Busy Days

As the title implys...these are busy days here on the ranch. We are getting ready for our arts show at St. Stephen. I've been put in charge of publicity. I wouldn't dislike this job so much except that it just creeps along. You can't do it all in one day. It seems that for the past two weeks I've been e-mailing and taking news releases to places (you have to get it in for publication not too early--not too late). So at this point...after checking with the chairperson...we've decided that I've done my job. Yeah!

That's only part of it. I've also been getting frames and putting demar varnish on paintings and opps...did I forget to sign that one? So that's been hanging over my head. I've about got a handle on that chore.

Then a couple of friends asked me if I'd like to go in with them on a booth to try to sell some of the crochet items we produce. Sure, why not.

Trying to get some baby afgans done for Caring Choices. Taking a dozen of them today to give to them.

What else? Well, with all the art stuff I've been doing these past couple of weeks..I decided yesterday that it was time to "red up" the studio. What a mess. I clean it up and in a few short weeks, I can hardly get to my work station. Yesterday, I spent 2 hours "neatening up" the place. I hope it will last till Christmas.

What with recycling and teaching art and fussing with another person who uses the art room I've been very busy. I had to remind this person that we all had to cooperate and he wasn't the only "game" in town. He had a big sign on one of the cabinets...Don't block the doors. I thought he had a lot of nerve.

Today is reading day at the talking library. One of our regular readers is out because of surgery. She's a nice person...she says I'm the resident Catholic and she's the resident Jew. Larry our other reader is an athiest? I'm sure I didn't spell that right. Any how it's just me and Larry till Hillary returns from sick leave. Hill is the nicest person. I like her a lot.

Keeping up with Uncle John in Maryland. He seems to be keeping busy. We will have a houseful at Thanksgiving. Hope he will come too. He's thinking about it.

So, with all this activity, I've not blogged for several weeks. I've caught y'all (as we say in the South) up now. Write you again soon. Bye for now.

Just for J-L

I must admit when I read J-L had left his textbook at the Dr's office...I thought that boy should start being more responsible for his "stuff." After all, he won't always have his mom to pick up after him. In a few short years he'll be heading off to college and with no mom or dad to pick up the slack...he'll be in big trouble.

Alas, after those judgemental thoughts, I remembered I had left a library book at my doctor's office and had to return to retrieve it later in the day. Where was my brain that day?

So, J-L, I must appologize and try to be more responsible myself. You go, kid.

Love, Grandma S.

The joys of motherhood

Having just read Carla's blog of a few days ago....what a day! I had to reply. And we thought it was all going to be cookies and milk being a mom. I think that moms with only one kid maybe, just maybe are the cookies and milk moms, but the rest of us...the ones with jobs and more than one kid and the never ending chores that call us to pick up kids, get groceries, talk to bosses, send packages, (etc. etc. etc. as the King says) just have those days.

The situation (I was going to say problem, but that's not the right word) is that the days stack up and before we know it we haven't had time to write a letter or read a book. Been there...done that.

I have to confess that now that I'm past all the mothering stuff...well, in age, but not in mind...I thought I'd finally become someone that "has it all together." Wrong.

Wrong, because now that I have a moment to contemplate my navel I forget where my navel is. Ha.

This past week I had a appointment for my annual mammogram. This is always a fun activity, especially for those of us with something to gram. I made the appointment a couple of months ago and it was for a Saturday. Hmmmm. Saturday. I didn't know they were open on a Saturday. The appointed hour came and naturally being a Steinmetz, nee Joyner, I was a half hour early. The hospital was dark...Oh, well, I'm early. I'll just read my book till someone turns the lights on.

I read and I read and I read. Finally I looked at my watch. It was a half hour past the magic hour of my appointment. Everything was still dark. I went up to the sign-in door and read a big sign that said....closed on Saturday.

So, where in the heck was I supposed to be...certainly not where I was. I went home and decided I'd have to investigate on Monday. When Monday arrived I called and was told that mammograms were now done at Sarah Cannon (that's Minnie Pearl for non Nashvillians) Imaging center. SC is right next door to the hospital. And then the nice lady on the phone told me that I had gone to SC the year before for my mammogram. I felt left a dumb dora. After she said that I vaguely recalled going home last year and telling the husband that the new center was like a spa...dim lights, nice music...pleasant people...new imaging technology that made the whole experience not so bad. But until she told me of last year's visit...there was nothing up in the brain re. that experience. My brain is a sieve.

I'm telling you...the mind is a terrible thing to waste. It's a good thing I don't have to schlep kids to various and sundry appointments these days. Kids need us working on all cylindars. Hope Carla's next day was better.

Reading the Steinmetz blogs tells me that the Steinmetz family is busy as ever. Love to all from Mom, Mother in law and Grandma.

exercise,,,ugh

wSo," says my friend eying my pink Curves tee shirt with 1000 on the front. "what does that mean? It means I've gone to Curves 1000 times, I answer.
"Wow," she says..."you must really like it.
Truthfully I answer I hate to exercise, but I do it because it's good for my heart. (Not to mention how fat I'd be if I wasn't a regular member.) I'm not a good exerciser. I'm tall but not athletic. (Sorry,kids..I've given you no athletic genes.) No, I did not play basketball or volleyball or any other team game. I can't think of anything I'd like to do less than chase a golf ball around a course. I go to Curves. I've been a member for lots of years now.
I'm the person waiting at the door for Curves to open in the morning. It's difficult for me to go later in the day. My Grandma once told me that when you don't like to do something (like ironing) it's best to do it first thing in the morning and get it out of the way. Words of wisdom. So I go early and get exercising out of the way. That way I don't feel guilty later in the day because I know I won't go at 2 or 4 in the afternoon or 5 in the evening.
As I leave after my workout I tell fellow Curvers...if you aren't sweating, you aren't working hard enough.
Besides, as we all know...a person can do anything for a half hour. I'm glad I go to Curves. The people are nice and there are all ages, shapes and sizes. We wear any old thing and every once in a while someone says...how much weight have you lost....you look great. I know that they are just being kind, but I like it any way.

Note to the Birthday Boy...Happy birthday, Bill. I can't believe you are going to be 43. You always were a sweet little boy and you grew up to be a fine man. Dad and I are proud of you. Love, Mom.