take that you basti! [originally posted tuesday, 22 february 2011 at 20:03]

Worked my butt off today...doing the usual breaks and thinking about a cobalt blue bottle of wine...left from David and Amy's holiday visit...a bottle of Amy's favorite...a Riesling. Christie had called earlier in the day and said her and David and the girls were heading downtown after work. I arranged a ride with my buddy Jeb, and while finished up my work for the day I thought about the empty house...and the cobalt blue bottle of Riesling...that were waiting for me.

Jeb and I got stuck staying over 15 or 20 minutes...and we both were ready to get out of our scrubs...into our street clothes...and get the hell home. A pleasant jaunt home for me...admiring Jeb's Suburban...that seats 7 and all your crap in the back...hmm maybe this instead of the nameless minivan we are preparing to purchase?

The keys were in the Barbie pool as promised and I laid some ice melt down before going in to the warm house...and the cobalt blue bottle of Riesling. The first thing I did was go to the kitchen sink to wash my salty hands...when I noticed a snake like stream on the kitchen window over the sink. I reached out and touched it and realized it was cold water...looking up I saw where it was entering at the top of the window. What the heck??? I moved the tray with the African violets...the toothpick holder and the angel from the sill and found it wet as well...really really wet. I removed the curtains overhead to take a better look...then I grabbed a towel...put it on the sill.

Deciding to investigate outside the window...I retrieved my jacket from my room...put my boots back on and got a ladder. It appears that the little wooden awning that Daddy built had finally worn out. Apparently me and David banging on it over the past few weeks to keep ice dams from forming had loosened 'something' and now I had a water problem.

I first called my handyman's wife...who said he couldn't come right away...maybe not until tomorrow. Ok...I can handle this. Going back inside to the window after the call I discovered the hand towel I had placed 20 minutes prior was already saturated...the water had made another stream...this one from the towel to the countertop behind the sink. This was getting really ugly...and I had completely forgotten about the empty house and the cobalt blue bottle of Riesling.

I mopped up the mess and started over with a new towel. I tried sticking the towel into the crack at the top of the window where the fountain head was located. The water just ran down the towel and onto the sill as before. This sucks...this really really sucks...I said to myself.

Then I remembered that I may be 57...but I am still pretty good looking...and I'm really fucking smart!

I went on a search of the drawers and cabinets...for the bag we take in the car to the beach and on trips. That bag that you keep band aids and ace wraps...and even some ice packs for emergencies...the ones that don't require stitches. I found the bag...behind the toilet paper and old curtains in the bottom of the 'hall closet' as Mommy always called it. In the bag was a bandage...kerlix...fluffy if you want or thin when it gets wet..on a roll about 6 feet long.

 The end of the kerlix fit very nicely in the crack with a little coaxing from a butter knife. I unrolled it and held it away from the window as it wicked the water down the length of it. I then draped it over the handle of the hand soap dispenser on the back of the sink. I trimmed it to length and it remains...carrying the drip...the basti drip...that threatened my window and countertop...safely and neatly into the sink!

I know that to fix this drip permanently we must wait for a dry day...who knows when that will be. In the meantime I am enjoying the empty house...and the cobalt blue bottle of Riesling.

Ironic it’s name is Relax?

day off [originally posted thursday, 07 october 2010 at 16:52]

i may not use capitals i refuse to use punctuation why you ask it is my day off my day to do what i want to do


took bekah to school cut off school bus at light and got honked at dropped bekah off at upper el

took maddie to school almost late had to use front door dropped maddie off at lower el

came home in time to take charge of louie

asked louie if he had to potty

mommy left for work

checked on louie

began cleaning out fridge

louie came in and said he was hungry

louie settled for a cheese stick i found at the back of the fridge yes i checked the expiry date

resumed cleaning fridge

decide to clean self cleaning oven

figured out how to make self cleaning oven clean itself

checked on louie

finished cleaning fridge and started freezer

louie returned to say he was still hungry, was bologna available

gave louie bologna

checked on louie who was playing mario party now

finished cleaning freezer

louie returned to ask for chocolate milk

fixed louie's chocolate milk

asked louie if he had to potty

moved out fridge to clean underneath

checked on louie and reminded him to go potty

swept and mopped the floor under fridge

moved fridge back to it's spot

checked on louie/potty reminder

finished mopping kitchen

decided to vacuum floors

spread carpet fresh throughout house

checked on louie/potty reminder

began vacuuming

moved all dining chairs to vacuum dining room

moved all dining chairs back to dining room

finished vacuuming living room and put vacuum away

christie home shanae ours rejoiced over guardianship wiped naes tears of joy

checked on louie found him in middle of his mothers bed peed and farted

stripped louie put him in bath

assigned christie to watch louie in tub while i put all the peed/farted on linens in the washer

took charge of louie while christie went for BK for lunch

found louie involved in moving halloween static clings on front door

approach louie to ask about potty time and am told whoa whoa stay away from me

realize that louie has once again farted in his pants

clean louie up in time for arriving BK

eat lunch

attempt to connect cable for louie to watch sponge bob and hopefully lay down for his nap

dash about house looking for a cable splitter

find louie asleep on the fam room sofa without sponge bob playing

went to front yard to begin fall cleanup and make space for the 70 tulip bulbs i bought in Holland this spring

come in and get beer

went out and find yard tools

come in to check on louie and pee

carol here

talk to carol while she eats lunch

send carol off to sleep for awhile

return to yard to start clean up

come in to pee

obtain second beer from fridge

cut, toss, rake, plant come in to pee

sit for 15 minutes talking with christie and david

time to return to the yard to clean up what i messed up trying to clean up for fall shit

didnt really get to do what I wanted to do and that my friends is why I may not use capitals and i refuse to punctuate



hhheeellllllooo? is anybody out there? [originally posted thursday 19 august 2010]

I packed up my laptop this morning planning to show a few friends some photos and how to maneuver around fb while at work; if only we could find 15 minutes here and there today. I love being able to teach this stuff, though I certainly don't pretend to know it all being self taught. Virgilicous is a long time friend and coworker who recently discovered fb. This is a woman who was given an iPod A LONG time ago and never programmed it. We often talked about it, but never did do anything with it, and I think she took it with her to the Philippines on her last trip to give as a gift. She has been asking me how she can upload photos on to the computer to use on fb and how you get them from your computer to fb. After a mildly busy morning we found the 15 minutes we needed. I hauled the laptop from my hidey hole in the break room and fired it up, and Virg and Jude pulled their chairs up close and made adjustments to both the chair and my laptop monitor before settling in. We looked at my Brookie and her friends doing the awesome journey called the 3-Day. We looked at my beautiful grands and then we got to work. I put in my sd card to show how to get the photos from camera to computer. I then tackled getting them to fb. Virg and Jude watched with avid interest, leaning forward from their chairs to see how this all worked. I ran through it quick and then carefully took them through it one more time, with me actually using a photo from the card, moving it to the computer and then uploading it to fb. Then they inquired how you made the photo, moved from the card to the computer to fb as your profile photo. I took the random photo, pulled it from my 'tester' album and choose it as my profile photo. I showed them to crop and save and viola! You now have a beautiful photo as your own profile photo. The intercom announcement disrupted our teaching/learning session as our surgeon had arrived and we had a case to do. I shut down the computer, packed it away in my bag and restashed it in my hidey hole in the break room. Only when I arrived home this evening, did I realize that the random photo I cropped quickly to give example was still my profile photo! Thanks for noticing and TELLING ME! I wonder...would you tell me if I had a booger? Broccoli in my teeth? Something on my pants in the cooter region??? Thanks friends...I know your agenda now!

random thoughts/things past 24 hours

1] 6 people I would die for on 'this great planet'...Christie Renee, Julie Ann, Patrick James, Rebekah Shon, Madison Lynn and Jack Louis [not in any particular order other than age...]...not on my list?...I love you but can not 100% say I would DIE for you.

2] As I am pulling weeds...being attacked by killer Michigan skeeters...droaning like the horns in where ever it is they are playing world cup soccer I find myself wondering...why do some people find me foolish or uninformed in having my children in my life...everyday...and helping raise 3 great grandkids? Isn't that why we have children? To be a part of their ENTIRE LIFE??? I love it and I love that my kids still dig 'hangin out wit me' Ma...buy me a calculator! Youse that can't dig it....I can dig it, they can dig it...we can dig it...oh let's dig it...let's dig it baybaay!

3] Why do the people that are 'in control' try to tell us worker bees how to do the job? This goes all the way down or up the chain of command...from parents to bosses...from senators to the president...we are the ones in the freakin trenches...how dare you tell me how to run my life or do the freakin job! When its all said and done...I'm the one who has to pay the piper...where ever in the hell he comes from.

4] In 11 days I will be on a plane to NC and my Sissy...and I hate to admit...fra...I hate flying...yall know that...please pray for me if you read this...and if you don't please have some kinda freakin ESP that tells you I need your journey mercy prayers! Outer Banks, fra and Sissy...what more can a girl ask for....oh yeah...

5] In 16 days I will be travelin up 75 northbound through Brighton, and Flint and Bay City and Saginaw...to Lake O-GEE-MAW and 5 days of fun...with my friend of 48 years and still counting...Carol Ann...my BFF...my knows my soul friend...bonus play...Chris, Dave, Bek and Maddie, Kevie and Jess too...Kathy...oh yeah x 2.

6] Upon sharing with Louie his trip to the eye doc tomorrow to see why his eye is actin so crazy...'NOT MY EYES MEME!...that is berry dangerous....berry...berry dangerous!'

7] Wonderin...should I go over to Roger and Diana's and knock on the door and just ask for a beer and a seat on their front porch...or will they be out shortly after they spy me on my front porch writing this?

8] While discussing the neighborhood with above metioned Roger as he joined me on my porch...'You didn't live there...you lived there....' while pointing at the house next to his and then the one next to that. Me sayin 'Yes I did...I have lived in both those houses...now I live in this one...weird huh?' And then him saying...'Boy, you must really like this street, huh?' Gotta love being a Waynervillian!

9] The biggest loser weigh in is tomorrow morning...how many Buds can I drink and then down load before that?

and 10] What the hell was that big shiny thing in the sky this afternoon about lunch time? It scared me and made me want my blue blocker sun glasses!

addendum: I now have 7 people I would die for. Welcome to the mix Abigail Grace my littlest princess.

So I thought this would be easy. I have over 160 friends on Facebook, certainly I could count on my friends to support my pursuit of photography? Apparently not...only a handful have done so thus far. I have begged, cajoled, threatened with shame all to no good end. I have done everything in my power except maybe call Local 4 and get on the 11 o clock news. How important is my cause? Well important to me, but not important enough for the evening news, and it becomes more apparent as the deadline for voting nears, that I am alone in my pursuit for the prize! The prize isn't a lot of money or even a shot at the 15 minutes of fame some people desire, but rather more a love of my grand baby and a chance not otherwise available to me...to have an awesome photographer take photos of all my grand babies!

My niece Brooke came by today. She was rushing about today...delivering the tickets everyone purchased for her fund raiser. A more noble cause than mine...she is raising money for her team that are walking in the '3-day for the Cure' the breast cancer awareness/fund raising walk in August. Brooke thought like her Auntie...she would approach her Facebook family and see if she could have each friend donate just $5.00 toward a very worthy cause. Brooke knows how breast cancer affects someone...first hand. 40 people 'UNFRIENDED' her after posting her request three time over a one week period.

When I was new to FB, it found it very cool. You could keep up with people you might not otherwise be able to...with work, families and leisure activities filling our busy lives. It was fun to know who was going where and doing what and to see their families grow...many of my friends from school are now grandparents like me. And then came my entry into a photo contest and Brooke's attempt at raising money for a worthy cause and you realize who really does pay attention to you, and where your family is going and how it is growing. Like the scouts and pta and sunday schools...it is the same handful of people that really pay attention and rise to help with the cause. So if you read this and feel compelled to help me or Brooke out follow the links here and vote for my beautiful grand daughter Maddie Lynn or donate to Brooke's 3-day for the Cure.

And a big PS to my friends who have shown me support by voting...70 strong so far....only another 109 to go

DIRECT LINK TO DONATE FOR THE 3 DAY FOR THE CURE IN BROOKE'S NAME:
https://secure3.convio.net/npt/site/Donation2?idb=995953252&df_id=2285&FR_ID=1467&PROXY_ID=1808165&PROXY_TYPE=20&2285.donation=form1&JServSessionIdr004=ei3m12eec1.app322a

DIRECT LINK TO APRIL DIETZ PHOTOGRAPHY, BECOME HER FAN! http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Spring-Hill-TN/April-Dietz-Photography/178625394000?ref=mf

DIRECT LINK TO VOTE FOR MADDIE LYNN [TYPE VOTE IN COMMENT UNDER HER PHOTO PLEASE]:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3922830&id=178625394000&fbid=392965219000

Waynerville

I have lived in the little town of Waynerville, most of my life. It is centrally located just about midway between Detroit and Ann Arbor, surrounded by many other communities its size and many larger and smaller bergs.

Through the years Waynerville has pretty much remained the small charming town I remember from my youth. I can still tell you where the old NBD bank, the Credit Union and the old Kresge's Five and Dime was. Johnson's Bakery now houses a Curves Studio...strangely ironic? The State Wayne Theater remains, but is now owned by the city rather than Schaeffer's.
The high school has expanded and improved the 'flats' with a practice football field and sweet baseball diamonds for both the boy AND the girls teams. My elementary school, a big brown brick two story one, has long been torn down with big new houses in its place. Most of the homes are 1940 bungalows, like little boxes all lined up along its 'Tree City' streets.

Why do I tell you all this? To tell you how content I am, how proud I am to be a Waynervillian! The city that takes care of its people. The city who's motto is 'Its GREAT to live in Wayneville!'

We got a boatload of snow yesterday, me and my family excited about the whiteness of it all when about 2000 the emergency warning system went off. We all ran and looked out the windows of our 1940's bungalow wondering what the heck was happening. Has some weirdo once again decided to land at Detroit Metro and raise havoc? Did the chemical plant do something crazy again? NO, they were asking us to remove our cars from the streets. That way the snow plowing, salt spreading DPW guys, with their quietly reassuring rumble, could make sure we got out for work and school in the morning.

I have lived in some of the surrounding communities of Waynerville, and NOT ONE, has the city services that we do. Well...we don't have recycling that comes to our door step, however we have had a recycling station right in the heart of this town for the past 16 years. My streets are plowed AND ice free in ALL winter long, done as soon as the last flake has fallen. As I drove through many of the surrounding cities today, I found myself driving on side streets rutted and slippery from the snow, and knowing the ice sheet it would form as it melted, I felt thankful for my own city.

Once the water I was drawing for my Saturday morning coffee was brown. At first I investigated around the perimeter of the house and the other water taps. Then I got in the car to investigate the neighborhood. Turning the corner of my street, I encountered the city crew, with the street already open for their repairmen. When I stopped to tell them what I was up to, and told them I was happy they were there so quickly, they smiled and laughed at me. Probably because they were making some big overtime, but maybe because they wondered who this crazy old lady was, out at 0600 on a Saturday morning seeking out where the water trouble was? The DPW guys were there again with their quietly reassuring rumble fixing our problems.

Our Mayor, who ran unopposed last year, owned a party store up the street. I dislike calling it a party store as it had the feel of a 'country' store when you visited, with several of the Mayor's cronies around. It seemed all that was missing was the checker board. I work about a mile away and walk in good weather. On my way home, I often stopped into the Mayor's market just to say hello to 'Mr. Mayor'. He became a friend as well and often asked after my family. I still frequent the store, which has been modernized since the Mayor sold it, yet the men that are their now are still friendly, and ask after my family whenever I visit. My little market still just up the street, with friendly people in my community.

I don't know...it may sound corny, and you may laugh, but I feel it is 'Great to live in Waynerville', I am thankful for it and am proud to call it my hometown.

David

I just found this blog in my drafts...I wrote it in the early hours of the day we buried my beautiful little mother. Today is David's birthday and it was a month ago yesterday that I wrote this. I think today, David's birthday is the perfect day to show it to you all...

0202 and the house is finally quiet...its actually been quiet for quite awhile now, however I still roam about, as people lay sleeping, trying to restore some sense of order to what has become my siblings and my house.

I dusted and cleaned around David as he tried to make sense of the world he now finds himself in, somehow the axis has tilted and everything feels strange. He has lived with GeGe and me and Christie and Bekah in this house when it still belonged to my Mom. He was listening to music in an attempt to soothe the hurt the ache he must feel for her.

I wonder how he feels in these wee hours, I wonder what he is thinking about this woman he had loved, and all that will follow in the coming days.

Does he wonder about this house that I continue to tend to as he tries to rest and prepare for today...the day we lay the beautiful lady to rest? Does he feel what I feel, the tug, the knowing that this has been home for so long? Our things mingled with the things that have been here for so many years. Is he thinking about the people who are only wanting her things, the people who also loved her as he so quickly learned to do, the people who will live with regrets?

Does he wonder what will happen to the gardens that we have so carefully tended? Does he wonder what will happen to her things so treasured all these 66 years?
Or does he just lay awake and grieve this woman who grew to love him as her own?

I wonder....