Well, my chops are tired. I can't seem to remember fingerings. Or how to read music. Or how to keep time. I kept getting totally lost in band practice tonight. It was getting frustrating!! The music is good and if I could just hear my part it would sure be a lot easier.
I got a phone call today at the office from a high school friend. I knew what she was calling about even though I hadn't talked to her in years (since our 10-year reunion I think). One of our other classmates, Jennifer DeVault Bunch, passed away yesterday. Jenn had cancer - and fought hard. She was always sweet, very positive, wild about her hubby John and daughter Abby Lynn (4). She was a majorette and then our feature twirler in marching band. During concert season she was a percussionist. She got to march in President Clinton's Inaugural parade way back when, twirling as she marched. I know she will be missed, and I regret not talking to her more the last few months. She found me on Facebook early this year, and I'll be grateful for the few months we communicated. We've been out of high school now 15 years and we've already lost 3 - Ben, Jeremy, and now Jennifer.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Jumping June
Hello -
Thought I'd update since it's been a while. I had a great time at Mom's a few weeks ago. I got to visit with Mrs. Hearn - one of my favorite teachers from high school. I figured I should start on my "visit/do before Mom moves" list. Friday evening, Mom & I went over to Cowhorn Creek Retirement Center to have dinner with Aunt Chris, Johnny, Patrick, and Sam. The center has a nice big dining room with round tables that seat four. Mom & I sat with Johnny, and he regaled us with his preacher life - the wheres, the whens, the whys, etc. After a leisurely and light dinner (they serve slowly to allow residents plenty of social time), we headed up to Aunt Chris' room. Sam & Johnny played a bit of pool, while the rest of us visited. I hadn't seen Patrick in a long time, and Sam since he was a baby. We really enjoyed the visit. Then Mom & I went to the hospital to check on Uncle David and Alice Marie (his mother-in-law was in the hospital). David hadn't eaten, so we went to get him some food. By the time we got to Chik-Fil-A, we were hungry too (that dinner was really light). So we all ate and talked in the small chapel at the hospital. On Saturday, we went to Idabel, OK for Keith Lancaster's praise workshop. We were late, and left early (I wasn't feeling too good - mostly tired and had a headache) but it was really good. I enjoyed the time with Mom and look forward to her moving here!
The Hot Springs trip was adventurous. Not exactly the word I'd normally use when hanging out with mature women. But the meeting was good, everyone seemed to be doing fine and having fun. Until Thursday morning (the last day). That's when it got really exciting. LaVerne, one of my favorites and a real go-getter, had an "episode" at breakfast. She just got really tired all of a sudden. I wasn't there but Joyce got help (2 nurses and a paramedic were nearby) and they called 911. By that time, I found them and was wondering what was going on! I ran up to our room to get LaVerne's purse and mine, and made it back downstairs as they were wheeling her out on the stretcher. By that time, though, she was looking much better and almost pert. We got in the ambulance, they checked her out, and recommended that she go to the hospital. So we both got our first ride in an ambulance! Anyway, she was okay - her blood pressure was really high. I got her registered (clean out those wallets!!!!), called her daugher (hated having to scare her), and mostly worried. But she got released after about an hour, with a recommendation that she see her doctor when she got home (so I made sure she did that). We even made it back to the meeting after grabbing a snack since neither one of us had had breakfast. Joyce was so happy to see LaVerne that she got all teary. LaVerne, Joyce, Mary Ellen, and I headed back home with a stop at Cracker Barrel for lunch. The blueberry pancakes were yummy. I was a little hesitant to let LaVerne drive home by herself, but she was insistent. Her only concession was that she'd call me when she got home, which she did. Whew. She's still doing good, just going to her doctor, and a heart doctor next week to check things out.
After that, it was time for the Associated Women for Christian Education conference (AWH, and other organizations like that from the other Christian schools). We had a nice dinner and I did icebreakers (got them moving around!). Lara Noah led singing (yeah!!!!!) and Kim did a devotional. We even went out to the Lily Pool, where Lara led us in more songs (yeah!!!!). On Friday, I had planned to go to the conference all day, but I had the opportunity to go to Beebe and interview their superintendent for one of my school assignments. So I did that, then went to the luncheon. I went by work for a while, then home but made it back for the dinner that night. We walked over to the Lightle House Inn for a scrumpious dinner - appetizers, an Italian dinner, entertainment by Joli & Paul Love (accompanied by Donna Jo Miller on piano), and the BEST EVER ITALIAN CREME CAKE. It was DE-lish. I savored every bite.
So other than that, it's just work and school. One of my coworkers, Amy, is pregnant. She's due Aug. 1 but figures she'll have him early (her first baby was 4 weeks early). But she's already started dilating and having a few contractions. The doctor gave her some medicine, told her to work only half days or less, and to try to make it through another week. If she had him now, she'd have to go to LR. So we're praying that she can hold off a while longer! The 4-H day camps are next week, so we'll all be pitching in.
School is going good. My online class is moving along. I even turned in my assignment due today EARLY. And I finished up the paper for the Ethics class and turned that in today. I've even gotten a lot done on my powerpoint to turn in next week. Now that I've finished the Ethics paper, I need to get started on my other class - the abstinence education class.
The last thing is my critter-sitting week-end. The Parnells live out near Letona and have animals that are more like their kids. When I started critter-sitting for them a few years ago, they had 2 horses, 2-3 dogs, and 2 cats. Now, they have 2 horses (Max and Cody), 1 dog (Lily, but she stayed at the neighbors luckily), 3 cats (Tigger, Baloo, and Jack), and 12 cows (Teddy the bull, Missy the heifer, Cindy the heifer, Matthew the bull calf, Milly the momma of Missy and Matthew, Rascal, Della, Sugar, Lisa, Sammy, Lady, and Amber). Sugar is my favorite. So, I go out and stay there (they do pay me), and the biggest job is feeding. I get the feed for the cows, go out to the barn. Check on the cats, give them some food (dry and the canned stuff) and fresh water. Then, I feed Max & Cody, spray them with fly spray. Then, it's on to Teddy who is waiting patiently for his feed and minerals. Then I feed the "girls" and Matthew - 3 small feeders for the young ones and 2 big things for the others. I put out all of the feed, THEN open the gate for them to mosey in. They are pretty serious about eating, especially in the mornings. They are fun to watch, and Sugar usually came over to me and let me pet her a while (she likes watching Jack too). I'd eventually get them all out of the feed area, close the gate. Then I might clean out the horse stall (Teddy got in there and messed them up good), and check the water for the horses and cows. Yeah, it's work, but it's fun too. They like me to talk to them (they are used to it I'm sure), and it gives me someone to talk to. I had planned on working on my paper and watching a little tv. I couldn't get the tv to work though. :-( I played online Friday night but finally went to bed. I kept hearing this noise though - like a pop. Took me a while to figure out - it was fireworks. Whew. Then early Saturday morning, the power must have gone off and come back on because the printer started "doing it's thing like when you turn it on" (whatever you call it!) and I couldn't figure out what that silly noise was. Saturday morning though, I figured the power had gone off because I had to reset the microwave clock....and then the computer wouldn't work. Nothing. Zilch. Sigh. No TV. No computer? I had homework! So, I drove home, messed around (painted my toenails - Passion), and got my laptop. Went back out there and started work. You know, with so few distractions, I got a lot done - finished my paper!!! Well, I did find a few books to read.... Saturday evening the neighbor across the road called. A couple of pit bulls had gotten loose in Letona and he wanted to warn me. He didn't think they'd get that far, but if the cows started getting spooked.... Then, the garage door wouldn't go down. I moved the car up - nothing. By that time I was tired, so I just looked the doors and went to bed. I was taking a last stroll before I left today when I scared a snake (I think it was just a king snake) and he scared me. Lo and behold, the garage door went down with no trouble. And I came home.
Thought I'd update since it's been a while. I had a great time at Mom's a few weeks ago. I got to visit with Mrs. Hearn - one of my favorite teachers from high school. I figured I should start on my "visit/do before Mom moves" list. Friday evening, Mom & I went over to Cowhorn Creek Retirement Center to have dinner with Aunt Chris, Johnny, Patrick, and Sam. The center has a nice big dining room with round tables that seat four. Mom & I sat with Johnny, and he regaled us with his preacher life - the wheres, the whens, the whys, etc. After a leisurely and light dinner (they serve slowly to allow residents plenty of social time), we headed up to Aunt Chris' room. Sam & Johnny played a bit of pool, while the rest of us visited. I hadn't seen Patrick in a long time, and Sam since he was a baby. We really enjoyed the visit. Then Mom & I went to the hospital to check on Uncle David and Alice Marie (his mother-in-law was in the hospital). David hadn't eaten, so we went to get him some food. By the time we got to Chik-Fil-A, we were hungry too (that dinner was really light). So we all ate and talked in the small chapel at the hospital. On Saturday, we went to Idabel, OK for Keith Lancaster's praise workshop. We were late, and left early (I wasn't feeling too good - mostly tired and had a headache) but it was really good. I enjoyed the time with Mom and look forward to her moving here!
The Hot Springs trip was adventurous. Not exactly the word I'd normally use when hanging out with mature women. But the meeting was good, everyone seemed to be doing fine and having fun. Until Thursday morning (the last day). That's when it got really exciting. LaVerne, one of my favorites and a real go-getter, had an "episode" at breakfast. She just got really tired all of a sudden. I wasn't there but Joyce got help (2 nurses and a paramedic were nearby) and they called 911. By that time, I found them and was wondering what was going on! I ran up to our room to get LaVerne's purse and mine, and made it back downstairs as they were wheeling her out on the stretcher. By that time, though, she was looking much better and almost pert. We got in the ambulance, they checked her out, and recommended that she go to the hospital. So we both got our first ride in an ambulance! Anyway, she was okay - her blood pressure was really high. I got her registered (clean out those wallets!!!!), called her daugher (hated having to scare her), and mostly worried. But she got released after about an hour, with a recommendation that she see her doctor when she got home (so I made sure she did that). We even made it back to the meeting after grabbing a snack since neither one of us had had breakfast. Joyce was so happy to see LaVerne that she got all teary. LaVerne, Joyce, Mary Ellen, and I headed back home with a stop at Cracker Barrel for lunch. The blueberry pancakes were yummy. I was a little hesitant to let LaVerne drive home by herself, but she was insistent. Her only concession was that she'd call me when she got home, which she did. Whew. She's still doing good, just going to her doctor, and a heart doctor next week to check things out.
After that, it was time for the Associated Women for Christian Education conference (AWH, and other organizations like that from the other Christian schools). We had a nice dinner and I did icebreakers (got them moving around!). Lara Noah led singing (yeah!!!!!) and Kim did a devotional. We even went out to the Lily Pool, where Lara led us in more songs (yeah!!!!). On Friday, I had planned to go to the conference all day, but I had the opportunity to go to Beebe and interview their superintendent for one of my school assignments. So I did that, then went to the luncheon. I went by work for a while, then home but made it back for the dinner that night. We walked over to the Lightle House Inn for a scrumpious dinner - appetizers, an Italian dinner, entertainment by Joli & Paul Love (accompanied by Donna Jo Miller on piano), and the BEST EVER ITALIAN CREME CAKE. It was DE-lish. I savored every bite.
So other than that, it's just work and school. One of my coworkers, Amy, is pregnant. She's due Aug. 1 but figures she'll have him early (her first baby was 4 weeks early). But she's already started dilating and having a few contractions. The doctor gave her some medicine, told her to work only half days or less, and to try to make it through another week. If she had him now, she'd have to go to LR. So we're praying that she can hold off a while longer! The 4-H day camps are next week, so we'll all be pitching in.
School is going good. My online class is moving along. I even turned in my assignment due today EARLY. And I finished up the paper for the Ethics class and turned that in today. I've even gotten a lot done on my powerpoint to turn in next week. Now that I've finished the Ethics paper, I need to get started on my other class - the abstinence education class.
The last thing is my critter-sitting week-end. The Parnells live out near Letona and have animals that are more like their kids. When I started critter-sitting for them a few years ago, they had 2 horses, 2-3 dogs, and 2 cats. Now, they have 2 horses (Max and Cody), 1 dog (Lily, but she stayed at the neighbors luckily), 3 cats (Tigger, Baloo, and Jack), and 12 cows (Teddy the bull, Missy the heifer, Cindy the heifer, Matthew the bull calf, Milly the momma of Missy and Matthew, Rascal, Della, Sugar, Lisa, Sammy, Lady, and Amber). Sugar is my favorite. So, I go out and stay there (they do pay me), and the biggest job is feeding. I get the feed for the cows, go out to the barn. Check on the cats, give them some food (dry and the canned stuff) and fresh water. Then, I feed Max & Cody, spray them with fly spray. Then, it's on to Teddy who is waiting patiently for his feed and minerals. Then I feed the "girls" and Matthew - 3 small feeders for the young ones and 2 big things for the others. I put out all of the feed, THEN open the gate for them to mosey in. They are pretty serious about eating, especially in the mornings. They are fun to watch, and Sugar usually came over to me and let me pet her a while (she likes watching Jack too). I'd eventually get them all out of the feed area, close the gate. Then I might clean out the horse stall (Teddy got in there and messed them up good), and check the water for the horses and cows. Yeah, it's work, but it's fun too. They like me to talk to them (they are used to it I'm sure), and it gives me someone to talk to. I had planned on working on my paper and watching a little tv. I couldn't get the tv to work though. :-( I played online Friday night but finally went to bed. I kept hearing this noise though - like a pop. Took me a while to figure out - it was fireworks. Whew. Then early Saturday morning, the power must have gone off and come back on because the printer started "doing it's thing like when you turn it on" (whatever you call it!) and I couldn't figure out what that silly noise was. Saturday morning though, I figured the power had gone off because I had to reset the microwave clock....and then the computer wouldn't work. Nothing. Zilch. Sigh. No TV. No computer? I had homework! So, I drove home, messed around (painted my toenails - Passion), and got my laptop. Went back out there and started work. You know, with so few distractions, I got a lot done - finished my paper!!! Well, I did find a few books to read.... Saturday evening the neighbor across the road called. A couple of pit bulls had gotten loose in Letona and he wanted to warn me. He didn't think they'd get that far, but if the cows started getting spooked.... Then, the garage door wouldn't go down. I moved the car up - nothing. By that time I was tired, so I just looked the doors and went to bed. I was taking a last stroll before I left today when I scared a snake (I think it was just a king snake) and he scared me. Lo and behold, the garage door went down with no trouble. And I came home.
Here are Max, Cody, and Teddy:
Oh, and did I mention that I'm now in the Searcy Community Band? Yep. Found a horn to borrow since mine's still in the shop. I remember a lot, but I forgot a lot of fingerings! It's fun though, even though my mouth has been a bit sore. We have a concert at Spring Park on July 3. Come listen...and if you ever played an instrument and would like to join we'd love to have you! Especially if you play any low brass instrument. We meet on Monday nights at 7pm in the Reynolds Center at Harding. There's even a group on Facebook.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Joy
I went to a new Bible class tonight - a women's study of the book of James. Consider it a joy to face trials. So maybe to you that means those big trials. Like cancer - I think of Barby Smith on that one. Or maybe a marriage crisis. Or losing a child. But hey, those little things that annoy you? Nah, you don't need to be joyful about being late because of traffic, or that stress-induced neck pain, or even someone that hurts your feelings. Right? Nope. It's those smaller trials that give us good practice at being joyful - choosing that attitude - and can make a huge difference. So to me, that means being joyful at being single, and not wasting my time wishing for what I don't have. So I'm trying but it's a trial.
School is wild!!!! I have tons of papers to write, using APA format of course. I like blogs and news articles so much better. I enjoyed the Christian Ethics class over the week-end and I met some neat people. Now I just get to write a paper! My P-12 curriculum class is online and so far, so good. I've discussed on Blackboard, I'm even ahead in my reading. Now, I just need to work on my independent study class - abstinence education.
I'm headed to Mom's for the week-end. Taking my joy and my school work with me. Then next week, I get to go to Hot Springs with 8 other people (7 women, 1 man). I'll be staying in a room with 4 other women (it's actually a suite and I've already claimed the lumpy couch), so I'll be needing lots of joy and patience!!!
I hope you have a joyful week-end.
School is wild!!!! I have tons of papers to write, using APA format of course. I like blogs and news articles so much better. I enjoyed the Christian Ethics class over the week-end and I met some neat people. Now I just get to write a paper! My P-12 curriculum class is online and so far, so good. I've discussed on Blackboard, I'm even ahead in my reading. Now, I just need to work on my independent study class - abstinence education.
I'm headed to Mom's for the week-end. Taking my joy and my school work with me. Then next week, I get to go to Hot Springs with 8 other people (7 women, 1 man). I'll be staying in a room with 4 other women (it's actually a suite and I've already claimed the lumpy couch), so I'll be needing lots of joy and patience!!!
I hope you have a joyful week-end.
JOY
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