School, Work, and GOOD DOGS

I just realized I didn't make even one entry in July. I think it has been a long time since I've missed a month. We were pretty busy last month, and I just don't keep up like I used to. I haven't read anyone else's blog in a long while either. I'll make that a goal for the weekend.

I finally have a weekend that I'm not super busy. I love weekends when I can stay home, and I certainly have a lot of things I'd like to get accomplished around here.  The local school kids started back to school on Thursday, August 1, which I think is way too early and hot to be going back to school, but what do I know. Eler Beth started her home schooling on the same day, but that's different!  Others in the area started on the 7th or 8th and still others are starting next week.

Eler Beth is beginning her Senior year. Can't believe that after this year I will no longer be putting together lesson plans and such. I will miss it. Of course, I may be helping her with college homework. Or, I have thought about going back to school myself to finish getting my degree. Part of me really wants to, even if I never really use it. Part of says, "Are you sure you have enough brains for that?!?" 

I'm already starting to plan Eler Beth's graduation party. Andrew didn't want one when he graduated. He wanted a trip to Florida instead, so that's what he got. He's never been one to have something like that where he's the focus, and we respected that. But this party for my girl is going to be a BIG one; at least that's what I'm planning. I want it to be extra, extra special, because she's an extra, extra special young lady.

Eler Beth is looking for part-time work. She tried everywhere back in the late winter, early spring, but it's really hard for teens in this area, unless they know someone who knows someone; even getting a job at a local fast food place is hard when there are so many applicants.  She has worked for three years part-time for a friend of ours who has a lot of health problems, cleaning for her and running errands and things like that, but that is on an as-needed basis. She loves doing that kind of thing, though, and is very close to this friend. Then in May she posted on Facebook that she was looking for work, any kind of work, and did anyone need someone to mow their lawns or walk their dogs or something. Well, Andrew's best friend had just gotten a puppy, a 10-week-old Australian Cattle Dog, and offered her a job of walking him, helping to train him, and playing with him an hour a day each weekday. She was thrilled to get that and loves taking care of "Batman." She watched him one week while his owner was out of town, too. I wish she had a bunch of jobs like that. They would fit nicely around her school schedule and give her enough pocket money to do her for now. But that job will be ending soon, as Batman is moving a bit further away and won't need as much care through the day anyway.

Also, right after posting that another one of Andrew's friends gave her a weekly job of mowing his lawn. That might last into September or October. So between the three jobs she's been able to make a little extra pocket money, but now she's started putting in applications around the area again. She's saving for a very special trip next year. She is such a hard worker and a go-getter. She doesn't mind doing hard physical labor, and actually prefers it to sitting or standing around. A lot of places will be taking on extra people to gear up for the holiday season, so hopefully she'll get something that she can enjoy and that's close to home. She's such a good girl with a good head on her shoulders. Oh yes, and she volunteered at the local library all summer. She really enjoyed that, and that will look on her resumes too.

One day last week she was talking about a lot of her friends and their dating woes, including her cousin (18) whose fiance' called off their wedding, another friend (18) who just got married, and another friend (17!!!) who just got engaged. Eler Beth is a firm believer in not getting serious at a young age. She has had her crushes, and she has a lot of friends who are guys, but she wants to enjoy herself for a while and find out what she really wants in her life before she goes and gets serious with anyone. And that is, I assure you, all her own idea, not ours (although we applaud it); she is just that type of person. So anyway, she was talking about her friends' break-ups and heartbreaks and so on, and then she suddenly just blurted out, "Girls my age just need to get themselves a GOOD DOG!"  Then she said, "Seriously, I have Bryant to love me unconditionally. And I can shower my affection on him and take him everywhere with me. He listens to me if I need to talk, and he loves and protects me. He's all I need right now!"

Good girl!

Well, I've babbled on long enough. I plan to visit my Blogger friends over the weekend to get a bit caught up. And I might even return and make another post. I hope everyone has been having a nice summer and that all are happy and healthy. Catch you later! 

26 Years

It doesn't seem possible that it has been 26 years already. 

Well, in some ways it seems longer than 26 years. LOL

It has been a roller coaster ride at times, but always with a soft and smooth landing.

I love Thomas more today than I did 26 years ago, and that's saying a lot! 

Just Say NO To Turkeys!

This must have been some kind of Thanksgiving assignment; I'm pretty sure his school doesn't blatantly advocate vegetarianism. This is something my great-nephew Tajulian did at school. It is so funny I had to share:

In case you can't read it, it says: Tajulian says, "Just say NO to turkey!" Instead, we should eat... (and he wrote) "chicken nuggets because they don't move."

Tajulian's mother, my nephew Jamie's wife, is a vegetarian, but my nephew isn't. One night at dinner their daughter Javen asked, "Mom, can I be a vegetarian when I grow up?" and Tajulian, six years old, piped up, "I thought you wanted to be a teacher!"

Yes, he does come up with some good ones!

Law & Order CI (Canine Investigations)

 

Every time I look at this picture I hear the Law & Order "Thronngg!"

Or maybe it's L & O CVU (Canine Victims Unit)

Writer's Block

 

The blank page 
           stares back at me.

It has more patience than I.

May I Ask A Favor?

I am going to be hosting a light lunch for a group of about 15 friends in a few weeks, and I have no idea what I want the menu to be. Would anyone like to send me a suggestion? PLEASE???

It doesn't need to be fancy or unusual, but one friend did chili and sandwiches (with all the fixings) two months ago, and last month another friend who hostessed did croissants with a choice of fillings, fruit salad and a cheese log, so those two ideas are taken. I want to keep it simple, but also tasty. I thought of maybe doing a quiche (even though I couldn't eat it myself because of my egg allergy), but my mind is just really drawing a blank. Now if it were a full dinner, I'd have no problem, but a nice, attractive, neat, little, light lunch? A blank, I tell you!

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"Worry 'bout yourself!"
 I think this is the cutest video. If I want a laugh, I watch it. I think that's going to be the catchphrase around our house. I can just imagine her parents telling her older sister or her, "Don't worry about what your sister's doing, you just worry about yourself."

  

The Perils of HGTV

One day when I was feeling under-the-weather I spent several hours watching HGTV. I came to the following conclusion: When you watch shows like "Design Brothers" or "Love it or List it" you will do one of two things -- feel seriously depressed and go back to bed to hide your head under the covers for a few days OR go into a cleaning, organizing, and de-cluttering frenzy!!! 

Spring is finally here. This past week the deciduous trees have greened up and leafed out,  my grass is really needing to be mowed -- will do that today, I suppose -- and I am ready to clean out flower beds and plant something new.  I just wish I could get over this allergy-induced head and chest cold. It is really hanging on this year. I'm not the only one. Seems like everyone is having the same problem. I guess I'll do a bit here and there and rest when I need to, because anything I do seems to zap my strength very quickly.  Maybe I need one of Granny's spring tonics!