Ground Level in Kansas

Being calm that having a job is not the end game

2012-01-23T22:36:00.002-06:00

We have been retired for more than a year. There is constant, underlaying factor in our retirement. Maybe, just maybe, one of us should have a paying job.

Both of us are employable. We could return to our fields and gain employment again. It wouldn't be overly difficult. We both get offers.

What is the purpose of working outside of the home for us? Time filled with meetings and paperwork. We would have more community- but not necessarily of our choosing.

What do we do when we are home? Hobbies, travel, talk to family on the phone, watch the hawks migrate. Working means we would not be able to pull the boat to the lake on warm summer days!

Do you ever feel that pull?

Like you SHOULD be working?

Do you feel that "Protestant work ethic" that someone not engaged in commerce is wasting time?

Sunday Night Chit Chat

2012-01-23T00:48:00.001-06:00

I am joining Carla in her Sunday Night Chit Chat
What are you...
Reading?
I finished The Queen's Rival and picked up Stealing Mona Lisa

Watching?
Downton Abbey
Also the election news

Listening to?
Celtic music. I also enjoyed some Hawaiian music today

Cooking?
A pot roast with blue and red potatoes

Happy you accomplished this week?
An interesting IEP

Looking forward to this week?
Working with some students
Talking to my family

Thankful today?
That I am loved, cared for, and live in the 2000's
There are so many who live with less- even nobility of an earlier time.

Four generations

2012-01-22T11:28:00.001-06:00

We will descend upon my mother's new place in five weeks.
No longer in a house large enough for us to sleep on floors and couches
We will, for the first time, stay in a hotel.

Fortunately the hotel is across the street from mom's.
We plan on getting her on the scooter and having her drive to our place.
I am envisioning the boys- 61, 26, 25 and 4- trying to outdo each other on the scooter
While mom and the girls -81,54, 28 and 23 - laugh.

Politics
Flowers,
Mountains vs hill,
Parts of the country to settle,
Buying houses
and Dora the Explorer
Will all be explored.
Having mom in the mix will be delightful and intriguing.
Discussion and debate has always been the hallmark of my family.
The great grandchild will learn from the pro
(even though he can talk a blue streak already).

Spending time with my mom is time well spent.
Getting my children in one place is a miracle.
Spending time with all four generations is...a priceless memory.

Things are different for our kids.

2012-01-19T15:48:00.000-06:00

My husband and I are from entirely different lives.
I grew up in a sales household.
He grew up in services.

In sales
you worked hard every day.
You made contacts.
You ate lunch and played tennis with those people.
When they needed (in our case) a car
they came to us.
We provided maintenance at a good price
We towed you in the middle of the night if you called us.
Really, all sales are the same, we just sell different things.
You relied on your self (with a bit from the company)
to see you through.

My family made a good living off of sales
and my grandfather and father invested well
in land, in equities and in the city
It has paid off and they are cared for in retirement.
As they passed they left various things to their children
and grandchildren.

In services
you worked hard every day.
You learned your techniques and administer them.
You make sure your boss was happy.
You had much less potential to make loads of money.
You relied on pensions and smaller savings to see you through retirement.

In my husband's case,
his father was a plumber
in some of the first nuclear plants in the US.
He worked 30 years at the same place.
When he retired- he DID get a gold(plated) watch and a pension.
He checked the boxes, lived a frugal life
and died leaving his children a small inheritance.

Fast forward to today.
Pensions for services are being protested by the general public.
They are being dismembered.
Salaries have to go up
in order for those people to put away money
for their retirement.

Sales are quickly being dried up by the internet
Sales people are accepting less money for their job
because there are many more people willing to do it for less.
They ask for the percentage compensation of the past
just to keep even.

Things are changing quickly.
What do you think the future holds for our children?
How about our grandchildren?
What will their mid to elder age look like?
All I know is
things are going to be different!

Long marriages/Divorce

2012-01-16T11:28:00.001-06:00

Today the news that a long time blogger is getting a divorce.
Most saw it coming a while ago, still it is sad. (www.getrichslowly.org)

Once we hit the twentieth year of marriage,
we started to see many long marriages cave.
Putting on my historical cap- I wondered.

Marriage for "love" is a pretty new concept.
Arranged marriages are still the norm in most of the world.
Somehow, we Western Europeans and Americans have in our heads
that one person is going to make us complete for the rest of our lives.
So short sighted.

Marriage was, and still is in most of the world, a way to unite families.
To unite and keep wealth and power.
To protect children and their eventual wealth and power
so the elders would not be left to themselves in misery of growing old.
Religions were used to make marriages "stick".
Vows were simple and in front of family.

My mother's generation used to talk about " marrying up".
Hers was the first generation of divorce - in great numbers.
Women, who had been misinformed
that their role was to care for -----whatever
often were left in the dust as a cuter, faster woman took her place.
Men left the scene to "find love" in another place.
Women soon gained education and joined the workforce.

Men are no longer an issue since women can support themselves
and have children without them.
sounds hard core- but I am hearing that from the next generation.

As we have seen our friends and families struggle through staying together
we have witnessed a variety of ways to handle the inevitable stage of growth-
one person is growing quickly and the other is settled on being who they are.
Separation, instead of divorce, is becoming a well used tool.
Wealthy women used to go on Grand Tour of Europe
now they get a job in another country.
Still, the connection is not lost.

Most of our friends have chosen to stay together.
Maybe it is peer support.
Maybe it is because of vows.
Maybe it is simply because we know each other well
and we know that we can grow together again.
Those who have chosen to divorce----
they really did not have the desire to be together at all.

When we see men leaving- without a spouse waiting

we often shake our heads.

Sure it looks like the dating scene is fun

but it isn't.

Unless there is a great desire for a new partner,
I don't see the need to end a marriage.
I may be traveling here and there-
but eventually, sitting by a fire with my loved one
in my older age is exactly where I want to be.

Think long term!

In this generations' speak
Remember
most millionaires (who did not inherit their money) are married
to their first spouse.
Getting rich may slow down for JD....

Taking out old things start again

2012-01-14T23:57:00.000-06:00

I have always said that I collected artists.

Something about their creativeness draws me in.

My grandson knows that my favorite museums are filled with art.

For thirty years we have "carried" wood working tools.

We put much of it in storage when we lived in Hong Kong, Hawaii and Saudi Arabia.

It returned to our position in our first semi retirement home.

It never really found a place to be out in the open.

Now they own the barn.

They are making their appearance known.

First there was a sword holder for our son

We have four new doors- cedar and oak.

A small box for my sewing has appeared

This week our daughter's new dining table got a tent while it was being glued together.

An artist friend of mine passed through

and saw a kinship with my husband

This man- with a growing white beard

is an artist

I never really knew.

What is something you are seeing for the first time
or even what you have seen
but have not admitted seeing?

Slow cooking

2012-01-11T18:45:00.001-06:00

Pull out that crock pot.
There are so many good meals waiting for you.

An easy start?
Two chicken breasts and two drum sticks
An onion sliced - not diced
Uncooked carrots- cut in chunks
Potatoes- we do small reds cut in quarters
Drained can of black beans
Pepper
A bottle of our favorite Mexican sauce
4- 6 hours at low.

Or
Stew meat- quickly browned
Root vegetables- your choice Potatoe,carrot,turnip, onion, Garlic(3 cloves minced)
A can of drained Northern beans
1 T virgin oil
Can of diced tomatoes (often flavored with herbs)
Pepper
Some red pepper flakes
My husband puts in a bottle of beer and Worcester sauce - several tablespoons.
6 hours at low- can go all day.

Last? My dauter's
several boneless pieces of chicken
An 8 oz bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce
A small can of pineapple
4-6 hours

We used to cover the meat with liquid
Slowly we let go of it
We were really boiling the meat.
My sister puts no liquid I at all
As long as there is fat on the meat.

My daughter makes lazagna in the pot

I love my crock pot and use it several times a week.
Cooking is not tough
I'll be putting up a few more ideas soon.

Do you have a crockpot easy to share?

Travel? Cheap? Not so much!

2012-01-10T23:44:00.000-06:00

How do people travel for so little?
Maybe they spent loads of money in their former life
and ended up with thousands of frequent flier miles.
Who says owning a small business is a bad thing?
Otherwise, seeing is believing!

One can spend time watching airlines play their price games.
American can actually change prices over $100 dollars in less than a day!
Southwest promises loads- but only if you live in their favorite cities.
Jet Air
New York to Paris for $210 (plus $530 in taxes).
And then there is Allegiant
They can fly you anywhere within 100 miles of a real city
unless you are headed to one of their hotels in Vegas or Orlando.
What a deal!

Now for a car.
Again a game.
Budget put out a $9.00 special.
Of course that was on alternating Saturdays.
One can still book and pay ahead.
Going to Phoenix? $76 for the car and $56 for the taxes.
Will they ever stop?

Carry on or check it?
Are you a minimalist?
Can you get away with one extra shirt and pants?
Do you REALLY need to change your undies every day?
Maybe you can slip on one of those 100 pocket vests
and just weigh 300 lbs when you get on the plane.
What is a mere $30 a bag each way, anyway?

Taking a chance on a Hotwire hotel?
How many stars?
Do the stars mean the same thing in Vegas as they do in London?
How about Timbuktu?
If I bid will there really be a bed for $29.99?

And that new passport.

$165. per person!

Who said that travel was cheap?
They are either sleeping on someone's couch
or they are hiding the fees
from themselves
to feel better!

My sarcasm drips.
We will travel in 8 weeks.
It has been a long time in coming.
It will be one that needs to last in our hearts.
For our pocket book cannot afford
to be taken traveling very often anymore.

Art and life

2012-01-10T22:40:00.002-06:00

What is she thinking?

Why is her heart showing?

What can she teach me?

Why is it important?

Is she sadly waiting?

Is she waiting for a warm summer day?

Money priorities

2012-01-08T13:13:00.000-06:00

The reality is that no matter how much money we bring in, there has to be a priority of spending. Like the Andy Warhol painting, putting together this list can be hair raising- if not intimidating.

This is what we came up with after tracking expenses for a year.

1. We do not have a mortgage. That was a plan we made when my husband turned 40.
By his 50th birthday we were mortgage free.
We do have taxes and insurance.
Kansas does not lower taxes on property when you turn 60.
We have a house tax and insurance bill that is, currently, 15% of our income.
If you add taxes and insurance for our cars and boat it goes up to 22%.
Those bills come twice a year.
In order to be ready, we save 22% off the top of every income check.
It goes into a "touch it and you might die" account at the bank.

2. Our food allowance is pretty substantial.
We choose to eat well. We don't eat LOADS, but we don't skimp.
Our food allowance for both eating in and out is about 18% of our income.
Food prices are soaring here. Our last bill was 10% more than normal.
We may have to start cutting fun foods out for a while until it stabilizes again

3. Utilities are becoming more and more unpredictable.
Cable, phone, internet and water are stable at 6%.
Electricity is very unstable at 8% right now---and ever growing.
If it grows much more- cable will disappear.
Netflix comes out of our allowances....which will be discussed later.

4. We travel ALOT.
We only travel on money we make outside of our normal income.
That will probably begin to change this year.
I am thinking 5% of our income will go to travel.
This does not include the gas for around here-
which is currently about 5% of our income.

5. House repairs, car upkeep and fixes are staying steady at 7% of income.
Including the tools to snow blow or cut grass.
There is another fund that has 5% of the income
for major !ow! expenses- like a roof or a stove.
We just bought a car.
I don't think we will need a new one
before my husband is on Social Security in 3-5 years.

6. Charity is about 5% right now.
I am looking at ways to tithe my time and talent so I can feel closer
to the amount that I feel we should be giving.

7. Poochies are about 3%. Darn, those vet bills certainly rack up!

8. Presents and family "things" are about 3%.

9. The last 13% has always been our allowance. The allowance is given every two weeks. I usually use mine for clothes, hair and travel. He uses his for wood and tools. Nexflix is evenly divided.

We are considering cutting back to 10% of our income for allowance so we can save 3%. My husband makes a good argument for not doing that since we have a good nest egg and have not touched it... That nest egg has only made about 50 cents in the last month....so we are not keeping up with inflation there. I don't see us using our nest egg for many, many years.

Decisions, decisions!
I still have my hair
although it often looks like Andy's these days!

At 82- my mom is having fun!

2012-01-07T09:06:00.001-06:00

There is a huge phobia in our society about "nursing homes". I am here to say that the entire model of nursing home of the last 50 years- a place to stuff and forget parents/ elderly- is slowly being eclipsed by elder care independent care facilities. Well off seniors are flooding to these types of places. Surprisingly, there are almost as many men as women. They are small towns with community stores, easy access to transportation (private cars for hire), and brain activities (large print libraries, revolving art collections, group trips to the theater/ theater in, movies, social gatherings in open areas,card tournaments and computer workshops). If one deems it necessary to go from family for elder years, this is the place most people would choose. My mother did not turn into a five year old who likes bingo because she turned 80!

My mother has spent the last eight years grieving. First three was taken up by my father dieing. Te next five being stuck in place, afraid to leave her house for fear of losing her independence- and her life.
She moved to a Baptist home, like the one described above, six months ago. My parents worked very hard for their money. I am glad to see she is finally enjoying her elder years.

Yesterday I was teasing my mom that she now lives in an apartment- much like we did when we went to college. She eats in the dining room every late afternoon. She chats with the ladies in the atruim in the late mornings. Her computer classes begin again in a month. She knows what is going on in everyone's lives. Exercise, chat, eat, listen and now she is considering taking the paper again. I imagine political discussions are in our near future.

Just five months ago I thought we were going to lose mom. Not from physical ailments, but boredom. Things have changed. At 82 my mom is having fun! Now when mom passes, for that is inevitable, I know that her final years she was happy.

On finding a doctor

2012-01-05T20:50:00.001-06:00

It seems my health care may be in jeopardy with the new look at spouse care through the military. We moved to Kansas for three reasons: we love the climate, we could both get jobs AND I could be seen at the military hospital. My husband has all of his xpcare through the VA.

For seven years before moving here my health care was hodge podge.
We lived in Flagstaff, Az. and very few doctors would take our military insurance.
Even fewer took Medicare and that was before the reforms in payments.

Here we are. Settled.
I am beginning to look "off post" for a primary care doctor now. I don't want to be on the bottom of the list when/ if military health care is revised.

I've started to ask who others go to. Generally our doctors work out of two hospitals.
Unfortunately, it seems that the doctors referred to me are mostly connected to the hospital that has a terrible morbidity rate. That could be attributed to the average age of the people in this area. Loads of people in rural Kansas are very old. Still, I think I will drive to a doctor who has a better record and a worse bedside manner.

What do I expect next?

Getting an appointment. I found that if you call about 10 am on a Tuesday or Wednesday one might find a receptive staff member willing to take your name. I am amazed how difficult it is to get an appointment!

Then the wait begins. The wait for the appointment. The wait for the doctor. I don't really expect to actually converse with a doctor, but a nurse practioner.

Then labs

Then the return visit in a few weeks.

Aggggg! I hate to change doctors!

The hunt is on!

Keeping costs down- electricity

2012-01-02T18:58:00.000-06:00

The utility company started a users fee a few months ago.
Seems to be common in rural electric.

Since we have two poles- one for the house and the other for the barn
We have two users fees.
In order to have electricity flow to the property we pay $55 a month
The electric company also got a jump in prices last month

We have electric heat and cooling

OW!

Changes for the good are in order.
1. We bought styrofoam insulation boards to put in all of the downstairs windows.
Cut to size. They block the cold and lets heat rise.
If we are in the basement during the day, we take it down for natural light.

2. At the end of last season we bought some insulated curtains.
We don't have curtains on our house normally.
they are up in all upstairs windows- closed tightly at night.

3. We close everything that can be closed.
Doors to room, closets, cupboards, drawers

4. A small oil heater is used in the livingroom.
At night we move it to the hall, which keeps the core of the house warm.

5. Cooking and cleaning happen before 3 pm and after 9 pm.
We also warm the house before 6 am or after 9am.
Our electricity rate almost doubles from 4-8:30 pm and from 7-9am

6. Close vents in the bathrooms and extra rooms.

7. A blanket is over the stairs by the front door.
When we open the door for the dogs to go out the blanket prevents a ton of heat loss.
We are considering adding an unheated entry area next year by putting up wood on the front porch.

8. We open and close curtains with the passing of the sun. Natural light is always preferred.
Solar lights are used outside. They are carefully cleaned off after each snow.

9. Wash clothes on non rainy days after 9 am.
Clothes dry on the line, but are in the basket before the sun goes down.
They go into the dryer at 9 pm if they are not dry (or froze on the line).
Believe it or not, Kansas has few days when it is cloudy all day.

10. Wearing slippers, sweatshirts and taking a hot bath mid day round out the list.

It is a wrap

2011-12-31T22:27:00.001-06:00

2011
A good year
Son married a charming young lady
She makes him smile and laugh

Daughter enjoyed a year at home
With the light of our eye
Our grandson
Our son in law
Continued in his wonderful job
We warn him that the government Will cut back
He reminds us that would only return them to the farm

Work became very part time for me
Enjoying an occasional substitute position
And four hours a week mentoring.
My sewing machine is set up
But it has yet to find a real quilt.

Hubby made three amazing doors
Who ever knew that ALL of those tools
Collected over 30 years of birthdays
And Christmas holydays
Would turn into an amazing workshop?
Our children have requested tables
He has begun to draw

Travel was supposed to slow
Ha!
About 21,000 air miles and 4,000 by car
Trips to see family
Continued to take every bit of my supplimental income.

Read my share of spy novels. Boring
Watched way too much of Yes to the Dress. Even more boring
Found my way to the library
Enjoying Elizebethan novels now.

Slowly my husband and I are carving out our time together
And apart.

This is the first year I have stepped back from "bag lady" worry.
It has changed our relationship.
I don't feel the need to hoard money for savings
He does not feel the need to seek to spend.
It works.
We are both happier.

We also stopped worrying about the end of the world
That was huge to let go of.
Politics is local
That is great.

We have plenty.

Our children are bright enough to survive.

Communication is about compassion with my sibs.
What a change that has brought.

Life is good
On to 2012!

What is on your reading list?

2011-12-30T08:40:00.001-06:00

Going for the classics this year.
Last year was Elizabethan literature.
Looking forward to Dickens, Twain and a bit of Plato.
There are a few books of my father's on a spiritual bend.
The old family bible will also be explored.
I don't do fluff well.

I have to be fully relaxed OR traveling to read.
It sounds like opposits, but they are the same in many ways.
I can do nothing else productive in either situation:)

What are you reading?

2012 is on the way. What needs to change?

2011-12-27T19:56:00.001-06:00

Some people call them goals.
I call them changes
Here are my thoughts on what needs to happen beginning on Sunday.

Save $100 a month. That doesn't seem like much. We have saving envelopes. New car (five years out), roof(10 years), travel (every six months), dinner out (every two weeks). I have gotten out of the habit of just saving for the little expenses that come up. The flat tire,the new grand niece, those things are not funded well.

Establish a home for substitute teaching. Currently I work in several schools a few times a month. I would prefer to find two schools and get to know everyone's name.

Enjoy time with my kids. I have the tendency to get wrapped up in the travel plans. We will probably be with our children's families in two places this year. I want to be relaxed enough to simply enjoy them.

Skype my grandson and talk to my son weekly. When Skyping my grandson I will get the added bonus of seeing my daughter. We talk almost daily now. That part I would like to maintain.

Quilt one large piece. I will get The fabric on our family vacation. I'd like to make it a memory quilt.

Learn to crochet. I was always too tense. I am hoping a year of quiet helps that.

Find something that both my husband and I love to do. Spend time with him.

Walk daily. We live 1/4 mile from a lake. It will be cold at the beginning, but my dogs don't mind.

Go to the library weekly.

Spend less than an hour a day on the computer.
That may be the most difficult commitment to keep.

Do you have changes that need to be made?

Fish and guests

2011-12-27T18:22:00.001-06:00

Smell after five days.

The saying within our family is sacred.

Some of the things we do to survive one house for a longer period of time?

If at all possible, family occupies different floors.
Guests having access to their own fridge, bathroom and exit makes for easier times.

Trading off kitchen duties. Stepping up to doing dishes and cooking meals.
We also help each other with groceries and pay for our own meals out.

Make sure everyone has a private time and space.
An hour of reading, cruising the net or walk alone will do a great deal to improve together time.

Hold negative comments, no matter how valid- unless the situation is dangerous.
If you feel you cannot keep it to yourself- leave.

Discipline is only for the parent unless you are asked or alone.
Even then, never go further with negative discipline than the parent would. Never.

Remember that being polite goes a long way.
Please, may I and thank you.

Last, attempt to leave BEFORE you are the fish....

Happy HolyDays

2011-12-24T08:20:00.001-06:00

Friends of many faiths.
This is a rare time of year when most of us are celebrating at the same time.
May your HolyDays be filled with light and joy!

Alternative methods of payment while traveling

2011-12-22T20:04:00.002-06:00

We live with the envelope system.
Virtually no actual $$ ever floats.
Hasn't for years.
Most of our money is placed in virtual envelopes for normal household expenses.
Tomorrow we hit the road
with our "travel" envelope money.

Travel envelope contains an amount from every paycheck
and use it only when we are traveling together.

Today was the trec to the bank.
Loaded the "cash" visa card at my bank.
In the past it has been American Express travel cheques.
Last trip, two places not even know what to do with them.

The travel cards are ready,
the suit cases are packed,
we are checked in.

Sea food, National Christmas tree, formal Churches, singing, Jesus' birthday cake and
SANTA is alive and well ready to come down the chimney of a four year old's house.
Hate to fly- love the family.

What can one person do?

2011-12-21T18:12:00.000-06:00

Small and large works of joy are important- now more than ever.
Buy $10 gift cards at a local grocery. Hand them out on the street or drop them in a begger's cap.
Call a brother or sister you don't have easy contact with.
Chat with a person sitting alone at a library.
Go out of the house with a smile on your face and greet anyone and everyone.
Drop off a backpack full of food and ask them to give it to a student who needs it at a school.
Take your "hotel soap" to a shelter.
Stop by a juvenile detention center with a new jacket for a kid.
Buy a dinner for a family you know is struggling.
Invite a single person to Christmas dinner.

Other ideas?

Just for fun

2011-12-18T23:28:00.001-06:00

Go to google search
type in
let it snow
Pretend you are in the mountains in the West!

Packing for the pat down

2011-12-17T21:48:00.000-06:00

Air travel at Christmas seems to be a way of life. We raised our kids in many places, so we need to assume (yes, ass u me) that they will be moving for a good many more years.

And so we prepare.

A good look over the clothing. No metal- anywhere.

Even plastic zippers does not help a 60 yr old man who sports a replaced hip. He always gets to have his underwear felt. Lucky boy! One cannot profile. Even if you could, there are so many suspects who carry a military retirement card, walk with a limp and strip to almost nothing before they enter the airport. Must be that Seahawks cap!

How about the pleasure of being hand searched because they said they could not see what is behind a necklace? The necklace hits above the collar bone and the blouse was a V neck. Yes, checking the breast area is so necessary after sending a person through that amazing machine that x rays bodies. What did we spend that money on?

Walking across yards of rug and tile will be awaiting you. Have you ever wondered what is on the bottom of security's shoes? We all get to trace their foot steps in our bare feet.
Make sure your shoes slip on, otherwise you will sit in the chair too long and be asked to "move along".

Carry on luggage- pack correctly. Little bottles, that carry less and cost more than the full sized ones, are stuffed into zip lock baggies. Then you are permitted to have those held up for everyone in the line to see what you use. Knitting needles are fine, Swiss Army knife will be taken away. iPads are ok to leave in the bag, computers are not.
Clothing is rolled, not folded, into neat sections. You never know when a bobby pin will get you "Bag Check". More than one TSA agent has found my dirty clothes bag- unfortunately for them.

Packing a week worth of clothing into a carry on is necessary if one hopes to get to your destination with items and money. That lesson was quickly learned when standing behind a family of seven going home to see Grandma for the first time in ten years. They left the counter with $250 less for the trip. Mama crying, baby crying, dad gritting teeth. Not a pretty sight.

Off to book the car. How many more people are killed in car accidents than air accidents?

"I am ready.
I can do it!
It is worth it to see my children and grandchild!"

The chant begins today....

BTW- I worked security at the airport for two years.

Saudi Christmas

2011-12-16T22:19:00.001-06:00

The call to prayer waifs over the desert sands. The winter sun warms the camel markets and bedoiun tents in the country side. A land of beauty that is closed off to the world. One cannot go to Saudi, you have to be invited. It is a closed world where women are covered, male children drive cars and camels are common.

Saudi Arabia does not celebrate Christmas. It is illegal. When non Saudis arrive in country their house hold goods are opened. If ornaments are spotted, it was not uncommon for the family to be called and made to watch as each one is smashed.
People of other beliefs are still tracked down and hung. One learned quickly not to go to the main market place on Thursdays- judgment day. Being careful of not showing your beliefs is a way of life.

Saying all of that, Christians are not often dissuaded from Christmas. A closely held secret, the emphasis becomes the mystery of a Messiah in a strange and hostile world.

And so we gathered, in the large courtyard, and enjoyed the Christmas narrative. The ten foot walls kept us in a nd prying eyes out. Our children act out a narrative that is more similar to their lives than counterparts in most of the world.
The gifts of the kings- the beginning of sharing gifts - the western take on the day- is much more understandable. Our markets are full of the sap from Myrrh and frankincense trees. They are common smells, ones are children are often "blessed with" in local markets.Gold is sold openly and given on every important occasion.

Children of the compound had mothers who traveled daily outside the walls in abyah, a long, looses,dark travel coat from the early times. Underneath such coats, local women often wore loose long dresses- as Mary is often pictured in? Western women do not have to cover their eyes, but are expected the old modesty of covering hair, as Mary is pictured as well.

They were also used to seeing men In thobe and ghutra. The long "dresses" And head coverings were the norm, not the exception.

Family outings often took us to the cliffs at the edge of the sands. Children could understand that a stable could be carved from. Cliffs, since camels and donkeys were a norm in their lives.Towns are still made of mud brick and stone.

And so the narrative began near sundown. Our children portrayed the journey of Mary and Joseph, the birth of the Christ child, and the visitors of shepherds and kings. The compound dwellers then gathered in the sound proof chapel for strands of Silent Night and hugs of joy to be able to be together in such an amazing place.

The white thread becomes indistinguishable from the black one. The call to night prayer begins. Our children know to grow quiet. With Santa, without television, it is a simple celebration of the First Christmas and a time for prayer for Christians in an islamic world.

How to save during the holidays

2011-12-16T09:15:00.001-06:00

Two weds: "Stay home!"

Those words need to be followed by, "put blinders on while cruising the net."

Having shopping done early permits time to enjoy the family and reason for the holydays.

Yes- holydays not holidays. That is what we are hoping for.

Soldiers

2011-12-14T12:16:00.000-06:00

Every once in a while I read that someone feels that we are "done" with the war.

Somehow that missed the many thousands of soldiers who are still serving.

Our family has been Army strong for many years. We are now in the middle of the second generation to serve. This is the hut that one of the children that we grew up with. We met her when she was a three year old- and could hold a conversation with you with her eyes. She is now an Army nurse doing trauma work in Afghanistan.

Last week I sent out a package to a father of four- Army soldier- who is serving in a village with only six other Americans. We sent him things of home- like US coffee and beef jerky. Since he lives in the village, he eats their food...which is not to the normal US palate. He acts as a mayor- keeping things in check so the enemy will stay at bay.

Yesterday a helicopter went down where my son is serving in Washington. Night flying- always dangerous. They train because that helicopter is often the eyes for the people on the ground. Keeping guard while others take a shift.

Today, when I sit in my warm house and complain that the mail may be one more day delayed, I take pause and thank the Lord that I live in a country where "young people" still choose to serve. They serve the impoverished, the illiterate, the injured and tired in the newest branch of the State Department, the US military.

Less expensive theater

2011-12-13T18:12:00.001-06:00

We live near a university. Actually, for you big city people, we live about 45 minutes from a major university. Last year I looked into season tickets for the shows that the university hosts. We save a certain amount every year for eating out or local entertainment. This year I decided to take that budget in a lump sum from savings, replacing it slowly with our regular monthly allowance.
Tonight we are seeing Mannheim Steamroller.
In a "regular" setting, we would never "afford" the tickets.
The University provides the cultural experiences to enhance their students and the community at large.
I am glad they do!

Self insuring

2011-12-11T21:03:00.001-06:00

We don't carry life insurance.
There, I have said it.

My husband had a professor who did not believe in life insurance.
Fortunately, while my husband served in the military, he was insured by the government.when he left the Army, we left insurance behind. He could not see it as something necessary. It has worked out so far.

Instead of insurance,we have worked hard to make sure that we have things paid off and we have savings. About three years ago I began to feel that his plan had worked. I still have concerns. He is older, but his family has a longer life span, in general, than mine.

Sometimes I get nervous. We lost several family members suddenly a few years ago. Something could always happen. I could be hurt by a collapse of military health care.

Still, I don't see us turning back now.

Do I recommend this plan to my children? No, quite the opposite. When asked, I tell them that both members of the family need insurance until children are long gone.

"Is the baby Jesus here?"

2011-12-11T11:34:00.001-06:00

"Not yet."
"when is they Baby's birthday?"
"two more weeks"
"but we have mama and dada's presents?"
"yes" "We celebrate the Baby's birthday by giving presents to others."
"Can we give presents to everyone?"
Who says there is no hope for our future.

Through the eyes

2011-12-08T20:21:00.001-06:00

We gathered our jackets and strapped into car seats. The drive to the train station took two minutes.
Train into town, and then the metro for a day at the museums. We avoided rush hour but still ran into a few rushers.
Hold hands
Talk about airplanes
Eat snacks
Color pictures
Do experiments
Talk to a toys for tots Marine
If you ever want to know how good the world is
Take a four year old to a museum.

It os amazing we can have such a productive day in the shadow of our Nation's capital building!

Off to soak it all in

2011-12-07T08:26:00.001-06:00

In about 45 minutes the car will turn towards Kansas City. A plane will be waiting. It will whisk its way to Baltimore. Once it arrives one passenger will jump off, grab her bag and get on a train.

Most Nanas that I know do not have to go through all of this in order to spend a weekend alone with their grandchild. But we have been making plans for about three weeks.

"Nana, I want to go on the train 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10 times with you!"
"The train only runs on the week days."
"That is OK- we can still go 10 times!"
" How about we take the Metro into town two days?"
"OK (sad voice) but we will see all the animals and the airplanes?"
"Yes, maybe even the dinosaurs."
"Can we dance?" "Yes baby"
"How about doing some mak'in stuff?"
"I have my bag full of things to make for the tree."
"Did you know that Santa has a key to my front door?"

And off we go into another conversation.
Skype and the phone are amazing.
Our family lived 2000 miles from my parents most of their childhood.
With modern technology- it is almost like living next door.
Still, the rare visits with the grandchild are few and far between.
Soaking him all in will be a pleasure!

Extra Income

2011-12-06T15:04:00.001-06:00

I have been a teacher all of my life.
Surprisingly, most substitues do not have any background in education.
If you are need of extra income, you might try a classroom.

Substitute pay averages between $60-100 a day. Most school districts do not take out your taxes until you have worked a few months, so you will end up with the entire amount. If you work too much, you need to hold out your own taxes.

Most places require a substitute license. That, in general, is given to anyone who can pass high school and a finger print check. Some states require some money for the license as well. My district does the finger print check for free. They are desperate for subs!

Once cleared, you go on a list. Our district is fully computerized. I go on line and sign up for the jobs that I want on the days that I am free. Good all around, for me.

"Are you crazy to suggest substituting?" Nope.

If you come in with a plan, have a strong voice, and dress professionally, most jobs go very well.

Tongue depressors are my friends. A bucket full of forty sticks with numbers on them are the trick for 3-8th grades. As a student is doing the "right thing" they get a stick. Making sure that everyone gets one is tough at times, but can be done. At the end of the period, sticks return to the bucket for a drawing. Having stashed key chains, erasers, general little things that kids like, I am ready for the drawing. Pick out two sticks. You would be amazed at the cheers when someone "wins". Even if I had to put out $1.00 for small things, it was worth my sanity for the day.

It is a great retirement gig. Many people substitute a month before they travel, so they can have a bit of extra spending money. Personally, I think most people don't think they can do it. Give it a try. A day will pay all of the upfront expenses- so you will not lose any money over it.

If you feel the educational world stinks because of teachers, substituting may be a civic responsibility.

2011-12-05T16:39:00.001-06:00

Moving mom

2011-12-05T11:00:00.001-06:00

Mom chose to move to an independent care center. She chose a smaller apartment because it has a fantastic view. Now it is time to downsize.
When mom moved my sister and I moved as many of her pieces of art as possible. Her place is fantastic, relaxing, fun, and wonderful. The rest needs to go so we can sell the house.
First, inventory. There are five of us "kids" from 49-59. An inventory lets everyone know what is there.
My iPad came in handy. Pictures were fast and furious. My sister,out of town, posted all photos on Picassa. We each could make comments on pieces. Lots of fun memories shared.
Next month we will gather-two of us on Skype. We choose numbers 1-5 and then begin picking.
I'll tell you, doing it this way sure makes it fun.
Mom is excited. She loves to see her stuff in our houses. Nice to be moving forward while Mom is still with us.

Wedding in September

2011-12-04T14:40:00.001-06:00

In case you missed it! We had a great time!

Starting again

2011-12-04T14:14:00.002-06:00

It has been a wild few months.

We almost lost our nephew to congested heart failure.

Our son got married to a wonderful lady.

And I decided

again

that the full time classroom was still not for me.

This is a different start.

I am looking to track everything

and asking for help to keep on track.

We are going to live within our means

which means a pension and some substitute teaching money.

Start with the spiritual side

not necessarily the religious side.

Move to the financial side

not necessarily the budget side.

Move to the deeper relationship side

not necessarily leaving out the me side.

I have taken the time to breathe

Now I can step back in

and work

to see what is ripe for the second half!

The debt

2011-05-18T07:02:00.003-05:00

Last night I perused

my credit cards.

They are paid off monthly

no carry over.

Last month and this-

oooollllaallla.

Getting our house in shape

and helping with a wedding,

we are out of whack.

For the first time

we are going to have to go into our savings.

That is what savings is for.

But the wake up alarm has rung

and things will tighten up around here!

Much like the national debt

Sec of Treasury said he will pay our debt

no matter what.

A suggestion this morning was to delay

Social Security for two weeks,

pay the debt and then move forward.

I don't get social security yet.

The one person I know who gets it,

and needs it,

will probably be homeless if this

wonderful idea is implemented.

I do not know the answers to the debt problem.

Which generation do we throw under the bus

There does not see to be an

equal opportunity throwee answer.

I have asked some conservative bloggers

where their churches stand on what needs to be cut.

No reply.

Do we throw everyone at the same time?

Just cut the entire pay system

of the federal government 10% across the board?

Do we only throw the poor under the bus

since they obviously did not do a good job saving?

Do we only throw the military under the bus

Since they are stuck anyway?

Do we throw all of the people in Washington

under the bus?

All the federal workers furlough for two weeks

should save a pretty penny.

What about the economy in those areas?

How would a complete federal furlough

non payment for two weeks

effect you?

Before you answer

make sure you think of ALL the ways

federal money effects your life and lively hood.

Taupe and short

2011-05-16T11:18:00.003-05:00

Two words I could have lived without.

Taupe

I don't look good in taupe

or any other non color

I am round

Round looks better in something scrumptious

because browns say:

"I just don't want to be seen or heard today".

My freckled white skin says:

"OW! why would you knowingly do this to me?"

Short.

Do you know the last time I wore a short dress?

Hummm

that would probably be about 1979 or 80.

When was my daughter born? 1983

I definitely haven't worn short since then.

So the mother of the groom is supposed to wear

short and taupe (or versions of those).

How about if I used the above dress and cut it short?

AGGGG!

HELP!

Weddings

2011-05-15T20:46:00.001-05:00

Weddings are a state in and of themselves

If you let them

they will take over the marriage

part of the day

Tough to distinguish between

Yes to the Dress

and

You are now man and wife

Sometimes I wish

that the TV was never invented!

Mitch Rapp/////Mark Valley

2011-05-13T17:30:00.002-05:00

For those of you who are spy novel people

My husband is heading up a campaign

One of Vince Flynn's books is becoming a movie

He is asking for suggestions.

My husband thinks Mark Valley should play Mitch Rapp.

Could you help him out?

http://www.vinceflynn.com/Who_Should_Play_Mitch_Rapp.html

What we do for love---:>)

Communication

2011-05-11T14:00:00.005-05:00

It can be the best thing for the human soul

or the worst thing.

To me there seems to be three sorts of communication with other people

Compassion- I can feel where you are coming from

maybe this communication can help.

This form is often the source of communication

within a loving family

Competition- You need the job

(insert: time, strength, money,

love, encouragement....)

so I come up with equal needs for the job

We both need job

The ends are now justified into win/lose or

at times

win/win or lose/ lose.

This form is often used in debate

or when going after a common goal

Control- I want a certain thing

Your wants, while valid,

are not my wants.

I will do what it takes to get control.

If I am correct then

My control of the situation

will eventually show that I had the best idea

to begin with and it is good.

If I am wrong, the control will spin out of control

and usually cause great pain in the future.

This form is used in authoritarian situations

police and firemen use this.

Many parents use this form as well.

These are not positive or negative ways of communication

Evaluating from which angle the communication comes from

(looking at BOTH sides)

is legitimate.

Stepping back from a situation

and seeing "where" the other is coming from helps.

For one person may think you are having

a compassionate conversation

while the other is dealing in control.

American Airlines part 2

2011-05-11T11:32:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I decided to cruise by American to check it out.

The "low price" was BACK!

After all that hassle on the phone

of "it was a mistake and needed to be removed"

We are now flying to the wedding

with enough to spare a car for the week!

Whatever@@

American Airlines

2011-05-09T20:08:00.002-05:00

I am a bit ticked off right now.

American had a fare on its website

that fare has been there all day

but when you actually click to buy

they claim "it is no longer available"

If it is no longer available

then it should not be advertised!

We take a lot of guff from the airline industry

I am REALLY sick of it

paying for your luggage

as if you could actually get somewhere without clothing

Well, maybe if I were doing

the round the world with no luggage challenge.

American- you are about to help me find a new home airline.

GRRRRRR!

Mother's Day

2011-05-08T22:38:00.004-05:00

Crisp morning air

small vase on the window seal

acapella Mass

adirondack chair

ride in the convertible

drive through greening fields

stain for the playhouse

watering the garden

lots of phone calls

great movie

beautiful sunset.

Miss my children terribly

but having the "baby" come to visit in June

and the son getting married in September

makes it all more bearable.

the calm

2011-05-06T08:07:00.001-05:00

My children are all twittering

there will be lots of visiting this summer.

The wait is on to see if the oldest will move

in the middle of the winter.

If they do or if they don't

there is going to be a shoving match here

when the decision is made.

Enjoy the calm before the storm:>)

2011-05-02T22:50:00.003-05:00

Yes, I have read the Martin Luther King Post

Yes, I know the Pope has declared it is unChristian

for me to be glad at the death

but I am

November 1996 changed our family's life forever

My husband was in a building that "received a gift from bin Laden"

The rest of us were at school.

We returned home our Saudi compound not knowing what to expect.

A soldier got on our bus

dripping with blood

screaming for his children.

We lost seven people that day

and a bit of my soul.

There were many survivors

most of us were walking wounded.

We were "kept" there until March

to show support for the Saudi government.

Living with it day by day.

A fog of injury, blood and mourning.

Several months after we left

the same people came in and shot

a number of teachers on a compound

just to show they could.

The press finally showed up

at Daharan- I guess that was big enough.

The nightmare continued a few years later

when we found out that one of our close friends

had been in the Pentagon when it was hit-

as well as one of the Sergeants that survived with us

five years before.

I remember that day well-

since I was watching TV just after the first plane hit.

I called my friend and told her

this was another "bin Laden present".

She said it was an accident

then the next plane hit.

Sometimes people have to accept that there is evil

Without the show of evil

we will not understand good.

I have felt evil

and being rid of it is a good thing.

I believe that there are a very few who will actually mourn him.

A few mourned Hitler and Stalin.

I will say

I am not sorry for their loss.

I would not dance on his grave

Neither will I "hold my nose" and walk on

I appreciate that we have people in this country

Policemen and soldiers- who are willing to do

the most difficult thing

to keep the rest of us safe.

And yes,

I do feel tonight

that finally my family is free of this horrible man.

Beatification of John Paul II

2011-04-30T21:58:00.002-05:00

Understanding the idea of Catholic Saints is difficult for many

We are all in the community of saints.

In some ways the LDS understand saints more than Catholics.

We all are in the community of saints-

it is simply our free will that takes us to fulfillment or moves us away from it.

LDS take the explanation and move it into becoming god

but the beginning idea is the same.

Catholics declare saints on two levels -in my mind

The first is an example to follow

a person who was alive and gives a person pause

by their example- brings the other person to a higher good.

Some saints did some very "bad" things and turned to God for salvation.

Think St Paul.

Others were blessed with a life of leadership.

John Paul II was one of those people to me

so is Maximilian Kolbe

Tomorrow is the Mass for John Paul.

Beatification Mass is the step just before the Church

states that She feels that the person should be looked at

as a person who lived in a way that exemplified

Christ's love for His flock.

That is one celebration of life I would have enjoyed attending.

Fishing

2011-04-28T14:20:00.001-05:00

Fishing did not happen today

the engine would not start.

It was good to get out in the sunshine anyway.

Loads of ducks have taken over the docks.

The advantage of being "retired"

We can go back again tomorrow!

Father in Law

2011-04-25T17:24:00.002-05:00

My father in law passed away in 1999.

Hard to believe it has been so long.

He was a plumber in the first nuclear power plant in the US

Would he be surprised that one of his grandsons

graduated in nuclear physics!

Anyway...

My husband has been doing a ton of research for the family

The wonder is how much of his father's exposure to radiation

has caused what "we" seem to be going through.

My brother in law died at 58

from a very rare form of stomach cancer.

My sister in law has had three (a record) bouts of

Hodgkins Lymphoma.

A grandson has Crohns-

without any family history of it.

Another has serious stomach issues.

All of the women in my daughter's generation

have had difficult times with pregnancies-

miscarriages, ectopics, and tough carriages.

Some may say,"well, birth control", but to my knowledge,

unless someone is telling an untruth,

it is not used among these young women.

None of our families had baby problems in the past.

My MIL had four children with no problems.

Both my MIL and FIL came from families of 13.

Soooo--the research is on.

The nuclear plant actually keeps records back

to the time when "grandpa" worked there.

It even kept track of the radiation levels for these men

many of whom were sent home

when their meters were "off the charts".

The records for them are also kept

interestingly enough

at the regional cancer center

in Oregon.

Do I think Nuclear power is safe?

Much safer than it was when Grandpa worked there

Much safer than a number of deep water rigs exploding

or wars to keep ourselves in oil.

Not as safe as wind or solar....

Reading list

2011-04-25T13:05:00.004-05:00

Why Retire

He approaches it a bit differently

but it is the same.

We are going fishing on Thursday.

Life is good!

I have been taken over by a Christian homeschooling mother

who also happens to be a Air Force Chaplain's wife

stationed in Japan.

Her blog shows Christianity at work.

Without the empty words.

Bob is writing a blog on being satisfied

with retirement

but really with being who you are.

This article on commitment

really made me think.

There are so many others-

Ruth and Renee write about books.

I love hearing that Renee has a second child

heading to college on full scholarship

and a third one in the wings:>)

and Carrie writes about the heart

and lose of her mother.

But mostly I enjoy just cruising and reading

because I have the time to do it

and I enjoy it!

Woo HOO!

Easter

2011-04-24T10:23:00.003-05:00

It is a quiet Easter here.

Daughter's family heading to their parish

and then some Easter fun

in Maryland.

Son joining his fiance at church

with her family

I understand there was some egg dying in Washington.

Our 8 am Mass was joined by the soprano from the 9:30 Mass ;>)

She commented at the end-

over the microphone

that it would be so nice if everyone sang

then she launched into a hymn that no one knew.

Father walked slowly down the isle

as he always does

and shook hands and gave Easter greetings.

He is so warm

and knows his flock.

I wonder if he ever thinks of just saying no to the soprano?

We, the 8 am crowd, know the traditional hymns

and sing them a cappella most of the rest of the year.

It is lovely to hear the men's voices,

The large amount of young families at that mass

is also nice

since the young children are often joining their

grandfathers in singing praise.

It is a joyful Mass

and I enjoy meeting God there.

Paintings

2011-04-23T21:51:00.003-05:00

While in New York with my daughter we saw this painter.

He had just finished this painting of the street we were on.

There was something surreal about experiencing him

in the spot

with the wet paint.

I don't know why it so reminds me of Holy Saturday

a beginning?

lots of blobs for the common good?

a defined purpose for everyone?

His name is Phillip.

Maybe I will have one of his paintings

and maybe I will always just enjoy this picture.

2011-04-22T16:40:00.003-05:00

There is a strange guilt that hangs over my generation.

The guilt is to work at a paying job as long as humanly possible.

Men and women are to work.

Work and work and save and save.

Saving is not a bad thing

but there has to be some sort of goal.

Wasn't there a time,

like every time period before the industrial revolution,

that the work that was really sought

was to become a better person?

Today's hole

2011-04-22T16:28:00.006-05:00

Remember the hole from last week? The ones the moles made in my new garden bed? The one I filled with dirt and rocks and twigs? Well, this one appeared after last night's rain. The last holes were about the size of a silver dollar. This one- the size of a fist.

Do you think God was telling me something?

I have been trying to fill my own hole in my life with things

Trips and applications and thoughts of working

But the reality is I need to just relax and understand

the hole is there for a reason

and it is time to take some real energy with it.
I got out my "junk fabric" and started to play.

Here is the beginning of my first quilt

after 30 years of not quilting

I am nervous that it will not live up to my expectation

but is that all a part of the hole?

I finally went for a walk with the dogs. I don't have to go far to find things to enjoy

the trees are amazing this time of year

time to sit back,

enjoy where I am planted

and begin

just begin

to fill in that hole

with the things that really

will make me whole.

:>) It is time to apply again!

2011-04-18T11:41:00.002-05:00

I cannot sit still.

I truly love to work

I do not work without a push

and so....I am applying again!

Shhhhhh- don't tell anyone

I miss teaching

something fierce

I don't miss the tests

but I miss

the buy in

the time developing lessons

the thrill of having someone get excited about learning

the entire journey year after year.

Aggg!

Getting ready for the summer

2011-04-18T10:31:00.003-05:00

The first of the plants are in the ground.

yesterday night the local yokles

ate the seedlings in the starter pots.

Repeat after me, "I love the wildlife that surrounds my house".

Then plant the pots again

but this time bring them indoors at night.

We have reservations for our son's wedding

The plans look lovely

not unexpected with such a great bride!

Our portfolio is only half sold.

This could prove to be a sad mistake

but we have enough out now to ride a roller coaster down.

Did you hear that the S&P just declared

the US to be overvalued?

They declared the government is too far apart to make

a significant difference in the debt.

I hear my dreams of finally being on Medicare

Going down the tubes.

Looking for just one more up day

to get out the rest of the way.

O boy- more to put in my .05% savings account!

We took the dogs in to get their heart worm stuff

$345!!!!

AGGGG!

oh well they are worth it in entertainment alone!

Yes, life is anything but dull.

Wind

2011-04-15T17:25:00.002-05:00

Things are stirred up today

The wind is blowing

Going through a few things today

to see what I can start purging.

It is amazing the stuff we have accumulate

and put in the closets.

Anyone want a silver tray?

How about a sketch by an unknown artist?

Bronze camels for your counter?

A photo of Queen Elizabeth before she was queen- inspecting a ship?

Maybe I can interest you in a small silk rug.

My favorite? old shower curtains

you may laugh- but mine show Hong Kong when we lived there.

What to get rid of

What to save

I dislike being stirred up!

Pears and apples this year?

2011-04-14T09:31:00.004-05:00

Confused about the cuts in Medicare proposed

2011-04-14T08:40:00.003-05:00

Is the idea that private insurance

will permit end of life decisions readily for all?

Who will be able to afford

the private insurance premiums that are put in place?

How much will they be?

Can you tell me now so I can get a plan together on how to save?

Will there be a sliding scale-

those who can afford private insurance instead of Medicare paying

and those who cannot...what?

Will Medicaid still exist if I go totally broke?

I know these programs need to be roped in

But I don't understand that

on one hand these moves can be called death panels

and the other hand they can be called "private insurance' calls.

If I have minimum private insurance near the end-

does that mean I will get minimum care?

Why do I have to pay when I am

simply one year younger than the proposed law?

Why does my mom have to pay

or my older sibs?

Is it because if they had to be put into this system

they would not vote for the person who put the system in place?

What happens to the family

who does not have insurance at all for the end of life care?

Or even the beginning of life care-

say a premi who needs tons of help to get started?

I don't get it.

Does someone else get understand

how the two parties are so different

in what we can expect in the end?

This really affects me since

Tricare ends at 65

when Medicare is supposed to

pick up.

Will my health insurance actually be

MORE expensive when I am old?

Home again!

2011-04-12T09:58:00.001-05:00

The trip was amazingly quiet. I think everyone was ready for a shut down. We got to walk the cherry blossoms and see the dinosaurs.

I'll miss the family-

but it is

good to be home again.

Government shut down?

2011-04-06T19:59:00.002-05:00

Bring it on!

I am tired of this play.

If "they" want to shut down the government- shut it ALL down.

Bring the troops home and let them be in their houses.

Let the wounded live on the street

and the veterans be without care.

Have the Congressmen live without a paycheck

(of course most of them can anyway since almost all are millionaires).

Hold up Social Security checks and Medicare payments

maybe "that" will save us the money that seems to be lacking.

heck, we could start that new insurance policy tomorrow

and the people who are 80 are the ones who get to try it out.

The post office should have been closed long ago.

Shut the airports and train stations- or at least get rid of air traffic control since the security is actually paid for by the airlines. Come to think of it most of air traffic control is well.

Let our national debt go into bankruptcy.

Don't inspect meat, meal, or oil.

Teach students with the half of staff that is paid for locally

that can be done during testing season anyway

no need for a teacher- the computers do all the work.

Computer education is far superior than human interaction anyway.

Turn off rural electric

or any electric that comes from a rural source.

Get rid of the extra police and firemen- after you close the FBI and CIA

Close the national parks

they are just a waste of space that could be working land anyway.

Get rid of the radio stations since they are over publicly moderated airwaves.

Get used to pornography on bill boards

they are owned by people who make the money.

Let's let the small business owner pay whatever they want to pay

government is holding them back

from making too much money.

Yes, let's shut it down.

I have a farm. It has a stream and deer and turkey.

My family can survive.

I have lived in countries with little government

where the powerful control

rights, freedoms, religions.

Shut 'r down!

Wait- first I have to get my family here.

Then shut it down!

They are

2011-04-03T13:20:00.003-05:00

ENGAGED!

Tomorrow is THE day

2011-04-02T22:06:00.001-05:00

And I will tell you why tomorrow ;>)

A little less crabby now that the sun is shining!

2011-04-02T15:23:00.009-05:00

Remember last Saturday?
This is 2 April--- just 40 degrees warmer

This poor rose was the only thing that survived last year's flood

I decided a lilac and lavender will keep it company. Not too many plants yet. I don't want to be really scrambling when the freeze comes in next week again. Of course the mint always finds a way to come back.

Taxes

2011-04-01T17:02:00.003-05:00

Doing taxes is a draining experience

We pay loads of taxes

We have never had enough to "write off"

so we pay what the number says.

I want FLAT taxes.

Why should someone be able to write off their house

because they didn't have the money

while I have to pay fully?

While private industry complains about public workers

and their compensation

They need to remember that

few of us get to write off our lunches

or the car and gas

or even the home office.

I pay more taxes than GE

What else is new?

Next year will be interesting

What happens when you don't have income?

Stuff

2011-03-30T16:51:00.003-05:00

I stopped at Petrified Forest.

Never been able to afford a piece

This time I asked about a discount

Looking for a spot in the house

OK- some stuff I still want

And something more....

For years I was on a chat board

working through my religion and faith

This person always brought me back

I have been reading his blog again

It is good for me.

If you want to retire- don't get a dog!

2011-03-30T08:55:00.002-05:00

Make no mistake

I love our doggies

they are a crazy part of our lives

BUT

they are worse than having kids if you want to travel

or do almost anything for long periods of time

Kennels

other dogs

worry about colds

waking in the night

Can't we just visit the dogs like we visit the grandbaby?

A visitor

2011-03-28T16:36:00.001-05:00

We don't get many visitors

This one just wandered up from the creek

and into the trees on our property

For those of you unfamiliar

it is a possum!

From Phoenix 88 to Milford 38

2011-03-28T10:26:00.005-05:00

Yesterday was a great reminder of why I live here

The trees became etched in snow

as I watched out my computer room window

Yes, life is good in Kansas.

This little piggy-or how to get ready for being the groom's family

2011-03-27T10:36:00.005-05:00

Things have changed over time.

We are not clear on the responsibility of being a groom family.

The bride we got---

pay for everything;.)

On to the groom- maybe- possibly.

Honeymoon and the groom apparel used to be the norm.

Bride's rings?

but that the modern groom cares for himself.

We bought this little piggy

it is really for our grandson

but we had better start stashing.

We have a feeling that it will have to be full

for the groom

and his ideas!

We decided not to wait until he pops the question

That is something he has to do on his own.

Images on the way

2011-03-26T14:44:00.018-05:00

Visits

2011-03-23T10:35:00.001-05:00

Family.
It was a good day.
Seeing places I have only heard about
discussing things that are close to heart.
Still, I cannot wait to turn my car north
and go home!

What is important

2011-03-22T09:29:00.001-05:00

Coming home is difficult
there is a different standard
we don't fit into that standard
it is uncomfortable
and sad
and wierd
I am ready to travel home

Wedding day

2011-03-19T09:09:00.002-05:00

The journey to this day for this young couple was many years long.
They want a simple wedding
to join the ranks of those whom
proclaim themselves to another.
It has been fun
and a lot of work.
A few more hours
and another will enjoy
the Joys and hardships that come along
with deciding to love one above all others.
Happy wedding day!

Growing from the "have to" to the "want to"

2011-03-18T09:18:00.003-05:00

The beginning part of life
is full of have to phrases
have to attend services every week
have to raise kids to be good adults
have to be a part of a group

Somewhere along time the lines blur and
have to becomes want to
The problem comes when want to does not
include past
have tos
That is simply not an acceptable norm
in this society of black and white judgement.

My ever continuing spiritual journey,
is moving me from
has to
to a place of content commitment
in a far deeper sense.
Being deeply Catholic and
enjoying the time
to realize what that means
is an enlightenment to me
There are few have to
because the study enlightens
that many of the have to
religious practices are fairly new
They do not originate
before the time of the reformation
and many were put in place
to keep people in line with the
political church and not the spiritual church.
Some of the saints I take as leaders in my spirituality
are from the reformation time-
St Francis
St Clare
The others that I cherish are
before the political years of the political state
known as the Holy Roman Empire Church
St Lucy
St. James
St John
St Jerome
most of whom are contemplatives
they were not in Church every Sunday-
but gathered in communion with others
and then did a lot of thinking on their own.
They chose- at times-
to go against the norm of the Church
to become more at peace with their walk.

I am, in no way, close to those walks,
but am seeking peace in my faith.
Faith,
not religion,
is what is desired for us in the long run.
Faith guides our judgement
and directs our actions.
Faith is what needs to be strong enough
to endure suffering or love fully.
Faith is the corner to not judging
others, but seeking to give comfort.
It gives us the strength to let go
of our young adults so they can grow
in their own faith
or our elderly
so they can be with the Lord.

I find that the Catholic religion
gives me the structure
for my faith like no other,
but I believe that faith
is more than the religion itself.
At times I have been jealous of
those who find their faith
fully through the Church
but it has never been that way for me.

That has taken a journey away to see.

Now for the long journey back.
Faith- community- religion
instead of the opposite direction.
Finally, a time to do that thinking.
Wonderful retirement.

Cleaning out

2011-03-17T11:47:00.002-05:00

This trip is primarily about helping a friend with her daughter's wedding.
There has been a good amount of down time.
so the focus has been to help my mom clean out.
My parents moved over 10 years ago
to this wonderful, accessable house.
That makes my task much easier.
Yesterday was the master dresser.

They moved in at the time of panty hose
and the drawers were full of them.
After a long discussion about the value and restriction of panty hose
all 40 pairs went into a bag for someone who is working for a living.
We decided that neither of us would EVER put on another pair.
Out they went.

Women have so many things that "kept them in place".
Panty hose, girdles, high heels,
even our underclothing was about restriction.
Cleaning out is important for people who are retired.
It gives the opportunity to see the world less restricted.

Off to St Vincent with seven bags of stuff
and a lot more breathing room for life!

Please pray

2011-03-11T05:00:00.002-06:00

for those in Japan.

Several of us have an on line Air Force family

stationed in Northern Japan

whom we consider friends

An earth quake is a scary thing

We have never lived through a tsunami

I am pretty nervous for her family right now.

On my way ...and off face book

2011-03-10T21:16:00.003-06:00

The boys were back today

they ate their fill

and then went to get

the girls

The journey begins in the morning

headed to Phoenix for a few weeks

time to do some assessing of mom

and help a friend with a wedding

Facebook is off the list as much as possible

for the 40 days

re evaluation will happen after that

maybe take the numbers back down to

just a few

No need for any more debate in my life

right now

Husband flew through heart procedures

Dr said that my travel is still a go

The top will be down

and the hair will be blowing

a new day is dawning.

(Isn't there a song in there somewhere?)

2011-03-06T09:22:00.003-06:00

Lent

A time to go into the desert and reflect.

In Kansas it is a time to walk

among the tall dried grasses

and look for the small

sprigs of new year

There are so many shades

of brown

No one better than the other.

Soon those browns will

subside and greens will take their place.

A time for long gazes into our lives

and journeys into the new green

IRA contributions

2011-03-05T08:35:00.002-06:00

All over the web it tells what the top limit is for the IRA

Curious retired minds want to know the bottom level.

Is it:

1. the amount the IRA is for

(you have to make $5000 to put in $5000)?

2. the amount both spousal and individual

(you make $5000 but you can put in $5000 individual and $5000 spousal)?

3. the amount is shifting?

There is an understanding that only earned income counts...

thinking that my sister and I should hire each other once a year.

How much does one have to work to place an IRA into play?

Retired inquiring minds want to know.

Last Day!

2011-03-04T13:02:00.003-06:00

This is the best of best

We were a team

There were others

but we were the core

19 schools

Two visits each

Four make up sessions

Three snow days

Over 3,000 miles driven

Today is the last day.

OK- it wasn't so bad.

STILL

If I say I need to be employed again

you can remind me to read

the posts from the last two months!

Time is of the essence

2011-02-27T17:06:00.002-06:00

Two weeks until the road trip begins.

The job was supposed to end last Friday

It is dragging until next Friday

The up side is that it provides another paycheck for traveling

The down side is it takes five days out of my prep.

Since next week is full everything else falls into the following week:

Things with Hubby on Monday

Car check Tuesday

Hair Wednesday

Nails and feet Thursday

Leave Friday

This week is going to be a stock week

We are selling like crazy

Letting go of "friends" who had risen from the dead of 2008.

My gut says this will be a MESSY Presidential politics season

Once the mud begins

the stock market can become rocky.

Instead of the market

we will be putting money back into our house

It is above the market now

but we plan on staying for at least five more years.

Why not fix it up slowly

The plan for the next two winters?

Demolish and enlarge the master bath

there are some closets that are on the back of it

in the hall

Those will now become a part of the room

Tear out most of the carpet, tile and stairs

Wood and tile all of the areas

Scott wants to rebuild the staircase

Replace the kitchen counter

have not decided on the material yet

Granite seems to be the resell choice

Any suggestions?

We will probably live in the basement

as most of this work goes on

The workpeople (that would be us)

need a place to hide out

without dust:>)

Any hints on how to survive a remodel

Besides going to Hawaii in the middle of it?

That is our choice right now.

Another link

2011-02-23T16:40:00.004-06:00

It seems like I am just revolving around the news until this job is over.

Here is a link on up dates in the Middle East. My daughter posted it. It is of great interest to us since we lived in Saudi and have several friends in Iraq and Afghanistan.

An interesting debate on health care going on at Bob's

The old people

2011-02-21T12:05:00.005-06:00

This commentary hits what I think is REALLY going on in our society.

Unfortunately, the people complaining the most are either

dependent on public works

on Medicare

or wealthy enough not to be hit by serious illness invading their money.

Do what you need to do and then just enjoy

2011-02-19T08:44:00.004-06:00

The rabbit moon was last night.

Fantastic moon rise in Kansas.

We are so blessed to live in the middle of nowhere

when there are things in the sky to see.

This is the last week of my job.

I have learned the hard lesson.

Yes, it was nice to make an income again

but the stress was not worth it.

The snow had to be plowed instead of watching it melt

Several books went unread

and people in need, did not get attention.

The job was all consuming

which tends to happen to me.

It is almost time to travel to see family:

grandbaby during the cherry blossom festival.

A daughter in the big apple.

mom for a remodel.

excellent friend for a wedding.

sister in law for a car ride .

and last- but certainly not least -

a sister's "new to me" house.

Two trips in two months.

Then it is over for the season

time to plant.

This time I plan to be home when the tomatoes ripen.

Ah- I love the back porch swing

A place to listen to our creek.

Maybe I will even pick some asparagus this year!

Looking forward to some long walks by the lake

and swims at the Y.

Sometimes you just need to get it out of your system.

Now I have.

I met an elderly lady who

needs a ride to the commissary yesterday

That will be so much better than driving 100 miles to a job!

BTW- Miss Maggie has a cute spot.

To travel or not

2011-02-18T07:47:00.002-06:00

Savings for travel complete

Now to decide where.

There is a nagging feeling for me

not to travel overseas.

I want my children to travel

but feel we have already seen

much of what we want to see.

So, here are the options:

Turkey

Greece

South Africa

Hawaii

We should make plans soon

Why cannot I get in the mood?

This world economy has got me in a hold.

How to work with someone who drives you crazy.

2011-02-17T06:57:00.002-06:00

It happens.

You end up with someone on your team

who rushes to be first done- no matter how well done,

who constantly questions what you are doing,

who does not know how to compliment a fellow worker

causing that worker to feel that they are not good at the job.

Several thing you can do:

casually mention the problems.

be focused and simply get the work done.

pull the person aside and work though to solutions.

and if all else fails

give less hours.

2011-02-11T21:32:00.000-06:00

Four Chaplain Day

This is a great story I had forgotten. Worth a read.

Premies

2011-02-10T09:31:00.002-06:00

My uncle was a premi.

My Nana said when he was born

the nurses gave him to her

and told her to take him home to pass.

She and her aunt put him in a shoe box by the stove

They fed him with an eye dropper.

He is 86 today.

The photographer Anne Geddes has always taken

lovely photos of babies

This story about one of "her babies"

Reminded me of

my uncle

and my Nana

and how precious life is.

Family

2011-02-06T08:12:00.002-06:00

My extended family is a strange assortment of people.

We are as different from each other as we are the same.

It is difficult to believe we grew up in the same house-

since none of us really has any memories of the others.

I do know the competition for anything was fierce-

attention, money, space, sports, time, cars, praise, grades.

We all went to good schools, took lessons and played tennis.

Still, forty years later we can depend that

at least one of us will step up for another in a pinch.

My sister did for my brother this month.

It has been a long road for both of them

both lost spouses- from very different things.

But the loss is there.

I can view it from the outside

but the support is there in the end.

I guess it works out - sometimes.

2011-02-02T09:38:00.009-06:00

Ripples of snow

Bored dogs

Glistening trees

The blizzard has ended

the frozen air has

arrived

Preparation for a blizzard

2011-02-01T08:39:00.010-06:00

For my west coast viewers

blizzards are very different than snow storms

Right now it is 8 with a wind chill of -10

Eight is cold enough to instantly

freeze your bugers in you nose :>)

-Ten is cold enough to give your ears frost bite

when going out with the doggy for potty time.

We are a minimal curtain household.

We do not have neighbors.

Most of the year all of the windows

go uncovered so we can

view the trees

These are the trees out our bedroom window

When a blizzard is arriving

our mode of survival

changes

After a "normal

Arizona July"

electric bill of

$400 arrived yesterday

our mode went into high gear.

We have several techniques.

The sunlight

basement windows get a layer of thermo insulation. The dining room has a quilt pinned to it. The spare bedroom/ office/ sewing room receives a layer of heavy

cloth clipped to the rod (there is a rod in there- but nothing is on it normally).

Our bedroom and living room stay the same. I need sunlight (which is why moving to Seattle is so unappealing to me).

The rest of the preparations should be normal

but they are often forgotten until a blizzard warning.

Blizzard means you don't want to go out for ANYTHING.

Batteries for the radio and flashlights- check

Greenhouse is anchored- check

Corn out for turkeys- check

Crock pot of Chili cooked- check

P/B/H and bread for sandwiches- check

10 gallons of water in bottles- check

Cars full of gas- check

Cash- check

Clean clothes- check

Blankets out and aired- check

Wood inside by the fireplace- check

Place scooped out by the door

for doggies to go potty- check

Several good books- double check!

Bring it on! Blizzard away!

Holding my breath

2011-01-30T22:15:00.002-06:00

Tomorrow morning I will wake up (God willing)

The sun will most likely be behind ice clouds

It is the television I most fear

Tomorrow I am anticipating a drop in the market

A big drop

I hope it isn't so

But it well may be

Egypt is not looking so good right now

Our chips are all in that side of the world

The US just does not get it

Oil is not worth it!

AGGGG!

Hold on- this could be an interesting ride!

Letting your certificates expire

2011-01-30T08:34:00.004-06:00

A sure way of making sure you do not something again is to let the certificate expire.

My Arizona license expired years ago. In the past it was easy to renew because I had enough years in the classroom there.

Arizona now requires certain, politically correct, classes in order to be certified. These are only taught at Arizona colleges and are explicit about how to not speak another language to a child who speaks that language. Arizona is an English only state.

This bogus class can be taken on line. You pay for the class and then fill in sheets going over the materials, sending answers electronically to the college. This type of college education is bogus. There is no interchange. You might as well take a test with the book in your lap- no real learning, just regurgitation of what is there. This is not education.

Go into the Marines and learn a skill. If you are going to college- have interchange and discussion- broaden your mind!

Forget it.

I don't play political games well.

This one is far more bogus than any I have encountered.

You get teachers (who make some of the lowest wages in state hierarchy) to take a class (so that you can assure the colleges that there will be at least SOME paying students this year) on a topic that is only there for political correctness.

And so...my teaching days in Arizona are over.

The thought had passed my mind that I could return to a classroom while helping my mom out in future years. No longer a thought.

BTW- I have always been an immersion teacher.

Local foods

2011-01-26T19:20:00.002-06:00

We are slowly eating our way into town.

Silly, isn't it?

We live twenty miles from town

and there are lots of small places to eat along the way.

A few of them are seasonal-

fishing season and non fishing season.

It is non fishing season if you haven't looked outside lately.

We have hit a few Korean places,

A burger joint,

Mexican (not Arizona Mexican but Yucatan),

and soon a new place that just opened.

Since we live outside a fort,

there tends to be many new people

who bring their foods with them.

We have been leery in the past.

So far no bad experiences.

Do you ever eat at the mom and pop places in your town?

Fiddler on the Roof

2011-01-20T07:39:00.004-06:00

One of my favorite movies.

There are a number of things that draw me to it.

Traditions- good bad or indifferent- draw a family together and could break a family apart.

Marriage- how to work through to go from being a couple of people to attempting to work the world as a solitary unit. Moving into lifelong friendship instead of being independent in all ways.

Retirement- There is a time in which study of the Word and the world supersedes the need to make money and dwell on the right now. Sharing that learning with others does not have to be in an official position- but needs to be an active undertaking.

Community- it is all and nothing. Sometimes the people you feel are your closest friends can turn. Then other people can step in and take that spot---maybe in New Jersey with their cousin Joe.

Conversations- be careful to be open to conversations with those you care deeply about. They may need your help or want to provide you help. If you are not listening, the time will pass. The chance to share is gone and a new day will begin without that sharing.

Beauty- is in the eye of the beholder and not to be judged by everyday standards. This is true in art, music and people.

Religion- is more about your relationship with God than your relationship with an institution. The institution may define aspects of your relationship with God, but it should not define who you are. If you let it define who you are, the chances that you will someday split from it or your family are pretty good.

After spending the last 20 years attempting to "make things work". Now that I am in the retirement stage I am looking forward to the aspects that I have let slip by. It is time. Cannot believe that my husband is already sixty and I am in my fifties. Where did the time go?

Five more weeks of work

2011-01-19T18:26:00.000-06:00

I hope it does not snow the entire time!

Working in retirement

2011-01-14T22:02:00.004-06:00

My concern was that I was going to be bored.

Applied for a position that looked interesting.

It is.

It is also tons of work.

Their hours and pace.

I am responsible for others.

The decision:

Take retirement seriously - don't go half way.

Take a year and really do it.

Know what it feels like.

Be aware it takes at least six months to decompress.

In March- that year will begin again!

This time it will be a year before

I get antsy and apply out again.

At least I know what I do NOT want to do

next time around!

When I write that I am considering

applying for a position,

please

remind me of this post:>)

Don't drive while it is snowing...

2011-01-10T08:26:00.002-06:00

at least down someone else's long drive.

It started off as a beautiful snowy morning.

Work had been called off since schools were closed. We discussed snowblowing the 100 yard driveway, but it was supposed to snow all day and we had no where to go.

About eight a car came down the drive. When it took a sharp right instead of the gentle right I knew trouble was ahead.

So, here is her car

Hanging.

What a mess.

AGGGG!

2011-01-04T20:29:00.002-06:00

Will someone remind me WHY I took this job?

8 weeks and counting.

Take into consideration

2011-01-02T13:06:00.003-06:00

I have been following Life{in}Grace blog for a while. There was something about it that drew me in. Maybe it was the way Edie seemed to be able to really incorporate her Christianity into her daily life. I have been searching for good examples for me for a while.

Last year the family built a beautiful house on a lake in Tennessee. She is an incredible homemaker and hometeacher. There were no details spared for making her home God centered and fun.

The Tuesday before Christmas their house burned down. Edie's accounts are heartbreaking, but she continues to inspire me as a person of faith- living it minute by minute.

Again, I am drawn in.