Wednesday

Just talked to George so I know for right now he is okay or sorta ok (not hurt or in the hospital). He wanted to know if I wanted him to pick me up at work!! I said not today and can only hope he does not go out driving because he sounded like he should not be driving today. He couldn't hear all I was saying and since I am at work I could not yell loud enough for him to hear. Now I have a new worry.

Wishing for Friday

How awful to wish away any days, but come Friday I get my yearly increment check. I am hoping to buy a digital camera with a port for printing pictures and I need a new DVD/VCR player/recorder. I told Mikael we would go shopping for her some new school stuff if she wanted LOL. One little problem I wanted to go Friday evening and she is supposed to go back to her Dad's for another week on Friday. I will take Friday afternoon off and if she hasn't left we can meet and go then, if Gail can get the car or if she has left I can go to Value City for the DVD/VCR on sale for $59.00 I am not sure where I will get my camera. I need to be checking onlone prices at the different stores.

I received a new ABC catalog and I want to place an order for Christmas.

George called and I wasn't here and I have tried to call him back but so far no answer. I always get terribly worried when he calls and then I can't reach him.

Heat Wave

Gail grilled steaks and also grilled some yellow squash for dinner Which reminds me I had leftover squash to bring for lunch and forgot it. She made a salad and warmed up the leftover green beans and baked beans.The twins adore baked beans.
It is even so hot in here today. The air does not seem to be working very well at all. I am miserable. I keep drinking ice water. I think I need some Gatorade. Christine has had a bottle in the refrigerator for months unopened I will ask her if I can get some of it. I am out. They have it in the machines but it costs $1.50. I need to put some pictures of snow on my screen saver.

My friend, Brenda, lives in Texas and it is 105 there today and has been like that for days.
When she comes here next month she will feel like we are having a cold wave.

I am just in sort of a funky mood today. Yesterday I felt pretty good (mood wise) but woke up depressed this morning. I think I slept too much last night. Gail went down to Poca with Lawrence to get his clothes after she had put the twins to bed. I dozed off before they even got back then woke up when they came in at 10:30. I didn't stay awake long and then slept all night and hated to get up this morning. When it is hot and you don't feel like moving around a lot makes it worse too.

Excuses and What Not

This picture is from the 1967 family reunion. The little blond boy on the right is Billy age almost 3
Well my family reunion was Saturday and I didn't go. I didn't really want to because I feel so out of place. Also it's like no one ever mentions George or asks me anything, although I know they all wonder and must talk about it when I am not around and so when I am around it just all makes me very self conscious and angry. Angry? Yes angry. Why anger? I guess I will have to think about that one for awhile. I had made some food to take, but then Gail didn't get the car because she thought it was going to rain. It had rained most of the night and would have been muddy even if we didn't get anymore so she did not want to take the kids out to the park. I was just relieved that I didn't have to go and pretend to have a good time. I know this makes me a horrible person, but I can't help it.

I feel like I am doing so little with my life and wasting precious time, but I haven't come up with a way to change that and be happy. Some days I don't feel quite as bad then something will hit me and I am back to square one. I need to spend more time thinking about what I want to do instead of thinking so much about the past, but knowing that and doing it are 2 very different things. I know all the right answers, I just can't seem to make them pertain to myself. One thing I do know, I need more than just a bed in my teenage granddaughters bedroom. So many teens her age would resent my being there, but she doesn't. Maybe a resoultion to that should be the first problem I tackle. I have not wanted to give up on going home but I just don't know anymore.

I found these instructions for making a Beach Memory Wreath. I may make one for myself and I could make one for Treva or Tasha for Christmas.

Beach Treasure Wreath
Make a special wreath with all the treasures you find on vacation at the beach!
Materials Needed:
Heavy Cardboard
Glue
Beach Treasures
Instructions:Cut a wreath shape out of heavy cardboard (you can also use a piece of wood). Spread glue all over the wreath shape (use an old paint brush to make sure it is all covered) and sprinkle on sand to cover the entire wreath. Set it aside to dry.
Now you can glue on your beach treasures such as sea shells, pebbles, seaweed, twigs, etc. Let dry and then hang!

One year for Christmas, 1997, to be exact. I used a display frame to make Mikael and Ashley a memory of their 1st beach trip with us. I put in different shells we had found, pictures I had taken, post cards, etc.

Suntans and Curls

Picture of Gracie taken June 05
I went to CVS at lunch. Bought 2 bottles of some new Herbal Esscence shampoo. One that helps the curl for me and one that straightens the hair for Mikael. We will see. I also bought a tube of "Natural Glow" body moisturlizer that is suposed to tan your skin with just a hint of tan. After my disastrous results last week with a self tanner I am almost afraid to use anything. It wasn't enough I had to walk down the street with what could only be called rusty, streaky, dirty looking legs, I went to work with a nasty dirty ringed neck that I didn't see until I was in the rest room under the fluorescent light. UGH! I thought that stuff had been improved from the days when it turned you orange. Maybe I had better be careful with that shampoo!!

All I have to do is smell baby oil and it takes me back to the days when we used to mix it with iodine to slather on when we laid out in the sun trying to get a tan.
My Gracie girl had a beautiful nature tan even before she was in the sun.

Fried Green Tomatoes yum yum

I went to Farmer's market at lunch bought some fresh corn right off the truck that was picked only hours away. Gail is going to grill chicken to go with it and I bought a couple of green tomatoes for her to fry. The corn is $3.00 a dozen. I think that is the same as last year. I have a nice fresh, WV grown, head of cabbage in the fridge and I could either make fried cabbage or cole slaw. Probably cole slaw since we have fried tomatoes. I may still have some cucumbers and ripe tomatoes too and that will be all we need for a scrumptious dinner.

I bought 1 sweet potato to show the girls how to grow a sweet potato vine. Gail said she didn't remember it from when she was a child and we grew them. I also had her save the avacado pits, so we can grow a potted avacado plant.

I saw the cutest little terra cotta planter on a Blog. The planter is a clay chicken setting in a terra cotta saucer. It had hens & chickens planted in it and sticks were scattered in the saucer around the chicken part of the pot. It is so funny because I saw some hens & Chicks at the market and wanted them. I have not had any in years. I used to have some in a strawberry pot, but that was at least 20 years past. Another want of mine is a Christmas catcus. I have never tried growing one.

My Mikael

Mikael got home about 3:30. Everyone else had already eaten the Mexican Fiesta meal Gail fixed when I got there. We were happy to see each other. The twins would not let her out of their sight. Yesterday I made her spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread and salad. I imagine she went swimming today, Her Dad bought her a new swimsuit. She gets this teen type magazine I think it is Cosmo for Teens or something like that, had seen a suit advertised from JC Penneys so he took her there and she found it. She came home with 2 new pairs of jeans for school and a new pair of shoes that she did not need. She'll only need 1 or 2 more pair of pants and some shirts for school. Recently her Aunt Nasha had bought her a new pair of high top sneakers that were pink with brown trim. Norman bought her the same shoes but pink and green. I don't know what it is with these people with shoes and coats. Nadine didn't just buy her one coat last Christmas she bought 2 and Norman is always buying her shoes and coats. Oh and Gail did say she needed a new pair of black boots. Nadine also bought her boots last year at Christmas, I don't know if she outgrew them or if maybe they are not black. I can't remember.

I went to Bridgeport to the Benedum Festival Saturday so now I have a free day off coming to me don't know yet when I will take it. I know it will be after pay day.

I walked to CVS and the dollar store at lunch and it is too hot out for me, but I needed to pick up a couple of things.

July Lists

Movies I want to see include
In Her Shoes and Rumor has it Shirley McClaine
Cheaper by the Dozen Steve martin
Pirates OTC Johnny Depp
RV Robin Wiliams

Books to buy this month if no others
A year by the Sea Joan Anderson
A walk on the Beach Joan Anderson

To DO:
Fertilize inside and outside plants Buy small canning jars
Finishing planting herbs (finished)
Start an avacodo tree & sweet potato vine (with the twins & Mikael) (Sweet Potato finsihed)
Make strawberry frezer jam
Make Bath Salts
Start getting pictures developed

Wants:
T J Maxx Geese I saw a couple of weeks ago

Independence Day

We spent July 4, 2000 on Ocracoke and it was my best ever 4th . We were in the pool at Pony Island to watch the skydivers, went to the beach, ate lunch at Jolly Rogers, watched Blackbeard on the Pony Island lawn,went to the beach, watched the parade, had a rest,ate dinner, went to the beach for the fireworks.

Everyone else had left for home that morning except for Mikael and Brandi who stayed the second week with us.

Yard Sales

DIdn't do much this week end. Saturday Gail and I went to yard sales. I bought a set of sheets and 4 pillowcases for $2 and they are nice and soft and pretty. I made my bed up with them and got out my white chenille spread to top it off. I found a couple of scarfs for Mikael that I am saving for Christmas. Hmm maybe I will just do all my Christmas shopping at yard sales and flea markets. I bought Treva a Norman Rockwell picture at a yard sale a couple of weeks ago and I have saved it for Christmas. A new flea market opened in Nitro Saturday. I have to work next Saturday but I guess I could take the following Friday off and go . It is open Friday through Sunday.