That's My Girl!

Do you like award shows? I admit that I am not that big of fan of them, unless, of course, I know someone who is up for an award.


Take Josh Krajcik, for example. 

The guy on X-Factor. I know he says he's from Columbus, Ohio, but the dirty little secret is that he is in fact, from Wooster, Ohio. Amazing Daughter has been singing his praises for the past 10 years, wishing that he would get the recognition he deserves. Well, it seems, his time has come. And, if you haven't heard him sing, consider this a special Thanksgiving treat - calorie free!


And, speaking of Amazing Daughter, she is also up for an award. Check out Karen's blog. You can vote for her under "Favorite Singles Blog" - Jennee Thompson. Voting is open until November 25, so hope on over and give her a vote!

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Happy Birthday, Daughter

The year was 1982. I was expecting my third bundle of joy. Bundle Number 1 and Number 2 were both boys, born in 1980 and 1981. (Yes, it is possible, and yes, they were all planned. Well, Number 1 came a little earlier than we had planned, but, he got the ball rolling.)


My plan was to have two boys, and a girl. So far, so good. All my pregnancies went quite well, and most days I felt so good that I would have to remind myself that I was expecting.


Back then, ultra sounds were not common practice. We had other scientific ways of determining the baby's sex. Like, the Drano test. Mix Drano and urine, and it would turn blue for a boy, but, maybe black, for a girl. (I can't quite remember the actual color, but, I don't think it was pink. That would be ridiculous.)


And, comparing the heartbeats. A slow heartbeat meant a boy, a fast heartbeat meant a girl. Also, the way they were carried, high for a boy, low for a girl. 

My due date was December 6. I was very happy with that date because it was also my sister's birthday, and my Grandma's birthday. How cool would it be to have three generations born on the same day?


If I remember correctly, we were having a relatively warm December. I don't think we had had any snow yet.


Everything was progressing quite well.  But, December 6 came and went, and no baby. I went to the doctor on December 7. He said, "When do you want to have this baby?" I truthfully said, "Yesterday." He said, "How about tomorrow?"
Yep, that was fine with me. Then he said, "When can you be here?" 


I told him that Hubby didn't get home from work until about noon. I think he may have asked how close we lived to the hospital. "Oh, we just live about 15 minutes outside of town", I told him non-chalantly.


I think he may have been a little nervous, because Bundles 1 and 2 came pretty quickly. My longest labor was 6 hours.


When I got home, I told Hubby that "Tomorrow is the day".  


We had finally decided that her name would be Jennifer Darlene. Hubby really liked Jolene, but I told him it would sound silly with Darlene. He would always go around singing Jo-lene, Jo-lene. I don't know who sings it, and that's the only part he knew. I also went through a phase when I thought I liked the names "Bobbie Jean" and "Laura Louise". I was influenced by General Hospital for those names. (Jennee has told me that she is soooooo glad we did not give her one of those names!)


So, on that December 8, 1982 (also a Wednesday), Hubby and I took Bundles 1 and 2 to Aunt Sue's house, then we were on our way to the hospital. The doctor met us there, we did all the prep stuff, then took me to my room. At 1:00, they broke my water. As the nurses came in to listen to the heartbeat, they would say, "It sounds like a boy to me." I told them, "No, it's a girl."  They didn't argue with me, but they doubted me.


Not much was happening, so at 2:00, they checked me again. It turns out, I had a double bag of water, so they broke the second one. After that, things started happening right quick!


At 3:05, our daughter entered the world. The doctor let Hubby cut the umbilical cord, which he thought was pretty neat. 


She has been a blessing in our lives. Our lives would be truly dull without her, and I can't imagine life without her! She is quite amazing, and if you hop over to her blog, she will tell you! (In a nice way, of course.) She has also informed me that she is glad she wasn't born on the 6th. She wanted her day all to herself. She is a little upset that she had to be born in December, but, maybe someday, she'll accept it!

Happy Birthday, Jennee! We love you! 

And, tomorrow, I can decorate for Christmas!!

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Stalker? Me?

I have had a few embarrassing moments in my life.  I've forgotten most of them. I only remember the really horrifying ones. If you want to read how I put my foot in my mouth, read here.  Or, you can check out here for another red-faced moment. But, this story may possibly be one of my most embarrassing moments. I can't believe I'm going to share this, but here goes...


This unfortunate event happend many years ago. It happened on the last day of VBS (Vacation Bible School), which was on a Thursday night. Hubby had stopped by the church building for some reason, which is now forgotten. As Jennee, my Amazing Daughter, and I were getting in the car to leave, the last words he said to me were, "I'll see you at home."


(Oh dear, I'm starting to sweat...but I think it could be a hot flash! One moment please while I fan myself.) OK. Now, where was I? Hubby was in his pick-up truck and pulled out of the parking lot, and we were right behind him. (Remember, I said it was dark out.) Surprisingly, Hubby turned off on a different road, which happens to lead to Bob Evans restaurant.


"Well, he never said anything about going there." Translation: If he's going for dessert, I'm going too! (But, why is he going for dessert?)


Jennee said, "Mom, are you sure that's Dad?"


"Of course, it is. He was right in front of us."


We came to Bob Evans--and drove right past it. "Well, that's weird. Where is he going?"


Jennee said, "Are you sure that's Dad?"


"Of course, it is. He was right in front of us. But, where is he going? Oh, I know. He must have to do an estimate for some gutters."


So, we continue following, this turn, then that turn. When he turns into the driveway, I sit at the end of the street. It would be silly and unprofessional for us to pull in behind him while he's giving an estimate.


For some reason, it didn't occur to me that it was too dark to give an estimate. But, as we were waiting, Jennee again said, "Mom, are you sure that's Dad?"


"Of course it is. He was right in front of us."


I watched as "Hubby" got out of the truck, then got back in and started backing out of the driveway. I was a bit confused. What's he doing?


Again, Jennee with her crazy question.


He pulled out, and I calmly started following. Then he pulled over to the side, and I fell in right behind him.


It was at that point that I noticed the logo on the back of this truck was different than the one I remembered seeing--and there seemed to be a woman sitting in the passenger side.


OHhhhhhhhhhh Crrrrrraaaaaaaaaap!!!! "Jennee, why didn't you say something???"  


So, at this point a couple of different scenerios were racing through my head.
1) Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were my husband, and I thought you/he was going out for dessert with out me.  
No, that didn't sound good.


2) I thought you were my husband and I wanted to see where he was going.
No, too stalkish.


In the end, I couldn't think of a logical explanation that didn't make me sound like a fruit cake, so before he got out of his truck, I quickly sped away.


I felt kind of bad, because they had no explanation on why some woman was stalking them. But, it was either put their fears at ease or save face. I chose to save face.


When we finally got home, Hubby said, "Where have you been?" 
"It's a long story, and I don't wanna talk about it."  Of course, Jennee was more than happy to provide every little detail.  


I still, to this day, don't know how that truck got between me and hubby.    I wonder how his story goes.

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Guest Post from Jennee and yes, she really is amazing

So, I’m the awesome daughter that I’m sure you all have heard so much about. (Unless I’m just sounding like a fool here, thinking that I am being flattered more than I actually am…) Anyway, mom asked me to do a guest post on her blog and not only because I am amazing, but because, well, she has been too busy to post a blog and I have had plenty of free time to post more than enough blogs.

I know that mom likes to cover topics such as her garden, her grandchild (as I like to call her, the Holy Child) and her hubby. Well, I don’t have a garden, or a grandchild, or a hubby. I am 0 for 3 and that means, I have to talk about something that I know something about.

I have a good memory.

Unlike my mother.

And I don’t think my memory is good because I’m still young(er). I actually have the most unusual type of memory. I remember conversations and because of the conversations, I remember details that surrounded the conversations. I try to not be snooty when people tell me the same story over and over again, because when they start telling the story (the same way…why do people always tell the stories the same way?) my mind reminds me of the when and where the first time I heard the story.

The repeating of the same stories happens often with mom. Out of orneriness, I like to finish her stories for her…unless it is because she can’t remember how the story ends.

The other day my friend sent me a text message. She asked me if I remembered what happened during the summer of 1999. Nothing really stood out at first. She told me that she was going to counseling and had some repressed memories surfaced. She told me what she remembered and asked me if I remembered seeing this happen.

“Was it when we were standing around and Todd was showing us how he is a human piano and singing the lowest keys on the piano? Remember Todd said that he didn’t know if he could get the right pitch unless we had a pitch pipe, but he’d try.”

She had no idea what I was talking about. So, I continued on with what I said and that what she said and then what he said. This wasn’t the moment she was referring to.

“No, it was after we left the building.” She redirects my memory to earlier in the day.

“Oh yeah and Chris was saying how he is fascinated with Elisha in the Bible. And then we met that one guy.” I start remembering what I was wearing and that it was a sunny day and I felt uncomfortable in my own skin at this event we were at.

I ended up remembering what she wanted me to remember but it was only because I had to relive the dialog in the moment I was supposed to remember.

So, what I’m trying to say here…be careful what you say to me because I’ll remember when you said it, where you said it, the facial expression as you said it and your tone dialect. I guess this is why people disappoint me when they lie and swear they never said it, because, I know they did.

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The Betty Files: Pancakes

Yes, I am going to add my own edition to Jennee's "Betty Files".  I have to agree with Jennee that Betty does give lots of blogging material!

First of all, I must say that Betty is a dear friend, and I love her.  However, when I first met Betty, I would actually get a headache during every visit.  She talks non-stop for one thing, and would, apparently, just start rambling on about something that made no sense--as if she just pulled it out of the air.  I was always in a state of confusion (more so than usual), and could never follow what the heck she was talking about.  Then, one day, I realized that I knew exactly what she was talking about. That day caused me great concern!

I discovered that Betty's topics of conversation are 90% about the past, and if you are around her long enough, you will eventually hear each story approximately 999,000 times!  (This is part of what causes Jennee's frustrations--she has not heard, nor does she want to hear, each story 999,000 times!)

So, here is my story:
Betty thinks that I am the greatest thing since sliced bread. Martha Stewart could not come close to carrying my briefcase. I disagree with Betty's opinion, but there it is.

I have recently started making sour-dough pancakes. And, here I must pause to admit that they are without a doubt, the best pancakes I have ever made. I have never made a bad batch, and that surprises me every time.  Betty loves pancakes and considers herself an expert in everything about pancakes.  I made her some pancakes on her last visit, and she absolutely LOVED them! When Betty LOVES something, she raves continually about it, and that is what she did. 

"Oh my gosh, those are the best pancakes I've ever tasted! You made those? You really made those? Oh, they are just perfect. I need that recipe. *Could I write down that recipe?"  Blah, blah, blah, more adoration about my pancakes.

Of course, the obvious next step is to open a little restaurant.  "Just make pancakes, and serve it with a little fruit, fresh fruit! People would come, I know it! Jennee could waitress and make good tips.  I'm not just whistling Dixie.  You should do this. Really.  It would go."

I reply with, "Betty, that takes money, we don't have any--"

"Get investors! I could find some for you.  I know people! Just start someplace small, two or three tables.  You wouldn't even have to be there all day.  Get someone else to mix them up for you.  People would be lined up breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They are so good, people would even eat them for dinner. I could be the hostess--I'd bring 'em in off the street!  You could make a sign (she sweeps her arm as a banner) The Best Pancakes in Town", she laughs as she reconsiders, "in the whole damn town!" (she has a bit of a dirty mouth), "Come and taste the goodness!" "I'm not just whistling Dixie, you could do this.  Just find a little place downtown, there's enough empty places down there, just let me do the talking, I could get you a good price. And, don't give that recipe to *ANYBODY!"

She picks up the current issue of "Better Homes and Gardens", looks at the cover of the cookies. "Those cookies don't even look that good. They look dry and tasteless. (I disagree and thought about making them.) She throws the magazine on the table. "You could make something that looks better than that. They should put your pancakes on the cover."


The conversation goes on and on, and is repeated several times. (We have a ways to go to reach 999,000 times on this subject.)


So here is what makes the story really funny.  I told her last night that I would make pancakes for her for breakfast.  It's a two-step process, and I did step one last night, while having a repeat of the conversation you just read about. 


This morning, when she wandered into the kitchen, I was sitting at the computer.  She said, "I'm going to have my cereal for breakfast."


I reminded her, "Betty, I'm making pancakes for breakfast."  "Oh, you are?  Well, how about if we have them for lunch or supper?  I was really just wanting my cereal."


"That's OK", I said, "this makes a big batch, so I fry some up whenever you want them."
So, Jennee and I ate a plate of pancakes, while Betty ate a bowl of cereal.

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Face it Friday Week 5

Well, I only made two goals to keep track of. (Mostly because I wasn't sure I would remember them.) I haven't done very well on either one, sadly.

My first goal was to edit a chapter a week for Jennee's "Singles Anonymous".  This is week five, but I've only done one and one half chapters.  I blame my being behind on the fact that we've had "Chuck" marathons this month, and  I have been distracted by having my granddaughter to visit for a week.  And now I'll have another distraction, Betty (who you  may be familiar with through "Betty Files" from Jennee's blog). She will be staying with us for another two weeks, probably.  Her husband is on his way up from Florida, heading to Wisconsin to work.  But, then he got a call that the job was on a two-week delay.  So, he will be spending that time here, then they will both head on up to Wisconsin.  I won't mind having them here, but, I fear it will make finding time for editing a little more difficult. 

My other goal was in the losing weight department. I am down a pound, but I won't get too excited because it falls in my fluxuation range of five pounds, which means I have a ways to go before I can claim actual weight loss.

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