tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133688592024-03-14T00:54:26.034-04:00Bobbird3131Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-74766865951789379792009-02-01T21:09:00.002-05:002009-02-01T21:10:20.208-05:00VacationWe just got back from a week's vacation in Florida. We have friends we love dearly who visit us on the way to and from Vermont every year and they invited us to stay with them. When they came by last year she was on oxygen and when we got to Florida she was very fragile. Her husband is doing all the cooking and cleaning and her doctor told her while we were there that there is nothing more he can do to improve her breathing. We, and her other friends, encouraged her to get another opinion but the truth is the new doctor will probably say the same. Next spring's trip may have to be postponed indefinitely or might be made by only one.<br /><br />I am very sad about this but also very happy that we took time when we did to visit them. We laughed, we ate , we watched TV - all things that she could do. She has a laptop but struggles with more than the basics so I helped her download pictures from her camera and view a video her sister sent. We helped her husband cook and run errands. She wanted a new skirt so I took pictures of some at a local store and brought them home so she could chose without depleting every bit of energy. No matter what happens we got the chance to really be there for them, even if it was just for a week.<br /><br />You might think it would be too sad to spend that much time in that situation but it wasn't the case. It was a privilege to be there and it made me feel good to be able to help. I watched them together. They fussed at each other like always but every once in a while he would look at her so lovingly like he was saving up for later. In the end I think I got more than I gave.Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-79538187008170290312009-01-29T16:07:00.004-05:002009-01-29T16:14:33.814-05:0025 Things About Me<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >If you see me on Facebook this will be a repeat, but I thought since I took all this time to do it I would post it here too.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />1. Having a cockatiel is like having a toddler and I've been a cockatiel owner for more than 18 years.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />2. I love to say "my daughter lives in Queens". She is one of the lights of my life.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />3. I am a "basics" person. I don't wear makeup or nail polish because I can't remember to check my face or fix my chips. I do wear lipstick lately because they make that stuff that stays on forever.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />4. My mother is 84 and still sounds like she's 25 on the phone. I love to call her and get the weekly analysis on her friends and what's going on in town.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />5. My husband built a new half bath in our house. It's mine and I have all my stuff in it. I love it and him for building it.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >6. Marvin and I were married in 1991 and I am still wildly crazy about him.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />7. I love to take pictures. Thank goodness for digital because I have thousands of them.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />8. I have a blog which I don't write on very often, but I love to read other people's blogs. I have 12 or so I read daily.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />9. I love cows.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />10. I once rented an apartment that I never lived in.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />11. When I was fourteen I was a 34D.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />12. I can't stand to be around negative people for long. Their vibes literally make me ill.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />13. I have been called a Pollyanna.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />14. I have been on TV and radio.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />15. I have a life of serenity and stability now but it was once so drama filled my sister told me I should write a book about it.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />16. I love detective shows and mystery novels.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />17. When I moved to Florida in 1998, I called my family at Thanksgiving and cried like a baby on the phone because I missed them so much. They just kept passing me from person to person while I wept.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />18. My son melts my heart every time I think about him.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />19. My idea of a perfect Saturday afternoon is a tall iced tea and a good book on the patio. My realty is a mountain of wash and "shall I or shall I not dust".</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >20. I did not realize how much being in a category four hurricane had frightened me until I moved to Tennessee and began to feel safe.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />21. One of my favorite things to do is the slide presentation for my church. I spend hours looking for backgrounds and Christian graphics to make each week's songs and scripture as beautiful as possible on the screen.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />22. I love purses and tote bags. If my husband loses me in a department store, that's the first place he looks.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />23. If I had to live for the rest of my life on an island, I would bring Peanut M & M's, Coca Cola, Sensual Amber body butter, all the Lawrence Block mysteries and my One Year Bible.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />24. Marvin and I have date night every Friday night. We "take a nap", have leftovers and make sure we catch up on the week. We do not accept outside invitations on Friday night.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />25. I have no regrets about my life except one.</span>Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-79274679273125225352008-12-30T16:02:00.007-05:002008-12-31T09:28:04.631-05:00Christmas - In Several Parts<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We went to Maryland for Christmas this year. My husband Marvin told his daughter Sherry, that it would 10:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve before we got there. The truth was that we left home early and would get there before 9:00. Every time Sherry called to see how we were doing on the road he would whisper to me “now don’t laugh” and tell her we would see her about 10:30. When we pulled up in the drive at 8:45, the kids said to Sherry, “Grampa’s here” and she said “no he isn’t, it’s too early”. To which they responded, “if that’s not Grampa’s van, why is Gramma in the front seat”?<br /><br />After she kissed him and smacked him in the head for playing a trick on her, we brought in the luggage and sat down to open one present from Santa. We all got Christmas lounging pants, which we put on to stay up and eat cookies until the kids went to sleep. We slept in Beth’s room, which she willingly gave up for us. Her sister Melissa turned the closet in her room into a bedroom for Beth. She made up a little bed on the floor, moved in a tiny nightstand with a clock and a book, and even put a picture on the wall for her.<br /><br />Before we went to bed we met Le-Le, the new dog. She’s a coal black Pomeranian, including her eyes, with the sweetest disposition you could ask for. The two cats are not impressed with her though. Kitty ignores her but Sunshine sneaks around behind and bats Le-Le in the head at every opportunity. The poor dog won’t use the pet door to go out because she is afraid Sunshine is on the other side waiting to give her a smack.<br /><br />The next morning we got up to three kids wriggling on the couch waiting for all adults to get in the living room so the fun could begin. We started with stockings. I got Hello Kitty pencils and pencil case in mine. I told everyone how happy I was that Santa knew all about my love of Hello Kitty. That made Melissa extremely happy, as she had been Santa’s helper for that gift. Sherry had told me (in confidence the night before) how proud she was to buy those with her own money for Gramma.<br /><br />After stockings, the kids got to open their presents and I had as much fun watching as they did opening. In the middle of it all Sherry got three gifts from Phil, which he tried to pretend weren't from him by putting the kid’s names on the tags. She grumbled a bit since they had agreed not to give each other gifts – just spend the money on the kids, but it was only half-hearted. She got a beautiful bath and body set with lots of body butter, a 40 piece Rubbermaid set and a box of gourmet teas, all things she loves. Her husband Phil has not always been a deep thinker when it comes to gifts so it was really sweet.<br /><br />I've decided to write about my Christmas every day until I run out of things to say. This is enough for today so stop by tomorrow for “What the Kids Got for Christmas”.<br /><br /></span>Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-13843499109443119052008-12-22T14:03:00.001-05:002008-12-22T14:11:22.183-05:00It's Almost ChristmasI miss my kids desperately this Christmas – more than I have in some time. Stef has moved to a wonderful new life in New York and I saw her at Thanksgiving but I can feel a wave of longing sweep over me just writing this.<br /><br />I called my daughter-in-law Tracy on Saturday. It was a Secret Santa call so I just talked to her. Before we hung up she said “we miss you” and I practically broke down over the phone. I wanted to jump in the car right then and go see them all.<br /><br />I wonder if this is how my mother feels about me.<br /><br />Oh, and the “gifts just for the grand kids” idea we (my husband and I) tried to start 3 years ago after he retired and money got tighter, has gone by completely by the wayside for me this year. It started with giving gifts to my daughter’s cats that they could “share” with her and her sweetie. Then it exploded when I made the Secret Santa call for sizes and finished the order I had saved on my laptop for Wayne and his family.<br /><br />I love the holidays. I like the cards, the lights, the food, the church pageants, the gifts, the movies, all of it. I also love giving gifts so I think that 3 year old idea is so dead for me.<br /><br />We will be going to my stepdaughter’s for Christmas. I will see people I love and I will have a wonderful time. It’s just that every once in a while I wish I could beam my children and grandchildren into my living room and we could have a big group hug.Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-81171936066989766982008-12-16T14:41:00.011-05:002009-01-02T10:51:04.892-05:00Cookies and Angels<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MFTYhY7jClM/SUgKCXIc8BI/AAAAAAAAALM/uMHeYb_8UkY/s1600-h/100_7312.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MFTYhY7jClM/SUgKCXIc8BI/AAAAAAAAALM/uMHeYb_8UkY/s320/100_7312.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280481598777389074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sunday afternoon we went to a cookie party. Our hostess spent a week making cookies and the rest of us were supposed to make one kind to share. I made chocolate, cherry, coconut cookies which proved very po</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">pular. You were supposed to eat some there and take some home; but after 2 hours of eating, most of us didn't want to see another cookie. We did have a wonderful afternoon visiting with our friends</span> and checking out what everybody brought.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MFTYhY7jClM/SUgNUtW1cJI/AAAAAAAAALs/TlCbvxjuzVI/s1600-h/100_7353.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MFTYhY7jClM/SUgNUtW1cJI/AAAAAAAAALs/TlCbvxjuzVI/s400/100_7353.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280485212515823762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sunday night we went to the children's play at our church. It was hilarious and touching all at the same time. It's stuff like this that makes me love the holidays. </span><br /></div>Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-82350716631190594562008-12-12T11:59:00.002-05:002008-12-12T12:12:39.837-05:00Construction Time<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Guess what I'm doing this weekend? Sheetrocking!! Marvin just called me from Lowe's to ask if I had any plans for this weekend because he wants me to be his construction helper on Saturday. He's wiring today and we will close in the walls tomorrow. This bathroom is moving right along. Do I already have any plans for the weekend? Let's see: a meeting Saturday morning, prep to teach Sunday School, proof the visual presentation for church, make cookies, take cookies to cookie party- no, I'm fine.</span>Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-16327497666647656742008-12-11T12:32:00.007-05:002008-12-11T13:02:43.218-05:00I'm Very Happy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MFTYhY7jClM/SUFU4A94xlI/AAAAAAAAAK0/vaHUkExM9EA/s1600-h/100_7293.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MFTYhY7jClM/SUFU4A94xlI/AAAAAAAAAK0/vaHUkExM9EA/s320/100_7293.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278593559563912786" border="0" /></a><br />My sweetheart Marvin is putting a half bath in our house and I am so excited. This place has more closets than I have ever seen in a house this size but only one bathroom. That can really be a problem when both of you have the stomach flu at the same time. We decided to eliminate one closet, carve a little room out of my study and voila! crappers for two.<br /><br />Of course any remodel project has it's little inconveniences. My clothes are all in Marvin's study closet. The rest of my stuff is under a big sheet on the guest bed. Everything, including the cat, will have a fine layer of Sheetrock dust before he is done. It's a small price to pay.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MFTYhY7jClM/SUFVXSV_VZI/AAAAAAAAAK8/ECxm7pFO_AQ/s1600-h/100_7289.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MFTYhY7jClM/SUFVXSV_VZI/AAAAAAAAAK8/ECxm7pFO_AQ/s320/100_7289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278594096804353426" border="0" /></a><br />.Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-87864104017449281332008-12-06T00:06:00.007-05:002008-12-06T00:52:04.702-05:00I Stole This From Poppy Who Borrowed It From Frankie.......<p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><strong>9 Layers</strong><br />A meme to peel away the layers of you.</p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><strong>Layer One:</strong><br />- Name: Bobbird3131<br />- Birth date: November 24<br />- Birthplace: Vermont<br />- Current Location: Tennessee<br />- Eye color: Hazel green<br />- Hair Color: gray & white<br />- Height: 5′ 7″<br />- Righty or Lefty: Right<br />- Zodiac sign: Sagittarius<br /></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><strong>Layer Two:</strong><br />- Your Heritage: English<br />-The shoes you wore today: green Mary Janes<br />- Your weakness: chocolate<br />- Your fears: Involve my children<br />- Your perfect pizza: thin crust, lots of olives, onions, peppers and pepperoni<br />- Goal you’d like to achieve: Be published<br /></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><strong>Layer Three:</strong><br />- Your most overused phrase on AIM: I am not a chatterer<br />- Your first waking thoughts: I like my work but I don't want to go in just yet<br />- Your best physical feature: My hair<br />- Your most missed memory: I miss my dad.He died when I was 15.<br /></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><strong>Layer Four:</strong><br />- Pepsi or Coke: Coke - it's not as sweet<br />- McDonalds or Burger King: McDonald’s<br />- Single or group dates: Single<br />- Adidas or Nike: WalMart<br />-Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Freshly brewed Lipton please!<br />- Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate<br />- Cappuccino or coffee: Coffee</p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><strong>Layer Five:</strong><br />- Smoke: Used to smoke a lot<br />- Cuss: When I am angry my construction background comes out<br />- Sing: Yes, soprano<br />- Take a shower everyday: Try to - most days I succeed<br />- Do you think you’ve been in love: Heavens yes<br />- Want to go to college: I thought I did until I actually started taking classes<br />- Liked high school: Loved the learning, hated the socializing (terminal introvert)<br />- Want to get married: I am and I love it<br />- Believe in yourself: Yes<br />- Get motion sickness: Yes, if I read<br />- Think you’re attractive: Yes<br />- Think you’re a health freak: No<br />- Get along with your parents: My Mom is still alive and a great friend<br />- Like thunderstorms: Very much.<br />- Play an instrument: An Omnichord<br /></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><strong>Layer Six: In the past month….</strong><br />- Drank alcohol: No, haven't had a drink in 20 years<br />- Smoked: No<br />- Done drugs: no<br />- Made out: At every opportunity<br />- Gone on a date: Yes, to the symphony<br />- Gone to the mall: Yes<br />- Eaten an entire box of Oreos: No, but I did eat a box of chocolates<br />- Eaten sushi: No<br />- Been on stage: No<br />- Been dumped: No<br />- Gone skating: No<br />- Made homemade cookies: No<br />- Gone skinny dipping: No<br />- Dyed your hair: No<br />- Stolen anything: This meme<br /></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><strong>Layer Seven: Have you ever….</strong><br />- Played a game that required removal of clothing: Yes<br />- Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: Yes<br />- Been caught “doing something”: Almost by his Mom<br />- Been called a tease: Yes<br />- Gotten beat up: Head slammed against the wall in the girl's room in first grade<br />- Shoplifted: As a kid I had a run of it until my mother "had a talk with me"<br />- Changed who you were to fit in: I had a spell of being a chameleon but I've given that up. It's much more fun to be yourself and watch the reaction<br /></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><strong>Layer Eight:</strong><br />- Age you hope to be married: I've already been married.... twice<br />- Names of children: Wayne & Stef<br />- Describe your dream wedding: The second one<br />- How do you want to die: Old and quickly<br />- Where do you want to go to college: I don't want to go now<br />-What do you want to be when you grow up: Ask me when I'm 80<br />- What country would you most like to visit: Scotland</p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><strong>Layer Nine:</strong><br />- Number of drugs taken illegally: One<br />- Number of people I could trust with my life: 3<br />- Number of CD’s that I own: 150+<br />- Number of piercings: 2<br />- Number of tattoos: 0<br />- Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper: Lots. When I was a small child, our local paper published news on baptisms, birthday parties, meeting attendance. I was in there a lot.<br />- Number of scars on my body: 2?<br />- Number of things in my past I regret: 3<br /></p>Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-91417237493001102802008-12-04T15:17:00.002-05:002008-12-04T15:26:53.895-05:00When I Slows Down, I Falls Asleep<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">God. I like to think that I have a personal God, some kind of benevolent grandfather like figure peering over my shoulder helping me out with life. But some days I’m not so sure. I just can’t see the grandfather type letting the world go to hell like this.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Does this mean there is no God? Does it mean he’s less of a benevolent grandfather and more of a switch swinging pissed off father? Or maybe it means there is a God but he’s not personally interested in me. Instead he’s just “out there” watching while I make a mess of his handiwork.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />I go to church regularly. I teach Sunday school, am the secretary of our church’s women’s group, develop and maintain our website and give the children’s sermon several times a year. I also do, from scratch, every week, the presentation that puts the Sunday pictures, songs, birthdays, prayers and scriptures up on the big screen for everyone to see.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I do all this for no monetary compensation and I also have a full-time, paying job. In addition, I have my husband Marvin. He is very self-sufficient, but he deserves time with me when I am not in a semi-coma from church, work and another group I am involved with.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />I’m exhausted just reading the list of things to do and I’m thinking that it’s not that I don’t believe in God. I’m thinking it’s that I’m so tired doing his work that I’m a little pissed off myself. I’m too tired and don’t feel I have time to do the stuff that puts you closer to a higher power.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I don’t pray in the morning like I used to. I still pray but it’s quick and half the time I’m still in bed half asleep instead of on my knees. I have the same problem at night. When I’m that tired I forget the people I want to pray for. I also forget the things I wasn’t very happy about when I did them, so I can’t reflect on how I might avoid doing them again.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I don’t meditate like I used to. I still read my meditation books but it’s not in the morning in my study with a cup of coffee before I go to work. It’s at work, on line, whenever I have a minute between phone calls and agent requests. Somehow when I read this, it that doesn’t sound like quiet time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So maybe God is just “out there” watching while I make a little mess. He knows I have the tools for a full spiritual life with him but I’m just not using them very well right now. Now that I think of it, that could apply to our entire planet. Maybe he is out there waiting for us all to get our heads out of our collective asses so we can take some time to meditate on his take on life. </span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />I think I’m going to have to give up a few things that are eating up my time so I can gain something better.</span>Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-64319931451867565812008-12-03T14:26:00.013-05:002008-12-03T15:25:33.431-05:00Party, Party<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We just had our office Christmas party. It was a noon time pot luck. The owners brought turkey, ham, potatoes and gravy. The rest of us brought anything you could want, from chocolate silk pie to slippery beans (it's the south).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We ate, we talked, we laughed, we ate some mo</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">re. We are a good group and we all like each other (most of the time), so it was a fine afternoon.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">About the time things broke up, the owners gave me my Christmas bonus. It's always in cash (which I like very much), and it's always in a card with a heart</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">felt sentiment. Here is this year's. I think they really got it right.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MFTYhY7jClM/STbqMk3VYeI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/pAijsY69Qao/s1600-h/100_7260.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MFTYhY7jClM/STbqMk3VYeI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/pAijsY69Qao/s320/100_7260.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275661515286208994" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MFTYhY7jClM/STbqopPJ4VI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/tz_He2bC93g/s1600-h/100_7265.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MFTYhY7jClM/STbqopPJ4VI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/tz_He2bC93g/s320/100_7265.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275661997496197458" border="0" /></a>Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-88721903817394129022008-12-02T15:30:00.009-05:002008-12-02T16:02:33.577-05:00Blah, Blah, Go Away<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MFTYhY7jClM/STWh4GrIukI/AAAAAAAAAJM/XAjbwnp17H0/s1600-h/100_7229.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 396px; height: 220px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MFTYhY7jClM/STWh4GrIukI/AAAAAAAAAJM/XAjbwnp17H0/s320/100_7229.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275300523770690114" border="0" /></a><br />I'm a little blah today. After weeks of waiting for Thanksgiving weekend, the fun of seeing my daughter and having time to get to know her sweetie, it seems as though the excitement has gone out of my life. It's partly because I ate too much, slept too little and spent four days in a row not having to work.<br /><br />The other part is separation. Stef lights up the room when she comes to stay. When she leaves things seem dimmer and there's a little hole where she used to be. I know it's temporary and I will be all better soon. In fact, writing this makes me smile at what a fine time we all had. This picture is of Dave on the Bristol, Tennessee side of State Street.Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-31904439340537489252008-11-30T13:54:00.016-05:002008-11-30T21:34:36.493-05:00A Perfect Weekend<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MFTYhY7jClM/STLij2ulG1I/AAAAAAAAAI8/GLkZipSMYeA/s1600-h/100_7251.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 178px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MFTYhY7jClM/STLij2ulG1I/AAAAAAAAAI8/GLkZipSMYeA/s320/100_7251.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274527219218455378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Our daughter Stef and her wonderful sweetie Dave drove to our house for Thanksgiving weekend. We all spent hours talking, watching movies and eating lots of yummy food.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Sammy got a lovely gift for the couple. Soon after they arrived, and while we were eating supper, our cat deposited a live mouse on the floor between them. Everything stopped while my husband Marvin chased the mouse into the closet, grabbed him with the barbecue tongs and set him free in the back yard. </span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />After our Thanksgiving dinner we took a drive and looked for unusual signs to photograph. I didn't have to go far though to catch this shot right in our living room. Yes, we entertained celebrities. I am the mother of the lovely Poppy.</span>Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-76863052190399015172008-11-27T02:23:00.003-05:002008-11-27T02:47:04.649-05:00Love to You<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Our Thanksgiving dinner guests will be here on Friday so my sweet husband and I have today to sleep late, watch the parade in our pajamas, meet up with friends at noon, eat chicken wings, watch movies, and call our kids and my mom to wish them a happy day. I am looking forward to every minute. Happy Thanksgiving!!</span>Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-4659844565999379892008-11-26T11:39:00.004-05:002008-11-26T12:36:49.556-05:00What's That Smell?<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I was driving home from work last night and right about at "Motor Mile" (where all the big car dealerships with the cars that aren't selling are), I smelled a horrible burning smell. I figured somebody with an oil leak was limping over to their dealer for service so I just adjusted my vents to interior. The smell stopped coming in and I drove home. When I got in my driveway and jumped out of the van, guess what? The smell was me! Or at least it was my van. I'm the one with the oil leak and I have to take it to the dealer the day ofter Thanksgiving. Good news is I have the day off so it will be much easier to navigate.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I am at work today but there is nothing going on. I'm just a place holder until 5 p.m. Then the holiday fun begins! Our big dinner won't be until Friday? so my husband and I have already decided to stay in our pajamas, eat chicken wings, watch movies, torture the cat and call all our relatives on Thanksgiving day. Sammy will be happy we are both home - double the attention.</span>Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-18871509455391660032008-11-25T14:51:00.003-05:002008-11-25T17:10:04.289-05:00Another Birthday<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Today is my husband's birthday. He celebrated by getting a truck load of food for our church's food pantry. I asked him if I could bring home supper (that's my version of cooking during the week) since he must be tired. He said no because he had already made a pot of spaghetti sauce and meat balls for tonight. The spoiling just never stops for me at our house and I love my sweetie for it. Happy Birthday honey.</span>Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-1705229705837996812008-11-24T11:27:00.006-05:002008-11-24T15:04:09.675-05:00It's My Birthday<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's my birthday! I just came back from lunch at Cootie Browns - cheeseburger with everything and home made chips. My bosses took me to celebrate. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My husband's birthday is tomorrow so Saturday night we celebrated both our birthdays by going out to dinner at the Peerless and then to the Johnson City Symphony.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I had a gift card to the Peerless that my girl friend gave me so it was going to be free and wonderful. Wonderful because this is supposed to be one of Johnson City's better places to eat and I expected a lot. We get there, get seated and then wait. No "can I take your drink order", no "hi, I'll be with you in a minute", just wait staff running past us to other tables.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After 25 minutes, a waiter stepped into our booth area and took the order of a couple who had been seated after us. I look at my husband, he looks at me, we drop our crumpled napkins on the table, put on our coats and head out the door. We ended up at Zaxbys down the street where we got chicken fingers and chicken Caesar salad ordered, ready and half-eaten in the time we waited at the Peerless. Lots more fun, lots less stress.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We then went on to the symphony (tickets were a freebie perc from my company) and had a wonderful evening. They played Beethoven's Symphony No.1. This is such a favorite of mine, I wore out 2 cassette tapes of it, so there was a lot of toe tapping on my part.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We have since learned that although the food at the Peerless is still good, the service is not. No matter who you are or when you dine, service sucks. Since we will be eating free, we have decided to treat it as an event. We will go with intention of staying for two hours, armed with lots of gossip for each other and just not care about the time - I am not giving up on free.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Anyway, Happy Birthday to me. I am having a fine day. Couldn't ask for better.</span>Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-53972091304630830212008-11-20T10:39:00.007-05:002008-11-20T13:38:54.190-05:00My Identity Crisis<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I have been Bobbird3131 for about 10 years. It's been the start of my E-mail address (with various endings) and I've always been very fond it. When I decided to write a blog and was trying to come up with a catchy name for myself, I decided I shouldn't use Bobbird3131. My reasoning was only I really know what it means and it looks like a guy, which I am not.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I tried several other names in my head and on electronic paper. My blog was "A Day in the Life..." for a bit until I Googled it and found 2 </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >billion</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> hits. I don't always mind being part of the pack but that's just a little too anonymous for me. If I'm going to write on the Internet, I'd like it to be a little easier to find me than that.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Then I Googled Bobbird3131 and found 44 hits. Guess what? They were all about me! I like that. Once in while I like it to be all about me. So, no more looking. As Popeye often says "</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I Am what I Am and that’s all what I Am" - Bobbird3131.</span>Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-29798644361462744242008-11-17T10:00:00.000-05:002008-11-17T10:44:53.784-05:00Stolen Meme<p><strong>I stole this from Poppy .<br /></strong></p><p><strong>1. Do you like blue cheese salad dressing?</strong><br />Adore it<br /></p> <p><strong>2. Favorite late night snack?</strong><br />Popcorn made with a Stir Crazy<br /></p> <p><strong>3. Do you own a gun?</strong><br />No, but there are a couple in the house<br /></p> <p><strong>4. What’s your favorite drink at Starbucks or other specialty coffee shop?</strong><br />Mocha latte<br /></p> <p><strong>5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?</strong><br />Only if I already feel like crap<br /></p> <p><strong>6. What do you think of hot dogs?</strong><br />It depends on the dog<br /></p> <p><strong>7. Favorite Christmas song?</strong><br />Don't have one<br /></p> <p><strong>8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?</strong><br />Coffee</p> <p><strong>9. Can you do push-ups?</strong><br />Yes.<br /></p> <p><strong>10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry?</strong><br />A green crystal cross<br /></p> <p><strong>11. Favorite hobby?</strong><br />Taking pictures and fooling around with them<br /></p> <p><strong>12. Do you have A.D.D.?</strong><br />Yes</p> <p><strong>13. What’s one trait that you hate about yourself?</strong><br />I'm often nice to people who just need to be told to shove off.<br /></p> <p><strong>14. The last disease you contracted?</strong><br />?</p> <p><strong>15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment.</strong><br />What constitutes a disease exactly? Will I remember to pick up my friend tonight-must write note to myself. Is the cake in the van melting?<br /></p> <p><strong>16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink?</strong><br />Water, Coke, coffee</p> <p><strong>17. Current worry right now?</strong><br />I try not to worry. It doesn't go anywhere.<br /></p> <p><strong>18. Current hate right now?</strong><br />Ditto from 17<br /></p> <p><strong>19. Favorite place to be?</strong><br />For the sheer beauty, on the river in Punta Gorda, Florida<br /></p> <p><strong>20. How did you ring in the New Year?</strong><br />I think I fell asleep<br /></p> <p><strong>21. Like to travel?</strong><br />Yes, yes, yes<br /></p> <p><strong>23. Do you own slippers?</strong><br />3 pairs - 2 in the house and 1 in the camper<br /></p> <p><strong>24. What color shirt are you wearing?</strong><br />Green</p> <p><strong>25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?</strong><br />No, cold and slippery</p> <p><strong>26. Can you whistle?</strong><br />I try, but no<br /></p> <p><strong>27. Favorite singer/band?</strong><br />Today it's Bob Dylan<br /></p> <p><strong>28. Could you ever make it 39 days on the show Survivor?</strong><br />No. Not that I couldn't sleep in the rain and eat bugs. It's just that very early on I'd have to slap someone.<br /></p> <p><strong>29. What songs do you sing in the shower?</strong><br />None</p> <p><strong>30. Favorite girl’s names?</strong> Leslie, Stefanie, Alexis<br /></p> <p><strong>31. Favorite boy’s name?</strong><br />Wayne</p> <p><strong>32. What’s in your pocket right now?</strong><br />Keys to the office<br /></p> <strong>33. Last thing that made you laugh?</strong><br />My boss. He has a dry sense of humor and uses it often<strong></strong><br /><p><strong>34. Like your job?</strong><br />Love it<br /></p> <p><strong>36. Do you love where you live?</strong><br />Yes, it's beautiful and cozy<br /></p> <p><strong>37. How many TVs do you have in your house?</strong><br />Two in the house and one in the shed (and there are only two of us)<br /></p> <p><strong>38. Who is your loudest friend?</strong><br />Laverne - she's in Florida and I miss her<br /></p> <p><strong>39. Do you drive the speed limit or speed?</strong><br />The speed limit is more like a guide to me than a limit<br /></p> <p><strong>40. Does someone have a crush on you?</strong><br />Yes</p> <p><strong>41. What is your favorite book?</strong><br />The Silver Sword<br /></p> <p><strong>42. What is your favorite candy?</strong><br />M & M's<br /></p> <p><strong>43. Favorite Sports Team?</strong><br />I am a NASCAR fan. I like Dale, Jr and the team that backs him up<br /></p> <p><strong>44. What were you doing 12 AM last night?</strong><br />Brushing my teeth before I went to bed<br /></p> <p><strong>45. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up today?</strong><br />I'm very comfy in this bed. Why do I have to get up?<br /></p>Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-3341602564736638142008-11-16T16:19:00.000-05:002008-11-16T17:35:07.481-05:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">You might not know that I......</span><br /><br />really do want to help make the world a better place<br />have been accused of being a Pollyanna<br />adore my husband<br />love to knit toddler sweaters<br />don't believe I'm 60<br />love my job<br />have more friends as an adult than I ever had as a child<br />am thrilled for my daughter<br />love Kenny Chesney's island songs<br />lived in Florida for 8 years<br />have been in a category four hurricane<br />was afraid of my first husband<br />once won 1st place in a poetry reading competition by reciting a Bob Dylan poem off the back of one of his albums<br />used to love to watch my son sleep<br />still like to tent camp<br />have paddled over an alligator in a kayakBobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-84199513138835191292008-11-14T15:14:00.000-05:002008-11-14T15:45:34.474-05:00I'm Cranky and I Don't Care<span style="font-family:verdana;">I had an E-mail run in today with a woman who sent me the names of the songs for this Sunday's church service. Apparently she thought it was up to me to coordinate my weekly PowerPoint church presentation with the woman who puts together the weekly church bulletin. It's not. The person who picks the songs for the week does the coordinating. My E-mailer is not the person who normally sends me the songs so I explained this to her and she fired back a reply shouting at me to "make sure you all ARE TOGETHER ON THIS". </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">You know what? I'm too old to take this crap. I no longer even think about doing things just because someone else thinks I should. I fired back a note asking her not to shout at me in print and saying "once again, the person who coordinates this is you, not me". Why is it that some people think if they say something often enough and loud enough, they can make it so.<br /><br />Well, I'm not feeling so cranky now that I've spilled the beans here.<br /></span>Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-30637948819230429062008-11-13T12:42:00.000-05:002008-11-13T13:03:31.950-05:00Let's Take a Nap and Have Soup<span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >It's raining today in my part of Tennessee and it looks like it will be raining until next Wednesday. That is a very good thing since we are still in the middle of a drought so severe that some towns have asked for voluntary rationing (going to non voluntary if enough people don't get on board.) It would be a wonderful day to nap half the afternoon and have a big bowl of soup when I wake up. The trouble is I'm at work; and while several suggestions have been made about moving the credenza out of the bosses' office and putting in a futon, I don't see it happening any time soon. <br /><br />I am a power napper so 20 minutes (less than my lunch half hour) with a blankie on the board room table would refresh me, but this is an afternoon snooze kind of day. Just thinking about it puts a smile on my face and a droop to my eyelids. So back to work </span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >updating my spread sheets and designing our ad for December. For those of you who are able, I wish you Happy Napping.</span>Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-77067566046357806682008-11-11T15:51:00.000-05:002008-11-11T16:08:21.924-05:00Veteran's Day - Hi Dad<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">My dad, Parke V.V. Kent, was a radio man in the Army/Air Force during World War II. The plane he was on made many runs over Germany until it was finally shot down and my dad spent a year in a German prisoner of war camp. During that time he made and hid a radio so he and his fellow detainees could try to find out what was really going on with the war. When the tides turned against the Germans, his guards actually considered killing all the prisoners in the camp so they could not tell anyone what it had been like. Fortunately, there wasn't time and he was returned home to recover. I want to say how proud I am that my father served his country and fought for freedom for us and others.</span>Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-10836371548218025632008-10-23T03:17:00.000-04:002008-10-23T03:34:40.497-04:00I forgot I had a blog.<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:verdana;" >So I've been talking with my daughter about how to start my own blog (she is an accomplished blogger). When I finally decide to make the leap, I find out I already have one! I decided today to use Blogger.com. When I put my E-mail address in, it came back as already in use. It seems I started a blog in 2005, put one entry in it and forgot all about it. So here I am - back after a 3 year hiatus. I'm sure I have more to say.</span>Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13368859.post-1117740763116971832005-06-02T15:26:00.000-04:002005-06-02T16:07:58.036-04:00Cozumel AgainWe are going to Cozumel again this year. It's seems pretty greedy to take two cruises in one year; but our bosses are giving all of us one for 4 days in October, so it would be pretty hard to say no. And, we have been plotting how we could go on another since before we got back from the first one, so we are pretty excited!!Bobbird3131http://www.blogger.com/profile/12823761593866019853noreply@blogger.com0