These were taken with my phone...

Somewhere under the snow is my dad's Lincoln Town Car.

What a world we live it, where you can take pictures with a phone and then send them to a computer. I almost believe we will have teleporters before I shuffle off this mortal coil. Just what is a mortal coil, by the way? I have never understood that.

Anyway, here are some shots of the eight inches of snow that fell while I was with my dad in Michigan. My sister called yesterday, and they have had an additional 12 inches bury them.

It's good to be in the South. It may be cold, but there is plenty of sunshine and a wonderful absence of the white stuff.

Speaking of which, check this out!

This is the ornamental crabapple outside my dad's front window.

Only those who have never shoveled the stuff sing "Let it Snow!"

Keep warm.

Does this make me a pusher??!!

So, I have returned from the land of ice and snow...8 inches while I was there, temps in the low 20s... and today I was walking around my yard in my shirt sleeves. What a contrast and a relief. Inspite of that, I am oddly depressed. Maybe it is because Dave isn't home yet. Maybe it was coming home to a NOT empty house. Maybe it's Mama's maniacal babbling since I stepped in the door. Apparently she has been silent for the past two weeks, saving it all up for me. I saw baby Emily yesterday and that didn't even cheer me up. I usually have problems with depression in the winter- they called it SAD, and it is- but this is different.

I had such a good time in Michigan, despite the weather. The snow was actually incredible, and that part of the state is so beautiful. It is full of gorgeous older homes, including an honest to God 114 year old Sears house (yes, the Sears catalog used to offer house kits) and spectacular views.

I had such a great time with my dad. We seem to get along better ever year. He is recovering from a broken hip and making good progress at last, graduating from a walker to a cane, and is feeling pretty good. His little house is cozy and warm, and he has his good buddy, Snoopy the cat, to keep him company. Yeah, I did a lot of cooking and cleaning while I was there, but we had a nice, low key visit and I miss my dad already.

One weekend my cousin Valarie came across state mid-blizzard and she, my sister Sue and I had a great time together. The three sisters. (Yeah, I hear you saying the three weird sisters; knock it off!) I took a lot of my scrapbooking goodies with me, and we spent a very pleasant Saturday creating pages for the scrapbooks I am making for Daddy. It took me two full days to organize the pictures, and I had finished about six pages when the gals and I sat down to work, and we would have gotten a LOT more work done if I could have spent a day just introducing them to my various cutters, scissors,punches, tools, papers, embellishments and sundries. They had to play with everything, just like kids.

Before I left, I had created the most beautiful book I have done to date covering the first 25 years of my Dad's life. I have pages of notes on his life and have identified tons of pictures with archival ink so that even those not used in scrapbooks will have relevant information on them. I also purchased scrapbooks and some papers for a scrapbook on his WWII Navy career, for at least two more on his life, one on Mom's life and one on his parents lives. I plan on going back every three months or so until I get them all finished. It's going to be so much fun!

Daddy really loved the scrapbook, which was very gratifying.

Sue, in the meantime, got the scrapbooking bug. She was completely enthralled with all my stuff and full of ideas. We went to several scrapbook and crafts stores and she was astonished at all the cool stuff that is out there. She showed the finished scrapbook to her hubby and it tickled me to hear her talk about it with such delight and enthusiasm. She was so excited about doing some scrapbooking on her own.

So, I left her a whole bunch of equipment and paper and headed for home.

I think I heard her whoop of joy from the plane.

I may have created a monster. Or a scrapbooking junkie... because scrapbooking IS ADDICTIVE! So, does this make me a pusher? A paper pusher, maybe?

Anyway, home again, home again. And feeling blue. Thanks to Dad and Sue and Andy and Val for showing me such a great time. Wish I was there, snow and all.

WINTER WONDERLAND!

You know, you go away for a lousy 27 years, and things change - including your memory. I was born and raised in the beautiful mitten state and lived there until I was 31. Of course I have returned to Michigan many times, but very seldom in winter- in fact, if I remember correctly, I have returned in winter only twice since the big move South in 1980. So this trip to visit my dear old dad has been an amazing kick-start to my memory.

I cannot remember that last time I went to bed and woke up to five inches of sparkling white snow on the ground but that is exactly what happened here. I felt like a kid again, and seriously considered plopping down to make a snow angel until I realized that I would probably not be able to get up again and Dad wouldn’t be able to help me. I can see the headlines now “Fat fool from Tennessee found spread-eagled in the snow”. News at 11.

Wish my granddaughters were here. They have never seen snow like this. All the trees are groaning under the load, and the tiny prints of birds and small animals break the pristine blanket at irregular intervals. Tuesday Dad and I went out for a drive. The sun was bright, the snow on the trees had started to melt ever so slightly but just enough to catch and fragment the sunlight until the trees looked like they were made of crystal and studded with diamonds. I had forgotten that, aside from being cold, wet, and dangerous, winter in Michigan is also breathtakingly beautiful.

We got another inch or so of the white stuff last night, just a soft dusting by Michigan standards but enough to close the schools in my little hometown in Tennessee. I am off to buy proper boots with my baby sister today. Since I seldom need them at home, I have only one pair more appropriate for rain than sleet and snow. The Michiganians have been sneering at my boots, which are heeled and will certainly kill me if I wear them outside the house. Or so they say. What I will do with those proper boots when I return to Tullahoma is beyond me. Maybe I will have them bronzed to commemorate my winter visit of 2007. Imagine the size the mantle that would be required to display those babies.

Sissie’s here, I’m off! Damn, I wish I had a sled!

Delta, feed your planes! They are WAY too small!

The little Delta connector planes were not meant to contain human beings. Sadly, I needed to use two of them to get to South Bend, Indiana, which is about 40 minutes away from my dad's house. To say I was frazzled when I deplaned would be to understate my condition big time. Still, my little sister Sue and her hubby Andy were there to pick me up and help me wrestle with the luggage, which included my overstuffed scrapbooking cart, and we got to Dad's ahead of the ice storm.

When we pulled into Daddy's driveway, he had turned on the Christmas lights! That was so cool. And when we woke up this morning to five inches of snow, it really felt like Christmas here. Not bad for the middle of January...though more snow is promised, so it may seem more like the North Pole soon. Going down to single digit temps tonight. Suddenly, I am remembering why I moved to Tennessee.

I have spent two days organizing photographs and taking notes while Dad free associates about the past. I am entering all his oral history into the computer for use in journaling. I see at least four scrapbooks in all this. I also see another trip up here in the near future- SPRING!

Daddy's cat Snoopy isn't quite sure how to take me, but he seems to love my suitcase. He has been snubbing Dad until just a minute ago, pissed off that Dad-ums would permit an interloper into their abode. He is now genially attacking Dad, so I'm not sure what that means. At least he is not attacking me. He just drinks out of my water glass every time I set it down.

Tomorrow I begin the fun part of scrapbooking, creating the pages. I am hoping for a break in the weather just long enough for us to get to the grocery store to replenish our larder before the next storm hits, and then it will be scrapbook heaven here.

Well, off to bed, me. Dad's a worse night-owl than I am, which is saying something, but he has provided me with a wonderfully comfortable bed, and unlike him, I don't catch any naps during the day, so I am pooped.

So, who in their right mind goes to Michigan in January?

Tomorrow or the next day, I must go to the credit union to pull out some travel money. My new credit union. Actually, it is my old credit union with a new name- Ascend. My daughter-in-law Becca pointed out that this is a most unfortunate name for a banking institution- "guess I better pull some money out of my Ascend". If only it were that easy!

Dave is heading for Brisbane by way of San Diego and I am headed up to western Michigan. In January. To the banks of Lake Michigan. Where it gets very cold and there is a lot of snow. Okay, it has been unseasonably warm everywhere this winter, but I guaran-damn-tee you that the minute I step on the plane Saturday, en route to visit my dear old Daddy, the weather will change. A blizzard will come off Lake Michigan to make traveling and visiting a nightmare. Bank on it.

I no longer have really warm winter clothes or coats, having lived in Tennessee for 27 years now, so I will have to pack smart. I will be traveling with a huge craft cart filled to overflowing with scrapbooking paraphernalia, all of which is pretty heavy, and none of which I would bother taking if I wasn't going to be there for at least two weeks. I can't wait to see what the little x-ray dudes at the airport think of my dozen pair of scissors and various other pointy stuff. I am checking that bag, of course- I know pinking shears are the weapons of choice of most terrorists, and I am sure both the flight from Nashville to Cincinnati and the flight from Cincinnati to South Bend will be chock-a-block with terrorists. They're everywhere. Imagine the impact on the nation if travel between Ohio and Indiana was sabotaged. The mind boggles.

I am looking forward to a break. Christmas is wonderful but exhausting. Mama had a very good Christmas and was very good company, and the glooms and dooms lifted for several weeks, so I have no complaints on that front. Actually, I have no complaints, really- I just find her little eccentricities wearing after awhile. When she found out I was leaving, I expected a daily and escalating wave of self-pity and guilt inducements, and there have been a few, but I strongly suspect she is looking forward to seeing the back of me. I have eccentricities of my own. Maybe she's weary of mine.

I bought a new microwave and it is wonderful. I picked this one out, rather than Techno-Dave, so it is efficient, simple, and easy to use. Even Mama can read the buttons on it- not that she will touch the damn thing after setting fire to the last one. Got a new toaster oven, too, but will bring in the old toaster from the garage for Mama to use while I am gone.
Friday I will fill up the larder.

Stephanie, my housekeeper/Mama-sitter/collaborator/partner-in crime/good buddy, will be coming every single day I am gone, mainly to make sure Mama is all right and well fed. This is a new arrangement for us, and will last at least until June, at which time, I am given to understand, our travel back and forth between home and San Diego every month will probably come to an end.

I have very mixed feelings about that on several fronts. First, I gave up my career to accommodate that bizarre life pattern- a tenured professorship. Granted, I had come to detest my job (except for the teaching) but I loved having some financial independence, a retirement package, a 401-K and my own medical insurance. I was in my 40s when I purchased my first car that was chosen exclusively by me, and financed based on my income. I liked the feeling of contributing, and had been working very hard to get us debt free and expense limited so that if Dave, who has been working since he was 14, ever wanted to just chuck his high-pressure job and retire, we could live on my income. Even though Dave asked me to do it, my giving up my career trapped David in his job for at least another 5 years when he can retire and collect his pension.

And I love San Diego. I have missed it this fall while I was teaching genetics as an adjunct. I love that part of California and I love our apartment there. As difficult as traveling back and forth has been, I really enjoy my space and my time there. I really don't want it to end.

And yes, it is nice to get away from Mama from time to time. And it is wonderful spending time with my daughter when I get out there. We always have a good time together. I will miss that if we stop the monthly travel.

On the other hand, poor Dave lives in airports as it is, has to look at his itinerary to know where the hell he is, and is exhausted most of the time. All the traveling is taking a toll on him. If dropping the monthly two-week stint in San Diego makes his life easier, who am I to argue?

I bought a wireless card for my new laptop- thanks, adjunct pay- so I should be able to stay in touch while in the mitten state. Speaking of mittens....

Another new year...seems like they come every 12 months or so

It is now officially 2007. I now have to retrain myself to put the correct year on my checks. It's almost as bad as turning back the clocks each fall.

I will miss 2006. It was a pretty good year. We had good weather, I got to teach for a semester, and no one was terribly sick. Emily finally bonded with Dave and I, my hand surgeries went well and we had a very prosperous year. I hope 2007 turns out as well.

We had a wonderful, plentiful Christmas with tons of quality family time. Kelly and Orrick came in the day after Christmas and we have had a terrific time with them. Orrick is such a gentle and courtly man; his only fault, that I can see, is that he is TOO quiet. I am accustomed to noisy people. Emily made more noise in 5 minutes than Orrick made the entire stay.

I am preparing to travel to Michigan to spend a couple of weeks with my Dad while Dave is in Brisbane. I have hired someone to care for Mama full time while we are gone. Next month, I will return to San Diego for the first time since last July. I am looking forward to going antiquing in La Mesa. Hope to plan a Mother's Day return trip to Disneyland as well.

In 25 days, my eldest child will be 35. MY biological clock for her has been ticking for some time but I think I am finally almost resigned to the notion that she will not have children. Come March, my eldest granddaughter will be 12. She is as tall as I am already. I find that astonishing. By the end of 2007, our granddaughters will be 12, 11, 8, and 4. Since 4 year-olds really aren't babies anymore, my life with babies in it will end this year, unless I live long enough to become a great-grandmother. It could happen.

Mama will be 79 this year and has already made it quite clear that she expects a big surprise party for her birthday in May.

Dave and I will be 58 in 2007. How in the hell did we get so old so fast?

Well, I am heading off to bed, now that the new year has begun. Here's hoping that 2007 is the best year ever- no war, no famine; no jihads or vendettas; cures for cancer, diabetes, AIDS and malaria; green fuels replacing fossil ones; absolutely NO Britney Spears news; teachers getting paid at least half of what the average athlete makes... hey, it could happen.

Male or Female brainage: Yet another test

Here are the results for me. Since I am a female, I am heartened to see that 67% of my brain recognizes that fact.

Your Brain is 67% Female, 33% Male

Your brain leans female You think with your heart, not your head Sweet and considerate, you are a giver But you're tough enough not to let anyone take advantage of you!

What Gender Is Your Brain?

Welcome back, Cattywampus

My daughter has interesting and intelligent friends- Kenny immediately springs to mind, he of the lightning quick and cutting wit- but there are others, some of whom I got to meet during the one year we shared together at Motlow College - her last year as a student there and my first year there as an instructor. One of the brightest of her friends is a fellow named Griff, who writes THREE blogs; one on beer, one about geocaching, and one that is essentially the random musings of a most original and humorous mind.

I have just reinstated a link to my favorite of his blogs, Life Among the Natives (AKA catty wampus comments), to which I became addicted during Griff (and Kelly's) old Tullahoma.net days. Kelly was Griff's editor on the college paper as well, and so he has taken to calling her Darth Kel, which tickles me no end. I must warn you that he doesn't blog there often anymore, but when he does, it's choice, so dip into his ramblings from time to time. They are worth the wait.

Before you forward any email tragedy stories, or dire warnings about polluted purses, check out the veracity of the email at Urban Legends and Folklore. I have a link to that site as well. All sorts of weird and wonderful (and sometimes gross) things on that site. I particularly enjoyed the larvae infested breast- which, by the way, is true.

I have linked to the blog of my interesting and intelligent son, but he has not blogged in some time. He has been too busy. Aside from building a garage the size of the Taj Mahal, he has been going to school and taking piano lessons, while working a full time job and supporting a wife and four daughters.

My stage maven daughter will be here the day after Christmas with another of her intelligent and interesting friends in tow. Everyone here is so pumped about their visit. I can't wait. She is currently appearing in a most bizarre San Diego production of "The Importance of Being Earnest" as Mrs., rather than Lady, Bracknell, who, in this rendition, is apparently a yenta. Go figure. It kind of reminds me of the Richard III that was being produced in a movie called "The Goodbye Girl". Richard Dreyfus was being compelled to play the lead character as a gay cross-dresser with a lisp, a portrayal sure to offend everyone and end an actor's career. Sure hope "Earnest" doesn't go in the same direction. My daughter will pull it off, of course- she is wonderfully skilled at what she does- but why tinker with a classic, especially one so completely rooted in Edwardian England, and intimately intertwined with the British railway service? Some plays are just so anchored in a point in time that it is impossible to update them, and shouldn't be tried. Only my opinion- I could be wrong.


Well, my hand surgery went well, if a bit more painful than the last one in August. I have a magnificent bruise that covers the entirety of the palm of my hand and travels four inches up my wrist and two tiny incisions in the base of my hand. I actually think I am having a harder time without the use of my left hand than I did without the use of my right- and I'm right handed! I get the stitches out the day after Christmas. Looks like it is going to be an eventful day.

My Christmas is all ready to go. All the gifts are purchased and wrapped. My daughter-in-law Becca already knows every damn thing she is getting. It is IMPOSSIBLE to keep a secret from that woman! My son got one of his gifts early, of course. He is persuasive, and I am a push-over. Everyone but Mama seems to be in the holiday mood. Maybe if we all got grumpy, she would cheer up just to be contrary. Friends have been in and out, and Dave and I will be stocking the larder tomorrow. I love Christmas. I hand made all my Christmas cards this year and sent them out in vellum envelopes far and wide. I have received Christmas cards and early gifts, and mistletoe. David has brought home an obscene amount of spirits from his friends and co-workers; that's what men do at Christmas. They buy booze for the men and jewelry for the women, and so can shop in less than two hours. I, on the other hand, have been shopping since October. Of course, I shopped for 30 people as opposed to Dave's 9, and since I wrapped his gifts for his coworkers, he only had to wrap mine. No matter. Everyone is going to have a wonderful holiday.

My club, the GFWC Centennial Woman's Club, adopted a family this year, a single mom with seven children from what had been a blended family. We provided tons of gifts for the mom and children, as well as food baskets and a gift card to Kroger worth almost $400. There never were nor could there ever be more good-hearted and generous women than the good women of the GFWC. Toys for Tots, Karing for Kids, adopting a family, knitting scarves and assembling food baskets- you want to see the true meaning of Christmas? Come to my little town.

Which will be the subject of my next blog. For now, I will close with a sincere wish of health, prosperity, love, and all God's blessings for this wonderful season and the new year.

The party's over...

I am typing this from my classroom, on my last day of class for the fall of 2006. Six of my eleven students are still taking what has to be one of the hardest tests they've had at this college, not because I made it hard, but because genetics is a complex subject. They have had essay tests the entire semester, have written numerous lab reports, and were assigned five journal reports- I believe in writing across the curriculum- so I have prepared them for this last exam.

This entire semester, it has been like pulling teeth to get them to read the textbook. I really don't understand that. I model my lectures on the text, and sometimes take test questions word for word from it. This generation of student does not seem to feel the need to study from a book. Granted, I provide hand-outs, and I am a damn fine lecturer, if I do say so myself (and I do). But when I was a student, I lived in my books. Different generation, different learning styles.

This has been a great group of kids. I have really enjoyed being their teacher, and will miss them, both individually and as a group, when this is over. There have been a few that are brilliant, a couple that are brilliant but lazy, two very highly motivated, one struggler and one non-trad who has done what non-trads seem to do- bust the curve. I have had a pair of brothers, as different from one another as night and day, but both kids you'd be proud to call your own. The eldest has a special place in my heart because he is a smart-ass. I think he's terrific.

The class has been as evenly divided between male and female as a class of eleven can be, six males, five females. No gender bias here- they have all done well.

Now as Christmas approaches, and hand surgery approaches, and my daughter's visit approaches, I can't really say that I am sorry the semester is over. I just wish genetics was a two semester class so I could spend time with this group of people again next semester.

To my students, should you stumble across this blog, the merriest of Christmases and all my love and best wishes.

And Marcia, you are off the hook for strong-arming me into teaching this class. It was worth it.

News from the underground(s)

Got at b3co.com!

Most of my travel occured over 40 years ago, but I remember the train systems of Europe with great fondness. My friend Nev was the designated leader on our European excursions, because it was impossible for her to get lost, and impossible for me not to. We knew the Madrid system inside out by the time our six weeks at the Universidad de Madrid came to an end.

Aside from the New York Metro, I haven't used much U.S. public transportation.

How many systems have YOU used?

Chastened, down-hearted and ashamed

A year ago, I took Mama to the eye doctor. Turns out her prescription had not changed one jot, so she did not need new glasses. The doctor did, however, mention Mama's macular degeneration, something Mama had forgotten she had. From that day to this, Mama has been "blind".

Frankly, I have had little patience with her "blindness". It seemed inconceivable to me that a person could be able to read one day and totally incapable the next, just because she hadn't gotten new glasses. "You don't need them, Mother," I told her, "Your eyes have not changed at all." "But I'm blind!" she responded, and it pissed me off. More of her drama, more of her acting up for attention.

But, being the good daughter-in-law I am, I took her back to the eye-doctor today. I sat there, irritated, as Mama claimed to be able to only read the first line of the chart - you know the line, the one with the giant E that is facing in the wrong direction. I listened as she first told the technician that there was nothing wrong with her vision, and then began to catalog a host of woes. When Dr. Bell came in to do the exam, Mama put on a show for her as well.

At the end of the exam, the doctor again informed us that there has been very little change in Mama's prescription. There is some "leaking" in her better eye, (the left), and so she will have a procedure on the 14th to see if she is a good candidate for laser surgery to stop that, but otherwise, her current glasses are filling the bill and will continue to do so until after the surgery, if it turns out to be necessary.

"I'm as blind as a bat" Mama yells. "Where's the bathroom?" I signal to the doctor to talk to me while Mother leaves the room in search of a toilet. "Her vision seems to be stable, but she keeps telling me she is blind. Is there any way you could give me an idea of what her vision is?" Doctor Bell left the room and came back with two different lenses, one for the left and one for the right eye. I looked through them. "Omigod! Is this what she sees WEARING her glasses?" I asked. Dr. Bell just nodded.

Mama has only blurred peripheral vision in her right eye. She perceives light and movement but that's about it. Her left eye is a little better, but not much, though it is hoped the laser surgery with help a bit; at least it should stop any further deterioration. I don't know how Mother recognizes faces, navigates steps, or manages to negotiate the house. Yes, her prescription has not changed in three years, but that, as it turns out, is meaningless. Her vision has not changed from GOD-AWFUL in three years. I had no idea. I thought she was myopic and a self-pitying, self-aggrandizing drama queen. Turns out she is a blind, self-pitying, self-aggrandizing drama queen.

Poor old thing. I feel lower than whale shit for not taking her seriously. All the times I looked through her glasses, I never got a sense of how the world really looks to her. No wonder she is depressed! And here I have been, making light of her problem, and assuming that, because her prescription wasn't changing, her complaints were without validity. I could have been so much more understanding and so much more helpful to her this past year than I was. I have been rolling my eyes at her complaints. What a bitch!

Well, I am both chastened and shamed by this experience. Hope I never end up with me as my caretaker when I am 78.

I love these things... usually because they make me sound so GOOD!

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion: You have high extroversion. You are outgoing and engaging, with both strangers and friends. You truly enjoy being with people and bring energy into any situation. Enthusiastic and fun, you're the first to say "let's go!" Conscientiousness: You have medium conscientiousness. You're generally good at balancing work and play. When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done. But you've been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it. Agreeableness: You have high agreeableness. You are easy to get along with, and you value harmony highly. Helpful and generous, you are willing to compromise with almost anyone. You give people the benefit of the doubt and don't mind giving someone a second chance. Neuroticism: You have low neuroticism. You are very emotionally stable and mentally together. Only the greatest setbacks upset you, and you bounce back quickly. Overall, you are typically calm and relaxed - making others feel secure. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is medium. You are generally broad minded when it come to new things. But if something crosses a moral line, there's no way you'll approve of it. You are suspicious of anything too wacky, though you do still consider creativity a virtue.

The'>http://www.blogthings.com/thefivefactorpersonalitytest/">The Five Factor Personality Test

Man, my soul is pretty damn ugly!

What your soul really looks like! This is what the test has to say about me: "You are a wanderer. You constantly long for a new adventure, challenge, or even a completely different life." (Okay, I do like a bit of a change now and then. Fair cop). "You are a grounded person, but you also leave room for imagination and dreams. You feet may be on the ground, but you're head is in the clouds." (Alas, too true...but it's more fun in the clouds than in the living room with Mother). "You believe that people see you as larger than life and important. While this is true, they also think you're a bit full of yourself." (Okay, I should be full of someone OTHER than myself? Won't it get crowded in here?) "Your near future is a lot like the present, and as far as you're concerned, that's a very good thing." (Got to admit, NOW is pretty good so I would be very happy to see NEXT as much the same). "For you, love is all about caring and comfort. You couldn't fall in love with someone you didn't trust." (Excuse me... who in their right mind COULD??) All in all, a fair description of me. I just can't figure out how they put together that horrifically ugly room out of all this. Though, sadly, they may be on to something with the nose. I must go. Clouds are calling. The Giant, by N. C. Wyeth

Inside the Room of Your Soul

Well fed... and well fed up

On this Thanksgiving Day, I am thankful for my many blessings, one of which is my wonderful daughter-in-law who hosted the holiday this year. Becca, her mama Gail and I collaborated on a feast that was over-the-top. Turkey (deep fried by Jake), ham, two kinds of dressing, potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, corn, broccoli casserole, corn pudding, green bean casserole, fresh baked bread, cranberry sauce, deviled eggs, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, chocolate pie. Becca has a huge kitchen, and she and Gail and I worked very well together in it. I really like Gail; she's a terrific person and a lot of fun. I love having the combined Thanksgiving at Becca's house. It was such a good day, the three of us cooking, kids in and out of the kitchen, the men tending the frier. Good stuff.

I got lots of affection from my grandaughters, and actually got an unsolicited kiss from Kendall! Funny how little things can make your heart sing. I had a great time watching Kendall, Haley, Delaney, and Becca's little brother Keaton (10) interact. Emily even climbed up into my lap with a book and let me read to her. Emily had a tough day today; she tried so hard to be one of the big kids and spent most of the day frustrated- LOUDLY frustrated. She was over-tired, over-stimulated, hungry and THREE, so her behavior is forgivable.

And then, there's Mama. Mama is not forgivable. Adults acting like three-year olds are neither attractive or amusing. She was as tempermental (if not as loud) as Emily all day. She refused to be in any room that had people in it, barely spoke even when spoken to, and moped through dinner, which she did not eat. She did, however, announce that she was not hungry because she had diarrhea, something everyone wants to hear mid-feast. Thank goodness Becca's family has experience with Mama.

Mama seems to think that being pathetic, pretending to be blind and deaf, and sighing heavily every few minutes is the way to win hearts. It just gives me heartburn. She's a sorry, crabbed little woman, but she is inventive. She finds a way to make herself the center of attention even if she has to announce her bodily functions to do it. Sigh.

By the way, Mama is starving herself to death again. She announces her intent to do this about every three months. She's says she's too fat. (Not). She says she's ready for the boneyard. (Maybe). Her stavation attempts usually coincide with some event that does not center on her. Of course, she doesn't really starve herself; she usually has enough food squirreled away in her room to feed half the state. Usually, but not always; her larder is empty at the moment, so she has no surreptious munchies to sustain her. She came home today after the Thanksgiving meal that she didn't eat and went straight to her room. Haven't heard from her in six hours or more. I know she is hungry. I also know she won't venture into the kitchen to eat something until I am in bed. So I am deliberatly staying up late. I can act like a three-year old, too.

I am SO looking forward to Christmas with Mama. Fortunately, I have a supplier for coal- tons of it- for her stocking. And a really big cork for her next bout of diarrhea - though, if she wasn't so full of shit, she probably wouldn't have the problem in the first place. :)

New counter... not in my kitchen

Dear Constant Reader(s);
You may or may not have noticed that my blog looks slightly different. That's because, after moving to Beta, I have had to essentially rebuild the damn thing. Lost my links. Lost my counter. Couldn't figure out how to restore my counter. Finally just gave up and added a new counter, which, being new, reads 000000. At least it is pink. Of course, the minute I added the NEW counter, it came to me how to save the old one. Too late. I am always smart too late.

I know that as of five days ago, the last time I had statistics, there had been 3,924 hits to this site. Let's see how long it takes to get THAT kind of number again. Sigh.

It is nearing the end of the semester and I am slogging away at my genetics course. I have a wonderful group of students and have really enjoyed the teaching, but the prep has just about killed me. I have been building everything out of whole cloth. If I teach it again next fall, which I may or may not do, it will be a piece of cake, since I have spent ungodly amounts of time creating PowerPoints, hand-outs and tests, and designing lab exercises. All that will be ready for next fall... for whoever teaches it. I am a share bear.

Getting ready for turkey day. We are going to my son and daughter-in-law's for the feast, and it is going to be fun. Becca and I are all geared up to cook all day, her mama Gail is going to be right in there with us, and there will be kids running around, games on the TV, and crisp autumn breezes to chill the bones and make hot food just that much more delicious.

Here is my wish for us all as we count our innumerable blessings.

"May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that

has been given to you....

May you be content knowing you are a child of God...

Let His presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom

to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

Bless us all and those we love.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, Y'ALL!

See? Give me presents, I'm worth it!

Your Life Is Worth...

$722,500

How Much Is Your Life Worth?

See, I told you I was good... look how Santa loves me!

Your Christmas is Most Like: Miracle on 34th Street

Sweet and caring, Christmas is about helping for you. While Santa may not exist, you try to share his spirit.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

Oh, I'm going to get presents, I have been so very, very good!

You Were Nice This Year!

You're an uber-perfect person who is on the top of Santa's list. You probably didn't even *think* any naughty thoughts this year. Unless you're a Mormon, you've probably been a little too good. Is that extra candy cane worth being a sweetheart for 365 days straight?

Were You Naughty or Nice This Year?

Ah, sunny Spain

I spent six weeks in Madrid in 1966 on a summer scholarship to the University of Madrid. At that time, women were prohibited from attending that university except in the summer- hey, it was 40 years ago and Franco was not still dead at the time. I loved and love Spain and have always wanted to return there. So imagine my delight when I took a little quiz on my ideal European city and it turned out to be... Barcelona! I did not get to Barcelona all those many years ago, but think I will have to do that before I get too old to travel. I must brush up on my Spanish. Ole!

You Belong in Barcelona

When it comes to Europe, you don't want to decide between culture and fun. You want art by day and a big party by night. Barcelona is ideal for you. You can check out some Picasso, eat some tapas, take a siesta, and then dance all night!

http://www.blogthings.com/whateuropeancitydoyoubelonginquiz/

DOWN WITH NOVEMBER! (and daylight savings time)

By my calculation, there are 16 clocks in my house, exclusive of the clocks that are bundled with appliances. Hey, I like clocks. I like the fact that even when I set them all for the exact same time AT the exact same time, they always give me different readings by the next day. I love that. Even time is open to interpretation. However, I do not like to have to reinterpret time twice every year to humor some demented legislative whim. Has ANYONE ever heard a reasonable rationale for daylight savings time? Now that we have fallen back during the short day portion of the year, and it is dark at 5 PM, might I suggest that we actually save some daylight during the summer and release it in the fall and winter so that we aren't living in darkness? And let us PLEASE do away with DST, the only function of which seems to be to ensure that our clocks are universally wrong twice a year.

Sigh. Forgive me. I am a bit cranky this time of year.

I really don't care for November.

Don't care much for February either.

November and February have ever so much in common. They are both cold, wet, dreary and depressing. Aside from the birthdays of several of my dearest, November has nothing to recommend it. Usually, I try to hibernate until November is over. It seems the only sensible thing to do. But NO... THIS November I have allowed myself to be put in the position of having to deal with November at least twice a week.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am basically a home-body. I like to keep my body in my home. All my stuff is here, there's food and drink, and it's full of comfy furniture, pretty pictures, art supplies and books. Why on earth would I want to leave? BUT, thanks to my dear friend Marcia, whom I blame entirely for my return to teaching, I had to leave the house today to go teach my genetics class. The weather was Novemberish; (see above, wet, cold, dreary, etc.) and so I was drenched by the time I got to the classroom. I love the smell of wet wool in the morning. My pants were wet half-way to the knee, so of course my feet were wet as well. Thank God the college is totally without heat, or I would have been perfectly miserable.

I miss October. October. Now there's a good month. Halloween was so much fun. I had LOTS of kids come to the door for candy and I met them in full witch regalia.


My ole college buddy Stacey showed up with a batch of little girls and it is always good to see her. My granddaughters showed up with two of their cousins, so my house was invaded by an Indian maiden (Emily), a princess (Delaney, of course), Spiderman (Kendrick), a baby witchling (Zoe)... and a hot dog and a bottle of ketchup (Haley and Kendall). Even Mama had a good time watching the kids come and go, and getting hugs from everyone who came in. It was the last time she was in a good mood, now that I think of it. I really love Halloween.

I really hate November.