One can never have too many purses but you can always get more..
Dooney & Bourke
3 For Sale Med Tassle Tote $40.00
Vintage Black/Tan $40.00
Vintage Camel/Tan $30.00
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Weekend of Anniversary Celebrations-My Perspective
This weekend I attended two anniversary celebrations. My in-laws celebrated 60 years of marriage. Wow!! Hard to put your head around that sometimes. The last few years have been tough for our family but it is always so touching when we visit them that they still keep the spark going even after all the bumps in the road. I love to hear the story of how they met at the wrestling match in town. They both had come with other people but left with each other and have been together ever since. They both were hard working people, raised four boys and have 12 grandchildren and 10+ great-grand children. They always seem to overlook the little issues with each other and just enjoy their life together.
The other couple's party I attended have been married 40 years. They have also had their share of rough times but they still continue to plug along.
When people ask me how David and I have managed to stay married sometimes I really have to stop and think what we have done to keep it together. It has not been easy, we have had our share of rough patches like everyone else. But I always think back to the first time I saw him and it truly was one of those moments when we both did a double take and somehow it clicked. Although we have spent alot of our marriage apart because of his work I think over the years that probably just works for us. No it didn't at first I can remember when the kids were little we would all stand at the door with tears in our eyes saying "do you have to leave". I admit it is by no means easy to see him leave each trip but, it's his job, how he makes his living and I just deal the best I can.
Our 26th anniversary is approaching in a few months, I hope we can get to 50 years, with luck and hard work we will. It's a full-time commitment and not a walk in the park, he is my ying, and I am his yang and I wouldn't have it any other way.
People ask "What is the secret to a good marriage?"It really isn't a secret. Everyone has their own way of making it work. Sometimes I think couples today think it's a walk in the park or when it does get hard they don't try and iron out their problems. It is like anything else we do today, you work hard, you have the good and the bad and you go on. Things change, people change you either change with the tide or move on. Their is a reason why you pick each other and through the years certain things do change but always go back to what first brought you together and work toward that throughout marriage.
The other couple's party I attended have been married 40 years. They have also had their share of rough times but they still continue to plug along.
When people ask me how David and I have managed to stay married sometimes I really have to stop and think what we have done to keep it together. It has not been easy, we have had our share of rough patches like everyone else. But I always think back to the first time I saw him and it truly was one of those moments when we both did a double take and somehow it clicked. Although we have spent alot of our marriage apart because of his work I think over the years that probably just works for us. No it didn't at first I can remember when the kids were little we would all stand at the door with tears in our eyes saying "do you have to leave". I admit it is by no means easy to see him leave each trip but, it's his job, how he makes his living and I just deal the best I can.
Our 26th anniversary is approaching in a few months, I hope we can get to 50 years, with luck and hard work we will. It's a full-time commitment and not a walk in the park, he is my ying, and I am his yang and I wouldn't have it any other way.
People ask "What is the secret to a good marriage?"It really isn't a secret. Everyone has their own way of making it work. Sometimes I think couples today think it's a walk in the park or when it does get hard they don't try and iron out their problems. It is like anything else we do today, you work hard, you have the good and the bad and you go on. Things change, people change you either change with the tide or move on. Their is a reason why you pick each other and through the years certain things do change but always go back to what first brought you together and work toward that throughout marriage.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Memorial Day Weekends of Long Ago
Memorial Day Weekend has long been the first weekend of sun, relaxing and BBQing. I have done one out of the three--relax.. I can remember a time when I was a kid that you had to put out your towel, lather on the suntan lotion and bake in the sun for the weekend so that you would return to school with a start of a tan. The school year for us mostly ended toward the middle of June. Sometimes we weren't so lucky with sun and had to resort to the QT fake tans of long ago that left you a strange orange color. Yes, I do admit I did try it once and thank goodness fake tanning has come a long way over the year.
Now with the threat of skin cancer a possibility I tend to spend a little less time in the sun, although I do partake occasionally even though I shouldn't and spend my money on the fake stuff.
I would have loved to BBQ this weekend but ours was on its last leg and was put out for spring cleanup and we have yet to purchase a new one. I have checked a few out but still can't seem to decide on one. There is something about standing in front of the grill and the aroma of smoking meat that just brings about more great childhood memories. Of course then it was charcoal and lighter fluid instead of gas cooking. This is another aspect that isn't as healthy for you either but how is it that everything fun is bad for you?
I have put off firing up the air conditioner too. I guess I am trying to see how long I can go to keep from having that astronomical electric bill. I have pushed up all the windows and letting the ceiling fans and breeze do the work for me. Of course, this has slightly affected allergies but I will live through it.. Oh yeah we never had air conditioning growing up. Our way of cooling down was opening the windows, laying on the floor and letting the ocean breeze make its way through. Iced tea was a "summer only" beverage so we drank pitchers of it. Why is it I don't remember sweating as a kid? Maybe because it is not something that matters when you are growing up. Now you just hope you can get through the day without having to change your clothes at least three times in one day.
Memorial Day is memory day for some-the good, the sad and everything rolled up into one.
Now with the threat of skin cancer a possibility I tend to spend a little less time in the sun, although I do partake occasionally even though I shouldn't and spend my money on the fake stuff.
I would have loved to BBQ this weekend but ours was on its last leg and was put out for spring cleanup and we have yet to purchase a new one. I have checked a few out but still can't seem to decide on one. There is something about standing in front of the grill and the aroma of smoking meat that just brings about more great childhood memories. Of course then it was charcoal and lighter fluid instead of gas cooking. This is another aspect that isn't as healthy for you either but how is it that everything fun is bad for you?
I have put off firing up the air conditioner too. I guess I am trying to see how long I can go to keep from having that astronomical electric bill. I have pushed up all the windows and letting the ceiling fans and breeze do the work for me. Of course, this has slightly affected allergies but I will live through it.. Oh yeah we never had air conditioning growing up. Our way of cooling down was opening the windows, laying on the floor and letting the ocean breeze make its way through. Iced tea was a "summer only" beverage so we drank pitchers of it. Why is it I don't remember sweating as a kid? Maybe because it is not something that matters when you are growing up. Now you just hope you can get through the day without having to change your clothes at least three times in one day.
Memorial Day is memory day for some-the good, the sad and everything rolled up into one.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Tornado Alley-Someplace You Don't Want to Be Caught in the Dark
For the early part of my life I lived where you never knew when the ground would be shaking. I lived through several earthquakes, two that were pretty damaging. The fact that you never had warning was something you just accepted. A few broken mementos and cracks in your sidewalks far easier to accept.
When we moved to "tornado alley" my goal was to find a home with a basement. Unfortunately, that didn't happen so I figured the likelihood of tornado's is like a crap shoot. In the almost 14 years I have lived in our present area we have had two close calls. Both times to look overhead and see the swirling clouds is a little frightening. Our neighborhood dodged a bullet this time, and the two that did touch down last night were reported as minor. The frequent claps of thunder and the close lightening strikes certainly didn't help my nerves. A brief knockout of our power for a couple moments wasn't encouraging either but the one good feeling was that David was hear to see me jump and squirm every time my emotions got the best of me. Yes I am a big baby I will admit and he always has a way to calm me.
A couple years ago we experience straight line winds on a return trip from the east in our big truck. The "green sky" I have always been told is an indication of bad things to come. That was not a fun experience especially after getting out of the truck and seeing the top of our trailer peeled back like a tuna can and half of our trailer roof probably miles away. No content was damaged. Thank goodness the full trailer probably saved us and David's knack for packing tight. In that instance again David's calming nature kept me from going ballistic.
Actually I usually get a little more edgy when I hear the tornado warnings. There is just something about that sound that makes my hair stand on end. Partly because there is really not alot that you can really do.
We bit the bullet again, God and Mother Nature was on our side.
When we moved to "tornado alley" my goal was to find a home with a basement. Unfortunately, that didn't happen so I figured the likelihood of tornado's is like a crap shoot. In the almost 14 years I have lived in our present area we have had two close calls. Both times to look overhead and see the swirling clouds is a little frightening. Our neighborhood dodged a bullet this time, and the two that did touch down last night were reported as minor. The frequent claps of thunder and the close lightening strikes certainly didn't help my nerves. A brief knockout of our power for a couple moments wasn't encouraging either but the one good feeling was that David was hear to see me jump and squirm every time my emotions got the best of me. Yes I am a big baby I will admit and he always has a way to calm me.
A couple years ago we experience straight line winds on a return trip from the east in our big truck. The "green sky" I have always been told is an indication of bad things to come. That was not a fun experience especially after getting out of the truck and seeing the top of our trailer peeled back like a tuna can and half of our trailer roof probably miles away. No content was damaged. Thank goodness the full trailer probably saved us and David's knack for packing tight. In that instance again David's calming nature kept me from going ballistic.
Actually I usually get a little more edgy when I hear the tornado warnings. There is just something about that sound that makes my hair stand on end. Partly because there is really not alot that you can really do.
We bit the bullet again, God and Mother Nature was on our side.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Customer Service- Two Cans and a Piece of String
This past week has been extremely difficult. We never realize how much we depend on technology until we are without it. I have had several times in my life where it was "like the good ole days". During my time in CA we had a couple times when earthquakes were bad enough that we could loose power and sometimes were unable to use gas for long periods of time. We would dig out candles and try and make an adventure out of a bad situation.
This past week I had to do without phone and Internet usage..Not good when your business pretty much depends on both to get things done. We had another pretty significant rainstorm which usually brings problems to the phone service anyway. But this time it was different. We went from static to sporadic usage to a dead line.
The process of getting it fixed started Tuesday morning where a call to customer service said it would be Thursday before someone could get out. Two days?? Let's go back, of course the first call was through an automated system, (no human) where over and over I put in the phone number and pressed the designated numbers. Unfortunately, they should include a number for all of the above, which they don't. The time frame for the appointment was 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. as stated in the recorded message, someone 18 years or older must be at home, (that would be me), all animals must be out of the yard (no problem), and we must be able to get in the area where the phone box is (still no problem, everyone can get in our yard). So I looked forward to a day at home. As the time ticked away and first the morning passed and then afternoon and still no call or repair tech. By 7:00 p.m. I attempted to call back the repair number but with no way to talk to a human voice. By this time our second line was having the same problem so I got the bright idea that if I reported it I may be able to actually talk to someone..Wrong again.
So bright and early on Friday morning I called the repair number again this time getting a human and basically giving them a piece of my mind. Why did no technician show up? No explanation. The only advice was to send it to the "Expedite Dept". Ok fine I need phone service before the weekend. I have already been here a full day without a call as to what was going on. Of course the first words out of their mouth is "I am sorry for the inconvenience". Are they really?? Some one will call you in the next two hours to set up an appointment before 5:00 p.m. Your kidding right, Friday?
Well thirty minutes later the technician called saying he had just gotten the order. Hummm what happened yesterday, he hadn't a clue.. He was out in fifteen minutes and had the problem solved in less than thirty minutes. Apparently between old, rotting lines and possible lightening strike the lines need to be pulled to expose new line..Problem solved..almost..
After a lengthy conversation with the technician, he explained like all companies today, they are also cutting back staff in all areas.. Basically one technician for a pretty large area. How can you expect service to work with that? How can these same companies continue to air commercials that state they have 97% of phone users? If they do a large percentage are not really happy. Over the course of several weeks I have talked with several people who are not exactly happy with either land line, Internet, or cellular service.. Bottom line customers would much rather be able to voice their concerns one on one, not to an automated system, or even an e-mail on the Internet. Sometimes that human contact can really only get the job done..
Which comes to the conclusion, and something I sarcastically but truly believed at that point in time. "I would do better with two cans and a piece of string at this point".
This past week I had to do without phone and Internet usage..Not good when your business pretty much depends on both to get things done. We had another pretty significant rainstorm which usually brings problems to the phone service anyway. But this time it was different. We went from static to sporadic usage to a dead line.
The process of getting it fixed started Tuesday morning where a call to customer service said it would be Thursday before someone could get out. Two days?? Let's go back, of course the first call was through an automated system, (no human) where over and over I put in the phone number and pressed the designated numbers. Unfortunately, they should include a number for all of the above, which they don't. The time frame for the appointment was 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. as stated in the recorded message, someone 18 years or older must be at home, (that would be me), all animals must be out of the yard (no problem), and we must be able to get in the area where the phone box is (still no problem, everyone can get in our yard). So I looked forward to a day at home. As the time ticked away and first the morning passed and then afternoon and still no call or repair tech. By 7:00 p.m. I attempted to call back the repair number but with no way to talk to a human voice. By this time our second line was having the same problem so I got the bright idea that if I reported it I may be able to actually talk to someone..Wrong again.
So bright and early on Friday morning I called the repair number again this time getting a human and basically giving them a piece of my mind. Why did no technician show up? No explanation. The only advice was to send it to the "Expedite Dept". Ok fine I need phone service before the weekend. I have already been here a full day without a call as to what was going on. Of course the first words out of their mouth is "I am sorry for the inconvenience". Are they really?? Some one will call you in the next two hours to set up an appointment before 5:00 p.m. Your kidding right, Friday?
Well thirty minutes later the technician called saying he had just gotten the order. Hummm what happened yesterday, he hadn't a clue.. He was out in fifteen minutes and had the problem solved in less than thirty minutes. Apparently between old, rotting lines and possible lightening strike the lines need to be pulled to expose new line..Problem solved..almost..
After a lengthy conversation with the technician, he explained like all companies today, they are also cutting back staff in all areas.. Basically one technician for a pretty large area. How can you expect service to work with that? How can these same companies continue to air commercials that state they have 97% of phone users? If they do a large percentage are not really happy. Over the course of several weeks I have talked with several people who are not exactly happy with either land line, Internet, or cellular service.. Bottom line customers would much rather be able to voice their concerns one on one, not to an automated system, or even an e-mail on the Internet. Sometimes that human contact can really only get the job done..
Which comes to the conclusion, and something I sarcastically but truly believed at that point in time. "I would do better with two cans and a piece of string at this point".
Monday, April 26, 2010
If You Need Cheering Up-Buy Shoes
With only a few days left in this month and so many highs and lows, I can only imagine what the rest of the year will bring. I have taken on some things that were out of my box so to speak but each day brings a surprise.
Our new granddaughter is almost two weeks old and it is hard to believe how things can change in a little bit of time. Her birth brought me both tears and laughter for so many reasons. The road ahead will be filled with twists and turns a hundred times over.
This past weekend I participated in my sixth State Conference for what is now Business Women of Missouri. I am a few days away from becoming the President of our local group, Sedalia Business Women. It is going to be something completely new for me. I made the trip to the conference with a very wonderful friend. She is the sister I wished I'd had and I can always expect laughter in some way when I am with her. This weekend was no surprise.
Actually I think we may have figured out we might be shopping enablers of each other. It may or may not be a good thing but lets just say the shoe industry made out like bandits this weekend. In our defense we did have a purpose in a few of our purchases in thinking of others. For me I bought a much needed pair of work boots for my hubby and she bought a pair of pumps for a shopping challenge/donation. The other pairs were lets just say icing on the cake. But we got joy, laughter until we hurt and it will be something we will never forget.
Sometimes when your days get blurred together it is a breath of fresh air to have people around you that you know will make the sun shine on your day-even if it's raining.
Thanks
Our new granddaughter is almost two weeks old and it is hard to believe how things can change in a little bit of time. Her birth brought me both tears and laughter for so many reasons. The road ahead will be filled with twists and turns a hundred times over.
This past weekend I participated in my sixth State Conference for what is now Business Women of Missouri. I am a few days away from becoming the President of our local group, Sedalia Business Women. It is going to be something completely new for me. I made the trip to the conference with a very wonderful friend. She is the sister I wished I'd had and I can always expect laughter in some way when I am with her. This weekend was no surprise.
Actually I think we may have figured out we might be shopping enablers of each other. It may or may not be a good thing but lets just say the shoe industry made out like bandits this weekend. In our defense we did have a purpose in a few of our purchases in thinking of others. For me I bought a much needed pair of work boots for my hubby and she bought a pair of pumps for a shopping challenge/donation. The other pairs were lets just say icing on the cake. But we got joy, laughter until we hurt and it will be something we will never forget.
Sometimes when your days get blurred together it is a breath of fresh air to have people around you that you know will make the sun shine on your day-even if it's raining.
Thanks
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Spring Has Definitely Sprung
I have definitely cleared away the long winter doldrums that I seemed to encounter all season long. My vitamin D levels were almost what seemed non-existent in my opinion. As soon as the temperature got above 60 degrees and the sun came out my winter clothes were quickly packed away, my Capri's were on and I felt like an excited child. Sound familiar? I have spent several days out in the yard either doing some spring cleaning and planter weeding and as if I don't have enough on my plate (somehow the plate I have seems small maybe I had better upgrade to a platter) I got the bright idea to start a container garden this year.
With the high price of produce in the stores I decided why not be healthy and economical at the same time. One of the things on my honey-do lists was to clear off the patio and plan my attack of a container garden. After reading a Facebook favorite "The Dinner Garden" it put my mind into motion to start small. I have a small herb garden with basil, chives, rosemary and lavender. A couple tomato, green and yellow peppers and strawberries. I have my fingers crossed that I will have some success.
I have my childhood memories with my grandpa and our tremendous backyard farm. In those days he cleared the area, prepared the soil and I was the planter and tender. Anything you could imagine we had: squash, tomatoes, peppers, onions, beans, cabbage, carrots, radishes. A variety of fruit trees and flowers. He was the farmer Connor of the block. I have very fond memories of sitting in the midst of the dirt, pulling out a large carrot and eating it dirt and all.
Not a care in the world. We didn't do it because of the economy, we did it because it brought joy to both of us and a great sense of accomplishment. He was great friends with the horticulture teacher across the street at the junior high school so I couldn't help but feel another since of pride that my classmates across the street were also benefiting from grandpa's green thumb.
I will keep my finger's crossed that my container garden will be a success, but I will have a little help in spirit... By the way--celebrate Earth Week by planting a little something.
With the high price of produce in the stores I decided why not be healthy and economical at the same time. One of the things on my honey-do lists was to clear off the patio and plan my attack of a container garden. After reading a Facebook favorite "The Dinner Garden" it put my mind into motion to start small. I have a small herb garden with basil, chives, rosemary and lavender. A couple tomato, green and yellow peppers and strawberries. I have my fingers crossed that I will have some success.
I have my childhood memories with my grandpa and our tremendous backyard farm. In those days he cleared the area, prepared the soil and I was the planter and tender. Anything you could imagine we had: squash, tomatoes, peppers, onions, beans, cabbage, carrots, radishes. A variety of fruit trees and flowers. He was the farmer Connor of the block. I have very fond memories of sitting in the midst of the dirt, pulling out a large carrot and eating it dirt and all.
Not a care in the world. We didn't do it because of the economy, we did it because it brought joy to both of us and a great sense of accomplishment. He was great friends with the horticulture teacher across the street at the junior high school so I couldn't help but feel another since of pride that my classmates across the street were also benefiting from grandpa's green thumb.
I will keep my finger's crossed that my container garden will be a success, but I will have a little help in spirit... By the way--celebrate Earth Week by planting a little something.
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