Three guesses who was here yesterday.

Remind me not to waste my time cleaning those windows.

There's not much "down time" when the grandkids are here.  I think I had ice cream for lunch.

Jacob is right at home in the water.

And Lauren is right at home in the shallow end, with her trusty floaties.
 
But she's starting to think she just might be missing out on something.

Okay.  At least she's standing on the diving board.

And she's contemplating the jump.

 Lucky for her, there's a convenient ledge in the deep end that's perfect for beginners.

This is big, folks.  Really big.

She mentioned once that she wished Linda and Marcia were here.  If she only knew....  Marcia would have those floaties off in a flash and she'd be flying through the air before she could scream bloody murder.  That's how her brother learned, dadgum it.  Sink or swim, buddy.

A Word to All the Sun Goddesses Out There

Had my first (and hopefully last) basal cell carcinoma removed today.  Was I nervous?  Scared. To. Death.  But not about the knife.

I looked in the mirror last night and was horrified to see that I had a wee bit of a sunburn.  What!?!  My dermatologist is going to KILL me!  But in all fairness (no pun intended), when it's 97 degrees and there's a big honkin' pool in your back yard...IT'S HARD Y'ALL!!!!   Seriously.  I tan fairly easily.  Rarely burn. And with age maturity, I have been very diligent about applying plenty of sunscreen.  I really can't imagine how it happened.  My back ITCHED all day.  A constant reminder of my sin.

Anyway, I confessed to the nurse and prayed the doctor would take it easy on me.  If she noticed, she didn't mention it.  Maybe she didn't want to pour salt in the wound--so to speak.  When the doc stepped out, the nurse whispered, "I think you might get by with it."

When I got home this afternoon, I got a mirror out to get a closer look at the burn.  It's a stinkin' rash!  Heat rash?  Hives?  Allergic reaction?  Who would know?  Oh yeah.  Maybe a DERMATOLOGIST!  If only I hadn't been a wimp and just fessed up, maybe she could have looked at it and prescribed something for me.  Sheesh!  Live and learn.  Live. And. Learn.

First Swim

Well, technically, it's the third.  But my auto-focus got switched to manual on the first, so I only got blurred photos.  The second was only me.  So, no self-portraits.

Lauren and McKinney

 Taking a break.

 Shaun and Kauleen were babysitting an 18-month old.  Cause I guess 4 kids is just not enough.

 He will remain nameless.  I take no responsibility for this madness.

 Garrison loves jumping off the board.

 And Dad shows him the proper technique.

Show-off.

Oh yes, we also had Baylor's new puppy, who enjoyed meeting Gracie and Duchess, eating the kids' snacks and finally achieving her goal of jumping into the pool.

Mr. Nameless really, really wanted to jump off the diving board.  But was very vocal about NOT WANTING FLOATIES.  Which kept us all pretty busy.

Let the summer begin.

Vitamin D - I Highly Recommend It

I've been energy-challenged lately.  After a doctor's visit Monday, I started back on Vitamin D.  5000 units Monday.  5000 units Tuesday.  10,000 units Wednesday.  5000 units Thursday.  10,000 units Friday.  5000 units today.

This morning, by 10:00 I had:

1. Made blueberry/bran muffins from scratch.
2. Done my daily Bible study.
3. Emptied the pool skimmer.
4. Done one load of laundry.
5. Changed the sheets on my bed.
6. Made a cheesecake (from scratch) for a dinner tonight.
7. Cleaned the kitchen.
8. Brought the garbage cart back from the highway and taken out the trash.
9. Cleaned the kitty litter box.
10. Brought my checkbook up to date.
11. Started the dishwasher.
12. Cleaned my bathroom.
13. Sorted 3 days worth of mail.

Yes.  Vitamin D.  The wonder drug.

Fraidy Hole

Everyone in Oklahoma should have one.

I have one.

And it's a big one...as you can see...in proportion to the aesthetically handcrafted charcoal grill placed strategically on top.

But here's the problem.

There's about 9 inches of water standing in the bottom.  And who knows what else?  I'm talking living, swimming, crawling, croaking creatures.

And this (I believe) is the reason for the problem.

Someone forgot the rule: Measure Twice -- Cut Once.

So.  Until I find someone to make me a new door, we'll have to keep the Tornado Party at the Ringle's.

Hope all my peeps found a fraidy hole last night.

This is what I live for...

Great Bible study this morning!  Uninterrupted time of meditation is so very precious.

Just have to share what God revealed to me today.  Maybe it's not a new thought for you, but it really stirred my heart.

Death.  It's what we live for!

We find it all around us.  Friends...loved ones...loved ones of friends...we can't escape it.  It brings us sadness and grief.  BUT.  Barring the second coming...it's the only portal to a literal face-to-face with the Creator of the universe. It's the means to get to our destination.

And although it's a joyful event in heaven, God knows that we will mourn.  So he comforts us.  Jesus went so far as to bring some back to life on earth. Not because this was a better place, but because he knew how we perceive death.

I know.  We have other purposes while we're alive in our human bodies.  And our journey is filled with blessings and opportunities.  But in the end, when I'm on death's doorstep I hope I will say, "Death, where is your victory?  This is what I've lived for!"

Never Again!

Never say never.  But somebody please slap me back to reality if I EVER book the last Thursday night flight from Tulsa to Houston again.

Throughout the day, the website continued to show more and more delays.  Last status check showed departure at 9:40 p.m.!!!  I had reserved a rental car, so at least Neal wouldn't have to pick me up...but since the resort gate closes at 9:00, he would have to let me in.  Actually, we ended up boarding around 8:00.  It was an airline miracle.

The flight was turbulent, to say the least.  The person sitting next to me jabbered away in Viet Namese.  The family behind me conversed in Spanish.  I was trying to read Harry Potter. Yes, I'm not only way behind the times, but I'm reading a juvenile novel...judge me if you like.  I will not apologize.  (I also try to read it in a British accent, 'cause I'm just that weird, which became very challenging, given the foreign conversations surrounding me.)

We landed around 9:40, but sat on the tarmac for almost an hour before we got a gate assignment.  Nope, you can't get up and potty, we may be moving any second now.  The flight attendant obviously didn't know I'd had a Diet Coke before leaving and a water during the flight.  Nor did she care.

Finally.  Arrival at the gate and a full stop.  Yay!!!  Oh but wait.  They have to find a jet way to unload all of us.  Are you kidding me?  So close....and yet so far.  Did they not know we were coming? Can't you just open up the slide/chute thingy and let us jump off?

Walking through the airport was very unsettling.  I can't tell you how many times I've flown into Houston Hobby, but nothing looked familiar.  I started wondering if I had even been on the right plane.  Kept looking for signs that said "Hobby" but to no avail.  My mind was cloudy and I was finding it difficult to keep my balance.  I should never have taken that little siesta while waiting on the tarmac.

Baggage claim was a nightmare.  Note to self:  Only carry-ons from now on.

Collecting my rental car should be easy, right?  After filling out all the forms, I went to the lot to fetch my car in space C-11.  Wouldn't you know it?  There's C-9.  C-10.  Space.  Space. C-15.  C-16.  It's a conspiracy, I say.  They're trying to make me think I've gone completely bonkers.  Now I'd have to wait while they serviced other customers before they could re-assign me a car.

In my younger years, I was very adventurous.  Didn't really get rattled much.  But driving an unfamiliar car--which by the way I hate 'cause the brakes are too touchy and I need a pillow so I can see over the steering wheel--on wet roads, in the dark, not knowing where I'm going, IN HOUSTON is an adventure I can do without.  I brought my gps, but could not find a place in the car to plug it in!  So I just prayed that the battery would last until I saw familiar exit signs.  


Arrived at my destination at 12:02, and even though Neal was on his way to the gate, there just happened to be a cadillac entering right in front of me.  I don't think the resort staff was too happy with me.  The little security golf cart with the flashing yellow light on top followed me all the way to the RV.  "Believe me, Barney.  You do not want to mess with me tonight."

It's T-Ball Weather

Emma.  Enjoying the game.  A game.  Some game.

Weekend Highlights

Saturday morning, a man in my yoga class started snoring during the last savasana (corpse pose).  Which proves my theory that clearing one's mind is much simpler for men than women.  Men just have to clear one thought, while the task is much greater for women, who have a million to-do's, worries and ideas bouncing around in their brains.

Enjoyed a wonderfully delicious luncheon among good friends to celebrate our neighbor's graduation from TU.

Drove 22 miles to purchase flowers and tomato plants.  Found a great parking place, right next to the garden department. Reached for my purse and realized I'd left it at home.  Drove 22 miles back home, then 22 miles back to the store, and of course...22 miles back home.  That's right.  Eight-eight miles.  That's roughly $16 worth of gas. Fortunately, my thoughtful bosses had given me a gift card for Secretary's Day that covered the cost of the flowers. I found an equally good parking spot on the second trip and had a great visit with an old friend in the checkout line.  I think that's called a serendipity or a "lagniappe" if you're Cajun.

I intended to buy "Big Boy" and "Beefsteak" tomato plants.  But got home with "Big Boy" and "Bush Cherry."  I'm not a fan of cherry tomatoes.  But neither am I a fan of driving another 44 miles round trip to return them.  So I will have plenty of cherry tomatoes to give away in August.

I got carried away and decided to plant flowers in the gate posts.

You probably can't tell, but the planters are taller than me.  Which explains why I haven't bothered before.  But being the resourceful person that I am, I drove this

right up to the posts and stood in the bed to do my planting.  All the while, shouting to passersby, "Yes!  I'm a crazy woman!"

But won't they feel silly (and just a tad bit envious) when these beauties start vining down the posts?

Who'll be crazy then? I ask.  Who will be crazy then?

Breaking News

Sand Springs Sandites are Regional Champions! SS 10, Stillwater 6. {insert happy dance}

My b-i-l in Michigan took over my screen and walked me through my external hard drive predicament. {more happy dancing}

I ate healthier today.  Well, except for the Tostitos (with a hint of jalepeno) and guacamole.  But that's "good" fat, right?  Now I will "happy dance" for at least 30 minutes to work off the chips.

This Week

The Sandites are playing in the Regionals.  And I am once again in a familiar place--on the bleachers.

Big win yesterday.  Sandites 10, Del City 0.
.

Another win today.  Close game with rivals from Sapulpa. Championship game tomorrow.  Stay tuned.

In other news....

I have an external hard drive for back-up that's been sitting unopened for two months.  Yesterday, I finally plugged it in.  Now I need a Mac expert to tell me what the heck I'm doing wrong.  Anyone?  Anyone?

And now, I will dispel all misconceptions that I have any self-discipline whatsover...

...here's what I ate today:  Egg McMuffin (could be worse), chocolate candy (bad), 22 oz. frozen cappuccino (bad), turkey sandwich (go me!), pastry from Ann's Bakery (weally, weally bad), and finally....three...count 'em...three slices of leftover pizza.  I will now go run a mile and do 138 sit-ups.  Or maybe just go to bed.

Summer is Coming!

At least that's what I thought yesterday.  Today it is cold and rainy and feels like November.

But yesterday.  Ahhhh.  Yesterday was glorious!

We got tons of outdoor work done and still made time for our little munchkins.

Lauren was pretty happy that we got the porch swing fixed.  I won't mention the incident that broke it.  Let's just say...from now on we'll limit the swing occupancy to two.

She's usually cooperative when it comes to picture posing.

But I had to do some coaxing to get her out in front of the purple irises.

What she really wanted to do was open the pool.  When I convinced her that that would not be happening today, she resorted to sitting on the diving board and dreaming about the hot summer days ahead.

Hmmm.  Maybe just one foot.

Jacob and Papa fished.

Jacob was a tick magnet.

Don't even ask.

 He's also obsessed with sticks.

 He managed to retrieve frog eggs from the pond and attach them to his stick.

Don't look, Trista....He also found a frog.

....and threw in some sticks.

This looks like a great stick.

 He told me this caterpillar was a boy.  How did he know?

'Cause it has a blue stripe on its side.  Of course, I should've known.

He and Papa were ecstatic to have a good reason to shoot the Red Ryder BB Gun.

I wasn't so thrilled with the reason.

I think the snake is still out there somewhere.

Good Times

Fun drive home.  Can raindrops be the size of golf balls?  I thought for sure they were gonna break my windshield.  Then it started to hail.  Well...this can't be good.  Do I try to drive through it and just get home?  Do I pull over and wait it out?  Driving 50 mph against hail is surely not safe.  Pulled over...briefly. Then decided to just get home and in the garage.

Once safely in my garage, I tried to survey any damage.  So far, so good.  I'll know more tomorrow, when I can pull it out into the (please, Lord) sunlight.

But now a new dilemma.  See, I'm not fortunate enough to have an attached garage.  But...okay...I am fortunate to have a garage.  Excuse the whining.  I now have to get into the house.  And I have on my brand new New Balance shoes.  So, off they come--and run for cover.  Ouch!  Didn't think about the hazards of running barefoot over hail stones.

Safely in the house now, soaking my bruised feet.  Good times in Oklahoma!

Last Supper

Terri and I went to Logan's Steakhouse Saturday night.  My dear, sweet, innocent, strong, brave friend is getting her first installment of braces on Tuesday.  It was exactly 7 years ago that I, too, was excited to undergo the same torture.  Unbeknownst to me, it would be 24 months before my next steak.  So I felt it my duty to not only warn her, but insist on sharing her last real meal.

Oh yes, my friend, chow down on the peanuts, because after Tuesday, it will not be worth the effort.

Angus beef, medium rare please.  Enjoy every morsel.  See the sour cream and butter on the baked potato?  Next week, you will be living on such.  Not the potato, mind you, but the sour cream and butter are a shoe-in.  Basically anything that requires absolutely no movement of the jaws.  Just swallowing.

You may think I'm cruel for pointing out all the disadvantages of braces.  But I, personally, like to know ahead of time what I'm in for.  Just tell me up-front, so I know what misery to expect.

I should've gotten a picture of your beautiful smile, which in 24 months will be even more beautiful. In the meantime, stock up on yogurt, ice cream, broth, and jello.  At least you don't have a grown son who will refer to you as "brace-face" for the next couple of years.

It's Saturday and I Don't Have to Mow!

Which is why I have time to blog.

Big night out with Terri Tuesday.  We saw "Aluminum" at the PAC.  Although at times I felt like I had gone back 20 years and was watching my kids play with assorted dryer hoses, slinkies and tin foil, I did appreciate the energy of the young dancers.  But really, just not my cuppa tea.  The Belgian Waffle at IHOP afterwards gets two thumbs up, though.

Last evening was spent with a group of 30-somethings at my daughter-in-law's Spray Tan Party.  I immediately accepted the invite early in the week, but as time progressed, so did my anxiety level.  I had visions of George Hamilton or Robin Williams in "Old Dogs."  Which is very appropriate because I was the oldest dog at the party.  I had almost backed out when my "Aluminum" buddy said -- let's go for it.  I think there were four of us there that were 50 & over.  That helped.  And the Spray Tan professional is indeed professional.  She has recently moved to OK from California, where she sprayed Hollywood stars and has been featured in magazines.  So.  Long story, short.  I am NOT orange.  And I think she gave me abs!  Yes! High five!  And I must say, it was very energizing being around these young ladies.  They are hilarious!  LOVE THEM!

I went to yoga early this morning to get in 30 minutes of cardio on the track. There was an elderly woman there, instructing her tween and teen grandchildren on the proper use of the weight machines.  Classic.

During my 30 minute walk, I multi-tasked by reviewing my latest memorization project in my head.  The Sermon on the Mount.  Proud to say I have successfully memorized through the end of Matthew 5.  Right up to "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."  One of the benefits of memorizing is that it makes you have to slow down and meditate on the scripture.  I need something to slow down my thoughts.  This seems to be working.

Yoga was tough today.  I've missed the last 3 weeks, and I think she was punishing me.  She has it in for me anyway, 'cause she knows I mainly come for Janet's sake.  I've almost gotten kicked out a couple of times for talking or giggling.  Or maybe I'm paranoid.  Or maybe I'm trying to get kicked out.

It's already 88 degrees and it's only noon.  I do NOT like to turn on my A/C until May.  I've griped all winter about being cold, so I will embrace the warmth.  I will embrace the warmth.  I will embrace the warmth.

I've been on a junk food kick lately and am determined to start eating healthier. Just got home from Walmart, where I bought mostly fresh vegetables, fruit, and other healthy crap.  Had few enough items that I could check out in the Express Lane.  Still cost me 72 bucks.   Holy cow!  It's expensive to eat healthy!   A cold Starbucks' frappuchino isn't cheating, is it? I didn't think so.

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

This weekend I couldn't put off mowing the grass clover any longer.  But alas, the riding lawn mower refused to come out of hibernation.  So yes, I "push" mowed about an acre, not once, but twice because, as you know, clover doesn't cut easily, it simply bends over.  (I know, that was a really long sentence.) 

Did I mention it was HOT this weekend?  I seriously thought I was having a heat stroke!  My poor cats didn't know what to make of it when I came in and literally sprawled out face down on the formica kitchen table.

So I guess I whined sufficiently on Sunday to guilt one of the men in our Small Group to come out this morning and fix my lawn tractor.  Thank you, Mark!  My knight in shining armor.

Found out tonite that while Mark was at my house, burglars were at his. Cleaned. Him. Out.  Plasma TV, jewelery, hunting gear, etc.  I'm feeling sort of responsible.  :`(