As always, more to come.
Month: March 2017
Old Baldy
I believe this is a bald cypress tree though I’m not 100% sure. It is some sort of cypress tree though. We planted it 10 years ago and it was just a twig at the time. I wish I had pictures from then to compare and contrast. But I didn’t have the foresight. I wish all the other trees would grow as fast
As always, more to come.
Book Review – You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott
With the opening of our new public library, I had to stop by and pick up a quick read. In less than 24 hours I completed You Will Know Me: A Novel by Megan Abbott.
I will try not to give any spoilers here. Basically this is a story of competitive gymnastics and the human psyche. With several subplots as well.
As a parent, I related because we all want the best for our children. And in the hard world of gymnastics or any competitive sport I imagine there are characters like the ones in this novel. Hell in real life there are helicopter moms and tiger moms and whatever other kind of moms – the Texas cheerleading moms … who will stop at nothing to help their children succeed. And it’s not just the mothers. Fathers take an equal part in some cases.
I never ever wanted to be that parent who lived vicariously through my children. I succeeded somewhat. When he didn’t want to play baseball or she didn’t want to dance anymore, we stopped. Yet with every word and every motion, I cast a field of influence. Ones that I can’t take back. Things that I forced upon them without even really meaning to or knowing that I was doing it. More on that for another day. Suffice it to say words can hurt. And once they’re out of your mouth you can’t ever take them back. My new motto is it’s better to be quiet than to say the wrong thing.
Anyhow, I do think I still want the best and would do whatever I could to help my kiddos. If they needed my help that is. I’m only an outsider in their lives these days. Feeling sorry for myself. Feeling unneeded. Feeling like a stranger in a strange land. To quote the title of a book by Robert Heinlein. I jotted down this scene from You Will Know Me which captures my feelings perfectly.
“Isn’t it a strange day”, she said, “when you realize you have no idea what is going on in your kids head? One morning you wake up and there’s an alien in your house. They look like your kid, sound a little like them but they are not your kid. They’re something else that you don’t know. And they keep changing. They never stop changing on you.”
To take it a step further, the proverbial question is: Do we ever really know anyone? No. I don’t think we do. Hell we don’t even really know ourselves. Until something dramatic happens and life kicks you in the gut, then maybe you know what you’re capable of. Until you’re tested or experience a tragedy firsthand, it’s really hard to say what you’ll do or how you’ll react. There but for the grace of God go I and all that stuff. I’m not trying to make light of it. I firmly believe that I’m capable of horrors my mind can’t even fathom. All in the name of protecting my family. Or protecting myself maybe?
However I think I’d be that mom who turned my kid in if he/she ever did something illegal. You do the crime you do the time. Actions have consequences. And sometimes you have to learn that first hand. No one can do it for you.
I hope I haven’t spoiled the book for anyone. I really didn’t give away much of the plot. I suggest you pick it up and read it. It’s a page turner for sure. And you can see the subtleties in between the lines. As there were many themes along with the major storyline. And questions of morality as well. This book is full of things that make you go hmmmm. 🤔
As always, more to come.
Grand Opening
Addendum: I couldn’t stay away.
The San Antonio public library system opened the Schaefer branch today at 2pm. I skipped the opening ceremony since I dislike crowds. Thinking I’ll stop by on my way home from work later in the week. Though a lil piece of me is screaming go now, they’re open til 6!
The city is cutting a road through up to backside of the library right across the street from the in laws. By avoiding HWY 87, this road when complete will make the library within walking distance. I’ll have no excuses anymore. I’ll walk for books just not for health 😂
As always, more to come.
He’s Trying To Give Me A Heart Attack
Billy Bob: “can you stay outside for a bit?”
Me: “sure what’s up?”
Billy Bob: “just be out here to call 911”
as he stands on top of the roof.
He’s finally finishing up the exterior painting. The weather had delayed him. He saved the steepest part for last. I didn’t snap a picture because I didn’t wanna jinx him 😳
As always, more to come.
Fast Food & Microwaves Are The Bane Of Our Existence
Drama much? Uh yes. Have you not met me?!??! Oh and the guy who invented K-Cups said … I feel bad some times that I ever did it (see link for a short article in the Washington Post)
Yep, that’s right I feel a mini-rant coming on.
I have food issues. Always have. I am finally coming to terms with most of them. As part of my get over it therapy, I am trying to make amends for all the fast food trips I made with my kids for convenience when I know damn well how to cook. And I have no excuse as all of the modern conveniences were at my ready disposal.
I was talking to a friend about this … how things are sometimes too easy and what you work for somehow means more. Not only that, the extra effort is healthy. Was it easy to put breakfast lunch and dinner on the table every day for our big family? Nope, but that’s what my parents did. Mom during the week and dad most weekends. We rarely ate out … if we did, you better believe it was something special and not it’s your birthday special because those dinners were home cooked meals too.
Billy Bob and I are eating in these days. Too little too late for the kids. They are grown and need to make their own choices. I still feel awful for not doing my part to get them ready. On days like this, I want a do-over. Another chance to make things right.
If you had “it” to do all over again, whatever “it” may be, would you do “it” differently? I am curious and hope some of you will respond. C’mon, you know you want to … confession is good for the soul.
As always, more to come.
To Sleep Perchance To Dream
I thought I’d conquered my insomnia. Over the worst of it any way. All the tips worked. Less caffeine, white noise machine, sleepy-time tea, lavender scent for my pillow case, no blue light an hour before bedtime. But then, out of nowhere BAM! Right now I’m barely awake after several sleepless nights in a row. I’m trying to stay awake or else this cycle will continue to spiral out of control.
Anyone out that in the blogsophere have additional suggestions? What to do? What not to do? Desperate times call for desperate measures.
As always, more to come.
#SoCS
Left, left, left, right, left
Left, left, left, right, left
That is the cadence we used for our MARCH as safety patrols at St. Margaret Mary’s school. Hard to believe we MARCHED from the school on 1314 Fair Ave all the way to the corner of New Braunfels. We’d stand on the corner by the Phillips 66 station that is no longer there. We had our badges and our crossing signs to assist the walkers – kiddoes who walked to school. Another hard to believe. I’m not sure if kids walk to school anymore or if instead they are bussed or otherwise get dropped off.
Boy, we thought we were hot stuff … to be a patrol was super cool and we were … hot stuff. For the 70s anyway :). Good times and good memories.
PingBack to Linda G Hill SoCS prompt for March 25, 2017.
Buddy Back To Normal
My sweet baby doggie ❤
🎶 For March 25, 2017 🎶
Breathe by Prodigy
F yeah! Enjoy 😊
J-Dub's Grin and Bear It 