August Top Droppers

Sandee taught me how to use Entrecard and now is my top dropper! Thanks to those members who visited my blog the most in the month of August. Here are the top ten listed in order of how often they stopped by. Go on and push the links to their sites. You won't be sorry.

Comedy Plus
bethere2day
Denford Magora's Zimbabwe Blog
A Five Minute Vacation
Art by Tomas
Ghostly Times
Top Travel Destinations
Business And Marketing
Funky Town Disco Music
Randy Blog

#GBE2: Longing

Longing is a dangerous topic because you just might get what you wish for.

When I was a little tyke, I longed to be "big" so I could do what my older brother and sisters did. However, I didn't realize that getting "big" meant they'd be bigger and leave me for college. So, I longed to go to college too. In fact, I wanted to leave so badly I skipped my senior year of high school and left home early.

Later, I graduated college and longed to meet Mr. Right. Not that I was desperate, but I'd kissed a few frogs (with dead flies in the ear) and was ready for the prince.

After meeting and marrying my husband, we longed for children. Children are wonderful but to quote Bill Cosby, "God has a sense of humor," and if you've been reading my blog for long, you know our kids do too. While working to civilize kids, we tend to grow uncivilized. For example, how many times have you seen a mom spit on her finger to clean a kid's face? Wipe a kid's nose with a dirty Kleenex of shirt tale? I rest my case.

Later, we longed to be out of diapers or an awkward stage of child development. Unfortunately, during all that wishing, the kids grew up and moved away. Now I wish for the vacation, holiday, or even retirement so that I may see the kids again. When these "longed for" times arrive, I'll only be older. Maybe I'll even be bored when I retire; but still, it's as if so many of us long our lives away.

None-the-less . . . I wish it were summer vacation again.

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Wordless Wednesday: A Real Friend

Coolest Shoes Ever!

Can you guess who I'm with? It's Rhonda from Laugh Quotes. Over thirty years ago we roomed together at the University of Missouri.

We took a trip to Boston to visit my sister. Just for kicks we said, "Hello" to everyone we passed on the street . . . or in the ocean. :)

We spent a New Year's Eve in Chicago. Like the shirts we made? So what if the necklines weren't centered.

Here's a picture of Rhonda from the last time we were together. She is with her teenager. Girl! It's been way too long. Come back to Memphis.


Sorry about the white around the pictures. I had a lot of trouble getting these to show on the blog at all. Please click on my Picket Fence Button and hers.

Musical Monday - How SWEET

 "Little Willy" by The Sweet

When I was little, I followed my older siblings everywhere; so I guess this is my song. The music is hip and I really dig the threads!

Here's another fun "Sweet" song from 1973.

Ballroom Blitz

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's LoungeSTRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice. Please note these links are
Thank you for joining us on Music Monday! Let's get going shall we?

1.  Unofficial Chart Blog   14.  Mystery Man   2.  Namz   15.  Ernhez   3.  LJL - Selamat Hari Raya   16.  Dickster's Random Thoughts   4.  bethere2day   17.  Classic NYC Story -- Water   5.  Turn-u-Off   18.  Mekinudols   6.  ANE   19.  Caroline : My Stories   7.  MusicMonday - ♫ I'm nobody's child ♫   20.  Dolly's Daily Diary   8.  Dazediva: Chromeo - Bonafide Lovin   21.  Stigma No More   9.  Liza (asl)   22.  Catch My Words   10.  Maria @ LSS   23.  redamethyst   11.  Cafe au lait   24.  Lynn   12.  Cafe au lait (time2laugh)   25.  Mike Golch   13.  B. F. Dude
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An Italian Boy's Confession

Thanks, Rhonda at Laugh Quotes for Silly Sunday. Here is my joke. Not quite Sunday in the states, but since it is for you, I'll go ahead and post.



'Bless me Father, for I have sinned.
I have been with a loose girl'.

The priest asks, 'Is that you, little Joey Pagano ?'

'Yes, Father, it is.'

'And who was the girl you were with?'

'I can't tell you, Father. I don't want to ruin her reputation'.

"Well, Joey, I'm sure to find out her name sooner or later
so you may as well tell me now. Was it Tina Minetti?'

'I cannot say.'

'Was it Teresa Mazzarelli?'

'I'll never tell.'

'Was it Nina Capelli?'

'I'm sorry, but I cannot name her.'

'Was it Cathy Piriano?'

'My lips are sealed.'

'Was it Rosa DiAngelo, then?'

'Please, Father, I cannot tell you.'

The priest sighs in frustration.
'You're very tight lipped, and I admire that.
But you've sinned and have to atone.
You cannot be an altar boy now for 4 months.
Now you go and behave yourself.'

Joey walks back to his pew,
and his friend Franco slides over and whispers,
'What'd you get?'

'Four months vacation and five good leads.'

Beyond the Limits of My Fridge

This week's Writer's Post Blog Hop #11 

is 

Beyond the Limits

It's soooo big, it takes a moving van to bring it home.

My mind probably isn't going where Jenn intended, but why should this week be different than any other?

I just got back from Costco's where I was supposed to do two things: (1) Take back the pants in the backseat of my car that are too big and (2) Buy candy for my class. Of course I did neither. I remembered the pants while strolling out the door, but with Memphis' 91* weather, I decided my fudge bars wouldn't appreciate alone time in the trunk.

The infamous "they" say to never shop when hungry, and Mr. They is right! I bought strawberries, blueberries, a massive package of pizza rolls all because I was hungry and it looked good . . . even though these things go "beyond the limits" of what my fridge holds. 

To make room, I could throw out the moldy something in the back, a jar of pickle relish (everyone here hates sweet pickles), or the half-eaten yogurt that's probably reproduced since it contains "Live Cultures." What does live cultures mean anyway? 

The item that really goes beyond our limits is the big a$$ pizza I bought--pesto, tomatoes, chunks of whitish-yellow cheese, and green leafy things. Yum! Never mind the fact that our household is down to two. It looked good, and repeat after me: I was hungry.

This Costco pizza is sooooo huge, it goes beyond the limits of my fridge and must move directly from car to oven; but, Houston we have a problem. When I tried to lift it into the oven, it cracked on the side and rained chunks of cheese, tomatoes, and those leafy green things onto the rack and beyond. So here I was, scooping up sizzling ingredients off the bottom of the oven. No doubt, it will stick, burn, and make a horrid mess. 

Will I buy it again? Probably. 

Why? Because One day I'll be hungry! 

Thanks for stopping by. Please leave a comment, (((hugs))), and a click on the picket fence. And if you're in town, stop by for some pizza . . . unless, burp! Maybe I should keep the pants that are too big. 

Wordless Wednesday: It's All Greek to Me

Admit it, you were one.

How does a GDI like me end up with three Greek kids? Must be that fraternity boy I married.





While in college, our son enjoyed the "Animal House" feel of his fraternity at CofC.



 

Our middle child is proud to be a Zeta at Maryland!

ZTA

Last Saturday, our youngest accepted a bid to AEPhi at UCF!

ΑΕΦ

When I was in school I rushed four sororities on an icy evening. Not wanting to kill myself in heals, I wore my hiking boots. The gossip got back to me. "Did you hear? Someone wore hiking boots to rush!" 

"Uh, that would be me." The Greeks don't take no freaks . . . but they take their offspring. ;-)

Please clickity click on the 

Picket Fence at the top of the blog. 

θΑΝΚΣ!

Did I get that right?

The Spark Blogfest

This week, I am participating in the The Spark Blogfest over at The Writer Coaster blog. I am to write about special authors who inspired me to become a writer.

As one who writes for kids, I am forever and always reading children's books. Two authors have held a special place on my reading shelf as I've developed into a writer. Each approaches his or her books from a different angle and I've tried to incorporate a little of each of them into my writing style.

Thrilling & Suspenseful

First off, I love Margaret Peterson Haddix because her books continually pump up the action by putting her innocent little characters into high risk situations. For example, in her series "The Shadow Children," third born children were sentenced to die in a world where families were only allowed to birth two offspring. As a result these children would hide or plot to overthrow their government. The stakes never get higher than in a Haddix novel, so this trait has encouraged me to think of riskier ways to abuse my characters.

Funny but Insightful

Another author who I absolutely love is Gordan Korman. While Korman spins delightful stories full of unique and interesting characters, his humor has often had me laughing out loud. One of my favorite characters in any book comes from "Schooled." Korman created an original character in Capricorn Anderson, the flower child sent to C_average Middle School. His naive nature set the book up for great humor. Through Korman, I aim to put humor in many of my scenes while creating fun and unique characters.
    
If I could write with the suspense of Haddix and humor of Korman, I'd be known throughout the kids' book world.

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#GBE2 Growing Wild in a New Dimension

This Sunday I've been offered two bloggy opportunities. Rhonda over at Laugh Quotes is experimenting with her new Silly Sunday and my GBE 2 group has dropped the topic of "Growing Wild." As one who usually writes humor, these topics are made for me, but not today. "Growing Wild" must take on a unique interpretation that fits the definition of "without restraint" because my good friend will soon be free.

My Friend and Me

Dear Swaz,

     I'm sorry for being so selfish yesterday morning. You gave me the message, but I just didn't want to see it. I held onto the hope that things could get better. They're not. The smell of death is all around you. Honey Bear and Millie know it as they sniff and keep their distance. You won't eat, drink, and although you've tried to stand your body has given out. 
     We've been together for almost thirteen years, which is a long time for a golden retriever like you. If you were human, we'd be celebrating your Bar Mitzvah, but you got the fate of a canine and we're preparing for your death instead.
     I remember picking you up from a home in Mississippi where I met your beautiful parents--Precious and Rebel. I'm sure they are waiting for you as are many of your brothers and sisters because baby, you've lived a long life. 
      That day we got you, you were the round puppy with the pretty face. You shook in my arms the entire trip home but soon adjusted to the family where you were loved completely. 
     I will miss you greeting me at the door when I come home, your tail wag, but most of all the special way you used to sing to us when we called our lover dog.
     If you want to go now, I give you permission because I don't want you to suffer anymore. Daddy will be home around two. If you're still breathing, we'll help you to go.
      I love you, Swaz, and eventually I'll find a way to stop crying because now you will find a way to grow wild in a place where you can run free.


Mommy

    

Not great quality, but here are some pictures from his younger days.

Silent Moments: A Guide

This week on Writers' Post we've been asked to blog about silent moments. I'm sure we will read many beautifully heartfelt sentiments about those who are touched beyond words. This is not one of those. Below is advice for the socially challenged.

The Rhetorical Question
Remember when in the heat of a problem your mother or teacher asked you, "Do you think I'm stupid?" Trust me. It's best to provide a silent moment after these questions.

Too Much Information (alias TMI)
"Sorry I'm late but the dog got sick. He blah, blah, blah on the blah, blah, blah. This one was really gross! It looked like blah, blah, yackity, yack." Oh please just shut up. People don't care to know the inner workings of your body or that of your baby's.

To the Policeman
When the arresting officer says, "You have the right to remain silent," take his advice. It will do you no good to say, "I ain't been drinkin' occifer."

And of course I remember my son's freshman year of high school when he spent the night at the next door neighbors house--a boy his age. Although we required our kids to keep a curfew (at least the unfortunate first born child), our neighbor was much looser with the rules.

On several occasions, my husband would point out an older teen who would park his car at the end of the cove yet remain in it. Noting this suspicious activity, hubby would hang by the window and wait. Eventually the car would move forward and the two curfew breakers would step outside. This was my husband's cue to confront the boys right before they slipped into the car . . . at midnight of course. On one occasion the friend turned to my son and said, "I told you we should have waited longer!"

Aaaah, silent moments. They are the safety nets under the trapeze of life.

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Wordless Wednesday: She's Gone!

 

 

I remember sitting in the limousine at my father's funeral procession. While everyone around me wept, I felt a heaviness in my heart and couldn't speak. That's what it felt like when my youngest daughter left for college. "Heavy heart" is not just an expression. It's a real biological response that goes beyond tears.

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