We can’t all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.
— Will Rogers
I was looking for something to add here for today. I am one big ache from book moving and painting, especially my right upper arm and I’m a leftie (which would make an interesting blog entry too). Anyway, I love quotes and I thought this was a great Will Rogers quote. I agree with his statement, but we can surely have personal heroes that aren’t in the limelight. This statement brought to mind the parades that we go to in our local town. My son has been in a few of them on a school float. As someone who was a bystander, I felt pride when our veterans, esp the older gents from WWII and the Korean War go by either walking or in decorated vehicles. They are the lucky ones who came home.

My mom heard from my brother Don in Fort Laudy. He said he went to bed around midnight and woke up around 7:30 because his dalmation Baxter was staring at him. We heard it was a lingering storm with a ton of rain expected. I hope his truck doesn’t float away. What a worry this has been. Also, last night, Brian was trying to get in touch with his dad who is 81. My f-in-l loves to go to Atlantic City and didn’t he go 2 days in a row! By 9:30 Brian was really pacing the floor. We had no idea where he was, but figured he was down in AC again. He was just in the hospital 3 weeks ago. Daddo missed the bus and had to take the train into Philly. He hadn’t been to 30th Street Station since the 50s! And then he grabbed a bus to where he lived. Brian actually balled him out a bit and said he’s too old to be running around so much and that we almost called the police to see if his car was in the driveway. When you are my age, you have your parents to contend with.
Back to the family room makeover.

The roses didn’t do too well this year in part because of all the rain. This is one of them that did well earlier in the year. I have a 16 yr old one that just bloomed for me again a few days ago-a burgundy color. Gorgeous! 

I did get another email from my brother this morning and he said the hurricane may go up further north-only time will tell. We told him to tape up the windows in his place. What a worry as we can’t do anything up here in Penna to help him.

1. What is your favorite summer activity?
Planting flowers and making nice little themed gardens-like all white or a fairy inspired garden. Doing general fix-up and decorating outside. Barbecuing is another thing that is generally a summer activity for us. No, we aren’t swimmers.
2. What was one great thing you did this summer?
I think just getting my yard in better shape than it’s been in years. I bought black metal shelves for my back patio (at a house sale cheap) and organized my tools and clay pots on them. We moved the little 50 gallon black plastic pond to the back yard where I can tend to it better. The best product I found was ‘Round Up’ that killed the weeds growing in my brick sidewalk and in areas where pulling them up was not going to get rid of them. Last year I had had poison ivy on my left arm so bad, I was willing to try anything this year.
3. When you were a child, what was your favorite summer activity?
Waiting until it was dark and playing hide and seek. Catching lightning bugs, just being outside all day and evening. We were also into swimming pools-the ones you assembly in the backyard.
4. What has been your favorite summer vacation?
The first time we went to Ocean City, MD we stayed at the inlet area where there is 3 sides of ocean around you. It’s so serene there except for a low foghorn every 15 minutes.
5. Summer goes well into September, but when do you feel like it is over?
When all the begonias and delicate perennials die from frost. But then when school starts, it’s not the same.

My little pond at night with the glowing lights and floating solar powered ball. 

I just got an email earlier from my younger brother Don who lives in Fort Lauderdale, Fl. Seems he didn’t evacuate from the area as he had no place to go that will allow dogs. He lives a few miles away from the ocean in this 30s-40s apartment building that looks like it use to be a motel. I don’t know why he didn’t try harder to go inland or go to a bigger building. I didn’t dare tell my mom he didn’t leave for safer ground. We are going to be so worried now. Don, be safe!

Motivation (or lack there of)

1. Are you very motivated (in general)? How do you gauge that type of thing?
It depends on what I need to be movitated about in the long run. Take for instance the latest project-the family room. I am the one who is most motivated to get it organized and in tip top shape. I don’t think the men of the house give a darn about what it looks like. I look at it this way, if there needs to be a person who has motivation in this family, it’s me!
2. When you need to be motivated to do something, and you’re not, how do you stop procrastinating and just do it? What do you tell yourself?
I think it has to do with my peace of mind and how much something is bothering me. I tell myself to just do it! And my choice of tv programs doesn’t help, especially the make over shows like Trading Spaces where they get the room redone in 2 days.
3. What happens when you’re unmotivated about life in general? Why do we get like that? How do you get out of that funk?
I really try not to be that way. There is always something to do and enjoy or learn about! I had some health issues in the past and just enjoying my hobbies and listening to music and thinking spiritually helped to get me through the rough times. Of course you need the support of family and friends, but you need to heal yourself first.
Bonus Question for Comments: Is the glass half empty, or half full?Half full! If it’s half empty don’t you always want to fill it up all the time anyway?

Uh what could I mean by that title? My little furball kitty was all snuggly with me. He got up on the bed and got really close to my face-so close he could stretch his feet to touch it. Not one time did he put his claws out! And I kept moving over until I was at the other side of the bed. I got up and came into the family room (where the books are piled up all over the place) and settled myself to eat and watch ‘The Weakest Link’ (I am a BBC America junky). Cosmo was nice enough to let me finish eating and then got on my lap and made himself comfy again.Guess he just needed his human mama a lot today.
I have to get some boxes from the basement for the books. I only emptied 2 shelves and there is no more floor space left. I need to pull out the computer desk too, so all the stuff around it needs to be moved. I take on these big projects and feel like I am the only one interested in seeing them through. I have to find a taker for the old sofa. Mom said she would take it and I think she should as it has a queen size sofa bed inside. She has a two story house and we have a ranch house. If her legs started to bother her she could just pull the bed out. That would mean getting my little brother Ken involved as he has a truck and strong arms. When I was redoing the bedroom 4 yrs ago, I called the Spanish mission and they took away Brian’s old dresser. We were waiting on 2 unfinished armoires which still need a little paint on them.

01. aqua– favorite color
02. scene -outdoors
03. classic- novel
04. bliss -pure
05. extra- cash
06. juicy- steak
07.quest- search
08. velvet– smooth
09. rub- cat
10. heartbeat- in a second
11. rise- lower
12. glisten– water

I just watched a rerun of Oprah where she and I believe Dr. Oz examined real hearts, livers , kidneys, eyes, etc. It was a bit gross, but very interesting. I guess we just don’t worry too much about what’s on the inside until you see something like this. The part that was a total gross out (and made my Angus burger really scrumptious) was when they showed film footage of cutting open a cadaver and cutting away the yellow shiny fat from inside. Hope you aren’t eating when you are reading this. Darn it, I did have a craving for that burger too! We don’t eat a lot of red meat anymore. But I was thinking about Brian’s belly fat. Alright, I have some too!
The doctor showed a uterus with a fibroid (I have several small ones) and that was an eye opener too. The lungs effected from cigarette smoke were spotted with black like big flecks of pepper.
I liked the second doctor who came on to talk about how mediation helps heal your body too. He said we are meant to be peaceful with joy and then something comes along and disrupts that.