Tuesday 4

 

Yes, these weeks are flying by!
... not unlike my thoughts.  Here one minute, gone the next.  Imagine the overly ripe dandelion.

Uncharacteristically, I've been feeling a bit anxious. Overwhelmed.  For no particular reason.  

What to do but surround myself with comfort food/drink and a great movie.  Thanks to Annie for these fun prompts!

Which of the big movie stars of the past were your favorites?

Henry Fonda, Jessica Tandy, Natalie Wood

What movie is the funniest you've seen?  How about the most romantic?

Funniest:
City Slickers, Going in Style
oh, and does anyone remember 10?  One scene actually caused me to dump an entire bucket of popcorn on my lap.

Romantic:
Other Side of the Mountain, Bridges of Madison County

Do you watch the Oscars or the Emmy Awards show?

Maybe ... If Billy Crystal were to host the Oscars again.
Emmy's?  That's a hard no.

Some movies and plays had a big impact on people.  Orson Welles' radio performance of War of the World's was broadcast on Halloween 1938 causing panic and widespread hysteria, especially in the Grover's Mill area of New Jersey where the "invasion" took place.

Is there a movie that you were greatly influenced or affected by, hopefully in a good way.

I don't know that I'd say "good", but there's a few that left me gutted.  I appreciate cinematography that makes me feel.  Deeply.  Profoundly.

I'd recommend everyone make it a point to see  --

Saving Private Ryan
The Deer Hunter

Gone, Baby Gone *

Thanks so much for visiting.  See you next month!

Hugs, Myra

* If you've not heard of GBG, here's a short explanation.  I learned all these years later, people are still arguing the PI's "ethically correct decision that might be morally wrong."   Unsettling to realize I'm not such a rules follower after all.  

Inelegantly Aging

 

I wanted to title this, "Accidentally Aging", but sweet Latane beat me to it.

So, the dear folks at Publix sent me a Happy Half-birthday.  Funny, I don't remember growing older.

Nevertheless, my mirror don't lie.  Neither does my body's operating system.   I've been sitting here, a tube of Voltaren at the ready, researching night driving glasses.  (I was led to believe the cataract surgery a few years ago would solve night blindness.  They lied.)  

See, the day before Tom's recent procedure we were told to be at Alex City's surgicenter by 6am.  Since the only light along those narrow backroads comes from someone's dim porch light or the whites of an animal's eyes, my stomach began doing somersaults. Thankfully, before I could pick up the phone to make a room reservation, they moved it back.   Ours was still a white-knuckle drive, but it's humbling.

And how about the many check-in processes when asked for date of birth?   Naturally, there's no privacy ... those last 4 numbers?  I can't help but surreptitiously steal a glance to my right.  The left.  Comparison is the thief of joy, right?

There's plenty of other giveaways.  For instance?

The other night, I searched television listings for the Miss America pageant.  (Yep, I'm olde school.)  Finally, a grainy showing on YouTube.   That used to be network "appointment TV" for mother and myself.  Bert Parks, "There she is ...."  

For no other reason than laziness, we recently watched the Emmy's ... and realized neither of us had a clue who those elegantly dressed, Botox-ed celebrities even are.

One of my son's favorite terms is FOMO.  Not so much me; I lean more towards JOMO.  

In this season, I'm more choosy coloring outside the lines.  

Reminded, how blessed I am to learn!  Like yesterday at class ..... discovering I'm not the only one who grows annoyed when my carefully-orchestrated day's agenda goes awry.  Someone suggested we ask ourselves, "What is the adventure in the interruption?" 
(I need to tattoo that on my palm!)

I like what Donna Ashworth says: "Just enjoy your life ... it's a one-time kind of a deal."  

Here's to Glorious Un-endings!

Big hugs!

Myra

    

So are the Days of our Lives

 

Hi there!

It's been a week, y'all!  But first ... the best. 

The results of Tom's biopsies came back, "Negative for malignant cells."   Praise the Lord!   
(Yes, I'd been on pins and needles; your prayers were felt!)

In other news ...

This is my, "September, can we please be done with the 90's?" face.

The answer, a hard "no!"
Nevertheless, I'm going to poke the bear and gather fixings for a big (crock)pot of chili.

Let's see ...

We've plenty of reasons for giving thanks.

Starting with this feast for my stomach!

Cajun meatloaf and spicy onion rings.
Petite portions may be en vogue in some places, but no-one at the Prat Pub pays any attention.  The portions are huge!

💛

The other morning a couple fellows from church showed up at our front door with clippers and chain saws.  Billy remembered Tom had been asking if he knew any tree service, and in good ole boy Southern style took it upon himself to get-r-done.

At first, he refused any offer of payment.  But hours later plus four trailer loads-full of limbs and debris, accepted some of Tom's money.  (We don't do charity.)

Wow, what a difference.  I wish I'd thought to take a "before" image.

💛

Some of y'all may remember a few weeks ago when Diana, mentioned the women's group she'd begun.

That set off all kind of bells in my head and before I knew it, she sent me a host of cute ideas.

Fast forward!
I'm not the most extroverted person in our Bible study group, but there are several ladies with whom I'd enjoy spending more time.  (Others not so much.)

My invite began something like this:
" ... starting a club of like-minded gals ... separate and apart from church .... to meet each month for brunch/lunch."

So yesterday 6 of us gathered at the Smokehouse to swap ideas -- everything from wine tastings ... to antiquing road trips ... to holiday craft fairs.  The sky's the limit!

I was absolutely gob smacked how they loved the idea.  Granted, we love our husbands, but there's times I/we just need some time away to do 'girl' stuff.

(In retrospect, I can't believe how nervous I was that they'd think it dumb ... or wouldn't want to attend at all.  Blessed!)

More later ...

Happy Friday, y'all!!!

Hugs, Myra

 

 

 

Still here!

 

Hey there!   I thought I'd better drop a line to let y'all know I've not run away to join the circus.  
Let's see, since I yakked last .....

As some of y'all saw on FB, Tom and I celebrated our 21st anniversary last week.  As has become custom, we enjoyed a late lunch at Long Horn ... our favorite server remembered our orders before we could even open our mouths.

Since 2004 these children have observed new marriages, 3 newborns, a U.S. Marine ...

This little sweetheart, for example, who belongs to G-daughter #2 (third from left).

Life goes on!

"Carnivore baby"

⭐

Tom's proposed hip replacement has taken an unplanned detour.  Learning that the orthopedic surgery center we've been seeing is not a "recognized provider" by V.A., they're referring us to another facility.  Back to Square #1!    As an old friend shared, "In this life, change is always on the menu."

The no-so silver lining?  The required approval from Tom's cardiologist came back A-OK -- not so much pulmonology.  Yesterday we were "over the river and through the woods" back to Russell Medical Center where he underwent a bronchoscopy biopsy.  Unfortunately, they encountered a few challenges during the procedure, but released him a few hours later.   Doc estimates results won't be forthcoming for 7-10 days.  While they didn't see any "obvious masses" I won't stop praying until we get those results showing a big fat negative.   

Here's a thought!

⭐

As incredulous as it seems, this morning's sun rose to a spectacular September morning ..... 24 years since the world I knew splintered into a million assumptions.  One might think I'd have become inured to this awful anniversary ... but they'd be wrong.   Jo Anne and Matthew -- coworkers who felt more like family -- are hard-wired in my brain.  Tho' we're no longer in contact, I remember every minute.  M's was the only cell phone with service, his play-by-play with a buddy in the City watching the devastation enfolding. 

Each of you have distinct memories of that day.  I don't want to bring anyone down, but coupled with the news of Charlie Kirk's assassination I'm feeling an extra layer of loss.  

This helps

Love y'all!

Myra

Hodgepodge

 

How can it be Wednesday again ... so soon?! 
Nevertheless, I'm grateful for a distraction.  There's lots going on I'll probably share a little later.  Prayers appreciated!

Thanks for these questions, Joyce!

Next Sunday is Grandparent's Day.  Share a favorite memory, photo, recipe or something you learned from a grandparent.

I've not tasted Grandma Hanson's lefse in decades, but the memory of its buttery goodness is hard-wired in my brain.

Every time we had occasion to visit her Minnesota farmhouse, I'd make a beeline for the freezer chest.  Once warmed, I'd spread butter and sprinkle sugar, fold it into a neat roll ... and try to consume my own body weight in potato and lard. (lol)

I can't find her original, but this old church ladies cookbook contains 3 pages of recipes for lefse alone!

What's a quote from a book (besides The Bible) that has stayed with you?

Gosh, there's so many!

Let's go with

What's your number one food pet peeve?

Fortunately, it's not happened lately, but I hate going out for a nice dinner and feeling rushed.  Whatever happened to leisurely dining?

What's one thing about you that is still the same as it was when you were young?

From the time I was little, Mother claimed I was going to turn into a hamburger one day.  I've yet to tire of them!

September is National Preparedness Month.  Does your family have an emergency plan?  do you have some sort of preparedness kit you keep on hand?  If so, tell us one thing that's kept there.

Living in "tornado alley", absolutely!

Based on the advice of a contractor, the first things I bought were helmets.  (His words, "99% of fatalities are a result of head trauma.")

Insert your own random thought here.

Thanks for your sweet comments on my creamer-turned-vase!
Speaking of creamers, here's the evolution of what once sat atop Grandma Hanson's kitchen table.

... and now resides at the make-up mirror.

Be sweet!

Hugs, Myra