Say It's Your Birthday!

Easter Sunday is my birthday this year of 2012--

Nothing less than a GRAND day

If I do say so myself--and I do! 

The photo is of me at my second birthday--

Yep, in another galaxy, long, long ago. 

Look pretty intense as I 'read' the cards! :)
And where was the ice cream to go with that cake??

Nonethless, a wonderful day-then and now.

I am blessed! 

Thursday and Almost

Friday.

Call me vain. I like my new profile photo. Always hated getting my picture snapped due to forever having a crooked mouth. That was due to being born with microtia (one ear) and missing some bone and such on the left side of my face. And then when I had the stroke that wasn't a stroke, right before I had the little open-heart surgery adventure-the side of my mouth drooped some. Still kinda does. Paranoid, at times, I am about it.

Then I see my profile pic. I look happy in this photo. As I am flat broke. 100 cats (well, not really). Wish for a new, and better house buying experience--or maybe I just want a clean house? Or a wish for a written and finished finished novel by ME. And a business to call my own. And to tickle a cute kitty's tummy. All good.

And in new profile photo I appear like I have all that and more.

Yep. Call me vain. I like it.

I am blessed.

Seven Months

From this day--will be my birthday.

Ha! Folks who have known me forever will shout in unison, "ALREADY?" You see, I would start the countdown to my birthday in December--right after another chum's birthday, because mine was next. Had the exact day count and all. Well, folks can heave a sigh of relief--for now anyway. :)

Being kinda reflective. In seven months I'll be a year older. Wonder where I'll be--professionally and personally. Part of me would like to have the cash to get some home in the boonies--well, not that far from the boonies thatI can't get to a Target or Wal-mart--but far enough-I'd have some space. A chum of mine has a house, where all his neighbors' backyards face a foresty area and the creek. It's smack dab in the middle of the town. I love his. Rustic, yet close to the Barnes and Noble, yet space enough for maybe the adoption children I've thought about.

Anyway, just to think of what can be, what is and what I want. Which of course, not what He knows I need. Big difference.

In seven months, I'll be in the midst of Dancing With the Stars part II and American Idol. Hey, I'm addicted to both those shows. Also, will be wondering how long the Dallas Mavericks will play that season. Play offs start in April. In seven months, I wonder what kind of job I'll be doing. Will I have sold some writing and/or finished a book in time for that summer's All 70's Reunion at my Iowa High School?

In seven months I'll smile how three weeks before my birthday, it was my fourth anniversary of that pesky open heart surgery. Where my scar dares daily dares to remind me of. How I've lived to see another year and splurge at Burger Island--the best burger place in Dallas.

Yea, in seven months I'll still pet a cat. However on this September 8 night, I wait my pizza to pop from the oven.

Hey, I can be reflective, serious and all tha, but the timer signals be back to the present.

In seven months, I know I'll still be blessed.

Day Off

...and the only thing I've done that I said I planned to do-was take a walk. Instead of a jaunt to the rec ctr, where I could bike and stroll in air conditioned comfort, I headed to the park up the street. Was concerned about the heat, yet not alot of humidity. Since the open heart surgery, I've done my best to stay within the guidelines set for outside activity. The nice breeze helped during the walk. Just peaceful.

Once again, it proved how I like being home. To do what I want to, while others are at work. Granted, I don't want to be sick again to have that feeling. Just nice.

Later on, I do need to go get POKED. Yea, that's what I call my blood check for my coumadin. I'm such a poster child for this stuff, which was peddled as rat poison. Fortunate no real issues. Except I know when I am tired--I am tired, so I stop until another time. Just live.

Now since I have some time until the POKE test, I'll wash my dishes. Oh heck, who am I kidding? Gotta watch today's episode of Young and the the Restless-getting GOOD! Adam needs to fall down his own flight of stairs!

Stay tuned.

Thursday Night and....

-so what if I'm waiting on pins and needles if a magazine excepts one of my stories?

-so what if I thinking Bear needs to whip up pasta for two?

-so what if wish there was time on Saturday for Movie Man and me to battle on the court?

-so what if I wish my cats had a job?

-so what if I walked in my house and my usual iceberg a/c wasn't working?

-so what if I know no matter what- I am blessed?

It's the Weekend---almost...cue the song!

The 7th

On July 7, 1988 I began my trek from Iowa to Dallas. My Fifth Street Friend sat in the passenger seat of my 1987 gold Dodge Colt. I’d just decided to get a/c put in. Fifth Street’s mom wished me well, as we set out that morning about 7ish. I think she was more glad I was leaving town. The lady liked me, yet she feared I put wild ideas in her daughter’s head. She needn’t have worried; her daughter could and did, do that on her own! My two cats at the time, calico Millee, along with her son, an orange, long haired fat boy, Morris, meowed from their crates. I tried to dry my own tears, after saying good-bye to my dad. I lived at home for the last two years. Even tho, living with the folks cramped your style, it was good to know you had a next meal and the clothes would get washed. Nonetheless, on that July 7th, we got on I-35 South for a 750 mile journey, that’s still not over.

November 7th, 2001. My first day at work, after the death of my dad on October 18. It was a comfortable feeling. To be back in a routine. It helped the grieving process. I missed my dad’s calls every Saturday. I wouldn’t leave my place, until I heard his voice say, “Hey, girl, what you doin?” Always had guilt I left him back in Iowa. That I should have taken care of him. Find a job back there. Whenever Dad saw me look at the job ads, he’d always said, “There ain’t nothing back here for you.” I would remind him that he was there. He’d shift his cigar and say, “I’ll always be here. You hafta leave your life.” On October 23, 2001, which was my parents’ 47th wedding anniversary, was also my dad’s funeral. I think he planned it that way. Together again---at last.

March 7, 2006. The day I a doctor informed my life would forever change by having open heart surgery that following Monday. Then five minutes, the same doctor came back and announced Monday was too backed up, so I was pushed to March 14. My mitral valve needed to be repaired or replaced. Last week, my cardiologist told me she liked the fact, I’ve gone on with my life as if nothing happened, yet I get reminded. Yep, every time my scar itches or the tip of it clashes with a top I have on or when I take my INR and I’m two tenths out of “the range”, and need to come back in 10 days, instead of a month.

April 7, 2008. The day I moved into my first house. Also the day before my Roman numeral “L” birthday. I woke up in my own house on my birthday! What a great present! How and why did I ever live in an apartment so long? Tish Tosh. The whole move-in, get settled, is still a work in progress. Cats adjusted better and quicker than I did.

June 7, 2008—in my hometown for my high school class’ 50th Birthday Party. Where the last chat of the night I most remember. A classmate who says, ‘You know I’m just a farmer who drinks beer.” Enlightened me and encouraged me to take on public speaking. He says nobody can say what I have to sa with the way I say it. He’s since been traveling to speak to other farmers about farmer stuff. I’m proud of him. His talk stays with me. “I expect to hear about you,” he said. Maybe so.

Today July 7, 2008. I got a taste of what good neighbors are. My coolant leaked from my car. I noticed the puddle as I pulled out of my driveway for my Target run. I was glad Target is literally 5 minutes away. Yet, I was petrified enough, it might as well been 500. Made it home safe and sound. I headed next door to my neighbors, J and his wife J. They always wave and smile. I figured they may know a good mechanic. J Wife’s brother-in-law is a mechanic, and lives down the street. The brother-in-law and the wife were on their way to dinner, yet he says he’ll look at my car. He looks, finds the leak. I tell him I will not drive it tomorrow—heck, I’ve blown up engines before. He says he’ll bring his tools tomorrow night. My best friend will pick me up for work in the morning. I like his neighborhood stuff.

On the 7th Day, He rested.

I am blessed.

Walking....

Walked tonight.

The first great walk since I’ve moved. Everyday, on my exit, there’s a middle school and their football field and track. I’d seen kids there, some adults. I never put two and two together and got two squared I did tonight.

So I dashed home and slipped into my new tenny-runners. Drove back to the track. Yes, drove to the track. Was close enough to walk-yet no sidewalks, plus the dodging the multi lanes of traffic did not thrill me.

Nonetheless the walk was nice. Felt good. Cleared my head. Got rid of some of my stiffness and stress. There was a bench—not quite like the park bench I sat on when I walked the park at my apartment. Will admit, I do miss that park (because it was just right next door) and the work out room. I would bike, tread and read. All about dealing with change.

If the weather is good tomorrow. I’ll trek around it again. Each step reminds me of how blessed I am.