100 Things about me Revisited

In September of 2007 I wrote 100 things about me. I need to revisit this list because some have changed; some are new.

1 - I am not too crazy about people who are grumpy. (Still true)
2 - I especially don't care for people who are selectively grumpy. (Still true...what I mean by selectively grumpy...they are grumpy to some and not so grumpy to others. If you're going to be grumpy to me, be grumpy to your boss too. Why not give your boss the benefit of who you really are?)
3 - I believe every day is a gift. Even Mondays. (Unfortunately I'm turning into one of those people who work for the weekends. I tried not to; I tried to be appreciative of every day, but lately I hurt too much. Maybe this will change back, I hope so.)
4 - I believe in Love. (Still do.)
5 - I believe that men hear on a different frequency than woman. (Way true)
6 - I can do anything I put my mind to. (Well, climbing on the roof to hammer in a few loose shingles would take a lot of thinking.)
7 - Phil is my dreamboat. (He's a ship alright.)
8 - I buy all my clothes at thrift shops (not underwear, shoes, socks, hoses)(So true)
9 - I'm thankful there are some size 12 women who donate their Liz Wear to thrift shops. (So true)
10-I love football. (Oh yeah!)
11- I love the Buffalo Bills. (Oh yeah!)
12- I never cared much for Jim Kelly (although, I understand he thought highly of me) (The CEO of my office went to high school with Jim. He shed a whole new light on him for me. So I care now.)
13- I love to write. (YES!)
14- I procrastinate too much on my writing. (YES!)
15 - I love to learn new software. (YES!)
16 - I couldn't live without my computer (okay I could but I won't like it.) (YES!)
17- I don't think we should explore outer space or look for life elsewhere. (A fly comes to my table, I kill him) (Sorry, still true.)
18 - People who won't let you in should be avoided. (Life is short, get to the rub.)
19-You are never too busy if you really want to do something. (Schedule it like an appointment to the dentist.)
20- I use the library for books (as opposed to buying them) (Yepper)
21 - Don't tell me you programmed my phone number in you phone if you're never going to call me back. (YES!)
22- My favorite color is clear. (It's really this color.)
23 - I don't like poems if they're obscure. (Life's too short, spell it out and let's move on.)
24 - Say what you mean. (Life's too short, spell it out and let's move on.)
25- My favorite authors are Jonathan Tropper, William Kolwalski, and Richard Russo. (Still true)
26 - I love sleeping with the window open even when it's 40 degrees outside. (Still true)
27 - Fall is my favorite season. (Actually it's more like Indian Summer..after the first frost when things are dying or hyberating.)
28 - I love cheesecake, coconut cream pie and pecan bread. (Still true)
29- I'm addicted to diet Coke. (Now it's Diet Dr Pepper with Cherry)
30 - I wish the weather wasn't so bad in Western NY so I would be more apt to move back there. (Still true)
31 - I dislike people who are rude or short. (not in height) (Still true)
32 - I like TLC and shows about Flipping houses. (Not watching as much of these.)
33 - I wish I was more handy (see number 6) (Still true)
34 - I'm glad I'm tall. (Still true)
35 - I'm secure in the knowledge that my feet are big. (Found out they are actually bigger than I thought. I've been wearing shoes two sizes too small but I've only gone up 1 size. No way am I wearing a Mens' 11 1/2!!!!!)
36 - I hate it when I repeat myself. (Still true)
37 - I hate it when other people repeat themselves.(Still true)
38 - I love dogs (Got a dog since 9/07...she's my girl)
39 - I'm not too crazy about cats. (My brother in NY got two and they are very entertaining.)
40 - I like having breakfast at IHOP or Dennys. (Don't go there as much though)
41 - I like having cereal for a snack. (Instead of ice cream)
42 - People at work should always say "good morning" and "so-long" at the beginning and end of each workday. (It would be nice..but..oh well)
43- I believe in God. (Still big time true)
44 - My first car was a '79 Duster I named "Jackson" because it was Brown and "running on empty." (Can't erase the past.)
45 - I took a small pocketbook from a jacket hanging in the cloak room in kindergarden and I hid it in the leaves by my house. I felt very guilty for a long time. (Can't erase the past.)
46 - My first boyfriend's name was Donny. (Can't erase the past.)
47 - My favorite football players were Doug Flutie and Frank Reich. (Still true)
48 - I named my first dog "Elliot Garfield" after the main character in the Goodbye Girl played by Richard Dreyfess. (Can't erase the past.)
49 - I have Marfan's Syndrome. (Can't erase the past.)
50 - I quit smoking 6 years ago for good. (Almost 8 years ago....I hate it. I think smokers should wake up and smell the cancer.)
51 - I like NA beer. (Not drinking much of it.)
52 - I hate to shower (but I do it anyway) (Still true and I still do.)
53 - I drive a standard. (Nope...bought an automatic in August 08)
54 - I wish naps at work were mandatory. (If only)
55 - I have a brother named Jim and a brother named Ed. (Can't erase the past.)
56 - I call Ed "Weird" (Can't erase the past.)
57 - He answers. (Can't erase the past.)
58 - I can't have kids. (Can't erase the past.)
59 - I'm finally okay with that. (Not so sure of this. I feel really deprived.)
60 - After being a victim of a tornado at ten, I was afraid of the wind until I was 16. (Can't erase the past.)
61 - I hate bugs. (See #27)
62 - I'm not an outdoor person. (Still so true especially when it is skankin hot like it is right now.)
63 - I want to live in a condo. (Yes!)
64 - I grew up outside of Buffalo NY but have never been to NYC. (Still true)
65 - I wish my neighbors would invite me over for an NA beer and a football game on a Sunday. (I have given up on this.)
66 - I take an antidepressant (Oh yeah)
67 - I think it works. (Oh yeah)
68- I can't tell the difference between regular TV and high definition. (Still can't)
69 - I sometimes wear men's slacks and shoes. (Still do)
70 - My husband and I have the exact same hand span. (Still do)
71 - I like a beef BOB from Taco Bueno. No sour cream. (Not so much)
72 - I see no logic in racing to a red light. (Still do)
73 - My husband could go to a baseball game with another woman and I would be okay with that. (Still okay with this although I know a few woman who disagree.)
74 - My husband can do anything with another woman who's willing if I am not. (Still okay with this although I know a few woman who disagree.)
75 - I'm lactose intolerant. (Still am)
76 - I have 6 more hours to go to get my bachelors degree. (Nope! I'm done...a college grad!)
77 - I'm addicted to Minesweeper. (Now it's Letter Linker..can't get past level 8...makes me nuts)
78 - I'm photophobic. (Still)
79- I love shade. (Oh, big time)
80- I used to do stand up comedy. (Can't erase the past.)
81 - I once sold a joke to Margaret Smith. (Can't erase the past.)
82 - I've published some articles in the Buffalo News and Oklahoma Women. (Can't erase the past.)
83 - I think Mike Rowe (Dirty Jobs) is the Mike Defeno (character on Desperate Housewives) of the Discovery Channel. (Not watching his much)
84 - I think Ty Pennington is Ernest with sex appeal. (Still do...you know what I'm saying Vern?"
85 - CEOs should not make more money than all their staff combined. (Oh yeah)
86 - Politicians shouldn't be in it for the money. (Oh yeah)
87 - Teachers shouldn't be in it for the money. (Oh yeah)
88- Firefighters are under paid. (Oh yeah)
89 - The only thing that will make the world's countries get along would be a visit from outer space with an ultimatum. (Oh yeah)
90- I miss my Momma. (And now my dad!)
91 - Being sad is a waste of time. (I waste a lot of time)
92 - A dead end is a place to turn around (thank you Y) (Oh yeah)
93 - You should learn something new every day. (Oh yeah)
94 - Not everything is black and white. (Oh yeah)
95 - I h8 it when people write "how r u?" (4sure)
96 - And, it's not "your the best" or "their they go"...ah...makes me crazy. (ewww)
97 - I love Country music (Oh yeah)
98 - I want Phil to do this. (It would be nice)
99 - I'm fearful of a home invasion. (Front door is locked by 10pm...would be 8 if Phil didn't object.)
100 - I drive a Focus. (Bought a Hyundai Accent)

Vacation my foot

Hey....I'm writing from my brother's house in cool Angola NY. Sorry to my Okie friends sweating it out while I enjoy cool 75 degree weather. It was raining a lot last week....because my brothers and I were having an estate sale, of course. The sale was over yesterday so today was sunny and just plain beautiful.

Report from the estate sale: we did pretty good; got rid of quite a bit, some big items: dressers, refrigerator, sofas and a recliner. There is still a ton of the little things, household items, coffee mugs, glassware, plasticware, knicky knacky things. I started boxed those up for the Salvation Army.

What do I do with my mom's wedding dress? This is a tough one. I do have sentimental attachment to it...sort of but really-do I need it? I almost feel obligated to take it home. I have my own gown, stored away. I really could go on without another. But I feel bad. I certainly can't throw it out, so what? Know anyone who collects vintage 1950's wedding gowns? I'd love to have room in my house for a Karl and Mary Museum but....well, I don't. Oh what to do.

I sold a Bible. I really didn't know there were Bibles in with the books. I just let them go. Again, how many Bibles does one need to retain. The woman who bought the Bible, brought it back. This is kind of spooky. In the Bible my mother wrote that this particular one had to remain in our family. She actually wrote this and ended it with ...."I will know." Almost like a threat. This kind of freaked the woman out so she brought it back and would not take a refund. So now I have this Bible.

Tomorrow is my last full day here. I have a ton to get done. I need to do as much as I can because I don't want it to all fall on my brothers. They have done so much.

Some cool old photos

I found some cool old photos that really struck me. Thought I'd share.

This photo is about 75 years old of my Uncle Bob. . Aside from the ears (just a tad big), this little boy is perfect...perfect eyes, perfect nose, perfect lips.

This is my Aunt Dianne. The photo is probably 50 years old. I have no idea whose house this is but I love the lines of the house. The person taking the photo must have been laying on the ground. It's just a cool shot.

I love this picture of my mom and Aunt Marie (mom's twin) and my Gramma K (left) and Gramma D (right). Gone are the days when you dressed up for brunch at Howard Johnson. I suspect Gramma K raised her girls to dress up for most outings. I can recall my mother questioning my attire when I would take a bus into Buffalo (NY) to go shopping. When she was my age (at the time 17 or so) going shopping at AM&A's or Hengerers was this big event. I guess she was from the June Cleaver era where you dressed up to clean the house. I find this all quite fascinating.

God's Wife

I got this email today. Usually I just delete these kind of things but this one really struck me as something to share:

Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.

The winner was:

A four-year-old child, whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman, who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.

When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy just said, 'Nothing, I just helped him cry..'

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Teacher Debbie Moon's first graders were discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture had a different hair color than the other members. One of her
students suggested that he was adopted.

A little girl said, 'I know all about adoption, I was adopted.'

'What does it mean to be adopted?'asked another child.

'It means', said the girl, 'that you grew in your mommy's heart instead of her tummy!'

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Whenever I'm disappointed with my spot in life, I stop and think about little Jamie Scott.

Jamie was trying out for a part in the school play. His mother told me that he'd set his heart on being in it, though she feared he would not be chosen.

On the day the parts were awarded, I went with her to collect him after school. Jamie rushed up to her, eyes shining with pride and excitement. 'Guess what, Mom,' he shouted, and then said those words that will remain a lesson to me....'I've been chosen to clap and cheer.'

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An eye witness account from New York City , on a cold day in December, some years ago: A little boy, about 10-years-old, was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold.

A lady approached the young boy and said, 'My, but you're in such deep thought staring in that window!'

'I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes,'was the boy's reply.

The lady took him by the hand, went into the store, and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her.

She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with the towel. By this time, the clerk had returned with the socks.. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes. She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him.. She patted him on the head and said, 'No doubt, you will be more comfortable now.'

As she turned to go, the astonished kid caught her by the hand, and looking up into her face, with tears in his eyes, asked her.

'Are you God's wife?'

I can't get over it

I can't get over the fact that my parents are gone. I know, I'm such a downer. I can't get over my husband being jobless. I can't get over my childhood house will be sold, all it's contents distributed to nameless estate sale buyers who have no idea the history behind that sofa or dining room table. I can't get over my time in NY is consider vacation by my employer when it's not like I'm going to be relaxing by the pool, drinking umbrellaed cocktails. I can't get over the constant pain in my back and shoulders. I can't get over that the past is the past and I'm supposed to move on. I can 't get over being childless. I can't get over the fact that none of my friends ever comment on my blog.

I know, they say everyone is fighting some kind of battle. I am sure that is true for many....and many are in much worse shape than I am. I get that. But there are others: blonder, thinner, richer with parents who are alive and well; with children albeit a bit rebellious. When the battle is deciding if they want hardwood vs cermanic tile; red or white wine; a Porsche vs a Lexis. I want those kind of battles.

Yes, I need an attitude adjustment - I'd be the first to tell you that. I need something. My dad would say, "You need a kick in the head." Yeah, he would say that. My mom would tell me to appreciate what I got. I know this is true. I get that. I wish she was here to tell me.....go ahead mom..give me a piece of your mind! I so welcome it.