Everyone I talk to today is suffering to some degree with this high pollen count. My eyes are puffy and itchy and my head feels like it’s going to pop.
I checked the local pollen count, it was 10.5 today. I put in the Tucker zip code and found out that it’s 9.5 there, so it must be bad all over the south.
Have you noticed any yellow stuff at your house?
My neighbor Jill usually gives the boys a ride to school in the morning and I pick up in the afternoon. Today I have scouts so I drove this morning. We dropped David off early for Breakfast Club. Then we waited for school to open in the car line. This morning the boys (Sam, 5, Andrew 9, and Frank, 6) asked if we could play Cash Cab while we waited. I got to be the host while they were the lucky people who happened to get into the Cash Cab.
They did a great job racking up money on questions about businesses, newspaper names, capitals, sports, presidents. They only had 2 strikes and were up to $800. Andrew had to use his mobile shout out to call his dad to find out the name of Lakeland’s mayor. Luckily his dad knew the answer earning them an additional $100.00. The car line was starting to move. I warned them that 1 more strike and I would have to kick them out of the Cash Cab. They knew that Mercury was the closest planet to the sun. Now they had $1000.00. They didn’t know which planet was closest to Earth. Fortunately we were right in front of the school when I kicked them out of the Cash Cab. No big winners today.
You can see the real Cash Cab on the Discovery channel.
Ever since I started exercising on a regular basis last August 1st, I have all new problems. First my knees started hurting, then my arches in my feet, then my shoulder. I have never had so many aches and pains. I’m not sure if this is worth it. I guess my heart is in better shape, but what about everything else? I look like a really old person when I get up from sitting on the floor. I’m curious about the ads that will come up with this message. One might actually help me.
For the past 4 weekends Bob has been in the attic. People call to speak with him, neighbors ask about him, he doesn’t come down. He has installed lights and switches, flooring, insulation, and even has his favorite music playing up there. When the kids need to tell him something they stand on chairs or stools and yell through the vents.
He comes down to go to work on Monday mornings. He says he’s going back up this weekend.
My Mom’s group at church is reading and discussing The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families. One of the main goals in the book is to come up with a family mission statement. We have talked about this as a family a couple of times. I have a list of questions to review together to help us come up with our own mission statement.
We got about half way through this long list last week. What I found out from our first family meeting was that each of our children wanted the same thing. Almost at the same time they each said they want one on one time with a parent. I went ahead and wrote the times in on a calendar so we will remember.
Another idea in the book is to have the extended family come up with a mission statement. I will mention this again soon. I just want you to be prepared.
Yesterday I was being pulled through the neighborhood by Radar and Jake. We stopped by to see their favorite friend, Topper (a Spaniel dog). We continued along looking for cats and squirrels. We saw my neighbor Jill. She looked up the street and across the busy street and saw a dog walking alone. I headed off with my rescue team. I whistled, the dog stopped and looked our way. I was afraid that he might try to cross the street, but he stood still and watched the cars going by. We made it to the top of our street and started to cross. I yelled at the dog to stay, luckily he did.
Once we crossed the street the dog was a little leery of Jake and Radar. He was a large dog about the size of a German Shepherd. He had a beautiful black and white coat and fluffy curled tail. He looked sort of like a large Border Collie. Radar was infatuated. The dog was friendly, so we took him by his tagless collar and gracelessly made it back to our fenced in backyard.
Unfortunately I turned on the T.V. to catch the end of Dr. Phil while Andrew was still at the kitchen table doing his homework. I was getting cookies out of the oven when I realized the news was on and there was another tragic story about someone attacking a girl. Before I could get over there to turn off the T.V. the bad news was out.
Andrew started repeating the story to me like I hadn’t heard it. He said it didn’t sound too bad though, that the guy had just strapped a battery on the girl’s back. I was a little relieved that he hadn’t understood the full meaning of the story. I did end up explaining what they meant by “battery”, but I turned the T.V. off and made a mental note not to turn it back on while Andrew is doing his homework and especially when the news is coming on.
The citrus trees are full of fruit. Mom and Dad were so happy to see free grapefruit and tangerines on the table at church. Mom talked about how delicious they were.
Yesterday I took Eric to the dermatologist to have a wart removed. He had a 3:45 appointment. If you go to this Dr. you know that you have to call at your appointment time and find out what your REAL appointment time is. They said to come at 5:00. We did. We waited awhile and then I went outside to make a phone call. I noticed a grapefruit tree and a tangerine tree dripping with fruit. I pulled off some grapefruit. I went back in the office and waited some more. I found out that our REAL appointment time was really 6:00. We went back to see the Dr. and I asked if I could have a grapefruit off their tree. Luckily he said yes. The Dr. said to try the tangerines which are the sweetest I would ever find. He said the only thing was that they have thin skin so it takes longer to peal. I never thought about the skin of a tangerine being thick or thin, but then I’m not a dermatologist.
I went back to the trees after the appointment and picked enough to give Mom and Dad some. This morning Mom said the grapefruit were delicious (they were because I had one too). I’m wondering if Mom enjoys the free grapefruit more because they are free.
We headed to Publix
on Christmas Eve morn.
For Christmas dinner
we would have steak and corn.
We remembered the eggs, milk,
and fresh Cuban bread,
even the medicine
for our stuffy heads.
We were back home in time
to watch the Bucs play.
The Falcons lost
we are happy to say.
Soon after that
Andrew ran in fast on his feet.
The back gate was left open
Radar had run up the street.
Bob flew out the door
and started to Holler.
An angel was watching, she stopped her car
and grabbed the dogs collar.
We had to calm down and
get ready for Mass
The Christmas Eve Vigil
was coming up fast.
Radar was punished
and safe in his cage.
The gaurding of presents
was left up to Jake.
The Mass was so special,
the children’s choir was sweet.
We went to the Ale House for
onions and meat.
Before heading home,
we drove through the hood,
admiring lights and decor,
like everyone should.
Arriving back home
Jake the Great looked fatter.
He didn’t seem happy.
We asked, “What’s the matter?”
Looking around,
pretty soon Mom said,
“Jake ate that whole loaf
of Cuban Bread!”
It”s Christmas morning,
our dogs are still living.
It’s Jesus’ birthday
and time for giving.
I hope you’re all Happy
and healthy today,
and that’s about all
I’m going to say!
Bob and I were invited to 2 Halloween parties this year. We decided to rent costumes from one of his business acquaintances who owns a costume rental shop. We were going to go as the Flintstones, but Wilma’s costume looked like too many people had enjoyed it. So I picked Betty and Barney Rubble instead. The best part of the costumes was the cloth, total head cover masks. It could be almost anyone under there.
The masks weren’t too hot the 1st night because the party was outside. We walked up and of course got lots of strange looks and chuckles of uncertainty. People were trying to figure out who we were. I started to recognize some of the people from last years party (the last time I had seen them), but they had no clue who we were. Even if I hadn’t had a mask they most likely wouldn’t have known me. I started to realize that it didn’t matter anyway. People started talking to me like I didn’t have a mask on. They went on with their stories about previous parties and when their kids were little and didn’t seem to care that my expression never changed.
There were 2 guys playing guitars and sometimes singing. I sat right in front of them and watched and listened. They were really good.
The party we went to last night was bigger. We didn’t say anything because the people there know us (me anyway) a lot better. Bob would just say Barney Rubble type things. People didn’t know who we were. We were driving them crazy. That was the best part. Pretty soon Fred and Wilma showed up. We had a picture taken with the 4 of us.
A guy dressed as “a one night stand” won the prize for best costume. He made it himself. Unfortunately it was hard for him to move around and he broke something hanging on the wall.