Back to the Old Grind

Project 365/Day 2
Ken Bond

Okay, today was it, the first day back at work after having been off for 7, count em, SEVEN weeks! As you can tell from one of the guys in the office photo above, it got pretty slow around there this afternoon. We do always have lots of paperwork to do if we'll do it, but still, it can get slow at times.

Took me a while to do all the filing and paperwork on my desk, but I finally got caught up (with a little help from my friends)!

Trying to keep up with Project 365 this year, but I declare, there was nothing at all to take a picture OF today, except the guys in the office. I will try to do better tomorrow.

I did go back on Nutrisystem today and will keep you informed periodically of my weight loss struggle. I started walking again as the Physical Therapist said I really needed to get back into it when I went back to work, so off I went when I got home from work. I had walked about 1/2 a block when I felt this "sting" in my right buttock. I truly thought something had stung me, or bitten me. So here I am, this slightly obese middle-aged grandma, jumping up and down in the middle of the street, smacking my butt and shaking my clothes. Now THAT would have made a great Project 365 picture, for sure! I make myself laugh, I really do.

I came home after circling the block, seriously, that was an effort, go into the closest bathroom, pull down my pants to look. Here I am again, this slightly obese, middle-aged grandma again, trying to twist around and look at my butt in the mirror. I found it alright, COTTAGE CHEESE! (or what that pasty old skin of mine looks like to me!)

I will try again tomorrow and seriously hope my nerve has calmed down enough to let me walk without me performing strange gyrations in the middle of the street.

A New Year and New Beginnings

Ever since Christmas Day, I have been rounding things up from all over my house that will need to be put away for NEXT Christmas. I have found things in every room, even in the dirty clothes hamper! (Linens from the kitchen, etc.) Okay, I got everything laundered and think I finally have it all together.Christmas STUFF on a bed

My GREAT, good friend Brenda came over to take down my tree and box everything up all tidy until next year. This deal was cut when she came and actually put it UP for me. As in older posts, I had back surgery in November and have NOT been misbehaving.

Brenda truly did not appreciate having her picture taken, but of course I did it anyway. My niece Bunny really wanted a picture of my "puny" tree on my blog. I never saw anything wrong with my tree, but apparently it is the brunt of family Christmas jokes. Go ahead, I can take it.

Brenda taking down my tree

The tree is down and everything is in containers in the garage. One day next week, Brenda's husband Mike is going to come and move all that to a storage facility Mother and I have rented to store "extra" things so I can still get my car in my garage.

After Brenda left, I went to Clarksville and saw the movie "Valkyrie". I was greatly disappointed in Mr. Cruse with this outing. Of course, we all knew how it would end, but I do think he could have made it a little more exciting. Maybe it is true to history even though movies rarely are, but I never heard of the Valkyrie plan until this movie came out and have not read about it yet. So maybe I should reserve judgement, this was just my initial reaction.

Came home, made omelets and watched Anderson Cooper until midnight. Then listened to the fireworks from the neighborhood boys for a while. They had a great time. My daughter called at midnight HER time (Eastern) and then called me again at midnight MY time (Central). She is such a doll. Most of the time I am awestruck at her thoughtfulness, kindness, curiosity, gentle and loving nature. I am blessed yet again. Then OFF to bed.

I slept late this morning, knowing it would be my last for awhile (I go back to work tomorrow). Didn't arise until about 8:00 a.m. and set about preparing a New Years Day lunch for a friend and my Mom. Of course she fried the "hoecakes" or cornbread since she does that much better than I do. We had a semi-traditional meal of pork loin, black-eyed peas, mashed potatoes, cabbage and cornbread. I think we can make it another year!Mom frying cornbread patties

The meal was TOO MUCH, especially since I go back on Nutri-System tomorrow. I feel like an inmate and her last meal, so I took full advantage of it.

New Years Day Meal
My first Project 365 Photo!

One of Mother's friends from Hopkins County died and her visitation was at a rural church there, so off we went. She was happy to be able to go and visit with some old friends that she doesn't get to see very often anymore. I even saw a couple of cousins and it was nice to catch up with everybody's news. We haven't been home long now and I thought I should get to this while I had a chance.

I still have lots to do tonight. I have been working out of my home for the past few weeks and need to gather up all the things I need to take to the office tomorrow. It will be a long day and I am scared to see my desk there.

No resolutions for me this year, just hoping that my family and friends will be safe and happy. I love a lot of people and I love deeply. Makes for hurts sometimes, as we are all human, but the rewards far outweigh the risks.

The biggest things in my life in 2008 included my Dad's death in May, the trip to Disney World with both my children and all my grandchildren in October, the annual "Girl Trip" in late October, our beach week this summer, Tristin's swimming lessons, 2 five-year-old grandchildren beginning kindergarten at the "big school", many social gatherings with friends, Mother moving to Hopkinsville, and of course, the dreaded back surgery. There were more blessings than I could count, but I do try.....daily and often, for God is good. And good to me.

Goodbye to my Friend Maryanne

Sydney and I had a very good morning today. I had some work "work" to do in the office for a while, but she was an angel and entertained my housekeeper until I had finished. She watched me for a few minutes from the wing chair but that quickly became boring (to me, too).

She doesn't like to eat breakfast until she has been up a while, but when she finally decided she was hungry, she requested HOT DOGS, again ! One of the very best parts of being a Mimi who doesn't get to be with her grand children much is that I CAN do that, so yes, Syd had hot dogs for breakfast. I love it!

We spent the remainder of the morning getting her things together and playing a little along the way. We dawdled a lot, went to the post office and before we knew it, it was 2:00 pm. Her favorite place to eat out is O'Charley's and I just happened to have received a nice gift certificate for Christmas so off we went for a late lunch. Fortunately, O'Charley's does not serve hot dogs, so her lunch consisted of macaroni and cheese with cheetos. The picture shows her with her ice cream dessert! How I have loved spoiling her these past two days!

After our late lunch, we took off for Hodgenville, where visitation was being held at the funeral home for Sydney's babysitter and my bunco friend Maryanne. This is such a sad thing for everyone concerned. (see previous posts) I did get an opportunity to seriously hug her 17 year old daughter Jessi and to speak to her husband, but I walked away with the somber knowledge that I won't see Maryanne again on this earth. Another place, another time, but not here again.

I have such conflicting thoughts, not about my faith, but about death itself. It seems that people expect me to feel different or that it should affect me differently because that's what I do for a living every day. When the day comes that I am hardened to death, that is the day I need to leave it.

I still write about my Dad a lot. He died in May and I am STILL dealing with the loss, almost daily. So friends, I am no different than any of you.

I will miss you, Maryanne, and pray for Jessi and her family.

As a postscript, on the way home I saw the most beautiful crescent moon I have seen in a long time. I used to date a fine man who called them "fingernail" moons, I think. I don't really even remember why, I just thought of that when I saw it and remembered him.

Somber thoughts are filling my head, not a good time to share. Until next time.....

Sydney's Day

Checking out at Peebles

Ready for the Movie to START

BOLT was a pretty good movie!

Sydney with her Hannah Montana cap


Checking out at Claire's

And how does this purse look?


First Manicure

Blue Nail Polish with Gold Glitter

Blessed is the grandmother who gets to spend an entire day bonding with one of four grandchildren! We had such a "girly" fun day and did everything Syd could think of that she wanted to do. Tonight's menu consisted of 3 pieces of bacon with macaroni and cheese! (and look how thin she is). Great child full of wonder, great day!

Tub time now so I have to RUN ! (literally) :)

Sydney comes to Visit!

Yesterday Mother and I made the drive to Buffalo to get my 5 year old granddaughter Sydney and bring her back to Hopkinsville to my house for her very first overnight with me! It was the first time I had driven that far since back surgery and it really wasn't too bad. I used a pillow on my back and other than being tired, it posed no problems.

We went directly to my son David's house where Sydney was waiting to show me all her wonderful surprises from Santa this year! Apparently she was a very good girl last year!Sydney and her new Horse from Santa

David was outside working on a vehicle but I did at least get to see him for a few minutes. Her mother Barbie was, I could tell, choking back tears as we left but Sydney was in high spirits!

DAVID

We moved on to my daughter April's house to visit for a few minutes so I could see the things Santa had left at THEIR house! April and Bruce, along with Kristin and Tristin, were all so excited to see us. Lots of hugs and love to spread around there! We did get to see many gifts and also "the missing tooth" from the boy with the big smile.

We didn't tarry long as we had a long way to travel. TRISTIN


KRISTINMOM AND APRIL

Of course, we were all hungry so we stopped at Sydney's favorite place to eat, McDonald's, in Leitchfield on our way back.Sydney at McDonalds

After we dropped Mom off at Chapel House, we made a quick stop at Food Lion for dinner supplies. Dinner consisted of hot dogs and chocolate ice cream! I think I like having a five year old create the menu!

A sad note to an otherwise delightful evening. David, April and others called to tell me that Sydney's babysitter, Maryanne Carpenter, had unexpectedly DIED. My son works with the rescue team there in Larue County and actually made the run. I still don't know what happened exactly, but Maryanne was even a friend to me. I had driven to her house to play bunco several times and knew her relatively well. This is such a tragedy for their family as she was only 45 years old. She has a 20 year old son and a 17 year old daughter.

Things are still up in the air re: that situation but I think David and Barbie want Sydney to come back home for the services. We will know more later. Barbie asked me to talk to Syd about it, and I did, but very gently. She does not fully grasp what has happened, but we talked about it again right before she went to sleep and included Maryanne and her family in our prayers.

She is still asleep this morning but we have a full day planned! More on this later.....

Reflections on Christmas Past

It has certainly been a quiet Christmas for me, all in all. Of course, as you have read in previous posts, I had lots of company at various times, but not all at once, thank goodness.

There were few, if any, instances out of the ordinary unless you count Tristin losing his first tooth on Christmas Day. He has certainly been fearful of the pain, but was extremely excited about the "tooth fairy" coming the very next night after Santa came! Times certainly have changed since the tooth fairy came and left me a quarter. Tristin found $5.00 under HIS pillow.

My friends Mike and Gail had travelled to Lexington to be with their children on Christmas this year, starting a new tradition for their family. With the advent of a new granddaughter, Jolee, I guess this might have been expected. But all worked out well and they had a magical Christmas. I am glad they are back home safely.

I have been thinking today about how calmly this Christmas passed and how much I have to be thankful for. My back surgery has healed to the point that I know it is time to go back to work. I am scheduled to return a week from today. I hope my body will keep up. I have gained a lot of weight since being at home (hopefully due to the massive doses of steroids I had to take for a while) so will have to work diligently on losing some of this weight. I just feel better all over when I am not so heavy.

Brother Rodney is still here and is at Mother's. I didn't see them today as they had company there for the majority of the day. Spoke to them earlier and they were thinking about dinner. He is planning to take her shopping tomorrow and then maybe we will all go to the movies together. She needs to get out, but hope she is up for it.

I haven't started gathering Christmas decorations for storage yet. That is yet to come. Brenda and Mike Hale are great friends and are coming to help with that one day next week, we still haven't decided when. Maybe I will be able to take a few pictures to post!

My blog seems to have become a diary of sorts and not much is new around here. So, later my friends!

Quiet Christmas Eve

It truly was a quiet Christmas Eve at my house. Had a solitary dinner guest (who cooked for ME) and a gift exchange afterwards.

Thinking of where my family is tonight. It seems they are scattered to the winds, but all with purpose.

My son and his family are celebrating with his in-laws in Magnolia, KY tonight.

My daughter and her husband are battling a serious leak in their kitchen with water, water everywhere. Doesn't matter to Santa, he still knows where they live.

Mother went to my niece's home today and will stay through dinner tomorrow. My brother Rodney is battling the weather and traffic to get there by morning. Hope and pray he travels safely.

My other brother Wayne is at home still recuperating from a "delicate" surgical procedure. I think his son and grandchildren will be there tomorrow.

Now I know where everyone is and peaceful sleep will find me soon. Remembering my Dad tonight on my first Christmas without him in many years. Christmas changes for me from year to year but most important is that we remember what we are celebrating and why. Next comes the children and their joy and awe.

Sleep well, my blogging friends and Merry Christmas to you all!