Wednesday Words of Wisdom

All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward.
Ellen Glasgow
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I deplore change! I love writing my blog and I am comfortable with the format, but while attempting to start a new blog for a friend, somehow the format was all different on the new site. What’s that all about. I spent endless hours trying to figure out how to get the photos posted and how to add the text. I must have added and deleted a dozen things. It finally got posted, but not the way I wanted.

My friend, Linda Grossman, is a local realtor and over-the-top busy lady. She has complimented me many times my writing skills and style, and asked if I’d help her set up a blog about local activities and great places to visit in McKinney. Right up my alley, piece of cake, no problemo, right? Wrong!
Although I deplore change, I thrive on challenge. I’ll figure it out. Here is the link. What do you think?

http://mckinneytx.wordpress.com/

Sunday: Sharing a Brad Stanton Story about Sylvester Stallone (lots of s’)

The wonderful thing about blogging is that you stumble upon the most delightful or inspirational people and bloggers. Today, I was inspired by one of many post from Brad Stanton. Check it out, and try not to hum the “Rocky” theme song in your head. I dare you! Da-da-da….da-da-da.

Brad Stanton
Website Posts
My blog has jokes and lots information designed to help you achieve your goals and dreams in life. http://www.BradStanton.com. click below to go to my blog. The boy is me when I was young.

http://bradstanton.com/2013/07/31/4443/

Theme Song Thursday: Happy Birthday to Mom

Today was the big day, Mom’s birthday. I got up early to bake cupcakes and make frosting, and my sister bought a beautifully decorated chocolate cake for our 10am celebration with all her friends in the activity room. Mom’s usual coffee clutch friends were already waiting for her by the time we came down. Friends sprinkled in during the course of our three hour tour.(Gilligan reference.) Happy birthday was sung many times, as well as Las Mañanitas. (Traditional Mexican birthday song.) A good time was had by all!

In the spirit of family nostalgia, I spent a couple hours browsing through family photos after dinner. Mom’s maiden name is Aguirre, so I thought the Addam’s Family theme song would be appropriate for theme song Thursday. I used literary license and changed the name to The Aguirre Family. Hum along if you don’t get the YouTube video. And yes, her family is kooky, spooky and ooky.(Not really creepy, but that’s just my opinion.)

The Aguirre Family………………….

They’re creepy and they’re kooky,
Mysterious and spooky,
They’re all together ooky,
The Aguirre Family.
Their house is a museum
Where people come to see ’em
They really are a scream
The Aguirre Family.
(Neat)
(Sweet)
(Petite)
So get a witches shawl on
A broomstick you can crawl on
We’re gonna pay a call on
The Aguirre Family

The Aguirre Family (Mom is the oldest child in the middle…many more followed)

Happy Birthday, Mom!!! You’re the greatest!

Wednesday: Words of Wisdom

Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.
Buddha

Each day is an adventure, as well you know. Some days I have endless stories and exploits to share, and other days, well, not really a lot going on. Today, while I was rummaging around through Mom’s many bins and boxes of craft supplies, I ran across this little craft project that I made for her many years ago. It was stamped, painted with water colors, laced with ribbon, glued on scrap fabric and a. brown grocery bag background. I adorned it with real buttons and a twine hanger. The craftsmanship is not the focal point as much as the message it shares. I’m pleased that she still has it.

Mom has always touched the hearts of others as angels do. She is an angel here on earth. Words to live by.

Tuesday Tips, Trends and Traditions

I’m still here in Elgin visiting with Mom. The birthday countdown is T minus 2. Her 87th birthday is Thursday. We’re not having a fancy party or big hoopla, just some of her lady friends that she normally meets every morning for coffee clutch, and anyone passing by. Last year we got caught short-handed with cake, not realizing it was visiting nurse blood pressure day. Everyone got cake, but a little tiny slice. This year we will be prepared. Tip Number One: always have more than enough cake for seniors. They like cake.

Now for trends. Mom got an iPhone for her birthday last year. Very trendy, right? She calls and takes photos, but sometimes forgets how to text. I told her she just needs to practice. So, yesterday, we sat side-by-side for about an hour and practiced texting messages and photos. Tip Number Two: if you give a senior an iPhone, be patient and teach them how to use it and practice with them. This goes along with Tip Number Three: get unlimited family texting. If you tell them to practice, guess what, they practice 100 times.

Traditions are important to me. When I come to Chicago, I spend a couple days with my boys. Matt and I eat massive quantities of Chicago style pizza.(I lied. I eat massive quantities, while Matt is lucky to get two slices. I’m sorry. You can’t get great pizza in Texas.) Joe and I have a traditional day at the Art Institute where I make him pose for the mandatory “Ferris Buehler’s Day Off” picture.

Ferris’ best friend, Cameron, stares at Seurat’s painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte from 1884.

Joe waits a long time for the other visitors to clear a space for me to get my photo. He was very patient. Tradition and Tip Number Four: be patient with your mother when she is a nut.

And my last tradition and tip for today: have fun with old friends, always a standard. I had lunch with my friends Kathy and Debbie. We taught junior high together way back in the late 70’s-early 80’s. We still keep in touch, reminisce about the old days and catch up with the latest family adventures.
Friends and family: great traditions, great fun, LIFE IS GOOD!

Monday Morning: A Foggy Day in Elgin Town

It is not the clear-sighted who rule the world. Great achievements are accomplished in a blessed, warm fog.
Joseph Conrad
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The morning fog and mist was amazing this morning. I jumped out of bed to capture the moment before it disappeared.

George and Ira Gershwin-“Foggy Day”. It’s suppose to be in London Town…I changed the town…

A foggy day in Elgin town
It had me low and it had me down
I viewed the morning with much alarm
The Field Museum had lost its charm
How long, I wondered, could this thing last?
But the age of miracles hadn’t passed
For, suddenly, I saw you there
And through foggy Elgin town
The sun was shining everywhere

A foggy day in Elgin town
It had me low and it had me down
I viewed the morning with much alarm
The Field Museum had lost its charm
How long, I wondered, could this thing last?
But the age of miracles hadn’t passed
For, suddenly, I saw you there
And through foggy Elgin town
The sun was shining upside-down!

Sunday:Everything’s Coming Up Roses…Again

I’ve been a busy gal, but not physically busy. I spent hours yesterday sitting and painting some vases for Mom. I brought the enamel paints from home. Most people carry their little shampoo and healthcare products in those small ziplock bags in order to get through security at the airport. Not me. I had five 2 oz. bottles of paint. Mom loves my roses, so I figured I’d paint a dozen or so clear glass vases for her to give as gifts. She likes to give homemade birthday gifts, so this will be perfect. I just hope she doesn’t give them all away the minute I leave. She is very generous, and she has a lot of friends.

I thought I’d take a quick video of Mom admiring her new vases. After the third take, this is what was captured. The previous videos said things like, “Is it on? Am I suppose to talk now?” She is so adorable…

Whenever I’m with Mom, “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.”

Sittin’ Around Saturday

I’ve been visiting at Mom’s for a week now, and I’ve noticed one detrimental physical result. The more I sit, the more I sit! Does that make sense? Well, I am thoroughly exhausted, and I haven’t done much of anything strenuous all day. When I’m home, I go to Zumba, play tennis, visit with friends, clean, chase the dogs around, go to lunch, do laundry, bake massive quantities of brownies, and cook. And that’s usually before 3pm on any given day.

Mom lives in an independent senior complex where the majority of things are done for her. Strenuous activities involve bingo and coffee. I’m exhausted! By 3 pm, I’m ready for a nap.The only thing that comes to mind is ATROPHY:
1 : decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue; also : arrested development or loss of a part or organ incidental to the normal development or life of an animal or plant
2 : a wasting away or progressive decline

To keep my sanity and mental acuity, this morning, I went down with Mom for her 10am coffee clutch. But, I decided to do a glass painting demo on a rather large clear glass vase for her lady friends. They were mesmerized. It was so quiet you could hear the clock ticking.(Or was that a pace-maker? OK, that was a bad joke, but totally possible.)
The ladies are charming and adore Mom, and rather fond of me and my daily stand-up comedy routine. Nothing professional, but life can be pretty hilarious, especially the way I look at the world.

Mom and her lady friends. Mom is the only “natural” red-head in the place.

While I was painting, all I could hear was ooooh, ahhhhh! I love a captive audience.

I completed the large vase in about 40 minutes. Now what? Time for a nap I guess. Almost noon!
Just while writing this post, I believe my right leg has fallen asleep, my back is aching, and I hear a strange buzzing.(Probably fluorescent lights, but ya never know.) As described by Mr. Webster, I believe my arrested development is causing a progressive decline. Oh, well! Wheel of Fortune and Golden Girls are over, time to get ready for bed.

Freak-Out Friday?: Buying a New Car

“Middle Age – When you want to see how long your car will last instead of how fast it will go.”
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There’s nothing scarier than buying a new car. Well, maybe execution by guillotine, nuclear war… then buying a new car. But, it’s right up there. Today was the day! My sister has been “seriously looking” to buy a new car for about five years now. I told her I’d go car shopping with her while I’m in town visiting. We looked at a couple places yesterday, but the color was wrong, the interior was yucky, or it was too low to the ground.

I was delighted when she called this morning and asked me to go car shopping again. She even said, “I’m bringing my checkbook.” Now, that’s determination! She picked me up at Mom’s place, and we headed straight to the Nissan dealer. The Altima sounded like the perfect car and just what she was looking for. Nope! Not one car meeting the stringent female requirements of, must be a pretty color, light…not dark murky interior, and bigger than a bread box. We left and continued down the road to the Toyota dealership.

We scanned the lot for pretty colors. Not a huge variety, but we walked in anyway. A very nice gentleman approached us. He was not the typical pushy, over-bearing snake oil salesman. He had a very pronounced Indian (from India) accent, but was very soft spoken and polite, a pleasure to deal with.

After looking at a few Camrys that didn’t meet the criteria, her eyes wandered over to the Prius Hybrids. Eureka! Several blues and reds with light interiors.

The test drive of approximately 50 or 60 feet, from the back to the front of the lot clinched the deal. (We didn’t even leave the parking lot.) A decision was made. She said, “I’ll take this one if the price is right.” There wasn’t a lot of pushing or haggling once inside. They did the usual, “Well, I have to check with my manager.” But, after all was said and done, they accepted her counter offer. No one freaked-out or indignantly stormed away? At this point, it was sit and wait to clean the car, sign the papers, etc. But, as car shopping goes, this was probably the quickest, least aggravating car purchase I’ve ever witnessed.

I guess buying a new car doesn’t have to be scary after all! Now, we need to work on the guillotine and nuclear war.

The very nice car salesman handing my sister the keys.

Sporty interior of the Prius Hybrid

Theme Song Thursday: Senior Living

“I don’t feel old. I don’t feel anything until noon. Then it’s time for my nap.”
– Bob Hope
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The Greens of Elgin is the name of the independent living place where Mom lives. She went kicking and fighting when the day came to sign the the papers to purchase a beautiful brand new two bedroom condo. That lasted about two days, and now, ten years later, she still loves it here. Mom has dozens of good friends who adore her, and there are so many activities, she barely can keep up. It’s great to visit and see her so happy and independent.

The secret, as I often say is, “Bloom where you’re planted.” It’s not the kind of place where you’re living, it’s the kind of living you bring to each place. Mom certainly brings sunshine wherever she is planted.

Because she lives at the Greens of Elgin, and I am a “show tune” enthusiast, I changed the first part of the Green Acres theme song to suit my mood.
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The Greens of Elgin is the place for me
Fun living is the life for me
Friends sitting round so far and wide
Keep Chicago – just give me that countryside
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TV Show Theme Songs – Green Acres
Green acres is the place for me
Farm living is the life for me
Land spreading out so far and wide
Keep Manhattan – just give me that countryside

No, New York is where I’d rather stay
I get allergic smelling hay
I just adore a penthouse view
Darling, I love you but give me Park Avenue

The chores

The stores
Fresh air
Times Square

You are my wife
Good bye…city life
Green Acres….we are there!!

The Greens of Elgin is the place for me
Fun living is the life for me
Friends sitting round so far and wide
Keep Chicago – just give me that countryside

My sweet mom, Trini, who brings sunshine to a cloudy day. When it’s cold outside, I’ve got the month of May….Oops! That’s another song for another day.