Thursday, July 31, 2008
The Picnic
Rocky and I decided we needed some lunch today so we headed out to McDas..his favorite place. After we got the food, I decided not to run back to the house but go to the park near the house and have a picnic. It was such a beautiful day and I wasn't ready to go back to the 4 walls. We shared a salad and a fish sandwich. No humidity to speak of, a gentle flowing breeze, and a great shade tree...what else could anyone need...After about 2 hrs, Rocky curled up in the back and was ready for a nap...but so was I...I wanted to curl up in the back with him and enjoy the clean crisp air and listen to the birds gently chirping...but I guess that would be loitering...we had a nice relaxing time and now that I am back home I am going to grab a 30 minute nap. Hope everyone's day was as uneventful and peace filled as mine was...
Monday, July 28, 2008
Who Said Recession?
Can our government really be so out of touch they can't see what is happening around them. Take Michigan for example for every one household that moves into the state 55 move out...Big Business has managed to union bust their companies by sending the jobs to Mexico, or India. The unemployment rate for Michigan is the highest in the US due to the car manufacturers shutting down and moving to Mexico. Oh but there is hope, the pharmacy companies are moving in all around us...with their minimum wage jobs. We finally made it back down to 3.99 a gallon last week for gasoline, but the week before we were paying 4.40 for the same gas in the tanks underground. How are people going to manage? We are ok for now, but you sit and wait for the other shoe to drop. GE who my husband works for started their RIFS--reduction in force, in case you don't know or haven't been termed one of those before. Old Hat to us...we manage...just hope our kids don't have to experience this altho the oldest one has already been there done that once...
The house next to us has been empty since April, it was valued at 190 now they are asking 129 just to pay it off and can't sell it...waiting any day for the people to come change the locks and put the notice on the door because I know they stopped making payments. We drive through the neighborhoods and see the empty houses with yellow/orange signs posted concerning foreclosure and the sale date on the court house steps. The house directly behind us is empty and will be for sale August 13 at the court house. There are 3 other homes on that same block behind us in the same situation. We bought our home for 165 thousand, when the other homes were running up to 245 in the neighborhood, cause the people who owned it desperately needed to sell since it had been on the market for over a year. Now the exact same style house as ours down the street is listed at 115 and they can't sell it....geez...recession? more like turning into depression...
Will Obama be able to make any difference...Don't want McCain because we need a middle class in these states. Read this weekend that Obamas dad was gone by the time he was 10. He left his family, but it turned out it wasn't his first family. He failed to mentioned to Obama's mother that he was married in Africa with 2 kids when he married her. So not only a mix of race, but a bastard to boot...right wing ought to be having a field day with this. I am afraid who ever takes on the job they don't have a prayer...it is going to get a whole lot worse....been there done that in 1989 in Savannah when layoffs were abundant and foreclosures every where. I am hoping...oh I am hoping not to have to go thru that again...I hope for my husband to stay employed,,,to keep our home....to retire eventually in a few more years...but if it isn't to be...we will manage...done it before and can do it again.
Enough of my cheer...wish I had some pics to share but we stayed at home all weekend and enjoyed the great weather. Suppose to thunderstorm here in a few hours so maybe our grass will get a drink. The kids are busy with their lives, Jon and Lauren painting and getting ready for baby, Jason and Andrea busy getting ready for big move to Savannah, and Jessica...well don't hear from her but I guess she is busy and ok too.
The house next to us has been empty since April, it was valued at 190 now they are asking 129 just to pay it off and can't sell it...waiting any day for the people to come change the locks and put the notice on the door because I know they stopped making payments. We drive through the neighborhoods and see the empty houses with yellow/orange signs posted concerning foreclosure and the sale date on the court house steps. The house directly behind us is empty and will be for sale August 13 at the court house. There are 3 other homes on that same block behind us in the same situation. We bought our home for 165 thousand, when the other homes were running up to 245 in the neighborhood, cause the people who owned it desperately needed to sell since it had been on the market for over a year. Now the exact same style house as ours down the street is listed at 115 and they can't sell it....geez...recession? more like turning into depression...
Will Obama be able to make any difference...Don't want McCain because we need a middle class in these states. Read this weekend that Obamas dad was gone by the time he was 10. He left his family, but it turned out it wasn't his first family. He failed to mentioned to Obama's mother that he was married in Africa with 2 kids when he married her. So not only a mix of race, but a bastard to boot...right wing ought to be having a field day with this. I am afraid who ever takes on the job they don't have a prayer...it is going to get a whole lot worse....been there done that in 1989 in Savannah when layoffs were abundant and foreclosures every where. I am hoping...oh I am hoping not to have to go thru that again...I hope for my husband to stay employed,,,to keep our home....to retire eventually in a few more years...but if it isn't to be...we will manage...done it before and can do it again.
Enough of my cheer...wish I had some pics to share but we stayed at home all weekend and enjoyed the great weather. Suppose to thunderstorm here in a few hours so maybe our grass will get a drink. The kids are busy with their lives, Jon and Lauren painting and getting ready for baby, Jason and Andrea busy getting ready for big move to Savannah, and Jessica...well don't hear from her but I guess she is busy and ok too.
Monday, July 21, 2008
The Sum of It All
This was shared with me from my husband, who received it from some one else...hope you enjoy it...
LIFE AND A CAN OF BEER
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours
in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar........and the beer.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in
front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very
large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of
pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The
pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then
asked the students again if the jar was full.
They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if
the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table
and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the
empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to
recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the
important things--your family, your children, your health, your
friends, your favorite passions--things that if everything else was lost
and only they remained, your life would still be full. 'The pebbles are the
other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is
everything else--the small stuff.
If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no
room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you
spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have
room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the
things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take
time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play
another 18. There will always be time to clean the house, and fix the
disposal. 'Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really
matter.
Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand.
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer
represented.
The professor smiled.
'I'm glad you asked. It just goes
to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always
room for a couple of beers!
LIFE AND A CAN OF BEER
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours
in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar........and the beer.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in
front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very
large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of
pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The
pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then
asked the students again if the jar was full.
They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if
the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table
and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the
empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to
recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the
important things--your family, your children, your health, your
friends, your favorite passions--things that if everything else was lost
and only they remained, your life would still be full. 'The pebbles are the
other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is
everything else--the small stuff.
If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no
room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you
spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have
room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the
things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take
time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play
another 18. There will always be time to clean the house, and fix the
disposal. 'Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really
matter.
Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand.
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer
represented.
The professor smiled.
'I'm glad you asked. It just goes
to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always
room for a couple of beers!
Drive, Shop, Work, Work, Work, Drive
The shopping began at 7:30...argh...I hate shopping, but I love shopping for plants...We only made 3 trips and by the end of the day Andrea and I were asking why did we buy so much shit...98 degrees and heat advisory but I think it looks damn good. We planted small...everything on half price...They bought ground cover for the top of the wall which will drape over...small green/yellow bushes at base with a perential flower bed and climbing bush in middle...rose of sharons (pink white and blue) on left side in the area where they have rain run off...small slow growing arborvitaes on left side against house, hollys by fence (for red berries in winter for birds and color by fence also to keep kids away from back yard)...rose of sharons on right side of house (blues) and ground cover by mail box...we also got a 4 foot ornamental tree to plant above the wall in another erosion area, and a ton of flowers to put in pretty pots for display outside and inside. House staging...Andrea and I watch WAY to much of these programs on TV...hahaha Enlarge and enjoy pics....
Their back and ass breaking 4 day project so people have careful access to the back yard. Andrea cut out the rock infested hillside during the week, got the material and Jason did the design and back breaking lifting of stones and concrete...Andrea also had heavy lifting of concrete blocks at Lowes. It looks great. They were going to plant some flowers around the edge of the steps and mulch.
The first place I hit..SONIC..the only thing Grand Rapids needs...
Clicked My Sandals Together
I clicked my sandals together and returned Sunday. I stopped in Chatham to see my trees I had planted. They are HUGE now...I feel like Johnny Appleseed..every where we have lived I have planted trees...My body may not be there anymore but a piece of my soul is represented. Lucy was happy to see me and of course Herc and all the others. My last stop was at the Michigan Welcome Rest Area on I-94. Really pretty place and I got out and walked around and took pics and woke my butt up. Loads of people there. The bathrooms are really clean and the flowers make you want to sit and soak up the sun and enjoy the 75 degree weather. OH GOD, it is so good to be back out of that dripping hot weather. Currently it is 10:30 in the morning and I have the windows open, enjoying the breeze. January and February suck but the rest of the year is worth it. Enjoy the pics of the flowers. Our 80 and 90 degrees, 2 weeks of weather, are coming soon.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Grandma Status
I'm going to be a grandma, I'm going to be a grandma, I'm going to be a grandma...
:) Jon and Lauren are having a spring baby...Jessica says it's going to be a boy and his name will be Tyler...lol...she had a dream....haha. Can't wait to see the little bugger...
:) Jon and Lauren are having a spring baby...Jessica says it's going to be a boy and his name will be Tyler...lol...she had a dream....haha. Can't wait to see the little bugger...
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Sunday Afternoon Meanderings
We went to Holland to the beach and watched the idiots that tryed to take their boats out of the harbor..The harbor itself was fairly smooth but once they got to where the light house is by the mouth of the harbor they were in for a huuuuuge surprise. The wind was so bad that we had 5-10 feet white caps and as soon as the boats got to the harbor outlet or inlet however you think of it...they were going about 70 degrees upwards when they hit the waves being channeled into the harbor at the mouth. It was another beautiful day here..about 72 degrees, no humidity, sunny clear skies and nice breeze blowing. Notice the waves I took pics of..it was a red flag warning day but dummies were still out there trying to temp the undertow. We also went to Captain Sundaes before hitting the parking area at the beach side and sit and ate some goooood ice cream while we watched the blond people trying to look like crispy critters.
Friday, July 11, 2008
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