When plans fall through...

What do you do? Jason and I had plans to travel to South Florida this weekend for a reunion with some folks from our old church. Didn't work out...so we lounged in the pool, went to play pool on Friday night, ate at Shane's Rib Shack...more about that later...and then today after lounging in the pool again, we went to The Parade of Homes. We saw three homes but only one really impressed. It was a remodel...$1,200,000.00 in Golden Eagle. Then Mexican for dinner, golf on TV and back to our routine tomorrow. Floating in the pool all afternoon Friday was the perfect therapy...I told Jason it was my "mental health" day. Work has been wild with the DL/NW Merger Integration. So much training, so much to do to be ready. I really needed a break. I think staying at the Clearview Court B&B was the best weekend retreat. It was certainly the most stressfree get-a-way. So next time your plans fall through...look for the blessing in whatever you do.

Siblings

Seeing Melissa's post with the 3 kids on the couch brought back memories of times with my brother. He was the best brother. Well for one thing...he was so generous. On Halloween, back in the day when we still celebrated this...and honestly, the only thing we were celebrating was the loot we brought home...he would take one or two candy bars and give me the rest. I do remember being so mean to him. One time I hit him over the head with a toy rifle and when he started bleeding I knew I was in big trouble...he must have done something to make me do that, right? I used to complain at the table that he chewed too loud. I never wanted him in my room...so he used to do this little toe tap at the door....just to irritate me. Thinking back, he really had a sense of humor and certainly knew how to push my buttons. He was a really good baseball player, honestly, I tell people that had life changing circumstances not occurred, he might have been a major league player. He was that good. He could FIRE a pitch over the plate. He could also fire an apple right into the neighbors tent when they camped out in the back yard. Scared them to death. Funny. I think about him often now as we have attended some of Jacob's games. Mark was a star in Little League. A Star! He was handsome, too. My hometown had an annual May Fete. A big to do in town....we had a May Queen and court. The Queen and King were Seniors, but the court consisted of couples from 1st grade up to 11th grade. Mark was elected to be in the "court". Only the cutest boys and the cutest girls were chosen. He was a great card player. We played a game called concentration. Don't remember all of the rules, but you needed a good memory to play and he always beat me. He was so bright. Mark liked building models. He would take the most detailed ones and complete them. Every detail complete. His best, I think, were the Cutty Sark and the USS Constitution. He painted the little figures, had all the ropes and rigs - just amazing. He had to use tweezers for the tiniest parts. I recall one vacation we went on - we stayed at a Holiday Inn and he and I decided that they made the best scrambled eggs. When we got home we started making our eggs like the Holiday Inn. I think mom always did scrambled eggs in one big flat flop, but we would stir them all around to get the little chunks. Sounds so silly now. We used to chase each other through the house...One time he was chasing me and I was slamming doors behind me as I went...and the last door was to the bathroom and I slammed my thumb in the door. YIKES.We always had kittens...one was named "Nicky" because Mark had heard about "clipping ears" and he took scissors and Clipped the kitten's ear. He loved snakes and had a pet boa. What was my mom thinking? That thing scared me. Mark is a gentle giant in my mind. As the years have gone by, I have appreciated him more and more. I thank God for giving me Mark. Hand picked to be my brother. No coincidence..that God chose him for me.

Easter Sunday 2009

Jacob (12), Jason (aka PaPa), Sara (aka DeeDee), Hannah (14)

Resurrected Photos

Hope my title isn't considered blasphemous....

I'm in a RUT

This week I have even been in a literal RUT...in my own driveway. Things are bad. OK, I'm in a rut - of menus. I eat the same things everyday, every week. I eat oatmeal everyday for breakfast. EVERY DAY! If I have bananas, I will slice 1/2 and add that. Oatmeal is good for my cholesterol and I like oatmeal, but is there something else that is equally as good for me, easy to fix? I need to get out of the oatmeal rut.
I'm in a rut - of my morning routine. OK...we are all creatures of habit...routine...but Fox News Channel and the Today show EVERY DAY. Years ago I would never watch the Today Show...I must confess I was not a fan of Katie...but Meredith I like. In fact, I feel like Fox and Friends "really" are my friends. See what I mean? A rut!
I'm in a wardrobe RUT! For years I wore uniforms. 30 Years to be exact. I was SO THRILLED when Delta decided Management at my level should wear business attire. WHOO HOO I cried. I can't afford a whole new wardrobe...and I am working at Weight Watchers so I have the same tired pair of baggy black pants - getting baggier - that's good news - but black black black and it's SPRING. Yikes, I feel like I am going to a funeral everyday.
My hair is in a rut...just ask Hannah and Robin. And I actually started laughing at Hair's To You...my hairdresser's last week. She has those hairdo magazines and I was flipping through the pages and found myself....Crystal Carrington.....anyone know who I mean? A hairdo rut. Now my hairdresser says that bobs are back in and that I just need to quit it. I should be thankful that I have such gorgeous hair. She has ordered me a new flat iron, the kind she uses and says that is "the secret"...my big round brush and blowdryer are making my current bob a 1980's Carrington. AHHHH there may be hope for this rut.
I think ruts, just like the photo ( which is NOT my driveway ) are places we get stuck and sometimes we just don't know how to get out. Sometimes it seems like a habit or a routine and we get comfortable...and then one day you wake up and you realize - this is rut. I need to get un stuck. Is anyone relating to this?
I guess a routine is not a rut when we are still enjoying it. I am just thinking out loud. I was thinking about Robin's Emily...I always refer to her that way...she has been cruising this winter...I love her blogs and photos. I need to go on a cruise...I need to get away...only my finances are in a rut. LOL.
I will end this now. I am ending on a good note...I'm laughing at myself. I've been in ruts before. I am 57 years old...I know there's a way out. Thanks for letting me post! Are you in any ruts????????

A longing...

I'm longing for a simpler life...my mom's life...not exactly...but let me explain. All I ever wanted was to be a housewife and mother. It sounds even more attractive now...when life has become so hard. I've even thought about selling everything and using the money to build a nice addition onto Robin's house, quitting my job...using my monthly retirement money for personal spending money and being the O'Donnell's housewife and "house mom". I could clean, do laundry,iron, watch my soap operas...cook dinner. Have everything sparkling and comfortable when Robin and Michael and the kids come home for the evening. I could act as "personal assistant" and keep their activity calendars...After cleaning up the dinner dishes, I could retreat through my french doors to my end of the house and plan the following day's menu, while watching Dancing with the Stars. I would wear an apron...I would pack lunches in neat little lunch boxes...I would always be home when the bus arrived after school. I would run errands, attend ALL the kids activities. I haven't figured out what I would do with Jason....LOL...but this idea is still in the planning stages,

Seriously, though, think about how the roles have changed in such a short amount of time. 1950's...Ozzie and Harriet, Mrs. Cleaver, Lucy Ricardo...the mom's were AT HOME. Who convinced us that was not enough? As a single parent, in earlier years, I understand the need to provide...but I got used to the role and then felt trapped in it. Don't completely misunderstand...I always loved my job and all the opportunities that it provided, I am so thankful for all of the wonderful people I have met because of it. I have learned so much about myself and how to deal with people...but honestly, my dream was always to be a housewife and mother. That's it.

Yesterday I was driving around the airfield with one of the airport Safety Managers. We were looking at space that Delta will lease to store catering supplies for our new South Florida service that begins from Tallahassee to Ft Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa...anyway...we got on the subject of the Explorer he was driving. It has only one door with a key lock, it's the driver door. So..he said, " Well it makes it impossible to open the door for a lady." And I said, "No, it just means that you have to unlock the door on the driver side first and then walk around and open the door for the lady and then walk back and get in on the driver side". He said what about Women's Lib. And that's when I said.....I am NOT A WOMEN'S LIBBER...not in any sense of the word. NO NO NO. We laughed, but I was serious.

What about you?

Springtime in Tallahassee

This is my favorite time of year in Tallahassee. Azaleas blooming everywhere. Brilliant PINKS. The fragrance in town is delightful, all the birds are singing...the skies are bright blue...it's like a "do over" ...we get a fresh start.

Hope you northern readers are thawing out, too.

29th Wedding Anniversary

Jason and I went to Harry's downtown for our Wedding Anniversary. Had a lovely evening. I finished off my dinner with a Cafe Amaretto topped with whipped cream. YUM. This is our 2nd visit to Harry's. LOVE THE GRIT CAKES! Can't believe it's been 29 years!


Menu:
Crabmeat and Eggplant Napoleon
Crisp, fried eggplant stacked with crabmeat napoleon style and finished with
Parmesan Basil Cream Sauce.
Caesar Salad
Grilled Mahi
Served with a light lemon cream sauce.
New York Strip
Aged, center cut 12 oz. strip steak topped with roasted garlic butter and crispy fried onions.

Fried Grit Cakes with Tasso Cream Sauce!! These are INCREDIBLE!!!!


We also bought a bottle of their Hot Sauce for Jason!!

274 NE 5th Street

I can't believe so many memories...MOWED DOWN.

One more time...

This post is "dedicated" to Robin's friend Kimberly...

I'm adopted! For as long as I can remember I have known that I was "chosen". I was always made to feel very special. I always understood that the woman who gave me life was the vessel God used but Lucile Schumacher was "my mom". When someone learns that I'm adopted, one of the first questions they ask...Do you know your real parents? I smile and without hesitation I say, Yep...Jim and Lucile Schumacher. What makes a parent "real"? So many thoughts about this...so many years to ponder...
Two women...both with extremely difficult circumstances...first...a young single woman...in the 1950's...pregnant...second...a young married woman who learns she is sterile and cannot ever give birth. Imagine...the first woman made a very brave decision. She decided to have the baby, and give the baby up for adoption. Don't know much about her....just that she was 18....unwed...and of Protestant faith. I was born in Maple Knoll Hospital, home for unwed mothers. Do they even have those anymore? I imagine she had wonderful loving supportive parents...given her situation. The second woman...married...wanting a family....and now devastated by the news that she can never have a child of her own. But God was weaving a beautiful story ...and before the foundation of the world, He knew...He chose the perfect family for me. He couldn't have picked better parents. I cannot imagine any other life than the one I have had. And He even chose a brother for me...the perfect brother for me.
When I first read the scripture ....Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,Ephesians 1:4-6, I completely understood. I was adopted... TWICE!
Funny thing about being adopted...whenever I am asked for medical history...I put N/A....and I'm not really sure about my ancestry...people say I look like an American Indian...possible...the Miami Indian tribe was from around my hometown....some say I look Spanish...I could be...but what I know for certain...is that I am beloved, chosen and kept...I am a child of the King....And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.Romans 8:16-18.

When people ask where I come from...I usually answer Cincinnati...but now you know "the rest of the story"....so ....where do you come from?