Shelby Lou: THIS IS YOUR LIFE!!! (...so far)

Happy 18th Birthday to my beautiful daughter!!! Now, think way back....






























... and this is just the beginning!!! We wish you a wonderful life, and are so glad you are a part of ours!!

Love,

Mom, Arthur, and John

Merry Christmas 2008

The Ghost of Christmas Past

I was the apple of Grandma's eye at age 3. The pink Christmas tree was always my favorite thing in her house at Christmas. The sofa now resides in my living room! :)


Doug and I posed for this photo a couple years later. I have no idea what he is doing, but on our family site he wrote: "...and here I am, getting my face sucked into a brass chalice. I still have the marks to show it, too."



May everybody have a blessed Christmas full of wonderful memories!

Love,
Stella

A special Christmas gift

One of the presents my Shelby will be receiving is a kiddie book by the name of "Happy Winter," by Karen Gundersheimer. The copy I found has a little scuff on the bottom corner, but is in much, much better shape than the beloved book that I read to her a thousand times. Although she will be 18 years old in 6 days, I know she will love it.


I inscribed the inside:

"I remember this was your favorite book when you were little. The last time I saw our copy the cover was missing and it was missing some pages. It is now out of print, but I found a copy (used) online. Maybe some day you can read it to your own kids.


With love forever and always,

Momma

Christmas, 2008"

Kindergarten Politics

Overheard chatter outside of my clinic:

First voice: “Santa’s coming soon!”

Second voice: “He isn’t real.”

Several voices: "He is TOO real! He’s coming with presents! He always comes to my house!"

Several more voices: “Anybody who thinks he is real is stupid.”

Teacher: “This is not the time or place for this kind of discussion.”

Darn, the teacher is a party-pooper. I want to hear more about this important issue so that I can make an informed decision about whether or not I should shop for presents this year! :)

Old commercial, new tradition

Jewelry is the gift to give,

'Cause it's the gift that'll live and live!

So give the gift you know can't fail,

at BC Clark's anniversary sale.


Most sales are after Christmas,

But Clark's is just before.

Most everything is marked way down.

Savings you can't ignore,


At Oklahoma's oldest jeweler,

( Since 1892 )

So, give the gift you know can't fail,

at BC Clark's anniversary sale!

This little jingle is as much a part of the Christmas season in Oklahoma as Chestnuts, Rudolph and Frosty. By the end of my first season in OKC 26 years ago, I was humming it along with all the other songs on the radio.

When Arthur and I chose our wedding bands, I suggested BC Clark. I owned nary a piece of their jewelry despite my love for the commercial, thus I had no emotional tie to the store. I knew that every time we heard the jingle it would make us consider our rings and each other, so now it brings an extra bit of warmth to our holidays.

Merry 5th Christmas to us!

I interrupt this blog to bring you an unpaid editorial...

I am taking a 180 degree turn, in order to present an editorial that I wrote. This issue is very important to me, so if you agree with the following, pick up your phone and call your senators and congressmen and ask them to give GM, Ford and Chrysler the loans they are seeking. If you disagree, drop me a line so I can gain a greater understanding of the opposing view.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Many people in the United States are unaware of the reality faced by tens of thousands of Michigan families. If the domestic auto industry is allowed to fail, the result may resemble dropping an atom bomb. Michigan could see an area that currently houses five million people become a ghost town, then the poison will spread to the rest of the country like atomic fallout. Every state will be negatively affected, but even so, the American public has little sympathy for our auto industry these days.

“The cars coming out of Detroit are crap, they cost too much, and there are no hybrids available.”

According to Consumers Report, the best 3 cars for under $25,000.00 are the Chevy Malibu, the Ford Focus SES and the Ford Fusion. Ford and Chrysler are applauded for their quality that now meets or exceeds foreign competition, and GM’s approval rating is much improved. As for hybrids, there are plenty: the Chevy Tahoe, Volt and Malibu, Saturn Aura, Ford Escape, and the Cadillac Escalade, to name a few.

“Those overpaid union workers make too much money.”

How much is too much money to pay an honest, loyal worker? My brother-in-law retired after 38 years as a parts-puller for GM, with his base pay before taxes not quite 56K per year. Yes, this is a decent amount to live on. However, I wouldn’t say he and his family are rolling in dough, not to mention that his body now suffers permanent damage from all those years of repetitive motion.

“The companies deserve to fail because of all the mismanagement.”

As brought out in today’s congressional hearings, it is difficult for the Big Three to compete with the foreign manufacturers when state governments subsidize the competition in favor of the domestic auto companies. Alabama, for instance, granted over a billion dollars in tax breaks to lure the transplant car companies and suppliers. Import companies are based in countries that have nationalized health care, so those companies don’t carry the burden of providing health benefits for the non-US workers. Most US based employees of the foreign owned entities are not at the age of retirement, therefore retirement benefits currently are not an issue. Ironically, the foreign automakers are currently experiencing loss of sales of a similar rate as Ford, GM and Chrysler, despite those savings. Why is that? The answer is simple: the bailed out banking industry is holding on to their money instead of giving out auto loans.

Incidentally, that is precisely what the automakers are requesting; a LOAN, to be repaid with interest. This is a bit different than the bailout requested by and granted to certain titans of the banking industry. (I’m still wondering why the government bailed out some of the banks while others were allowed to fail, but that is a subject for another post.)

God bless America! Interestingly, although the government’s big catch word is “patriotism,” we are selling off our country in bits and pieces. Soon there will be no “America” left for us to be patriotic about. We become beholden to foreign countries in yet another industry if we no longer own our automobile manufacturers. The nation is emphasizing that American car companies need to create “greener” cars to end our dependence on foreign oil. It makes no sense for this country to trade one dependency for another.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


*As a postscript, I received the following today (12/13/2008) from somebody who works for a Crysler Dealership in Michigan. They received it along with their paycheck, and they are hoping it isn't their last paycheck.(Click the image to enlarge.)

It's Beginning to Sound a lot like Music!

When the 6th grade kids are in beginning band, it doesn't seem like the day will come when the squeeks and thunks actually resemble a melody. Tonight was John's 8th grade mid-year concert, and the music in this percussion ensemble is actually recognizable! :)

It's a bit difficult to see him behind the music stands, but John is the one in the tall Santa hat. He is playing the tenor quints, and although you can't see much you can hear him very well.

Alright, alright... I know I'm a stage mom! But I just can't help myself...!

My daughter, the dentist, and psychedelic drugs

Dental work has been sort of a semi-annual pre Thanksgiving tradition with Shelby, and this year was no exception. Today she had her wisdom teeth surgically removed.


Because of the structure of her teeth and gums, the poor kid has had more dental surgery done in her 17 years than anybody else should expect in their entire life. She had molars removed on two different occasions, braces placed, gum reconstructive surgery, an extra tooth removed, and bone reconstruction. Almost every one of these has been done on the day before Thanksgiving due to her school and my work schedule.

It hasn’t really interfered with the Thanksgiving feast, because her favorite holiday foods are perfect for a recovering sore mouth. Pumpkin pie with whipped cream is very soft, and the turkey can be shredded to make a delectable mash when mixed in together with mashed potatoes, gravy and stuffing.

Shelby's most memorable pre-Thanksgiving surgery is the time she had the extra tooth removed. For some reason, she had an extra primary tooth between her two front teeth. This was a full sized rooted tooth that evidently had been there when she was born. She developed a big gap between her front teeth because there was no room for the extra one to come through, so it had to go. I was a bit apprehensive about having it removed because this was no small oral surgery, and Shelby was only seven years old. Everything went well however, so the memorable part was before the operation

As part of her preop prep, the nurses gave her what’s called a "Demerol cocktail." I determined it was pretty strong stuff when my normally chatty daughter became silent, and sat in the brown overstuffed waiting room chair with a silly grin on her face. Suddenly, Shelby's expression changed to one of reverie, and she started reaching in front of her, opening and closing her hand as if to grasp something.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

In awe, she responded, "Oh, look Momma! The picture…!"

I focused on a print that was way out of our reach on the opposite wall. It an ordinary framed picture of some pine trees in a field, similar to what one might find in a medical office anywhere. Shelby reached out her hand as far as possible, and in a hushed voice she continued:

"The picture! It’s…so beautiful! And… it's coming to me!!!"

Those were some pretty powerful drugs, if you ask me!

The hits keep on coming!

Despite my month of silence, this blog has been getting a whole bunch of traffic recently. I would like to be able to say that it's because of my brilliant writing abilities, but unfortunately that isn't the case. :)

The reason I've been getting so many hits is Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and people are searching for recipes. If you search Google for a smoked ham recipe, Andy's smoked ham recipe appears on the first page.

Here is a little interesting tidbit: although the recipe was not "invented" by Andy, he took a liking to it because he liked Southwest flavors in cooking. He found it on the internet somewhere back in 1999 and copied it by hand. After his death I typed it out and posted it on our family website, and later moved it to my blog. I recently noticed a typo and corrected it. Well, now the identical recipe appears on a cooking site. And, lo and behold... MY TYPO IS IN IT!!! LOL, my typo lives on.

My other "big hit" item is Shelby's essay.

Hmmm... my biggest hits were not even written by me, and my claim to fame is a typo. I guess it's time for me to start blogging regularly again in order to practice my writing. :)

Our New Baby

Sorry for not updating for so long, but you know how it is when you have a new baby in the family!

Isn't she pretty??? :)




I promise I will update again very soon!!!!

Update on Shelby's Ankle

Have Walking Cast Will March!!!!



Needless to say, Shelby is an EXTREMEMLY happy camper. Her band director gave her the green light to attempt to march in last weeks competition. She made it through, and the band took 3rd place! :) With two more competitions to go, the drumline was also delighted, because otherwise they were going to have to rewrite the whole show and the Co-captain would have to sit on the sidelines.





Marching season always keeps us busy, so that's one reason for my infrequent updates. Once again Arthur and I are Mr. and Mrs. Popcorn and Hot Chocolate in the band concession. This year is Shelby's Senior year, so we are even busier than usual with all the band activities and the broken ankle just adds to the fun! :) In another couple weeks things will quiet back down a bit and my posting frequency should improve.

Happy 14th Birthday, John! October 1, 2008

Happy Birthday


to my favorite


Libra son!!!!







Love you Lots!!!!

What a difference a day can make

On Friday at 9:00 PM, Shelby was honored as a member of the Band Queen Court.






On Saturday at 9:00 PM, we were taking her to the emergency room with a broken ankle.



















The four of us were working at a marching band competition hosted by her high school. Shelby stepped off a curb that she didn't realize was close to her, and along with skinning both knees, twisted her ankle hard enough to break it.

In case you think I am a sick mother using her child's injury as an excuse to take photos, I promise I am not the crazy one. As soon as Shelby's tears dried, she went right back into her bubbly, optimistic persona.

"Mom! Get my camera out of my back pack and take some pictures! I want to put them on my Facebook!"

Shelby never ceases to amaze me. She still has a wonderful positive attitude, despite the fact that in her Senior year she won't be able to march for the rest of the season. She will probably not be able to participate in the holiday dance recital, she won't be able to dance in the school talent show, and she has to take off from her job until she is off crutches.

However, as you can see from this next photo Shelby took at the hospital, her mom is not holding up nearly as well. :)



Ugh!

Great State Fair photo 2008

Fight back on high gas prices

Probably politically incorrect, but this made me laugh. Good thing, too, because I felt like crying today after I filled my tank. ($3.89 a gallon!)



*************

P.S. Happy birthday A.B.
Hard to believe that gasoline was only $1.15 a gallon when you died. What a shock to see what the price is today! One good thing about where you are is at least you don't have to pay for gas anymore. :)

*************

Right to Life

This post will be a bit different from my usual musings. Normally I'm full of stories about my life and family, but with non-stop politics swirling around it is difficult to concentrate on much else.

Rarely will you find me in a political debate, because whatever I have to say is probably not going to sway anybody's opinion. Most political views are based on our upbringing and our experiences in our own little corners of the world. Nobody has walked in my shoes, or I in theirs. An issue I feel strongly about because of my life experience may be offensive to others. So, I am not putting this out there to change anyone's mind, but rather to share with my friends and family a little bit of what makes me tick.

I guess you could call me a "Right to Lifer." My religious beliefs and my choice of career bear out that statement. The sanctity of life is central to my religion. Taking care of others is my calling, and trying to keep them healthy is in my soul.

One of my grandchildren with Andy, Lachelle, has Down Syndrome and she truly is a blessing.

I am not in favor of abortion.

But, in my mind, "Right to Life" should take into consideration more than fetuses.

How about the people in this country who are dying because they can’t afford proper medical care? What about THEIR right to life?

How about the adults and children who may have their lives shortened because of lack of nutrition? What about THEIR right to life?

I don't even want to get started on the subject of young service members dying in a war that increasingly appears to have been started on false pretexts, not to mention the troops who return alive but are cared for in horrific conditions. What about THEIR right to life?

My job as a school nurse is not about bandaids and boo-boos. I see silent suffering and the effects of poverty on a daily basis. One great need in my clinics, as well as nationwide, is affordable dental care. There are children dying because of lack of dental care, not because of parental neglect, but because of the prohibitive cost of dental treatment and dental insurance.

Senior citizens have to choose between paying for their medicine and paying for food.

Because of all of this, I find myself with one "right to life" debate weighing in one hand, and another "right to life" debate weighing in the other hand.

My vote is, in part, going to depend on which hand weighs the most.