Thanksgiving For Three..and a Dog

I have a saying, "shit happens". David has a coffee cup that says, "Grace Happens".

Meet Cami's dog Grace. She is a rescue dog. A great dane mix. She named her Grace because during a period of "shit happens", she chose Grace instead.

Grace was our only guest for Thanksgiving. This is the only picture we have of the day. She sat and stared at the Turkey forever. Just sat there. Very cute.

Todd couldn't come home, so it was just the three of us. Instead, he spent his Thanksgiving here

This is the North Harbor Club on the shores of Lake Norman, just north of Charlotte. He didn't expect to spend Thanksgiving here. He meant to cook. He and Kat love to cook. But, shit happened, and, instead, they found this lovely place. Lakeside, with great food served family style at the table. Grace happened.

We thought about eating out. Not cooking. Couldn't do it. We like our traditional Thanksgiving food too much. We've had the same food for years, with a few things added from year to year, if I wanted to try something new. This year was just the basics. So, I cooked..and cooked.

The menu:

Turkey.. a big one because it was on sale. $7 for a 20 pounder.

Stuffing..Pepperidge Farm mix, because that's what we like.

Cranberry Sauce..canned..'cause we like it.

Mashed potatoes

Gravy..made with all those yummy turkey drippings

Corn pudding..a recipe from an old church cookbook.

Sweet & Sour beans with bacon..a recipe from a great southern cook friend.

Pistachio salad..so 80's, but Gammy's recipe that we always have.

Rolls..store bought, because I'm doing all the damn cooking and they're fine.

Chocolate Layer Dessert..Gammy's very old recipe, better than any pie.

So, I cooked for a couple of days and we had a tasty, traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

With so many leftovers it's almost obscene.

And we said Grace, and counted our blessings.

Peace!

Peace.

Peace Out.

World Peace.

Peace Be With You

Everybody's looking for it. World peace. Fuggetaboutit. It'll never happen. Hippy peace. Been there, didn't buy the t-shirt. Didn't work anyway. Peace wished for others. Rare success. So where do you find peace?

Do have the ever elusive "inner peace"? If you do, how did you do it?

Do you feel peaceful listening to music? Being with family?

You can't say church. That is supposed to be a place of peace. It has to be your own, private peace.

It's the beginning of the season of "Peace on Earth". But how?? When?? Where??

Peace out.

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?

Since this is a blog, not a private conversation, I should write this obliquely, come at it sideways so as not to offend. But, no. I will be straightforward, reckless.

We all love Papa. Remember his birthday? The videos, the written histories, the love that was expressed to him. Did he forget?

I am filled with hot, angry tears. What happened? When did my father turn into someone I don't know?

I am filled with guilt that I have been absent for so many years. That daddy probably doesn't even remember who I am. Even when I wasn't there, I knew he was.

I am filled with confusion that someone could make my dad distrust and dislike his own children.
I am filled with worry that I should even post this.

It is said that you live life forward, but understand it backward. Does he understand?

He has spent his life building, repairing, fixing what was broken.

Can this be fixed?

I'm going to post this quick. Before I loose my nerve. Because it is so. And because I wasn't there to help.

(Because I am weak, I reserve the right to remove this at the first twinge of guilt.)

Addendum: Look what has been stolen. Our family, our bond, our parental love, all taken from us by a manipulator and a thief. For 65 years he has been ours. We have loved all of him. Even the cranky part. (Which has been passed on to us as our birthright.)

I Wish...

Here's what I wish. I wish I could wave a wand and make everyone's life happy. I know this sort of thing is normally left to our Creator. But..that does not lessen my frustration. I remember when mom used to try to make sure all her children were happy and getting along. I used to scoff at that. Oh, please, I said. We're fine. We'll work things out.

I now understand.

When my children moved out and we were left empty nesters, I was perfectly happy with it. Except--I was no longer in charge. I was no longer able to assert my will and make sure all was well.

I want their lives and the lives of my brothers and sisters (and their offspring) to be happy and easy. Even though mine was/is not. Even though no life is. Even though I have no control or say in the matter. Still.. sure wish I did.

Quoth Desiderata: "Therefore be at peace with God; and whatever your labours and aspirations, in this noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all the shams, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy"

The Reverend David Christian

Eight years ago as David was lying in a hospital bed, we had no idea what our future held. My concern then, as now, was to just get from one day to the next. Months of hospitals, rehab and physical therapy followed. As he struggled to take his first steps, he never thought this day would come.

It took years. He learned to live with what he had, and how to cope with what he didn't. He got his Masters Degree online. He re-started the ordination process. Went to meetings, conferences, took more classes online and spent hours studying. Went to church twice a week and, with the help of the priest, helped with services, rang bells, did readings. As for me...I bitched the entire time. It's what I do.

The day finally came. On June 26, 2010, David was ordained a deacon in the Episcopal Church. Todd came for the big event. He participated in the service and had the honor of helping put on the deacon stole for the first time. I am informed that only clergy wear a stole to identify them as such (clergy I mean)

Isn't he a fine looking man??? (Sorry, picture taken without flash.)

He was ordained with two others who had been in the deaconate program with him. They were all smiles when the deed was done.

As Cami and I sat in the pews, we were filled with emotion. That he did this..by himself. He was determined and dogged in his pursuit. It is something he has wanted since he was very young. Well, he is gray and crippled now, but he did it. Whatever his past problems, whatever his future may hold, he can take pride in this. And so can his family.

Sometimes Great Things Just Happen

Why doesn't this ever happen when I'm at the mall???



Did you watch?? Are you smiling????

One Nation Under God

Watch to the very end please.
Happy 4th!!!

Just Keep Swimming

What do you do when every day is an adventure, and not the kind where you get to climb Mt. Everest or scuba dive in the Caribbean? A twisted knee, a car repair, stuff breaks, shit happens.
There is something you say. It's a little song. Do you remember it?
What do you do when just the thought of not having a job scares you.
Because work is a blessing. You thank God you are able to work at all. You are pursuing something. You are able. You can look forward.
Well...you sing the song. Just keep singing it.
What d'ya want? A cookie?

Simple Pleasures

I've been waiting to be inspired. Still waiting.

Have you ever had the feeling that life is a crap sandwich, and every day you take a bite?? Of course you have. So, while waiting for some great inspiration, the little voice in my head said--"turn around".

I turned-- and saw that I still have the ability to enjoy the little things. Simple pleasures that make me smile.

Like a beautiful sunset. The smell of fresh cut grass. Hitting all the green lights. A field of daffodils. Finding a good parking place. Fresh tomatoes. A stack of unread books. Clean sheets. Spring.

To qualify as a simple pleasure, it must not cost much and must result in a spontaneous, involuntary smile. It sometimes feels like serendipity. Sometimes it just makes you go "ahhh". You expel your held breath, and know that this is good.

Now, all that is very ethereal. But this...this is real. You can hold it, taste it, savor it.
This is something that makes me smile whenever I find it And, for some reason, it is not everywhere. (Why not???)

Yes. A candy bar. It's just a little thing. But it makes me happy.

(No. I am not a spokesman for the Mars Company)

Just A Trifle

What better excuse for something yummy. Easter and strawberries.

My cooking usually consists of dumping a bunch of ingredients together and calling it a meal.. For this little trifle, there was slicing, actual cooking, whisking, whipping, folding and building.

Really, I'm just showing off.
Look what I made!! Pretty

Happy Birthday...90!

Okay, not til March 11. But..the family is having the party today, so I want to pretend I'm there by adding my contribution to the celebration.
No, it's not chocolate cake or chip dip.
It's this...

Tagged

Meghan did it.

4 Shows I like to watch:
NCIS...NCIS...NCIS
CSI ..all of 'em

HGTV..anything

Old movies

4 Things I'm passionate about:
Cami, Todd
Staying organized
The J.O.B David and I have

Beautiful music and good books

4 Phrases I say a lot:

Well, hell

I'm coming dear
Thank you

Love you

4 Things I have learned from the past:
Expect the unexpected
Some friends are forever. Some not

Most people are good
I'm old, so I've forgotten most of the things from the past anyway

4 Places I would like to go:
North Carolina
Utah
A Caribbean island..any will do
Road trip

4 Things I did yesterday:
Took David to church
Prepared 100 anesthesia records
Mopped the floor (love swiffer)

Strolled around the internets

4 Things I'm looking forward to:
Getting my windshield wipers fixed before..
Spring

Being thin..any minute now
My bad haircut growing out

4 Things I love about winter:
Nothing
Zip

Zero
Nada

4 Things on my wish list:
A new wheelchair (see, I share my wishes)

A maid (yes, I wish to be a princess)
Enough money to be financially and personally secure

Happy children

4 People I tag:
I double dawg tag Cheryl and Jolene

The double dawg counts as two

So that equals four tags

Right???

It Global Warmed All Over Us

Six inches of lovely, heavy snow. SURPRISE!!! Nobody forcast this.

These pictures are from Cami's apartment balcony.


Mississippi River. Pretty...

Slippin' and Sliddin on the bay bridge. We live on an island.

This just doesn't happen in this part of the country very often. We get very excited.

Say Hello

Thought you might like to meet Todd's girl, Katharine. I knew there was a reason he landed in Charlotte. This lovely girl was there waiting for him.

Christmas at home.

Kat is a pre-school teacher in South Carolina, just across the border. She puts a lot of miles on her car going back and forth. Hoping she can move back to NC soon. Must. Find. Job.

Todd also has a new career. He just passed his Pharmacy Tech Certification test, and will soon be certified in compounding and IV's so he can work in a hospital. He will graduate in March. Then he'll decide if he wants to go on to Pharmaceutical School. Should 'a known he would end up in the medical field and his girl in education. Tradition!

The Second Child

Raise your hand if you have way more individual photos of your first baby than the second (third, fourth...). When the second one comes, there are more photos of "the children" than of "the baby". I didn't even realize it until I went searching for baby Todd pictures. Doesn't mean we weren't just as happy or loved them just as much. Just is.

This was, of course, before digital cameras and the old 35mm camera scared me.

First child:

Let the rockets flash and the cannon thunder

This child is a marvel, a matchless wonder.

A staggering child, a child astounding.

Dazzling, stupendous, miraculous, dumbfounding.

Bright as a button, sharp as a thorn,

And the only perfect one ever born.

Second child:

Arrived this evening at half-past nine.

Everybody is doing fine.

Is it a boy, or quite the reverse?

You can call in the morning and ask the nurse.

(Ogden Nash)

Fresh Finds From The Photo Box

All children are born innocent and good. They are the closest thing to heaven we will ever hold; so new and fresh from God's arms.

Every parent thinks their child is the best, the smartest, the most lovely thing to come into the world. And they're right. Even when they try to prove us wrong, we still believe. We are parents.

(Do you hate this method of posting photos? Feeling a little insecure about it. Todd is next. I've found the time to do this, what with being iced in and all.)

When They Were Young

Hooey, I'm on a roll now!
I don't keep scrapbooks. Don't even keep photo albums. What I have are boxes and boxes of photographs. (The ones I haven't lost in floods and other sundry catastrophes.) I think I this is a fun way to share.

Is That All There Is?? (Updated)

We've had WINTER STORM WARNINGS! for 24 hours. This is it. At least you can HEAR the ice and sleet. The roads are very icy and dangerous. But no pretty snow.

Sheesh..

(David got a Flip Camera for Christmas)

Update 1/30 AM: Um, my dismissive attitude may have been a bit premature. There is an inch of ICE everywere. And, since it's not getting above freezing today, nobody's going nowhere.

Mississippi Barges

Looky what I did. Made a movie.

These barges are ubiquitous on the river. David used his new camera and found two.

Just showing off my mad bloggin' skillz.

Marj's Chocolate Sauce

So, I'm on my way to check out at the grocery store and was suckered by marketing. You know what I'm talking 'bout. The display in the aisle, put there to tempt you to make an impulse buy. So I said to myself "alrighty then", and picked up a package of chocolate swiss roll cake. Get it home and decide it's crying out for ice cream and chocolate sauce.

Waaay back in the deep recesses of my mind I remember the chocolate sauce Aunt Marj used to make. So I dug out my very old recipe box and, after some searching, found the recipe. On a card in Marj's own hand. What a treat.

And to top off the whole trip down memory lane, I was stirring it with mom's old wooden spoon. Trippy enough to snap a photo and share.

Please ignore the dirty old stove and feast your eyes on that sauce. Buttery, creamy, chocolaty deliciousness.

Does This Man Belong To You??

After I retired, my wife insisted that I accompany her on her trips to Target. Unfortunately, like most men, I found shopping boring and preferred to get in and get out. Equally unfortunate, my wife is like most women; she loves to browse. Yesterday my dear wife received the following letter from the local Target.

Dear Madame,

Over the past six months, your husband has caused quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against your husband are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras.

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in other people's cart when they weren't looking.

2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.

3. July 7: He made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women's restroom.

4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, "Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away". This caused the employee to leave her assigned station and receive a reprimand from her Supervisor that in turn resulted with a union grievance, causing management to lose time and costing the company money.

5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&Ms on layaway.

6. August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.

7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told the children shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department to which twenty children obliged.

8. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?' EMT's were called.

9. September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose.
10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.'

11. October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the 'Mission Impossible' theme.
12 .October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his 'Madonna look' by using different sizes of funnels.

13. October 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, yelled 'PICK ME! PICK ME!'
14 .October 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a fetal position and screamed 'OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!'

And last, but certainly not least:

15. October 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, then yelled very loudly, "Hey! There's no toilet paper in here!!!". One of the clerks passed out.

Posted without comment, except...laugh, snort, chortle..cough..ahem.