judgmental?

I've come to the conclusion that I am judgmental...re. many things. I've judged the men who don't live up to their marriage vows and women who chase married men very harshly. I think, perhaps I'd not be so outspoken regarding those life choices if we weren't bombarded by the media with details that aren't any of our business. But we are, and I am.
I chose to avoid details of memorial services of Michael Jackson and Steve McNair but I did read the eulogy given by his pastor at McNair's service. He said several times...let those without sin cast the first stones. That's what Jesus said in regard to the woman taken in adultery who was going to be stoned by her "judges."
Those words hit home with me. I am going to promise to try and not judge others. I'm not God and it isn't my place to comment on other's choices and behaviors. I do believe in consequences and unfortunate choices oftimes lead to unfortunate consequences.
The trouble with bad choices is that innocent people, children and spouses, are hurt and that is sad.
As for me....I'll try to remember the words..."let him without sin cast the first stone."

A recent nonjudgmental moment. I was gassing up my car and who should I see at the next pump....Bishop Choby...bishop of Nashville. He was pumping gas, too. Naturally, I asked him what he was doing in my neck of the woods. He'd returned from a minivacation with family and had been picked up at the airport by a friend. I told him I was from St. Stephen and he asked if we (the congregation) were happy with Father Pat Kibby returning to St. S. Naturally, I said Yes and hoped that Father Steve Wolf, our departing priest would be happy at St. Henry. He said, Father Steve seemed to be happy and Father Pat seemed to be happy and that made him happy. So, we said "goodby" and he shook my hand. He headed off to Nashville..I headed home to tell Al of my meeting with the Bishop.

One last comment...good for our Anton. Sorry your team lost, honey, but you certainly showed your stuff, didn't you? Next year all the teams will be wanting you...maybe there will be a bidding war for your services..Just kidding. Good job, Anton. Grandpa and I are proud of you.

That's all, folks.

Who died?Who's unfaithful?

Well, Michael Jackson and Farrah, too. It is a shame that so much time and space is devoted to the deaths of some folks. MJ had more problems than one life should have, but for me, it is enough to know that he probably never grew up. I don't need to rehash every detail of every record, video, baby birth, marriage, etc of this man/boy's life. Rest in peace.
Farrah, also, led a life I wouldn't have wanted. I'm glad I'm not somebody that all the world wants to know every detail of life and death about. I didn't watch her story about battling cancer as I just watched a dear friend go through that experience. I would be willing to bet that most folks have a loved one of an acquaintance who has died a nasty death from cancer. Enough is enough.
In Nashville, Saturday, Steve McNair was killed apparently by his girl friend. She was 20...he, 36. He had a wife and 4 sons. What was he doing messing around with someone half his age? I surely don't know.
I do feel sorry for the children of people who die violent deaths. They are forever plagued with unanswerable questions. Why?
Then in last week's news...Gov Sanford of SC...has a soul mate in Argentina? He also had a wife and 4 kids. And Mr. Edwards-a presidental potential...another husband and father who gave in to baser instincts.
I recall the story of a Hollywood type who with his wife was celebrating their 50th anniversary. When asked by a reporter what the secret of their long marriage was, he replied..."We promised." Amen, brother.
I'm not saying the "grass sometimes doesn't appear greener on the other side of the fence" but often that grass is pretty yellow when you actually cross the fence. My mom used to say...try to be happy with what you have because the unknown may not be better.
Have I gone too far with this commentary? One last thing. Mother Teresa died the same week as Princess Diana. Who did more for the world? Who had more scandal attached to her name? Who elicited more press, and still does,...the Saint or the other?

So, I'm done for the day.....Till next time.

Jon and Kate again!

Well, I said I wouldn't do it...and I haven't...that is watched J&K+8. I didn't and don't want to know all the gory details of their split-separation-divorce..whatever it is. But when talking with Maura, I realized that for a little girl, she knows much too much about these two people. It was rather cute when she decided that she liked all those little kids and what they were learning and doing. It was cute when they got a puppy and Maura said "ah....."
What's not so cute is when she tells me that Jon cheated on Kate. He was with another woman on her birthday. Yuck!
I told her Mom that she knows much more than she needs to know about those two wannabe celebrities.

Which bring me to the subject of trying to keep information of this type from kids. Remember Clinton and "I did not have sex with that woman!" Yeah, sure. And parents all over the country were having to explain oral sex to six year olds. Man oh man, I'm getting to be an old fuddy-duddy.

I'm not saying things were better in the "old days" when such things weren't discussed. I'd never say that. But, there is such a things as TOO MUCH INFORMATION! Of course, it's difficult to isolate yourself from TMI when they put it out for all the world.

As for the birthday girl herself...Miss Maura is now a big 8 year old. She got her heart's desire for her BD. She got a kitten from the animal shelter. Today is the big day. Her kitten, named Mars (her dad thought it was cute--Mars and Maura) at the shelter is now a whopping two pounds and got spayed today. They are to pick her up this evening. I'm sure this is the longest day of Maura's life, waiting to take her present home.

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

Kicking and screaming!

I'm laughing, sort of...I've never been a fan of computers, technology, etc. etc.etc. but, I've been dragged into the 21st century by those in my family who are fans. In fact, if truth were known, I am not especially fond of the answering machine....a gift from our kids. And I've been told by friend and foe alike that once I got the hang of using the computer regularly I'd love it. Well, it is difficult for me to be a regular user.
In the first place, the man in my life...and you all know who that is...is the computer bug at our house. He checks and rechecks and deletes and deletes if necessary. I'm crocheting or painting and he sometimes calls me away from my chosen chore to tell me to read something or other that one of our kids has sent...look at those pictures of the kids from Florida...here's an e-mail from someone from church or any number of other important missives that he thinks I need to know immediately.
I'm pleased that he's taken this job on himself, as if left up to me, I'd not look at those e-mails, pictures, etc. for days and days. He keeps me connected to the wide world of cyperspace.
It's almost like having a private secretary. He throws away spam ads and stuff he knows I don't need or want to know. He prints out important stuff I do need to know. He tells me when I need to e-mail back to folks. What a gem! How lucky is this writer.
And all I have to do in return is wash laundry, make a few meals and listen to his latest golf game. A fair exchange, don't you think?
Now, in regard to family blogs...Bill, glad to know how much you accomplished while your wife and first born were seeing the world. J-L, glad to know you were a hit with the Brazillian ladies and that you had a good time. Anton, congratulations on making the all-star team...knock them dead, honey. Chris...hope your limp-leg is feeling better. Carla, it will be hard to get back to the old humdrum life, but as I always say...there is no bed better than your own bed. Glad you got home safely. Karen...looking forward to your travelogue of Europe. and I guess that's it for this time.
Bye for now...

Travelogues and mysteries

I have enjoyed reading Carla's blog from Brazil...it's almost a travelogue. I guess the wedding is tomorrow. I'm wondering what the bride does that she lives in China? Inquiring minds want to know.

As to mysteries....in the middle of the night a couple of days ago....I wondered where my "airplane" picture was...I called it "Fly the Friendly Skies" It recently won a prize at the Tennessee Art League's interclub spring show. I thought it must be hanging on the wall somewhere in my house. When I got up...I looked and surprise, surprise, no airplane picture to be found on my walls. Oh, well, maybe I stacked it behind a piece of furniture or stuck it under the bed...NOOOOOOO, not there. Maybe in my studio? NOOOOOO, not there.

Did I leave it unclaimed at TAL? I was pretty sure I hadn't. Of course, my better half suggested it might be down at the Senior Center....but I couldn't remember hanging it there. I hated to call one of my art friends and admit that I was loosing my mind. But I did anyway. She said she bet a nickle it was at the Senior Center. I said I had three pictures down there and I could only remember two of them. She said "there you go...the one you can't remember is your airplane picutre." I wasn't convinced. She bet me a nickle she was right.

Well, she was right...I owe her a nickle. I still can't remember taking it down there ... or hanging it. But there it was big as life. I know I have at least 100 pictures hanging around here and another hundred or so unframed ones laying around but the airplane picture was a winner and I didn't want to lose it.

It was not my finest hour....memory wise. I have fretted about this for three days now. My better half says "let it go." But I can't. I'll probably still be thinking about it next week. I hope this isn't an indication of "things to come." Awful, awful, awful.

Till next time....bye, bye.

diets and food and thin exotic women

After reading Carla's blog about fun and food and fast driving in Brazil, I laughed. I, too, wondered how the women stayed so thin...this time on the other side of the world...Italy...when the food and wine and Italian Ice were everywhere. I remember commenting "my first time in Rome" that there were more fat people on my plane than I saw in all of Rome. I guess it's a different lifestyle. I know Romans, both men and women, walk a lot more than we do. They walk to work, walk home for a small lunch, walk back to work, home after work...then eight or nine in the evening, they walk a couple of miles to have dinner. Then of course, walk home after the meal, maybe at 10p.m or so.

I don't know about walking in Brazil, but they do have beautiful people there. I'm sure Jean-Luc with his blond hair made a hit with the ladies. People always admire what is uncommon to them. Italians like the nordic ladies and people from Holland like the dark-eyed Latins.

It sounds like that part of the Steinmetz clan is having a great time. Take advantage of the opportunity, J-L. You'll probably be the only kid in your class who has traveled outside the U.S. this summer. Lucky boy.

We talked to Bill and the other boys yesterday. Skipe is working fine. Bill is doing his usual good job of being a dad.

Joan and family are off to Kentucky for a couple of days. Seems everyone is traveling both far and near.

Maura's last soccer game was Saturday. She actually kicked the ball a couple of times, but as I said before, I'm afraid she inherited her athletic ability from her Mom and me. She had a good time, however, and as Joan says, "If you had a good time, you won."

Time to go...till next time....all you travelers enjoy yourselves.

Reality shows

There must be something wrong with me that I don't find any "reality show" interesting. I know why the producers make these shows...it's much less expensive than having a cast and crew dedicated to a sitcom or detective show. Although come to think of it...how much does it cost to send 12 strangers to a desolate island and keep everyone alive for the duration of a season? Or how about sending folks on an around the world race? Or how about the cooking, modeling, makeover shows? I don't know.

What I do know is that I find these shows less than thrilling. I'm especially unhappy right now with Jon and Kate plus 8. I know these folks are having their troubles and that's not fun for them. The public never seems to get enough of dishing the dirt about those who are celebrities or near celebrities. Even though I think those little children are darling...I have resolved myself not to watch their show or read about their troubles. I do know that those parents invited the world into their lives and now that the bloom is off the rose...they are unhappy with the paparazzi and others skulking around their private lives. I felt the same way about Princess Diana...you can't have it both ways. If you present yourself as a public figure then you can't complain about your privacy being invaded by the media. I hope the children and parents survive this media frenzy and take themselves out of the spotlight. I'm sure it is difficult to reconcile a troubled marriage under the best of circumstances and on a scale of 1-10, I'd give Jon and Kate about a 4 in favor of fixing their marriage.

As I said to someone near and dear to me....I don't watch Idol or Race or any of the other "reality" shows...not on purpose that is...sometimes one or another slips through my radar. I don't watch them because I have a life of my own...boring as it is...but it is my own reality.

So, I'll enjoy my fantasy television...Law and Order (in all it's permutations)...NCIS, CCI, all stories which perhaps are based on fact, but are fictionalized for my viewing enjoyment. Also, I like Book Beat and always the history channel. I'm leaving all reality to those folks out there who mark their calendars for their faves. I know there are more of those folks than there are folks like me...but that's ok....In fact...I still like to read books.

That's it.

To all the family travelers out there. Enjoy your travels...come home safe and have a reality show of your own to tell us about upon your return...Till next time.