Coffee, Shoes, and Ramblings

Sara lost her grandmother yesterday. The family is busy going through all the family things one deals with at a time like this. Pray for her and her family during this time.

[14:04] Amber: why grr
[14:04] Want a free dog?: i hate job interviews
[14:04] Want a free dog?: loudly
[14:04] Amber: I’m sorry
[14:05] Want a free dog?: oh, its a part of life, like me whining
[14:05] Want a free dog?: where are you staying in Austin?
[14:05] Want a free dog?: would you take a self defense class?
[14:05] Amber: I’m staying at a hotel that got decent ratings online
[14:05] Amber: and I don’t know, probably not
[14:05] Amber: I’ve had them before
[14:06] mom: so you know how to kick strangers
[14:06] mom : and spit on people
[14:06] Amber: yep
[14:06] mom: I’m so proud of you?
[14:06] Amber: I have managed to travel on my own before
[14:06] mom: yws thats why I’m proud
[14:07] Amber: I thought you were lamenting my lack of clinginess again
[14:07] Amber: I just picked up my car, it drives so much nicer now
[14:07] mom: no, I was making sure I don’t suck as a mom by making sure you aren’t nice to strangers
[14:07] mom: new tires?
[14:07] Amber: yep

[10:02] Really: Jeremy misses the dog

[11:02] Amber: poor baby
[11:02] Really: ?
[11:02] Amber: about the dog
[11:02] Really: oh, yes
[11:02] Really: well I hate her
[11:02] Really: she eats trash
[11:03] Really: ON.
[11:03] Really: MY.
[11:03] Really: bed.
[11:03] Really: tonight?
[11:03] Really: she is sleeping outside
[11:04] Amber: heh
[11:04] Amber: it’s going to freeze tonight
[11:04] Really: oh, yes I know
[11:04] Really: i’m going toWET
[11:04] Really: her paws first
[11:04] Really: so she freezes to the ground

can’t blog that

can’t blog that

can’t blog that

so Trixie what can you blog? Oh, I don’t know how about this? (and yes this is an edit, but you know what?, its MY BLOG)

Her momma’s still got that sequined gown that she wore in ‘68.

She taught her early how to smile that smile and wave for the parade.

It took a whole lot of years and tears for her momma to finally admit

no matter how many stitches and pins

that old dress was never gonna fit.

She was daddy’s little girl,

momma’s little angel,

teacher’s pet,

pageant queen.

She says “All my life I’ve been pleasing

everyone but me.”

Waking up in someone else’s dream.

Her daddy used to say “You’ll make a lovely bride someday.

He’ll ride up on a big white horse and just carry you away.”

It took 25  years and some broken vows before they finally seen

there’s a little more than love and life in fairy tales

and hand-me-down dreams.

She was daddy’s little girl,

momma’s little angel,

teacher’s pet,

pageant queen.

She says “All my life I’ve been pleasing

everyone but me.”

Waking up in someone else’s dream.

Now she’s got twenty seven candles on her cake,

and she needs to make her life her own before there’s 28.

She was daddy’s little girl,

momma’s little angel,

teacher’s pet,

pageant queen.

She says “All my life I’ve been pleasing

everyone but me.”

Waking up in someone else’s…

She was daddy’s little girl,

momma’s little angel,

teacher’s pet,

pageant queen.

She says “All my life I’ve been pleasing

everyone but me.”

Waking up in someone else’s

someone else’s dream….

oh in someone else’s dream.

You know what I love more than blind dates? Job interviews. Especially the kind with oh, say 4-5 people all evaluating your hair, clothes, shoes and the words that come or don’t come out of your mouth. Oh, and your mannerisms. Don’t twist your hair, say um, giggle, or act stupid. However all those are perfectly acceptable on a blind date. The only thing worse than a job interview with a panel is if your blind date decided to take you to meet his ENTIRE family, one of which you knew in high school and have a history. Oh, and you are dressed inappropriately for the family gathering.

 After the meeting/date, they always say they will call, half the time you hope they don’t, the other half you hold your breath hoping they will. Very few call to say, sorry but Suzie Q’s resume, ahm, butt was bigger so she got the job. 

But, I digress. If you want to make rice pudding, you’ve got to cook some rice. If you want a new job, or need one so you can do crazy things like by new shoes, chicken breasts, armor, and dog food, you have to go on job interviews. You have to look the part, act enthusiastic, (which prsunn says helps in a lot of situations) have something intelligent to contribute and actually care about the outcome.

 Which is why I’m going to buy new shoes. These shoes don’t seem to want to go on a job interview today and I’m just not going to go without some shoes that really are into the spirit of the thing. I need some enthusiasm, even though I’m not sure what I really want at the moment.

 Moving sounds good, staying sounds good, a new roommate sounds interesting, all kinds of job options and they all sound good. Staying right here in the job from heaven sounds real nice too, but that’s not an option. So now I’ve had the job from hell, and the job from heaven, so the next will be what? Will it be like finding out the blind date is exactly what I’m looking for or that he has no sense of humor and needs everything I say explained to him.

 Lord

At least new shoes don’t need an explanation.

I needed to write my own thoughts on the Fourth Quote, here they are:

 “If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive.”
~Barry Lopez, Crow and Weasel

 To me this is about hope. When you are down and ready to give up, the right story can change everything. Stories are like magic and the storyteller the magician.  In almost every culture, there are stories. Before a written language, there are stories handed down orally and picture stories on walls. They remind us where we came from and teach us about heroes and heroines.

 Call them Old Wives Tales, New Wives Tales, Urban Myths, or anything else, they still give us hope, the greatest gift of all. In one story, the little girl says, “Grandmother is it true? Did it really happen?” The grandmother replies, “Yes it is true, whether it happened or not, I don’t know.” I love the way that the stories give us new ways of looking at things, hope for a brighter future, the knowledge that because someone did it, I can too. I love how listening to people’s stories brings them closer.

 This is the season of the greatest story every told for us Christians, the story of the biggest hope of all, of a baby who came to change the world forever. To give us hope, peace and joy.

v Someone telling their toddler (who was tearing apart a nativity scene) “that makes the baby Jesus cry”

v Seeing Talladega Nights with my son, and some of his friends. bad bad and very very funny. And yes I want to go drive too fast. oh, wait, never mind.

v Seeing my cousin’s 21 year old daughter try on my grandmother’s 77 year old wedding dress.

v Trying on my grandmother’s hats from the 1930s.

v Pumpkin in all its forms.

v Turkey.

v Too much food.

v Watching someone’s toddler play with the appetizers.

v Feeling the trail on Friday morning.

v Meatball Jello.

v My “little” nephew picking me up and swinging me around.

v Getting the courage to apply for jobs that require cleaning out the garage.

v Seeing Jeremy.

v My other nephew’s curls.

v Sunday morning smiles.

v William. that kid is just a hoot. and he plays chess well.

v Walking the half-mile each way from my Mom’s to my Grandmother’s house and waving like mad at all the cars that went by.

v Fight Science. Now that’s inspirational TV.

v Writing inspirational messages and blessings on OS’ walls before painting them. What a cool idea. Next time I paint I’m doing this.

v Finally getting the rest of my pictures matted and framed and hung on the wall. Feng Shui is hard work.

v Cooking and making a mess.

v Sleeping late.

v Driving through the golden red leaves.

v The blue sky.

v Leaving the leftovers at someone else’s house.

v Finding a good sale on fabric.

v John Corbett.

v Seeing my sisters, grandmother, cousin and aunt all bent over a quilt sewing the seams.

v Learning that yes, there is a quilting language and snobbery.

v My 20 year old niece passing on the family tradition of cooking the turkey and making edible giblet gravy.

v My cousin’s little boy with the blue blue eyes and serious gentleman like behavior.

v Leftover turkey

v Hot Crackers

v Trying to find the right words.

v Naps

v Freaking OS out by using corn chips to eat cake frosting off the cake. hey! it’s a holiday!

I love Thanksgiving because it usually brings family and friends and a chance to sit and be thankful without seeming mushy. These are a few things I’m thankful for. (warning—tissue may be needed)

v God. That he loves me and never changes and has given me all that I have.

v My Children. Knowing them has forever changed my life and made me the person I am today. The world is truly a better place because you are in it. If I don’t do another outstanding thing on this planet to make it better, I’m still a success, because I gave the world three amazing people who touch the lives around them with laughter and love.

v My Daughter-in-Law. Isaac made a wonderful choice when he found someone as sweet, precious, adorable, and capable as you. You complement each other so nicely and I’m glad you found each other. I’m thankful you love him and make his life complete.

v My Family. They keep me humble, and gave me values and an outlook on life. They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, picked me up when I fell and never said don’t try to follow your dreams. No matter what I do, they love me and are there for me.

v My Grandparents. Who gave me a sense of history, taught me how to put things in perspective, ride the waves life throws at you, find four leaf clovers, see the beauty in nature, how to love someone as much at 50, 70 and 95 as you did at 19, and taught me how to love unconditionally.

v My Sara. Like a sister, yet not, keeping me grounded yet pushing me to explore new things. Stepping in when I fall apart and finishing the task. She knows where the bodies are buried and dosen’t say I told you so or you knew better. I’m glad you have my back. Her family is as sweet as she is and just as loving.

v Margaret. Calm, steady, funny beyond belief and always there, always serene and never changing. You truly are Saint Margaret.

v   Margie. A soul sister if ever there was one. The road to a friend’s house is never long and no matter how far about we are in miles, you are beside me. Your drive, determination and sweet spirit have taught me to dream big dreams and love the little things. 

v Judy. An example of what I want to be if I ever grow up. Sweet, loving, funny, a friend to all and takes care of the world. I am blessed for knowing her.

v A whole gaggle of friends and faces I’ve met over the last years. I’m not naming you all because I don’t have enough room on the Internet paper. Friends I didn’t even know I had until I needed them. Friends who filled empty spots I didn’t even know I had. Friends who love the parts of me I wish I didn’t have. Friends who fill my days with laughter and love. Friends who appear out of the blue to let me know I’m not alone. Friends who remind me I won’t die alone eaten by wild dogs because they would eventually notice I was missing and come to find me. Friends who love me even with my faults. Friends who add the spice and music and love and laughter in my life. When I think about all of you, I know I’m rich.

v A roof over my head/heat/running water/flush toilets/a soft bed/food. I’m so very thankful for all of these things and the job that allows me to pay for them. I do my best to never take them for granted. I am blessed.

v My dog. She’s never going to be a “good dog” or a “well behaved dog” but she is sweet and snuggly and makes it hard to feel alone when she is running through the house pell mell or sneaking under the covers to become a tiny ball of warmth at the back of my knee.

v All the soldiers that are and have been away from their family and friends/scared cold and lonely so that I might be free today. I appreciate so much the sacrifice you have made so that the rest of us can be safe.

v That I live in America. Because of that and especially because I’m a woman and live in America, I’m grateful. I can speak my mind, move freely about the country, have a vote, opinion, and a job. That’s because someone sacrificed a lot for me to have those freedoms. In many other countries I’d be dead for my opinions or severely limited in my choices.

v  My Health. Easy to take for granted til its gone. I’m thankful that I have it.

So, I have a friend, who I e-mail every now and then, no big deal right? Sometimes he answers sometimes not, but guys aren’t as chatty as women so no big deal.

Well today, I sent a scary (funny) clown picture. I get an e-mail back. (I think you have the wrong person. it said) What??? at first I thought he was nuts, but on further checking, It seems I’m nuts.

So I went back and checked, and since APRIL I have been randomly sending this strange person with my friend’s name occasional e-mails. Nothing your mom couldn’t read, but sheesh, this person with my friend’s name knows way to much about me and what goes on in my head.

Dig me a hole.

I was datin a lawyer with a genleman nature
Says She ain’t nothin like me
There’s fire and there’s water
And all I can offer is a temperment that he don’t need
So he’s makin his rounds with a well-bred intent
Safe and out of harm
He can say what he likes, water is nice
But it’s fire that keeps you warm
Maybe you’re rough around the edges and stubborn to a fault
Maybe I’m just a little too red-headed, stiff-backboned and all
Maybe I’m passionate about being passionate
Say what you like boy, water is nice
But it’s fire that keeps you warm
You know me, you know it’s true
You can quote me if you want to
Maybe you’re rough around the edges and stubborn to a fault
Maybe I’m just a little too red-headed, stiff-backboned and all
Maybe I’m passionate about being passionate
Say what you like boy, water is nice
But it’s fire that keeps you warm
Say what you like it may all turn to ice
It’s the fire that you’re gonna want
I was datin a doctor with a gentleman nature
Says She ain’t nothin like me
There’s fire and there’s water
And all I can offer is a temperment that he don’t need