Retreating into a pattern of delicate lacework,
I find my dreams poignant and worthy of thought.

Why do they visit me night after night?
They bring intensity,
answers to seek,
And cross the divide of the unknown.

Tonight I face churning waters which resurface thoughts
That I have worked hard to push down deep.
Buoyant, yet constructed of porous material,
They once again absorb the water and retreat.
Laying just below the rippling surface,
Deep enough to be beyond my grasp,
But close enough to tease.
They create urgency and break my peace.
Distortion refreshes my insecurities.

My face raises upward seeking the known,
I cling to the truth and rely on my faith.
My continual hope keeps me afloat and lessens the fear
Renewing my strength,
restoring my faith,
For I will conquer!
I must face the plight,
That I may find within me the answer I seek.

From this course, I fear not.
Trust is now my steed and ability is on my side.

This love is not codependent,
nor is it delicate;
it is not laced with malice,
Nor is it is not made of glass or of vain enterprise.
It is melded and solid,
not defiant,
just true.

This is my answer, my prayer and I am grateful.

I am secure;
I found the answer upon my knees and within his arms.
I sleep as a babe, my fingers clutch for nothing for I have peace.

Sweet blessed peace,
for He has calmed the storm.

A couple of Weeks ago at work:

 

Gael (Best Girl Friend): Do you ever catch Miami Ink?

 

Me: Nah, Not my gig.

 

Gael: Oh man. I love that and Choppers.

 

Me: *looking up from Bagel* And you think I'm the red neck?

 

Gael: You are! I am raised white trash.

 

Me: What's the difference?

 

Gael: I don't know, it’s just how it is.

 

Later that day

The Difference:

 

Me: So Gael watches Miami Ink and Choppers

 

Sarah: Did you tell her that you love Dog the Bounty Hunter?

 

Me: No, but she says she isn't a Red Neck, she is white Trash. What’s the difference?

 

Sarah: *shrugging* Country or Rock

 

Me: *light bulb going off* ohhhh!

 

*insert laugh track*

 

My Name is _______:

 

My Daughter Sarah rooms with 4 other people a couple of days a week. All four work at Denny’s. Denny’s requires the workers to wear a light green polo, black pants, socks and work shoes and their name tag.

Work time arrived for Sarah and she frantically began looking for her work shirt to no avail. Finally, just when she was thinking she was going to be late, Dan, one of the mates tossed her his work shirt and said, “Here, borrow mine, I don’t have to go in until later tomorrow.”

Sarah arrived, punched in, and got ready to serve when one of her co-workers pointed at Sarah who was now wearing Dan’s name tag and laughed.  Sarah explained how she couldn’t find her shirt and had to borrow Dan’s, as she finished the co-worker laughed and said, “I think I know where your shirt is!”

Sarah looked at her, “What are you talking about?” She pointed to Johnny, one of the other room mates who was just finishing his shift. “Meet Sarah.” Johnny looked to Sarah red faced. “I grabbed a shirt out of the dryer and got picked on all day.” He reached into his pocket and pulled her name pin out of his pocket and handed it to her!

 

You Are Served:

Conversation occurred between my parents and Matthew and I while out for breakfast.

Background note: My mom adores my husband and loves to tell him how handsome he is, but this only embarrasses my poor hubby.

 

Me: *waiting on breakfast order* Wow! This is taking a bit, I hope it comes soon.

 

Matthew:  I know. I am starved.

 

Mom:  It’s your fault. You are so good looking they hold off the meal to entertain the customers with your good looks.

 

Matthew: *embarrassed now* Oh good night. I'm going to go sit in the car.

 

Dad: *never breaking stride* Good, I’ll get served.

 

*Insert laugh track*

I have been shocked and appalled lately at the care of our babies.

A 27 year old woman worked at a home for the handicapped in South Carolina left her 1 year and 4 year old in her car on an 88 degree day. After her 8 hour shift, she found them deceased, claimed she tried to revive them, then took them home, bathed dressed them and placed them in a garbage bag under her sink where police found them.

Nearby, here in Upstate NY, a woman went to work and forgotto drop her 5 month old off at daycare. He was left in the car on a 98 degree day for over 8 hours. He died of heat exhaustion.

Arrests were made where a mom left her young children for over 20 minutes in a locked car while she was tanning.

A woman allegedly left her two younger children in the car with windows closed for 45 minutes at a shopping centre, and later left all three in the car at a car park for 30 more minutes. These children survived because someone reported the children to the police who arrived to find the children 'out of it'. They were later released to the custody of their grand parents. The mom is outrage that she has supervised visitation.

Why?

What don't these parents understand?

Here are the statistics:
In 2007 there has been at least nineteen deaths of small children after being left inside a hot vehicle. Last year there were at least twenty-nine such fatalities in the United States due to hyperthermia after they were left in hot cars, trucks, vans and SUV's. This sadly followed forty-two child deaths in 2005.

Circumstances
In a recent study the circumstances that led to child hyperthermia fatalities were examined.

39% - child "forgotten" by caregiver

27% - child playing in unattended vehicle

20% - child intentionally left in vehicle by adult

14% - circumstances unclear

Ages

Children that have died from vehicular hyperthermia in the United States (1998-2006) have ranged in age from 7 weeks to 13 years. The average age is approximately 21 months.

LEGAL
Only 11 states have laws prohibiting leaving a child unattended in a vehicle.
Currently 15 states have proposed legislation making it a crime to leave a child unattended in a car, van, truck or SUV.
In one state it is only a crime if the child is injured or dies
The remaining 24 states do not have laws against leaving a child unattended in a vehicle

MEDICAL
Heatstroke occurs when the core body temperature reaches 104 degrees F.
A core body temperature of 107 degrees F is considered lethal.
Children's thermoregulatory systems are not as efficient as an adult's and their bodies warm at a rate 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s.
It takes very little time for this to occurr, less than 15 minutes in 80 degrees and above!

CONCLUSIONS

“Cracking” the windows had little effect.
Do not rely on air conditioners as cars have quit while idling.

"Parents and caregivers need to get the word out that a car is not a babysitter...
but it can easily become an oven"

SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS

Do not leave a child in an unattended car, even with the windows down. Not even for a minute!
Be sure that all occupants leave the vehicle when unloading. Don't overlook sleeping babies.
Always lock your car. If a child is missing, check the car first, including the trunk.
Teach your children that vehicles are never to be used as a play area.
Keep a stuffed animal in the carseat and when the child is put in the seat place the animal in the front with the driver.
Place your purse or briefcase in the back seat as a reminder that you have your child in the car.
Make "look before you leave" a routine whenever you get out of the car.
Have a plan that your childcare provider will call you if your child does not show up for school.

I am appalled. I am sad and I am scared.

Please Stop leaving the children behind!

Please stop forgetting they exist!

Please remember how precious they are!

Entertaining and being Entertained

My girlfriend Gael and her hubby came to visit us in Maryland. It was a delight. She and I ran the office at a bare minimum, virtually, from the house while we beached, read, watched movies, ate and shopped. AH! Such was the life. It had been my first vacation in two years and I have to admit, I loved it!

Gael's hubby Mike, and my Matthew are of the same stock. They enjoy each other's company. Matthew made some outstanding meals! Once when Mike was finished eating one of Matthew's big ole delicious dinners, he sat back and took a deep breath. He said, "Matthew, I am a straight man, but I could change my mind if you cooked like that for me every night!"

Wednesday night Matthew actually was able to slip a day off from the store. He and I went to the Delaware State Fair to see Brad Paisley, with Kelly Pickler, Taylor Swift and Jack Ingram as his opening acts. Brad put on an excellent show! He can sure play a guitar. What a home town time! I am sure my red neck roots showed while I belted out the choruses with the crowd. We had a great time and it ended far too soon.

Renewing Relationships and Introducing Matthew

Matthew, bless his heart, worked extra hard on Friday to be able to get away for two days. (That man has not had a vacation in 22 years!) We headed to PA and met up with my dad's side of the family at a campground, although most of us had rooms at the Comfort Inn, and ours had a king size jaccuzi. (That's what I'm talkin' bout!) 

The gathering felt small to me, only 60 to 70 people made it, when I was a kid we had upwords to 250 to 300 peeps, all related, in attendance. My dad is the youngest of a large family and he is 71, so most are gone and many of their children no longer attend. It still was a fantastic  time and I had seen loved ones I hadn't seen in 7 years or more.

Matthew was taken to right away and it wasn't long before we were reminiscing and sharing new stories with him. Later that evening the campground had a karoke event. We went and before long we were up there as a group singing "I got friends" and "My Ding-a-ling" and as an encore, yes, we were called back up, the girls only went up and sang "Red Neck Woman".

There is no way to describe the love I have for this family, they are a part of me enbedded deep within my soul and I have never seen a family so scarred in roots passed and yet such a strong force. We support and love each other, if you were unable to attend, someone in your immediate family gave a report so we all knew what people needed in prayer or basic support or new celebrations. Tragedies only have made us pull closer and make us that much closer. I shall ever be grateful for the strength and example that they are!

Cave Cruising and Cameras

Sunday morning, Matthew and I got up and had breakfast in Lewisburg PA. There is an amazing restaurant called the Country Cupboard. It is family owned and huge. It has the widest variety of enchanting gifts attached and the meals were out of this world delicious! The interior decorating is classy and inviting and the place was packed out yet large enough that they could handle us all. I recommend it to anyone that can get there. It is the only one in existance and it clearly is not enough! I bought a few Christmas gifts and a few things for myself. The items were so unique I that I had a hard time choosing!

We left to head for home and stopped at Penn's Cave for a sight seeing tour. This was a blast. You actually walk down and take a boat tour through a cave. The stalagmites, stalagtites, columns and formations were absolutely fascinating. It has an interesting story behind it's history and was worth the stop.

After we got on our way again, I picked up the camera and was flipping through the pictures my sweet man took of the weekend. The reunion pictures were fantastic and fun, the cave doesn't justify what we saw but were well taken, but when I reached the end of the pictures, I realized that I was looking up from the bottom opening of the cave. As you walk out there are steps leading up a steep terrain to get back out. My loving husband had let me go ahead of him so he could photograph my butt making the trip! I look up from the camera, look at him and he says, "73 steps up, Could a man ask for more?"

Back to New York and My Girls

Matthew and I got back into town late Sunday night. We went to the store to shop and he got his order up for Tuesday's shipment. Monday morning we got up early, went out for breakfast and parted our 9 hour way. I am back in upstate NY with my sweet girls.

Oh! I am holdiing out on you all! My Sarah made the Dean's list at college, she is now signed up and starting her second year. She works full time and yet gets excellent grades. I am so proud of her I could just shout!

Next time I head back to Maryland, mom and dad are following me, they are going to come for a week. I can't wait!

 

Belle has a great fun thing to do on her site.
She is encouraging everyone to build a house for her street. It analyzes you when you are done. It was great fun!

Here is my analysis:
Based on your drawing and the 10 answers you gave this is a summary of your personality:
Your house tells the world that you ought to be a leader. You are a freedom lover and a strong person. You will avoid being alone and seek the company of others whenever possible. You love excitement and create it wherever you go. Once you have a problem, you need a friend with you. Your life is always full of changes. You see the world as it is, not as you believe it should be. You added a flower into your drawing. The flower signifies that you long for love. It also safe to say that others don't see you as a flirt. You don't think much about yourself.

Now, You play! Here is the link: Draw a house Come on and play! You even get to peek at everyone's house that is done so far. Don't worry about the artistic part, it is all just fun!