I like the song called School's Out for the Summer! I posted it on my facebook page today. I did a YouTube search for the song, and I found one that was done on the Muppets back in the 70's. I thought it was cute, and it is the same song.
Teachers will still go to work for one more week, but the children will not be there. It is getting pretty hot around here, so it is a good thing that school is finally out for the summer. I do not have a lot planned to do, but I am sure interesting things to do will pop up here and there. Recently, the Air Force Brats Spangdahlem, Germany FB page has been in a flurry. Someone updated the site, and everyone has been posting memories of their times living there. Those years were so wonderful for all of us. They seem like the best times of our lives, even if we were all kids at the time.
I think that I posted on here that I found a site from someone in Canada who posts summaries of what happens on my soap opera The Young and the Restless, because Canada gets the shows a day ahead. Anyway, NOW I have found someone who posts the actual shows on YouTube, a day ahead! How lucky can you get? The uploads are in 9-12 minute increments, but there are no commercials. Maybe there is some sort of rule about how long of a piece you can post from a tv show, so they do them in three parts.
Well, I suppose I shall go for now. I hope you all have a great night!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
My Taxes
I did it! I finally did my taxes today, and it only took the whole day! HA! Well, I started this morning and got pretty far, as far as printing them out. BUT, I must have made some mistakes, because I owed a ton. So, I let it rest for a while. Then, I restarted the whole thing. The problem was that the first time, the program kept confusing me about how to file. I have always filed as head of household, but this time I couldn't do it that way. I tried, since I was kind of supporting my son through college still, but things didn't work right. Anyway, long story short, I started all over and am getting back a whopping $18!!
Whew. We have state tax, too, and I am getting back a nice amount there. Georgia still owes me money, though. A few years ago, I was supposed to get back $372, or something like that. Georgia sent me $3.72. I called and called; I sent two more copies of the returns, but they never did fix it. SO, one of these days I am going to be in for a lot of extra money, counting interest. I need to get someone to help me with that, though, rather than doing the Turbo Tax thing.
So, that is off of my mind for now and I hope to fixate on something else now...like my dissertation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whew. We have state tax, too, and I am getting back a nice amount there. Georgia still owes me money, though. A few years ago, I was supposed to get back $372, or something like that. Georgia sent me $3.72. I called and called; I sent two more copies of the returns, but they never did fix it. SO, one of these days I am going to be in for a lot of extra money, counting interest. I need to get someone to help me with that, though, rather than doing the Turbo Tax thing.
So, that is off of my mind for now and I hope to fixate on something else now...like my dissertation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
When Bad Things Happen to Good People
I have been thinking about this problem a lot lately. I used to think about it a lot, when things kept going wrong for me over and over and over again. In 1980, my first child was stillborn at six months. I still think of her and wonder what I did wrong to make her little life end before it ever really began. In 1990, I was in a near fatal car crash, due to a drunk driver, and spent four months in the hospital away from my young family. I have spent the last 21 years trying to recover from the injuries received from that accident. I am not totally recovered, nor will I ever be, but I go on. There is no use in not going on. I improve daily, still today, but there are many things that still bother me and that I am unable to do. My faith became stronger, not weaker, throughout all of my trials. I still wonder though, why so many bad things keep happening. Not long after I was home from the hosptial and recovering, I found out that my marriage was not what I thought it was, and that my husband had been unfaithful the entire time. In 1992, I filed for divorce and moved back to my hometown. Being a single parent is no easy task, and it is not one that I would wish on anyone. People have the wrong idea and impression of single mothers. Some people think you should stick it out, but God doesn't want anyone to live in pain, agony, and misery. He wants people to be healthy and happy, and I know that I did the right thing for me and my children. Still, it is a hard life, but it is a healthier life than being in a mess of a home.
In 2005, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Although she overcame that, she developed uterine cancer the next year. This cancer ravaged her body and took her life in 2008. She lived in such horrible pain, but she never once winced or complained. She suffered silently, with dignity and grace and a smile on her face. Why did she have to go through that, though? Now, it is my brother and his wife that I think about. They have been married for about six years, and they have both had many illnesses since then. My brother waited until late in life to be married and have children. His wife married young and had her first child, who is now 24 and serving in the Army on his third tour in the Middle East. My brother and his wife now have two children together, ages 2 and 4. Needless to say, being an older parent is not easy (at 51 and 44, to be exact). Anyway, my brother had serious issues with kidney stones last year that put him out of work for a while and in the hospital a couple of times. My sister in law had a serious bout with an illness that was very hard to diagnose and treat. After spending about 39 days in the hospital, they finally figured out what it was: pancreatitis. She had to go to a specialist in another city for her surgery, and finally after a year of illness, that got better. Both children had surgery this year, also. Lil' fella had his tonsils out and sinuses cleaned, also tubes put in his ears. Lil' J. had tubes put in her ears. This year, my brother was sick a lot with his sinuses. He finally had surgery for that, but it took a lot out of him. After he got well, his wife got sick again. She had dropped a glass baking dish on her leg a few months ago, and it continued to hurt a lot. Then, she developed a serious infection inside her leg, one resistant to most antibiotics, and had to have two surgeries to remedy the situation. So, she has been in the hospital again for a week and will be out of work/commission for another two weeks or more. So, why do these things keep happening to this couple? They have never harmed anyone. They were lucky to find each other late in life and start a family. They are happy together, but crazy things keep getting them down. There are so many friends and relatives who have unexplained bad things that happen to them, and it just doesn't seem right. The bad people seem to never have anything bad happen to them. Maybe we just don't see the things that happen to them. I found my book that I bought years ago called "When Bad Things Happen to Good People", by Rabbi Harold S. Kushner, and I am going to read it again. It was written by a Jewish rabbi after he lost his 14 year old son to progeria, rapid aging. He talks about people feeling guilty and thinking it is their fault that bad things happen, but he reminds us that God would not punish us for things in these ways. I am anxious to continue reading his book again, and then I can write more thoughts about this whole situation. I will leave this blog today with two scriptures. One is a Psalm about the wicked and the other is a Psalm of Thanksgiving. We need them both together in order to make any sense out of this world.
Psalm I
Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither, In all that they do, they prosper. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
I posted this scripture on my facebook page, because it helped me put things into perspective a little bit, although it does not totally explain anything. The next scripture is one of thanksgiving!
Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing. Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his, we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
In 2005, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Although she overcame that, she developed uterine cancer the next year. This cancer ravaged her body and took her life in 2008. She lived in such horrible pain, but she never once winced or complained. She suffered silently, with dignity and grace and a smile on her face. Why did she have to go through that, though? Now, it is my brother and his wife that I think about. They have been married for about six years, and they have both had many illnesses since then. My brother waited until late in life to be married and have children. His wife married young and had her first child, who is now 24 and serving in the Army on his third tour in the Middle East. My brother and his wife now have two children together, ages 2 and 4. Needless to say, being an older parent is not easy (at 51 and 44, to be exact). Anyway, my brother had serious issues with kidney stones last year that put him out of work for a while and in the hospital a couple of times. My sister in law had a serious bout with an illness that was very hard to diagnose and treat. After spending about 39 days in the hospital, they finally figured out what it was: pancreatitis. She had to go to a specialist in another city for her surgery, and finally after a year of illness, that got better. Both children had surgery this year, also. Lil' fella had his tonsils out and sinuses cleaned, also tubes put in his ears. Lil' J. had tubes put in her ears. This year, my brother was sick a lot with his sinuses. He finally had surgery for that, but it took a lot out of him. After he got well, his wife got sick again. She had dropped a glass baking dish on her leg a few months ago, and it continued to hurt a lot. Then, she developed a serious infection inside her leg, one resistant to most antibiotics, and had to have two surgeries to remedy the situation. So, she has been in the hospital again for a week and will be out of work/commission for another two weeks or more. So, why do these things keep happening to this couple? They have never harmed anyone. They were lucky to find each other late in life and start a family. They are happy together, but crazy things keep getting them down. There are so many friends and relatives who have unexplained bad things that happen to them, and it just doesn't seem right. The bad people seem to never have anything bad happen to them. Maybe we just don't see the things that happen to them. I found my book that I bought years ago called "When Bad Things Happen to Good People", by Rabbi Harold S. Kushner, and I am going to read it again. It was written by a Jewish rabbi after he lost his 14 year old son to progeria, rapid aging. He talks about people feeling guilty and thinking it is their fault that bad things happen, but he reminds us that God would not punish us for things in these ways. I am anxious to continue reading his book again, and then I can write more thoughts about this whole situation. I will leave this blog today with two scriptures. One is a Psalm about the wicked and the other is a Psalm of Thanksgiving. We need them both together in order to make any sense out of this world.
Psalm I
Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither, In all that they do, they prosper. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
I posted this scripture on my facebook page, because it helped me put things into perspective a little bit, although it does not totally explain anything. The next scripture is one of thanksgiving!
Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing. Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his, we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
My Dogs
Lady and Page are my two dogs. Lady is an Old English Sheepdog that I got from a rescue place. She had been rescued from a Puppy Mill. Lady is a sweetheart, but she gets really matted when I let her fur grow out! Page is my Golden Retriever. I got her from someone at school. She is a sweetheart, too. Both dogs have very good dispositions, and they are perfect for families with children.
Lady had gotten so matted that she was just in a mess. I felt ashamed to take her to get sheared, and she just kept getting worse and worse. Little did I know...when you bathe a sheepdog...the mats get worse!! Finally, I splurged and bought an expensive shear-er/shaver, and Rachel set out to work. She worked a long time on Sunday, but we only scratched the surface. The bad sections on the back end were taken off, though, and those were the main culprits. Monday, Rachel came back over and did some more. The ears and feet were the only parts left with mats. I went to the vet yesterday,with both dogs, to get their overdue shots. The young man at the vet cut the ears for me :) Then, I attempted to shear Page, the golden. She was easier than the sheepdog, as her fur was not matted up. The vet said it would be a good idea to cut her fur to keep her from being so hot. Savannah weather is awful in the spring and summer. She is not perfect looking, but I tried. I also attempted to get more done on the sheepdog. She is looking better, although there are still spots on her face and legs that need attention. So, that is how I spent the last few days...dog shearing!! In my research on shearing sheepdogs, I found that the farmers used to shear the dogs at the same time as they sheared the sheep! I had no idea that she would get so bad. I have had long haired dogs always, but none of them ever got like Lady. I have learned my lesson over the last two years that I have had her: Don't let the fur grow out! They look so pretty with it all grown out and combed, but it is hard to keep it combed out and UNmatted!
So, there are my two dogs. I will get a picture of them when I am finished to post.
Have a good day!
Lady had gotten so matted that she was just in a mess. I felt ashamed to take her to get sheared, and she just kept getting worse and worse. Little did I know...when you bathe a sheepdog...the mats get worse!! Finally, I splurged and bought an expensive shear-er/shaver, and Rachel set out to work. She worked a long time on Sunday, but we only scratched the surface. The bad sections on the back end were taken off, though, and those were the main culprits. Monday, Rachel came back over and did some more. The ears and feet were the only parts left with mats. I went to the vet yesterday,with both dogs, to get their overdue shots. The young man at the vet cut the ears for me :) Then, I attempted to shear Page, the golden. She was easier than the sheepdog, as her fur was not matted up. The vet said it would be a good idea to cut her fur to keep her from being so hot. Savannah weather is awful in the spring and summer. She is not perfect looking, but I tried. I also attempted to get more done on the sheepdog. She is looking better, although there are still spots on her face and legs that need attention. So, that is how I spent the last few days...dog shearing!! In my research on shearing sheepdogs, I found that the farmers used to shear the dogs at the same time as they sheared the sheep! I had no idea that she would get so bad. I have had long haired dogs always, but none of them ever got like Lady. I have learned my lesson over the last two years that I have had her: Don't let the fur grow out! They look so pretty with it all grown out and combed, but it is hard to keep it combed out and UNmatted!
So, there are my two dogs. I will get a picture of them when I am finished to post.
Have a good day!
Monday, May 23, 2011
May is almost June!
Hello,
I haven't been around the blog world for a while. Lots of things going on. My sunflowers bit the dust, because I never planted them. I have been out of sorts with health things, but I hope things are on the upward bound now. I kept my four year old neice and two year old nephew all weekend. Whew! just Whew! We watched lots of Disney movies. Their mom is in the hospital, and their dad was cleaning the house for them all to return. My daughter helped me shear my sheepdog yesterday. She had gotten really,really matted. We only got the back end done, but that was the main part that needed attention. The rest of the body and legs can come later. Hopefully, we will get some more done today. It is chilly in here this am. It was hot this weekend, so the air conditioner has been running a lot! I will need it later today, so I am not moving the thermostat now. haha The entire house actually got mopped last night. That is an unusual happening :) I am not a very good housekeeper, usually. That is not my thing.
Well, work beckons, so I must get ready for the day.
Have a great one!
I haven't been around the blog world for a while. Lots of things going on. My sunflowers bit the dust, because I never planted them. I have been out of sorts with health things, but I hope things are on the upward bound now. I kept my four year old neice and two year old nephew all weekend. Whew! just Whew! We watched lots of Disney movies. Their mom is in the hospital, and their dad was cleaning the house for them all to return. My daughter helped me shear my sheepdog yesterday. She had gotten really,really matted. We only got the back end done, but that was the main part that needed attention. The rest of the body and legs can come later. Hopefully, we will get some more done today. It is chilly in here this am. It was hot this weekend, so the air conditioner has been running a lot! I will need it later today, so I am not moving the thermostat now. haha The entire house actually got mopped last night. That is an unusual happening :) I am not a very good housekeeper, usually. That is not my thing.
Well, work beckons, so I must get ready for the day.
Have a great one!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Sunflowers and Roses
I have a new picture of my sunflowers. They are still in the little seed pocket thingys, but they are growing. I have neglected to plant them outside, but I am waiting on them to get a little stronger for that.
Sunflowers Take 2
My son took a cutting from my dad's pretty red rosebush a year ago, or two years, and that plant has really taken off!! It has grown really tall, and there are lot of pretty roses on it now. I keep meaning to buy a trellis for it, but I forget each time I go out to the store! Maybe I will remember sometime this week. Anywho, I took pictures of it budding, then blooming, and now in full bloom. I tried to get them in order, buds, blooms, full blooms, but I don't think I quite managed to do that. Oh well, here they are....
Roses, Roses, and more Roses
Have a Great Day!!
Sunflowers Take 2
My son took a cutting from my dad's pretty red rosebush a year ago, or two years, and that plant has really taken off!! It has grown really tall, and there are lot of pretty roses on it now. I keep meaning to buy a trellis for it, but I forget each time I go out to the store! Maybe I will remember sometime this week. Anywho, I took pictures of it budding, then blooming, and now in full bloom. I tried to get them in order, buds, blooms, full blooms, but I don't think I quite managed to do that. Oh well, here they are....
Roses, Roses, and more Roses
Have a Great Day!!
Friday, April 8, 2011
Whew!
Whew! That is all I can think of to say. I have had two days of feeling pretty yucky, with elevated blood pressure. When you are teaching a bunch of wild kids, you do not want to be feeling like your head is about to explode or like you could just fall over at any minute!! Driving with a crazy head is a scary thing, too. I stayed all day yesterday, because I had an important after school rehearsal with my Odyssey team. I went today, although I got there late, and stayed until two o'clock. I just didn't think I could last through the end of the day madness and car rider duty!! I knew that I would really have an exploding head if I stayed any longer. I went to the school nurse this morning to have my bp checked, and sure enough it was really high. So, I tried to take it as easy as I could (as easy as an elementary school teacher can HA!), and I decided to leave at 2. Just being at home for a half an hour in the calm and quiet has helped to relieve some of the powerhouse head junk, dizziness, and all around awful feeling. Hopefully, things will settle down even more. One of my friends told me to go home and take some vinegar! I said, "Vinegar?" She said, "Yes, vinegar." Well, I have plenty of Balsamic Vinegar, so I fixed myself some diced tomatoes with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. What a treat! HA! Maybe it is the VINEGAR that helped! Just so I keep sitting and resting, I am okay. If I get up and down much, the head starts again. So, WHEW, is my word for the day!!!!!!
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