Eyes and cataracts

I went to the eye doctor today. I knew I had cataracts because the moon, stars, headlights, streetlights and even our nightlights have halos around them! I don't dare drive at night. So I went today to the dr. They dilated my eyes at 9:30 this morning, it's now 4:13 and I still can't go outside in the sun! I went to the mailbox and thought I was going to go blind! I'm having the cataract removed from my left eye on the 26th of May. The day after our 46th wedding anniversary! OK, don't tell me that I should have had the surgery 46 years ago...two days earlier! No, I should have had my head examined. Just kidding.

We're getting ready for our garage sale Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I hope it doesn't rain but it wouldn't be bad to have it a little cloudy.

How Can We Pray For an Evil Person?

Today I'm in a serious and thoughtful mood. My thoughts are on how we're supposed to pray for someone who we know is bad. When someone is truly evil, how can we 'hate the sin but not the sinner"? I've heard that my whole life but never understood it. Today while I was on my way to my sister's house to clean, I was listening to a great story that I got from the library. In the story, a woman was teaching the children that she took care of that when we hate someone, the devil is happy. My thoughts have been on Denny's boss the last few days. The man is really an evil person. He was brought to the U.S. from India by Denny's boss to be the CEO of the company. The company hasn't been doing good and the business has gotten worse since this man came into the company. He is mean, belittling, uses foul language when he talks to them and had made all of the workers hate their jobs. He know they can't quit because of the economy. He's made pay cuts and took all of their accumulated vacation time away, cut their health care. He questions the workers to find out things about the other workers and what they think of him.

One day this week, he asked a worker how the people feel about him. The man told him that they all hate him. He asked for an example of who hates him. The man told him that he and his wife hate him. He asked who else. He wanted names. The man told him that everyone in the whole company that works under him hates him. He smiled as though the thought of everyone hating him is what he wants.

A woman was upset and talked to my daughter-in-law. She said that the job was her life. She had no family and she was so afraid that when she lost the job, she would not know what to do to keep her apartment. She cried. Sue tried to comfort her. The lady told Sue that her heart was beating so fast now and she is under so much stress. She said that the CEO has made her life miserable. When they walked out of the building, Sue had her arm around her and tried to make her feel better. The next morning, the poor lady was found in the bathroom, at work, lying on the floor. She had a heart attack and died. Everyone was so upset at work. The 'evil' man never came to the building and said that if anyone left work, they would lose a day's vacation.

This is only an example of the things this man is putting the workers through.

My point is: How can we pray for this man with all the hurt he has done to others?
This I don't understand.

My Latest Friend on Facebook! And Birds

Adam Lambert, the great singer on American Idol is my friend on Facebook. He has almost 800 friends so I'm sure he won't answer my notes to him. Now I'm being pressured by Bruce (just kiddin' Bruce) to check out Twitter. After Dallas wakes up, I'm taking her to McDonald's to play. She loves it there. I'll bring my knitting with me.

I put out some bird feeders last week. There are birds in my yard for the first time since our house was built. Cardinals are feeding. I was told to put sunflower seeds in the feeders to keep out the crap birds. That doesn't work. I had sparrows today and a couple of the big black birds. Oh, and a rabbit was in the yard again today. Dallas chased him all over the yard until the rabbit found the only spot to get in or out. He made it! I bet his little heart was beating fast when he got out! Dallas is so fast and she was keeping up with him!

Today, May 5, 2009

Happy Cinco De Mayo everyone! The celebration in Dallas was postponed because of the flu. A lot of people took the day off from work for it!

It's a wet day today. I took my friend Mary to have her eyes operated on. We went to McKinney. I dropped her off. She would call me after the surgery. They postponed her surgery until next week. Two postponements.

Facebook

Facebook is amazing! I have the three girls that were friends of my oldest son, Denny when he was in high school. The three girls, Caroline, Beth and Cheryl would come to our house and visit us, whether Denny was home or not. I just loved those girls! Now I'm friends with them after all these years! And they're still looking good! And I have Dawn as my friend on Facebook. I worked with her at Meijer and forgot about her over the years! She's a sweet girl and I'm so glad to be friends with her again! Go, Facebook!

Health Fair

Friday, May 1, 2009 we will have Joyce's Chemo Cap Project on display at the Health Fair at the Allen Senior Recreation Center. I think it will be a lot of fun. We're going to show our scrapebook, our caps, patterns and answer any questions asked to us. Hope to see y'all there!

I Sorted My Postcards Last Night

Whew! It was a job. I sorted the cards according to countries that I received them from. Then I put them all in a binder. I still have to make cover sheets for each country. You can see the cards on my Postcrossing blog. It's fun to send and receive cards from other countries. I think I'll be getting some today. It makes getting mail more interesting!

LB and I saved a family today!

This is a true story of what happened to my sister, Laurie, and me today.

We were on our way home from the movie and were almost to Laurie's house. She lives a few blocks from Richland College. As we turned off from Walnut (I think it was Walnut), she noticed something on the next corner, stopped and backed up. There walking down the street was a mother duck and 7 tiny little baby ducklings. I got out of the car and yelled to her as she was getting out of her car "They're heading to the college pond." I followed behind them and she watched traffic as we approached Walnut. It's a very busy street! They would never make it! Laurie stopped a car that was coming down the street toward Walnut as I corralled them away from the middle of the side street. I ran out to stop traffic going west. The lady in the car said that she'd pull her car out to keep the traffic from going. I had to sidetrack them a couple of times so they wouldn't get off track. Laurie ran to the cars going east, put out her arms and stopped traffic. All three lanes stopped and waited. There were several cars in line by that time. I continued to corral the family across the street. They got to the curb and jumped up. The last little duck had a hard time so I quickly put my hands under him and boasted him up. I didn't want to keep my hand there too long so the mother wouldn't reject him if he smelled my scent. Then the family all waddled to a brush that was going to the pond. They were far enough away from the street and heading in the right direction so we knew they were safe.

American Idol-2009

This year's American Idol is really full of talent. I have my favorite! It amazing how this man can sing. I'm pulling for him to win. Yes, I make my calls after the Tuesday night show. There are so many good singers but I have to say that Adam Lamberts can not only sing great, he can sing anything and is such a showman. Go, Adam! Even if he doesn't win, I'm betting he'll be a star!

Jordan in the No Cell Phone Zone

Facebook

Facebook is so much fun. Keeping in touch with old friends, classmates and family (not 'old' family because I'm the oldest!) Anyway, I was looking at Jamie's classmates and I saw a picture of her friend, Con. I emailed her to be sure it was her. She was so happy to hear from me. She had been trying to get in touch with Jamie. To make a long story short, they are now communicating via phone. I always liked Con.

Chemocaps

These are my latest caps that I made over the last couple of weeks. I'll probably change patterns now. These are good to make.

I Can't Believe it's been 10 Days

Time goes so fast. I've been so busy with Facebook that I haven't had a chance to write. I've been planting, laying mulch, chasing Dallas and knitting. Oh, and watching TV.
Last week we saw Duplicity at the movies and Sunday we saw the Uninvited. They were both pretty good. It's been cold here but it's warming up. Today was beautiful, especially for planting.

O'Ley

Very early this morning I came to a heart-rendering decision. I've been avoiding it but I guess the time just wasn't right. This morning I knew that it was time. O'Ley would never get better and he cried whenever I'd pick him up. In the last couple of days, he ate less and less. Although I loved him and would miss him, I had to do what was best for him. I called the veterinarian's office where his leg was amputated three years ago. They told me to bring him in. The doctor was very nice and we talked awhile. Uness you've had a pet that you really loved, you would not understand the feelings when you have to think of him instead of your feelings. I cried as I watched O'Ley fall asleep. It was peaceful. I'm feeling better now and I know that I made the right decision.

I still have Willow. He is 15 years old and weights over 25 lbs. I think he will live to be around 20 years old. I'll just give him love until the day comes that I have to make another decision. I think that he will be my last pet.

O'Ley

O'Ley is my cat. One of my cats, that is. I've written about him on this blog before. We adopted him after my tuxedo cat, Baby, died. We got him from Operation Kindness which is a no kill shelter in Carrolton TX, near Dallas. I fell in love with him when I first held him. He was 5 years old at the time. Cream colored with one brown ear and a brown tail. He and Willow got along fine. Willow is my huge gray cat, 16 years old now.
Anyway, we traveled to MI in the summers and O'Ley loved riding in the car. I had both cats in carriers but O'Ley somehow opened his door and came out. From then on, he'd sit on the divider of the front seat and watch out the window. The last time we went to Sandy Pines in Michigan for a couple of months the cats went with us as usual. When we got home, Denny noticed a bump on the back of his left rear leg. I took him to the vet and the vet said that it was cancer. She said that they could take the tumor off but it would probably grow back. We had the tumor removed and, yes, it did grow back. There was no option but to have his leg amputated. I found a real nice doctor that didn't charge as much and he amputated O'Ley's leg. He's been fine for 3 years now. But I'm afraid that the cancer may have come back. I found another lump on his front leg but it hasn't gotten any bigger. He's gotten thinner but it could be because he's 10 years old. He eats great. He follows me everywhere. Yesterday he was on his blanket and I took some pictures of him in his weird positions. One time he was sitting up with his head resting on the arm of the recliner. But he then sat up, hung his head and went back to sleep. He slept that way for a little while and then he laid down and covered his face. Here are the pictures of him that I took yesterday.

Facebook

Facebook is pretty neat. Today my son, Randy, became my friend...son and friend! Now I have to get Denny, my oldest son to sign on! I checked my graduating class today and found a lot of old (old as in 'past' because we aren't old yet!) friends. I tried the Classmate website for a year but found it to be boring. So this is something new to do now. Not that my blog, my chemocap blog and cap making, my Postcrossing, the senior center and our 2 1/2 old granddaughter didn't fill my time. Oh, and our new TV server, UVerse. I can watch 1000 movies on TV now. Denny is happy because he can get all the western movies he can watch now, not counting the sports shows he can watch. He actually watched the 2000 Winter Olympics yesterday!

Update on the 'stone'

Well y'all. It was a stone, for sure, that gave me the backache and the pains that I'd get once in awhile. I thought it was my gall bladder but it wasn't. I knew that nuts caused my 'gall bladder' pain so I'd try not to eat them. HA! But the doctor told me that nuts are really bad for some people who get stones. But I don't have to quit eating nuts...I have to drink water when I eat them. So I can still get my Turtle Blizzard from the Dairy Queen.

I'm Out of the Sandals Again!

It's soooo cold out. I'm freezing to death. I'm back into heavy socks and shoes! Brrrrrrr. Tomorrow is supposed to be nice. I hope so. I want to go to the flea market tomorrow morning!

Spring is beautiful but...

over the winter you don't realize how many weeds have grown during the winter until you start weeding them out. The work it takes to plant new flowers and plants is plentiful, but you love to do it! Seeds to plant, bulbs to plant, pots to fill. It's so nice when you can see some growth and beauty for all of your work, isn't it? The very worse thing about spring is finding, usually by bite, a new mound of fire ants. Ouch, ouch and itch! Those little buggers sure can make you uncomfortable.

The best ways to start new flowers and plants are when someone gives you bulbs. Donna Cross gave me some bulbs and I planted them. I hope I didn't plant too soon. I'm watching them for green. That's one way. Another way is to check out the discounted racks at the stores. Lowe's always has a big rack of plants. I buy most of my plants there. Today I bought another Holly bush from the rack for $2.00. I bought some last year and planted them along the side of my house. I had a space where one didn't make it last year. I hope this new one makes it. I also got 8 Enchantment Lilies for one dollar each. In Michigan we called them Enchantment Lilies but here, in Texas, they don't call them that.

If you have any ideas for me to get my plants cheap, email me at jgoble2166@sbcglobal.net. I'd sure appreciate any hints you can give me. Next week the flea market will be in McKinney so I'm hoping I can get the two Crepe Myrtle trees that I need for the side of my driveway. They're pretty reasonable and pretty trees.
Well, I guess that's all for gardening today. I have a bunch of envelopes of seeds that I bought today that I have to plant. Oh! Where did I get a bargain? At the Dollar Tree! Four envelopes for a dollar!

I'm Back in the Sandals Again! Yeehaa!

A Ride With Bob musical

Last night Denny and I went to the Eisemann Center in Richardson to see the musical starring Asleep At The Wheel. It was about the life of Bob Wills, the country swing star that changed country music. It was funny, great music and we sat in the very front row!

Old films and forgotten memories

Have you ever cleaned out your closet or places that you put things and forgot about? And when you look in the box, you find an old camera with film still in it? Or you find a roll of film that was never developed? There are memories in the camera or film that you would be so surprised and happy to find. Question is: Do they still develope those old rolls of film? And do you know that there's a websight where a man developed old films that he found and you can see them on his website? Pretty interesting. It's http://westfordcomp.com/updated/found.htm

Backache and stone

Last weekend I had the worse back pain. I figured it was because I was playing basketball (just dribbling) with Dallas in the kitchen. She loved the way I'd bounce the ball over her head. Anyway, I thought that is what caused my pain. Oh, not counting that I have to be her horsey. Did you ever see a 65 year old on all fours walking through the house with a 2 1/2 year old on her back? That's me! By Monday I couldn't even get out of a chair, it hurt so bad. I was already scheduled for a minor surgery on Wednesday. It was a cat scan but since I'm allergic to contrast dye, they had to give it to me internally. It was also a cystogram. They found a stone in my left kidney! No wonder it hurt so bad! I've had the same back ache before so maybe I've had stones before. I don't know anyone in my family that had kidney stones...except my son, Denny, had one recently. I forgot about that. Hmm. I must have inherited it from him! I'm getting better now, no back pain anymore. Have a nice weekend, y'all.

Jordan

Here are some pictures of Jordan that I got from his Facebook album.

Facebook

I signed on with Facebook yesterday. I already have people as friends that I am so glad to hear from. Colleen was my boss but also my friend at Meijer. I am so happy for her. She married someone that is really good for her. And her three kids all turned out so good. What a beautiful person she is. And, Lisa. She's been my friend for a long time. Gotta love her! I added Nancy C who shares a sister-in-law with me. Nancy's brother married Denny's sister. I worked with Nancy at Meijer. Bruce, my Allen buddy who seems to get me started on all of these things is my friend. You can check out his blog at cribbageflatsouthwest.blogspot.com. He is a great writer and you'd love his blog. I'm also a 'friend' with my grandson, Jordan! Now that's cool to be a friend on Facebook with your grandson, isn't it? Anyway, if you're in Facebook, add me as your friend.


Colleen and her family and Lisa Henry

Quiz: How Old Are You Really?

From the following list of 25 items, count all the ones that you remember -- not the ones you were told about! How to score yourself is at the end.

Blackjack chewing gum
Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar-water
Candy cigarettes
Soda-pop machines that dispensed bottles
Coffee shops with tableside jukeboxes
Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers
Party lines
Newsreels before the movie
P. F. Flyers
Butch wax
Telephone numbers with a word prefix (e.g., Olive - 6933)
Peashooters
Howdy Doody
45-RPM records ... and 78-RPM records
S&H Green Stamps
Hi-fi systems
Metal ice trays with lever
Mimeograph paper
Blue flashbulb
Packards
Rollerskate keys
Cork popguns
Drive-in theaters
Studebakers
Washtub wringers
If you remembered!
0 - 5 = You're still young
6 - 10 = You are getting older
11 - 15 = Don't tell your age
16 - 25 = You're older than you think!

Hard of Hearing

Morris, an 82-year-old man, went to the doctor to get a physical.
A few days later the doctor saw Morris walking down the street with a gorgeous young lady on his arm.
A couple of days later, the doctor spoke to Morris and said, "You're really doing great, aren't you?" Morris replied, "Just doing what you said, Doctor, 'Get a hot mamma and be cheerful.'" The doctor said, "I didn't say that. I said you got a heart mummer and be careful."

Stamps!

The price for a first-class mail stamp will increase 2 cents to 44 cents, starting May 11.

The Postal Service said the price increase was necessary because of rising production costs. Under law, the price of stamps is not allowed to rise faster than the U.S. consumer price index, which measures inflation.

According to a written release, the increase will cost the typical family about $3 a year.

I can remember when we paid 2¢ for a stamp. Yes, I was just a little girl! I think that the Post Office is feeling the pinch because of on-line payments and emails and even catalogs. I don't mail much except I send post cards with the Post Crossing that I belong to. I wonder if the price will go up for that too. It's 94¢ for a stamp to go overseas now! And last week two of my post cards were destroyed by the post office. Hmmmm. Didn't send me the money back! Anyway, I guess we'll just have to grin and pay for the increase. I wonder what the price will be for a stamp when I get old... That's correct! I'm not old yet! Older but not old. Funny that the correct sequence of old is 'old, older, oldest. But, with most of us seniors, the older comes first! I don't consider myself OLD. I'm just OLDER.

Flowers are 'springing' up!

I have little purple flowers growing in my front yard and some little red ones in the back. Eat your hearts out, Michigan gardeners! I love it that I'm seeing little buds all over my bushes and plants. And my honeysuckle vines have flowers on them too! I'll be planting some plants that Donna Cross gave me. I'll plant them next week. It should be safe to plant them without worry of a frost. I hope. I hope.
O'Ley is still doing good. I thought that I'd be losing him by now but he's hanging in there. He eats all the time. I should knock on wood.
Willow is getting fat! I think he must weigh 30 pounds now.
Denny is doing really well with his diabetic diet. I'm shocked that he's sticking to it. I guess he knows now that it's a serious disease.

Jordan is 21

I can't believe that Jordan is all grown up. It seemed like yesterday that we used to 'hang out' together when his mom and dad were working. Grandpa also worked nights, driving truck. Jordan was just a little tyke then. He still remembers some of the things we did. We'd watch Shaka Zulu almost every night. I recorded the series and he loved it. And we'd watch the movie "Willow". He never got tired of watching it. We'd eat garlic chip crackers. Oh, I can't forget that we'd watch Steve Erkel say "Did I do that?" Jordan did a good job of copying him. I had three lizards in an aquarium. We'd go to the pet store to get crickets to feed them. Sometimes we'd go to Mr Lee's Chicken Coop to get our supper or we'd go to Little Caesar's to get bread sticks. Jordan was around 5 when we did all of these things. One time we were on our way home from Litle Caesars and saw a bunch of police cars around a house. They were putting yellow tape around the yard. We found out that the man in the house killed his family and then killed himself. Jordan thought that it was quite something. Well, O.K. so did I. Not much excitement around the neighborhood. One night Jordan and I went to Meijers to get a few things. When we left the store, a real big storm had rolled in. The store had a big glassed in entrance and there were a lot of people watching the rain fall and the real high winds blow. I told Jordan that they were crazy to stand in a glassed in area. We ran for it. When we got to the car, we were soaked. It rained so hard that we had to pull off the road on the expressway and wait for the rain to slow down because it was pouring so hard that we couldn't see. We got home and sat by the window watching the lightening and listening to the thunder. One good thing about it was he was never afraid of storms.
Time sure went fast. Now he's in his third year of college. He grew up to be a very nice young man. Always polite and never fails to show us his gratitude for anything that we give him or doing things with him. We still go to a movie whenever we can. Which reminds me of one more thing. when he was around 4 years old, we went to a movie. A lady sitting a couple of rows ahead of us was talking during the movie. All of a sudden, Jordan blurted out. "IF YOU PEOPLE DON'T STOP TALKING, I'M GOING TO GO GET THE MANAGER"! Believe me! They shut right up.