Resisted The Temptation

 The following are pictures of this morning's soccer game starring grand-angel #2 Jake. 

A couple of the pics are repeats but...  you get the 'picture'.  Jake got knocked down by an opposing team member.  Later I told him ...  "Grammy had to resist the urge to run out there onto the field and wrap my arms around you with a grammy-hug to make sure you were okay.  I'll bet you're glad I resisted the temptation to do that..."  He smiled and shook his head.  He's so handsome.   Love that boy!

It was a great morning at the game... temps were tolerable and we got a nice place in the shade to settle in.  Had some fries, and soft pretzel with cheese.  Cheered Jake on.  Cheered the team on.  And then, our team won!!  2-0!!  Yay!

Then it was off to the music store to get Rissi's violin for Orchestra, which she starts on Monday.   She's just beginning, but Pop-pop told her she has to master the piece and learn and play 'The Devil Went Down To Georgia' to play at his funeral.  (Ha!  Guess that will be many, many years down the road since it will take a while for that one.  And that is good.)

After that it was the last swim of the summer.  Sad but true.  Summer is slowly fading and fall is waiting in the wings to take its place.  

Life is short.  Make sure you enjoy it.   

Flowers and Cookie Crumbs

I am impressed with all of you who love flowers, plants and trees and are consistently "name-dropping" as you write about this one or that one...  like..  you really know what you're talking about! I learn from you.  But then, that knowledge generally dissolves somewhere inside my brain and I can be enlightened all over again when you write once again about the same. 

However.

I now know what a hydrangea is when I see one.  Mostly because over a half-a-dozen of the bushes are planted in front of my office.  Last year they were lush and gorgeous and just about everyone who came into my office commented on their beauty and asked what we had done to have had our bushes produce such a lovely display of flowers.  I proudly announced that we did nothing.  Just watched them grow.  

And so this year I expected more of the same.  But the flowers were few.  

The largest and oldest of the bushes produced one single flower.

The beauty and strength of that one flower amazes me.

It doesn't seem to care that it is alone.  But rather, it revels in the attention.  Each time I pass the business front, I focus on that one flower.  

Storms whip it fiercely to and fro, but it stands strong.  The sun beats down hard threatening a sure death, but it stands strong.  When I think it has lived just as long as it can possibly live, it still stands strong.  

But eventually it will die.  Leaving behind a legacy of beauty that had been beheld by many.

Stand strong, beautiful one.  Your life is what you make it.  Do not allow the disappointment of others    surrounding your world to weaken you. You are unique.  You are loved.  And when the bitter winds return and snow pelts against where you once lived, you will be remembered.  And you will be missed.

Gracie says:  

  Flowers mean nothing to me.  What good is it if all you can do is look at it?  I like human touch.  A hug.  A smile.  A game of tug-of-war. Cookie crumbs that make it to the floor. Now that's what I'm talking about!  

Terror by Telemarketing Part Two

I got an emergency call this morning.  My Microsoft key had expired and some pretty horrible stuff was about to happen to my computer if I did not follow instruction on how to save my computer. Seriously?  

 Click.

Then there's the one where the IRS calls and says I am in trouble with them for not paying my taxes.

Click.

Another is a computerized voice asking:  "Is Harry there?"  

This one is a guaranteed call at least one a week.

Click.

"You and a guest have won an all expense paid trip to the Bahamas!"

Click.

"Yes, I need to speak to the business owner."

"I am the business owner."

"We can save you 40% on your electric bill/ phone bill/ trash bill, etc..."

"Not interested"

"Oh, so you don't want to save money?"

"Nope"

Click.

"You have been picked!!  We have chosen to install a complete security system in your home..."

Click.

"Is John there?"

"I'm sorry you have the wrong number"

"Oh, well that's okay...  you will do..."

Click.

"Is Felicia Stevens there?"

"I have told you over and over and over and over again..  for the past FIVE years!  Felicia Stevens does not live here!  This is a business line.  Please, please, please remove this number from your calling list!"

"Okay, we will remove the number."

They don't.

Then there's the foreign accent that is barely understandable but that calls from Windows stating that your computer is about to crash and they need to get into it to fix it.  Just follow a couple of steps and let them log on and they will save the day!!  

"Gee... that's funny..  I don't even own a computer!"

Click.

Do you ever get tired of all the manipulative, aggravating, dishonest phone calls?  I just want to scream into the phone "Okay, you have reached the telemarketing police and you are under arrest.  My guys will be there to pick you up momentarily."   

It's the machines that I hate more than anything.  They don't even care if you hang up on them.


Gracie, girl.... how about a kiss?

Yea.  Okay.  Whatever.  But just my ear.  I refuse to let that filthy mouth of yours touch mine.  That is, unless you have cookie crumbs lingering ...  then I may reconsider.