I'm looking for the right word...

I was at an assisted living home today and when I got in the elevator... a gentleman on a walker was singing the Tennessee Waltz. As the doors closed he stopped and apologized "I hope my rusty pipes didn't offend you."

I assured him that it was beautiful and to continue. He hung his head and said...a tear is slidding down my cheek as I type this..."63 years ago today I married my wife. I sang that song to her every morning up until she died 4 months ago." I was speechless... yea I know me speechless... He reached over and patted my arm..."Now don't you be sad.. She can still hear me. What I miss most is her saying... Leon, don't give up your day job. You'll never make it as a singer."

He winked at me and started singing again as the doors of the elevator opened. I got this bubbly feeling in my chest like happiness was trying to work its way out. As the doors closed, muting his raspy, off key voice, I thank the Lord for giving me a mate that would miss my smart remarks too.

I was sad but not entirely.
I was happy but with a ache in my heart.
I was humbled by his love for his wife and thankful for him that he had good memories that he wanted to relive them every day.

I think the word I want for this encounter is rhapsodic.

It moved my emotions and sense of well being off the chart. Isn't it wonderful when complete strangers touch our heart?

Memoir's are other people's turns in life's journey

For visitors that don't really know me... my husband had a life changing accident nearly 15 years ago. It was hard to watch him struggle for over a two years just to get a life free of crutches and walkers...that accident changed the course our lives where traveling and really changed our marriage. I really hate to say for the better. We remembered that we were friends and partners.

I'm reading a book titled "A Three Dog Life" a memoir written by Abigail Thomas.
If you don't read this book you'll be missing a humbling experience. I wanted to hate the book in the first few pages but didn't. Why? It wasn't the writing... sorry Ms. Thomas... I don't really like short to the point almost poetic sentences but I felt the words you wrote and the ache they caused followed me the entire day. Your words made me want to hug my dog and kiss my husband. I felt the need to tell both how important they were to me and how they made me happy.

Released in 2006, this book has been sitting on my bookshelf waiting for its turn... now I'm looking at the other books I've pushed back and wonder if there are other hidden jewels. I'm nearly finished with the book and I really hope this lump in my throat doesn't change to tears on the pages but no matter what the out come... thanks Abigail Thomas for the reminder that we need to appreciate the small things before they're gone.

Sometimes you just have to pound your head...

to keep from pounding you fist. I hate call centers... not the people because bless their hearts, they're working on the phone with irritated people and their boss expects them to calm customers down, fix the problem and never say or do anything to make the problem worst... you know this problem that a mad person on the phone is trying to tell you about...

I won't say I've never been one of those mad customers.... I so relate to the Direct TV ad where the guy wakes up in a drainage ditch... I've felt like that after talking to my cable provider's call center.

Here are a few things I've learned...

1. If you talk sharp the call center person will be less helpful... you've already showed that you don't expect her to fix it.

2. When you ask for a supervisor they will put you on hold... expect it ... or say the supervisor will need to call you back because they are helping other customers... this means (I kid you not) they're all supervisors except for the office manager and he has gone to lunch. You know how they make you push all these buttons... they all go to the call center answering floor... how do I know ... I got the same person for repairs, billing, customer service and tech support.... interesting isn't it

3. If you're going to get mad, ... no cursing please, broaden your vocabulary and use powerful words not hurtful ones...get really mad and get the call center person confused... she or he will accidentally hang up on you and BAM free month of cable ... just call back and talk to the supervisor ... and yes wait for them to call you back if necessary.

4. Here is your ace in the hole... take the time to know who is the boss of the local cable office and how do you get in touch with him. If you do call him to get results, ooooh no call center.

So instead of pounding your head or acting like a brat with bad behavior and speech... learn how to take action... it gets more done.

What do you do if....

What do you do when your horse is a better at events than you are??? YOU HANG ON!!!

Ron, my son, learned this today. The bad part of this lesson is his leg is still sore and swollen from a Brown Recluse spider bite. He was told by the doctors to be careful and not do anything to bruise that leg because that weakens the tissue and the poison will damage it more... so what does he do.... he gets on his new penning horse and demonstrates how to pen for a LARGE group of 4H kids and the horses is awesome, keeping on the cow. She cut and Ron didn't... yes you are reading laughter in this post.. His totally ungraceful dismount bruised his bad leg from groin to knee, ripped his jeans to from straddle to knee and Dad had to get his shoeing apron to hid an anatomy lesson for the kids.

Ron's bad day really isn't all bad... his new horse will get him to the national finals next year... if he learns how to stay on.

The pictures are cutting horses on cows. Here is the definition of a cutting horse

The cutting horse is meticulously trained to work on his own in a duel of instincts. His opponent is the cow, and the horse must anticipate every move the cow wants to make, then block the cow with his own movements, as quick, sure and deft as any high-star athlete. Cattle are dedicated herd animals and feel safe only when they are part of the herd, which means being in the herd, and they will do absolutely all they can do to stay in the herd. The horse's job is to keep the cow away from the herd.

Life is Good

They should put that on a tee shirt :)

We was safe though last nights storms... looking forward to a good night's sleep... and I got my house cleaned this weekend... sooooo needed it!!!

Today the sun came out and I soaked up some vitamin D from the back of a horse...YES

My big boned dog, Lexie, loved the afternoon ride in the pasture too and she really needed the exercise like her owner. We don't call her fat..

I wanted to ride the trail but there has been so much rain I was really afraid the mud would suck the horses shoes off... I'm not kidding, it can do it for real.

I rode Sandy, who has not been rode in months and she only acted up one time. I cut a switch and she was so afraid she kept trying to eat the switch.... I cast such a fearsome intimating air....NOT

I think everyone should be able to do what they want, when they want, how they want... every Monday. I vote yes to that.

If you want to read a really good book on horses.. check out this one.

Wrestling, cupcakes and thunder storms..

That is what my Friday night was filled with... wrestling with Kane, grandson, who said I was really strong for a 98 year old granny... I'm not 98 but I am stronger than a 11 year old :)

Turned the kitchen over to three grandchildren and had ugly, yummy cupcakes.

We also watched and old movie... "Baby's Day Out" they loved it and we all laughed and ate donuts from Krispy Kreme.

Early Saturday morning... like at 3 am.... we had a thunder storm with hail and lots of thunder... I don't mention the lightning because that doesn't scare kids but thunder does... Ella creeps into our bedroom and says... "It's thundering and I'm scare." Granddaddy..."Coming get in bed with us." No more sleep with flopping child in your bed. Kane never knew it was storming... Lake said the next morning that she had been scared too but she figured that it if a tornado came it would have blown our room away too and she didn't want to leave Kane alone. Ahhhhh

I take all the hugs and kisses I can get because the day is coming that I won't see them as much. Jase is coming tonight to spend the night but only because she is scared the storm tonight will be bad and I have a basement.

Here's hoping you're as strong as a 98 year old granny, love ugly cupcakes and you're a shelter to your loves from any storm.

Which of the seven drawf names best fit your mood

Well, sort of bad day ... people are hopeless go live in a cave and never talk to anyone again... put down all the unwanted humans and save more dogs... kind of day.

When I came home, Lexie met me wiggling and whining she was so happy to see me... God is good... he sent dogs to keep us sane.

I would be Grumpy and Sleepy... Ronnie said I could be Sneezy but not all of you know that I sneeze when I go into restaurants.

Can you name the 7 Dwarfs?

1. Dopey
2. Grumpy
3. Doc
4. Bashful
5. Sleepy
6. Sneezy
7. Happy

Facebook, texting , etc ... the down fall of spelling

I go to my facebook page and look at post and I feel so good... there are people out there that spell worst than I do ... I don't feel like a bottom feeder anymore... I'm like a yard from the bottom according the post I read.

And don't even get me started on texting... Write the word people... stop being so lazy. Okay, I'm hearing all my friend yell "You don't text!" True, I've been strong and have resisted the push from family and friends but I will let you in on a secret... I know how to text, I just don't do it. If you want to talk to me, you will have to listen to what I have to say and not just delete me.

if yuo can raed tihs, you hvae a sgtrane mnid, too.
Can you raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

If you can read this, your brain is 50% faster than those who can't or you stay on facebook too much

Counting blessings

The sky has been dark all day and about noon the clouds dumped the rain in abundances. On days like today I like to look beyond the weather and see the silver lining
My Blessings

1. My Faith that the world is basically good and people will remember that other people in their life is more important than things

2. My Husband who is more than a mate ... he is my best friend that loves me even when I get kicked out of a basketball game..

3. My children and grandchildren who are so easy to fall into my guilt trip traps

4. My Friends who make me complete not as a wife or mother but as a person that feels like there is life past the front door of home

5. My Dog... who really does love me unconditionally

6. My family... brothers, Dad who drive me crazy but I love and know they can't help it because they are men.

7. My Mother and Grandmother who I miss terrible ... these two women made me who I am ... I'm not perfect but I think I would have made both of them proud.

When the world pressing dark, gloomy, sad feelings on you... think about your blessings and I guarantee you'll feel better.

I forgot how much I love GIRLS basketball

Let me tell you something... them boys can't touch the girls... all heart and emotions... makes me yell at the referee :) I do get a little rowdy somethings.
I think I'm going to go be a referee for girls basketball... the blind one that was calling my granddaughter's game Friday night had to be like late seventies and I've forgot more about basketball than he knows.

Lake played a great game with 5 points, tons of rebounds and 4 fouls... she played physical... like her mother did and her granny did. Missy, her mother, was on a team that went to the state playoffs her senior year. They lost in the semi-finals... but Wilson went back the next year and won state.

Friday night was a tournament and the semi-final bracket plays tomorrow night. Hope we don't get Paw-Paw ref this time.

Made a discovery

The human body will bounce, and let me tell you it's not fun.

Okay, here's the deal... I went up and down those stairs a hundred times during the Christmas holidays and didn't even have a stumble... going down last night to tell Ronnie about the rooster chasing Lexie back to the van... one foot shot out about halfway down and the last six steps were pounded with my butt. Ronnie was scared to death and all I said was... "That would have been easier ten years ago when I had more padding.

This morning it isn't funny. Black and blue cheeks... the ones that nobody kisses... must have hit back because bruise across lower part... aching shoulder and scraped thumb on right hand.

I think I might have learned that the time it takes to put on shoes before going down stairs is well worth it.

Winter Blues... I love them

Winter Blues is when I let my mind settle... watch old movies, read books that have been waiting and waiting to be picked up... and plotting

Yes, I'm writing again. Why can't I be rich so I could afford a assistant to write as I tell the story and then I could just critique it and PRESTO... a novel.

I have my really soft and warm socks on, cuddly housecoat, plotting notebook and book I'm reading... oh yes a cup of Arctic White hot chocolate and all afternoon to do whatever I want to do.

I do wish it was warm enough to ride but hey Spring will be here in two months.

Some pain is always with you

The middle of January is always a sad time for me. My nephew Greg... my brother's first child died three days after being born... healthy baby but got Group B streptococcus. He would have been twenty-nine this year.

Then my oldest nephew Keith, Ronnie's sister boy, died in a car accident almost twelve years ago... tomorrow he would have been forty.

After this week I'll have a small break then Feb 22 will mark the birthday of the third nephew that died... Bubba, real name Donnie, who died in a motorcycle accident in 2008.

Dead is a certain event but none of us are ever ready for it. Miss you guys.

Love ya, Aunt Pat

Dance Dance OH YES

A picture is worth a thousand words

Alabama 21 LSU 0

It's really sad that a ball game will make or break my day tomorrow

If The Tide loses... tears for the day

If The Tide wins... dance dance dance

I'm a crimson fan and know the team... of course I know football, I mean I played tag football with the girls and quarterbacked the neighborhood team... even broke a collar bone once ... so guys I'm the woman you don't like seating next to you at a bar... I know the game and I will call your hand on stupid remarks.

Oh gosh what am I saying... I'll call you hand on stupid remarks even if it's not football. :)

Between shades of gray by Ruta Sepetys

In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina, her mother, and brother are pulled from their Lithuanian home by Soviet guards and sent to Siberia, where her father is sentenced to death in a prison camp while she fights for her life, vowing to honor her family and the thousands like hers by burying her story in a jar on Lithuanian soil. Based on the author's family, includes a historical note.

If you have not read this book, you need to start looking for it now.

Ruta is a wonderful, sweet, smart, talented... okay enough adjectives... to learn more about her and her book, visit her website...

www.rutasepetys.com

I just looked at the Mock List for the Newbery and I need to add something to my New Year list... I read zero books on the list. Zero! I couldn't tell you anything about any of the books... except maybe "Okay for Now" and Irene has been telling me I really need to read that book.

Good-bye inside winter blues... hello sunshine

It's a proven fact that the human body needs sunshine... not to get a great tan but to give the body vitamin D

Sun exposure to the skin is the human race’s natural, intended, most effective and most neglected source of vitamin D.

Vitamin D sufficiency, along with diet and exercise, has emerged as one of the most important preventive factors in human health. Hundreds of studies now link vitamin D deficiency with significantly higher rates of many forms of cancer‚ as well as heart disease‚ osteoporosis‚ multiple sclerosis and many other conditions and diseases.

So, take a walk and enjoy. If you walk at least fifteen minutes a day... you'll get you vitamin D fix, improve muscle tone and strengthen your heart.

Do I sound like a commercial? I want my friends to be healthy.

Mamas go ahead and let your babies grow up to be cowboys

Going to do a little mother bragging tonight... my son Ron was in the top twenty in ranch sorting and was invited to ride in the National finals in Tulsa, OK the middle of January 2012... I regret to say that he can't spare the time or money this soon after Christmas. Some of my best weekends was spent riding trails with my husband. It's so good when a husband and wife have a hobby they can share.
And now they're getting the babies interested... that is Lake on the little red horse. Saturday night was her first time competing and she did great.