Comment on comment

Hey, people. Thanks for the comment, Carla. J-L, someone other than your mom reads your blog. I, unfortunately, can't figure out how to comment to others blogs. But, I will figure it out as (as I always say) I'm no dummy.

The beauty pageant thing appears to be a regular show. Not for me. Once was enough.

This has been a busy art week for me. Class on Tuesday. Great students. I got 2 more students. We can't take any more than 10, so this makes 9 for that class. Keeps me hopping. Wednesday, I paint with "experienced painters." Lots of fun. I finished a pastel of the boys and Maura, taken from a photo Carla took a couple of years ago. The kids under the waterfall from Grandpa on the deck. I must say....it may be a winner.

Speaking of winners. I won a third prize in the TN Art league's spring competition. We enter pictures and they are juried. I wasn't even thinking of entering, but a fellow artist told me to enter my "airplane" picture. Hooray for me. I was thrilled it got in...never thinking that it might take a prize. Also on Wednesday. Time to visit the eye doctor. No change in prescription.

Thursday...today, I finished up at Joan's class. I did 20 pastel portrait sketches of her kids. They are going to give them to their moms for mother's day. Not to toot my own horn, but I was rather pleased with them.

Tonight...we are going to Kathy Brown's memorial at Holy Rosary. It will be sad, but as I told Glenn (K's husband) I needed to put a period to this year of anguish over Kathy. Glenn asked me to do a reading. I was glad he didn't aske me to give a eulogy. That would have been beyond me I know.

Friday, tomorrow, reading for the "talking library." Then, who knows, what else. Fish fry in the evening at church. Saturday...shopping with Joan and Maura. We are looking at communion veils. I volunteered to make one for her upcoming first holy communion.

Sunday...travel with the Quinns to Kentucky to see some cave. This one is a maybe...

Oh, last Saturday...income tax day. Our tax man asked me if it was really worth it to get paid for teaching as I had to file a seperate return for that bit of money...to pay taxes and also to get social security taken out. Of course, I said..."yes, it is...cause I'm not doing it for nothing. It's hard work."

And you thought old retired people didn't have anything to do. I even squeezed in a couple of naps during the week. And I forgot to tell you about exercising at Curves four times.

After rereading this post, I'm exhausted. Oh, one more thing. I was chatting with a clerk at Aldi's earlier in the week. He was a pleasant young man. I asked him how he was doing and he replied...."I have nothing to complain about. My family is healthy and I have a job." He was a breath of fresh air.

Till next time.

another pet peave

I'm beginning to think I'm an old grouch because many things get on my nerves or make me MAD. The other night I was watching television and a show came on that really got me going. It was a children's beauty pageant. I was disgusted, not with the children, but with the parents. Those folks need to get a life of their own and not try to live vicariously through their babies. And I do mean babies. Some of the little ones were as young as 2 years old. One little one was fighting and hollering as her mother tried to push her into a fru-fru dress. Thank goodness she made such a fuss that her mother didn't make her go on stage, but the other babies were not so lucky.

I think those pageants are just money making schemes for somebody and also potentially harmful for children. One little girl only 7 years old was getting her legs shaved. Ick. Does that sound right. Then there is all the makeup and false eyelashes and hair extensions for kids who aren't even into their teens. One mom said her kid's dress cost $1,000. I thought $1,000 would buy a lot of groceries.

And then just before the child took the stage her mom was telling her to "show your personality." The sexy dances the little girls did were really disgusting. Talk about sexualizing children. This can't be a healthy thing.

The next morning when I was telling Al about the show and how upset I was about it he asked me why I didn't just shut it off. I'm telling the truth, it was like watching a train wreck. I couldn't look away.

Parents of children who won "little miss whatever" titles and also the children who lost those crowns all said that they would enter their kids again. I just shook my head and said those people should get arrested for child abuse.

That's it, folks. My rant for the week. You can call me an old fuddy duddy, but I'm glad I'm done raising children. It's a whole new world out there.

Grandchildren news...Florida boys are in practices getting ready for baseball. Little Maura who I'm sure doesn't have an athletic bone in her body tried out for soccer the other day. I told her mom that I was sure every kid who tried out got to play. We shall see how that goes. Sports have the value of teaching sportsmanship and building good peer relationships. But beauty pageants...I don't think so.

Nuff for this week.

fear

I've been thinking about fear a lot lately. Fear is that feeling in your stomach when "something" isn't right. Soldiers get that feeling when going into battle. Mothers get that feeling when children are ill. Patients get that feeling when heading for the operating room. Fear is a universal emotion.

The fear lately in our country is that we are heading for economic disaster. I've looked at the people I know. Yes, several folks have lost their jobs...but more are still working. Yes, some families need food assistance, but more are helping out their neighbors. Some families because of the general laxatity in banking practices or their own ineptness are out of their homes. All cases we hear of "those in need" break our hearts.

In all the above cases, most folks in need are getting help from family and friends. People are willing to "go the extra mile" to help others. Because of the general downturn, charities are becoming more creative...our local food bank partnered with the library to garner "cans of food for library fines". This was a win-win for everyone. Libraries got their books back...the food bank received much needed thousands of cans of food for their clients.

I read every day of churches that are behind in their budgeted collections. (My own church included.) But on the other hand...I read that churches are opening their doors to the poor and homeless with shelters and food kitchens.

I recall the words of FDR..."the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." It seems to me that listening to the nightly news re: the stock market, energy prices, job losses, etc. doesn't help the general condition. Even those of us who are relatively unscathed by the current situation can become victims of the mindless "FEAR" broadcast.

I'm not like the bird with his head in the sand, trying to pretend things I can't see mean they aren't there, but I think all the negative press creates a climate that isn't productive. As a nation, we've seen hard times before and I'm sure we'll see them again. Let's put our national mindset to figuring a way to make things better.

In the words of another great man...Pope John Paul II..."Be not afraid." We will survive and we will prosper. Till next time.

eom letdown

Can't believe February is almost over. Time flies when you are having fun. This past week we were having fun at my art class...laughing and hooting at various and sundry things. An old gentleman passed our door and asked "is this where the party is going on?" Of course, we all said yes. He asked us if we wanted a couple of jokes. Of course, we all said yes.

One of his jokes...an old one I'd heard before, but it bears repeating: A lady who had an unhappy marriage died and went to the GATE. St. Peter said she couldn't come in unless she could spell the word. "What's the word?" she asked. Love, said St. Pete. "L-O-V-E?" she said. Yep, you're in said "Pete. (Note how familiar I get with the saint as this story goes along.)

So, Pete says, "I'm going to lunch. You guard the gate."

A bit later the woman's husband arrives at the gate and after the hellos and what are you doing heres between the two, the husband said, "Let me in." The woman said, "You can't come in till you spell the word."

"What's the word," husband asked.

"Checkloslovackia." That's it. Of course, my gang on aspiring artists and I laughed our heads off.

What made the joke even funnier was the old gentleman telling the joke had an accent of undetermined origin...maybe yiddish or greek...or something. It was hilarious.

I feel better. I started to bemoan the fact that February is almost over. Why? I'm asking myself now. That means spring is almost here. My pansies of last fall are trying to bloom again. Some buds and flowers popping up. Daffs and flags are coming and I even see the leaves on the trees trying to bud. Ah...spring.

Karen had a birthday yesterday. She's such a busy gal that we never did get to speak with her. Work on a Saturday, she said. Perhaps today, we'll chat.

Glad to read the boys are getting along with practices, even though you guys had some chilly (for Florida) weather. Al made our reservations for our April visit. I even thought of buying a summer outfit for the trip. So...Good-by, February...March is coming in quickly.

Till next time....love to all my loyal readers.

restaurant review

Here we go folks. The long awaited opening of the new Red Lobster at Providence in Mt. Juliet, TN has happened. Al and I visited on Wednesday...it was our Valentine's date...even though it was a couple of days early. It was a beautiful day. We went for lunch. There was a large crowd there though it had just opened...(11 o'clock). We were seated right away and were given wonderful service. Al said it was almost too wonderful. I looked for the fish which are a hallmark of Red Lobsters I have visited before. No luck. Everything was very upscale and elegant. We had our usual lunch..broiled fish for me and for Dad...chicken and shrimp. The usual criteria for a RL are the cheese bisquits. They were perfect. Our server and everyone from the manager to someone else who's role we couldn't identify ask us many times if there was anything else they could do for us. Our question is--is RL breaking into the fine-dining market? It was a lovely luncheon and we will spread the word.

Today I gave blood. The Red Cross and I are intimates. I'm probably up to about 7 gals donated now. I always feel good about giving my blood because I'm so healthy and I know I don't have any strange diseases lurking in my body. Well, I'm pretty sure I don't have any strange diseases lurking in my body, but one never knows, does one?

After that I went to adult ed at church. We learned about Pontus Pilate. Was he weak, or just manipulative? The question of the day. Of course, these things only ask questions and don't give any definite answers. My little discussion group said manipulative. That seemed to be the concensis of opinion of the larger group.

That's all, folks. Till next time. RS

Senior moments.

Senior moments. Alas, I have many, but I usually can cover them up pretty well. You know those kind...you go into a room to get something and forget what you came for...so you have to go back and start again. Then, there are the times you go to the grocery story for bread and come out with $20 worth of food without bread. Then you tell your husband there wasn't a loaf of bread to be found at Krogers.

My last public senior moment involved my dear grandson Jean-Luc. I got Valentines for the grands and sat down to sign and stamp them. I addressed them and put them in the mail the next day. As I'm one of the "early birds", the cards should have arrived already. Well, in the course of events, Al and I were watching Star Trek and Jean-Luc Picard was being the hero that he always is when it hit me. I had sent J-L's card off addressed to JOHN-LUKE..whoever that is. I was dismayed and had to call my number 1 grandson immediately to confess to this senior moment and assure him that I really did know how to spell his lovely name. Talk about being embarrassed.

I have told a few sympathetic friends and they told me not to beat myself up about this, but I do keep dwelling on my fauxpas...my girls used to call this a fox-paw. I'm trying to let it go, but it will be in my memory bank long after senility sets in, I'm afraid.

It is a lovely balmy day here today. After subfreezing temps for three days in a row last week, we are enjoying the moment. The doors are open and fresh air is streaming in. We have been warned by the weather folks that winter isn't over yet, so don't get your hopes up. Since becoming a southern gal, I've surely hated cold, cold, winter days. Luckily we don't get too many of them down here. By the middle of March we are all starting to think of planting flowers and tomatoes.

Till next time...I hope to keep the senior moments at a minimum, or at least only have them when I can palm them off as intentional. Ta. ta.

What about those Steelers!

Today is Groundhog's Day. As per usual ol' Phil saw his shaddow, so 6 more weeks of winter. Today Nashville is basking in a warm 40ish day. Yesterday it was 60plus so I'm not quite sure about those 6 more weeks of winter. Poor Kentucky is still reeling from an ice storm of last week and there but for a few degrees...would have been Nashville.

We are happy for the Steelers...but it was a close one. The Cardinals put up a great fight and it could have gone either way. The Steelers say...Oh, we have a whole minute to play. That's enough to go down the field and get a touchdown. And they did.

If it couldn't have been our hometown team, the Titons, we were glad for our old hometown team...the Steelers. Karen and Bela called and reported Steelermania all over town. We had our own superbowl party when they were here last week...before the big game and Joan had us all decked out in steeler finery to urge the team to victory.

I'm feeling that it's time to get back on my proper diet as for two weeks all I've done is eat. Yuck.

News from John re: Jennifer's surgery. It went well but she's had a few heart flutters so they kept her a few extra days in the hospital. She's had flutters from time to time and does take a med for that. We are hoping the heart and the surgery aren't connected. John predicted that she'd probably be sent home today (Monday). I've yet to hear so hopefully sometime today we'll get the word that she'd resting at home in Maryland.

Joan's medical test last Monday was good. Colonoscopes aren't too bad in themselves, but the getting ready for them isn't necessarily the most fun. She doesn't have to go for another one for another ten years. Al's due for another one in the spring. His first one showed a few polops which the doctor took care of at that time. So, he has to get one every five years. I'm sure this is more information than you care to know...so skip this paragraph.

I'm sending along a few picture (maybe for the next Steinmetz family photo album) of the Pater's visit. As reported earlier, Isabel is a handful. I think Karen is having an easier time of it now that Bela isn't off to Chicago every week. They seem to like their house and even though all boxes haven't been unpacked yet. Ican't fault them on that as it seemed to me I was finding boxes not unpacked when we'd been in this house for several years.

RoseMary reports that cold weather prevails in Pa. She's getting cabin feaver. I know if I don't get out every day I feel locked in.

I think Dad has a judge show on. I hear yelling. Tonight we are going to church. We are having a celebration for our 1 year anniversary of the dedication . It seems like we've been in the new church forever. I love the church. It's not Bela's cup of tea. He's into the traditional gothic church. I think he'd like to bring back the Latin mass for everyone. NOT me.

I have nattered on long enough. Till next time. Ta. ta.