway. No wonder I'm not getting much stitching done - there's nothing on TV that gets me into my stitching chair for very long. Bah.

Today we celebrated our nephew, Dylan,'s 1st birthday party. I think the push mower that made a ton of noise was a huge hit. Glad it's not coming back to OUR house though. He also got his own little cake to eat at his own pace. He's grown up so quickly and I was so glad we got to spend the time with him today.

 

 

/rant on

 

I do not discuss politics. I do not "get into" politics. However, after just having had a passionate talk with a friend I felt the need to post something here that boils down my feelings on women's rights.

 

Pro-Life = Government has the choice

Pro-Choice = Woman has the choice

Period.

 

Personally I am 110% pro-life (I can't imagine making such a decision) ... but it scares me to think of a world where the government tells us we are all pro-life. Every woman should have a right to choose no matter what I feel personally because I have not walked in the shoes of all women. A pregnancy should be kept between a woman (and spouse/partner), her doctor and God. The government should have no part with any decision.

 

/ rant off

As found on Gail's blog:

 

1. Why do you blog? Mostly I blog to keep a record of how life is progressing, books I've completed, stitching works I've done and to keep up with friends and family who say they read this blog... but never comment to prove it. *wink wink, nudge nudge*

 

2. Have you ever met a fellow blogger? Not a fellow blogger, but I've met a couple of people from "other spots on the web." But no, not from strictly the blogging realm.

 

3. Will you be blogging about the presidential race? No.

 

4. How long have you been blogging? Years and years.

 

5. What attracts you most to a blog site? Firstly, how often it is updated. So many blogs are out there that haven't been updated in years. Or have the 2-3 posts per year updates. I don't tend to go back to those. Secondly, readability. I look for creative writing and fun with personal experiences. And thirdly, I mostly read blogs that are easy to read as in no electric neon green on hot yellow. My eyes are sensitive. *smirk*

 

Thanks, Gail. Good questions. =)

Summer seems to go faster and faster each year. Every year we say we want to do a list of things and then we blink... and WHAM... we've only accomplished a fraction of that list. It's amazing how quick life marches on.

 

Thanks for the well wishes... my ear is feeling much better. The drops I've been using since Friday has made a huge difference. No more pain down the jaw - it's just uncomfortable. Both ears still feel plugged up (like on an airplane) ... but mostly when I talk and listen to myself. Most things in the "real world" sound correct to me, just a little muffled. Fun, fun.

 

Thankful for the four day work week. It's nice to think tomorrow is already wednesday. This past weekend I finally used my Adventureland ticket and went out and walked the entire park (pictures posted later) and took in a couple of the shows. It's creepy how much the same the entire theme park is - but there ARE some startling differences. For those in the area... the Super Screamer is gone. I know, it was painful for me as well. However, the Silly Silo and big pig are still over near the Tornado entrance. I still miss the old Mouse Trap coaster. I spent the end of the day playing skeeball (which seems to still be quite easy...) and winning monkees and then over to play some BINGO. I love BINGO. Really, really love BINGO.

 

For Labor Day we had over some of my gal friends and their SOs and we grilled burgers and brauts and had some yummy salads. We the headed to the basement to play the Wii on our NEW 46" flatscreen TV. *grin* Yes, it IS awesome. 

 

Anyway... it was a really nice weekend. I'm now nursing a really sore back, painful muscle in the right shoulderblade area, a couple of blisters on my feet and still not happy about the whole ear thing... but it was nice to push myself. I really want my "old" life back.