Yes, I'm blogging about THIS

Excuse me? Why, yes, that IS me, the one with the clean refrigerator! How nice of you to notice. Oh, it was nothing. Nothing, plus one SOS pad, two rags, endless paper towels, a scrubber sponge, and two garbage bags full of old food. Other than that, it was nothing. Oh, and 45 minutes out of my life. Hello Clorox, goodbye salmonella!

Now to rid that fridge of those Henry's...

I don't want Nana to die. I know she's not on death's door, but she's now in her 80's, and each health scare brings with it more and more serious repercussions. This last time, she was very confused, and Mom thought she had had another TIA (mini-stroke). Nope. It was a urinary tract infection, and at her age, apparently, massive confusion is another side-effect. Even a few days after she was hospitalized, she still couldn't tell us the year or the name of her ex-husband, my grandfather, the father of her 5 children and spouse of 35 years.

Nana is very competitive, and will knock your ball out of the park in croquet with no apologies. She has an acidic wit, and can cut deeply if it's directed at you. She started a preschool in Ohio that is still going strong, 50 years later. She is funny, strong, devoted, fashionable, and my nana. She was always nicer to me than to my brother, adding to my forever feeling guilty over his getting the raw end of things.

She's a complicated woman, and I love her very much. I've never lost anyone I love, which probably adds to my fear of losing her. With all the craziness, I know she loves me very much, and not just because I'm the mother of her only two great-grandchildren. Every time I see her, I feel like there is a little bit less of her here with us. One day, she'll be all the way gone.

Grateful

Today, I am feeling so grateful for so many things.

1. I am very glad I work only part time. I'm healthier, my family is less harried, and we had time to take a bike ride after school yesterday.

2. I'm grateful for the sunshine today! It was KED's Brownie's pool party today, and it was actually warm. Since I had to be the one mommy in the pool (due to my toddler wanting to play in the "bath"), at least I wasn't freezing.

3. I get to see my good friend Kara on Saturday with my other buddies, Shelly and Valerie! Yipee!

4. Thank heavens I don't live in Cedar Rapids like poor Kara and the rest.

5. I'm so pleased that KED has had another successful year at school. Tomorrow is her last day of 3rd grade, and while I have some frustrations at what wasn't taught or attended to this year, she feels darn good about her year.

I'm Home, Alive, Dry, and Famous!

I spent last weekend in Madison, Wisconsin with my oldest and best friend, Ruthie. We had a great, great time, and oh my gosh, we laughed like nuts! It felt so good to be myself again. Here's a quickie-poo synopsis of my weekend:

Friday
After flying all night, I arrived safe and sound. We played with her precious boys whom I absolutely, hopelessly adore, went out to dinner, and then she and I went to see Sex & the City. I got to drink a cosmo in the theatre. Can we please bring a place like that here?

Saturday
Stardom. We went to see What D'ya Know at the U of W Madison campus. Lo and behold, the host picked lil ole ME to interview in the first hour! And yes, that's RUTHIE you hear in the 2nd hour playing the quiz!!! We're NPR divas! We had to fight off the throngs of fans the whole rest of the day.

Later in the day, I was treated to a tornado warning. Truly I was only beginning to get the full midwestern experience. I was giddy, they were blase. Why on earth weren't they more excited about this?

Sunday
Because then they have to deal with weather like this:
That's right, my friends: flooding. Roads were filled with water, cars were floating by. Somehow the very courageous Ruthie managed to get me to the airport, circumventing the many washed-out roads. It took 3 hours. It was NOT fun.

All in all, it was a fun, warm, funny, nurturing, dramatic trip. I was so glad I went! It was totally worth it. In the meantime, my prayers are with those left in the midwest dealing with these floods. When your life is truly affected, your perspective changes. Ruthie, I hope your carpets dry out soon!

49 Things

This is from Sibyl, and I thought I would post it here, since the creative spark hasn't hit me recently.

50 Things.

1. Do you like bleu cheese?
Oh, yes

2. Have you ever smoked heroin?My gosh, no!
3. Do you own a gun?I personally do not own a gun. I suspect my spouse has one hidden in the garage somewhere, though, and that really freaks me out.

4. Your favorite song right now?"New Soul" by Yael Naim

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?
No, I like having problems solved.

6. What do you think about hot dogs?I like them, as long as I don't think too much about what they're made of.

7. Favorite Christmas song?Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence. Give me goosebumps.

8. What do you like to drink in the morning?Sugar free vanilla, non-fat, 140 degree latte. (High maintenance? Me?) Except in the summer, then it's straight-up iced tea.

9. Can you do push ups?Yes

10. How much money is in your bank account?enough

11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry?1. My ring that I always wear on my right hand that Steve made for me with Kathryn's birthstone (which my father gave to me). 2. My necklace with Benjamin's birthstone that Steve had made for me for my last birthday.

12. Favorite hobby?Travelling, or quilting.

15. One trait you hate about yourself?To lazy to excercize vigorously every day

16. Middle Name?Elizabeth. Like the town in New Jersey

17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?-Madison was so much fun!
-I hope the link to the radio show is up and running now so I can hear myself tonight.
-My eyes are so tired.

18. Name 3 things you bought yesterday?
-A pink cowboy hat
-Water for the plane
-Wine on the plane

19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink?water, lattes, Caffeine Free Diet Coke

20. Current worry right now?Ben's teeth are starting to look like he's a bottle-drinker, and it's going to be hard to get him off the bottle.

21. Current hate right now?Being tired today.

22. Favorite place to be?
Wherever my children are.

23. How did you bring in the New Year?At the Johnson's house, with the Lloyds and another family.

24. Where would you like to go?
West Africa, especially the Congo

25. Name three people who will complete this?Valerie. Maybe Ruthie

26. Do you own slippers?
Abso-bloomin-lutely. I really dislike bare feet on bare floors.

27. What kind of shirt are you wearing?a light green striped light sweater with a matching tank underneath

28. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?Never tried it. I do like flannel sheets, though.

29. Can you whistle?Yes, one note, with great concentration and effort. 30. Favorite color?Probably blue. Or red.

31. Would you be a pirate?Nah.

32. What songs do you sing in the shower?Rise and shine and give God the glory glory...

33. Favorite girl's name?Kathryn

34. Favorite boy's name?Benjamin

35. What's in your pocket right now?Keys and mascara

36. Last thing that made you laugh?Just about anything that Ruthie said this weekend.

37. Best bed sheets as a child?Bambi sheets. Which I still have.

38. Worst injury you've ever had?Last year's broken leg.

39. Do you love where you live?Steilacoom is the best place in the world. I love it. I love the people and the beaches and everything.

40. How many tvs do you have in your house?2

41. Who is your loudest friend?Steve. He's not obnoxious usually, but he has a really loud speaking voice, and he's content with lots of sounds going on around him (radio + ukelele + Kathryn on the piano + tv = crazy Amy)

42. How many dogs do you have?1 German Shepherd named Sidda Lee (points for you if you know where that name came from)

43. How many cats do you have?none, just our 3 angel kitties in heaven.

44. What is your favorite TV show?Lost

45. What is your favorite candy?Smarties or Sour Patch Kids

46. What is your favorite Sports Team?Mariners

47. What song do you want played at your funeral?The entire Durufle Reqiuem

48. What were you doing 12 AM last night?Settling in at home after getting back from Wisconsin.

49. What was your first thought as you awoke this morning?Yay! I'm waking up next to my little girl, who is waking me with kissies all over my face!