Little things

Just watched The Five people you meet in Heaven. Makes you think about what the story says.. that everything you do, everyone you meet or encounter, can change that persons life. The other day at CVS I saw an elderly woman on her knees feeling around the floor for something. I asked her if she needed help and she said she thought she dropped a dime or a quarter. I looked but didn't see it and reached in my pocket and I had a quarter in it and I gave it to her. She said "oh no you don't have to do that". I then pretended it was the quarter she lost. She was so happy. Maybe it is just a little thing but at the moment it was everything.   Most people  could care  less  if  they drop  a dime or  a  quarter  and  couldn't find  it,  but  to  her  it  was something.   She  probably  grew up in the  depression  or perhaps  is on a  fixed  income.    What ever the case I was glad I could help her even if  I  was  devious.   How many  others would of  walked by?  I have a strong love  in my  heart for  the elderly  after having worked with  them for 18 years.   The  urge  to  help  never goes away.    Some people  from the church  and I went to the  nursing home I used   to work  at and  this old  gentleman   was  in a chair and  I thought  he  was going to  stand  up and  I rushed   forward to stop  him.   I don't  work there  anymore, I could of  just stood there  but I couldn't.   I saw  several  people there  that  night that  I knew,  people  I worked with  and  residents that  knew me and  it  makes me feel  so  good that they are happy to see me.    I hope  I made a  difference because  that  is  what  life is all  about  isn't  it?  Love   and caring  for  your  fellow man.  

This is my Mom, she  loved to bake and made the best  cheesecakes!    I think I  got  my  caring  heart  from her.   I love  you Mom!

Tired and bored...

Happy New Year to everyone.  I  had a great New  Years Eve.  Went over to Pastor Kurt and Sharon's house.    There was lots of yummies to eat and then we played a very  funny game of Balderdash.  I haven't  laughed  like  that in such a long time!


I  am still considering reconstructive  surgery to  get a new breast.  I  would get skin taken from  my abdomen  and  have it put up on  the chest, then the other breast would get a lift done to  it.  I  would have two  new breasts and a tummy tuck!  It is a big surgery however and  I'm sure a painful recovery.   I  am  scheduled  to  see the surgeon on  the 16th of this  month.  I should  just go for  it, sure would help with my  body image and how I  feel about myself.  I've had all kinds of surgeries  and can  tough this one out  too.   I think the  worst  surgeries I have has were the hernia surgeries.  Those were  very painful after. 


We  are in the middle of  a cold  snap.   It is only 15F  at 2:00PM today but by the weekend we are supposed to be in the 40's.  We still haven't had any big snow storms yet this year.  Last year  we had  a  lot of  snow  in February so I'm  sure  we won't have too  long to wait!

My Wild bird cam

I have a live feed of  my bird feeders  right  outside my window.    You  can  check  out the  birds,  squirrels, weather, trailer park  folks etc..  Live!    USTREAM

Christmas is here and gone!

I  am not a big fan of Christmas.   It is not that I don't enjoy the lights or the reason for the holiday.   I hate  the commercialism and greed.  I hate  seeing people act like animals on Black Friday.  I hate reading about how someone went nuts  and  killed their  entire  family.   Or the fires or natural disasters that displace people.  I know these things happen every year.   I guess it is  just that the older I get  the less tolerant I  am.   The kids all  seem to  only think of getting  presents.   I got gifts from my 12 year old daughter  this  year.    The other kids  blew everyone off.  Even the 20 year old that works. The only  one  he got gifts  for was  his  father.  He  works at Walmart for goodness  sake!  I  gave  him  a  list!  

I also  have a feeling  of inadequacy.   I  for years bought  for  just  about everyone  I  knew.   I  can't do  that anymore.  Immediate  family only now!    The  kids  seemed happy with  what they got.  Of course  Sarah  got a  double dose, because  she went to  her Grandma's after and got  tons of stuff  plus a  hundred dollars from  her Dad and $100 gift  card from her uncle!  I think  the best thing about  Christmas this  year  was the  service at  church!   Living  Springs.

Anyhow, a lot  has  happened since August when I  last  blogged.   I  am  not  in  treatment anymore!   I am finished.    I am due for a CAT  scan in March.  Also visiting  the breast surgeon  in Jan  to discuss  reconstruction.  I should just jump  in the water  and do it!   Going thru life  as a  woman with  one breast is  hard.   Having two and a tummy tuck  would  be the bomb!  

As  usual  I will add a couple  pictures that I  have taken.  First is a sunset  of course, second is my new  hair!

Third  is our first snowfall of the  year.  Last is some  pigs.  I  like  that picture.   Shows just their backs  but  I  love the colors.  I love pigs in general.   We  raised some when I was a  kid.

Trains

Here in Saratoga County there are railroad tracks that crisscross everywhere.  Many country roads here have RR crossings including the one I live on now.  When I was in school and riding the bus we went on one route that went past the tracks on Bockes Rd. in Greenfield.  Sometimes we would be fortunate enough to have to wait for a train!  All the kids would be so excited because if we could we would count how many cars went by.  Can you imagine the whole busload of children counting, 1, 2, 3 etc.. as the train went by.  Sometimes it was just the sleek and fast Amtrak which was not possible to count.  Most often is was the ponderous freight trains coming from Corinth or some other northern town.  All those train tracks lay dormant for years and years after the mills in Corinth and north shut down.  Now we have the Saratoga and North Creek Railway that comes through and I just love to hear the train going by.  I can't quite see it because of the trees but one of these days I'm going to go down to the tracks and record it coming by!  I have a video clip on my Facebook page of the sound of it.  You can listen to it HERE.  We are also planning on riding it this fall and go up to North Creek for a few hours and play tourist. 

Manners

I was brought up with fairly strict about manners.  I was taught not to interrupt adults, to chew with my mouth closed.  To use my napkin, let others be served first.  Sit like a lady, not to belch or pass gas in public.  Wear clean underwear, not to talk back to adults.  Say please and thank you.  I'm sure most of you know what I mean by the basics of manners.  I have to say I am shocked by the kids I see these days.  Talking rudely to adults, eating with their mouths open and with food in them.  Shoving and pushing by adults.  Always having to be first to get food at dinner time.  Being taught by adults to act tough and "gangsta".  Being encouraged to fight.  I have tried to raise my kids with manners.  My son I did pretty good, my daughter can be very rude to me but is polite in public and in school.  My stepson is a whole different story.  I told him today he must be a throw back to the Neanderthals and he didn't know what meant.  He thinks it is funny to fart out loud and in groups of people, especially at school.  He will jam large quantities of food in his mouth and let it dangle out while chewing.  I could go on all day about his behavior.  I find it just shocking and upsetting.  One of the big problems in my marriage is the behavior of this kid.  I try talking to my husband about it but he basically said that the kid is too old now to teach him anything?   I said "Are you out of your mind?  He is only 14.  This kid refuses to brush his teeth because he said it makes "food taste funny" after.
I need to see my counselor and talk to my stepson's counselor too before I loose my mind!

Baby got new shoes?

This memory is from when I was very young maybe 3 or 4.  My older sister Brenda and I were playing with the boy next door.  His name was George McIntyre.  George by the way is my friend on Facebook and has been living in Vietnam, I believe teaching English.  Anyhow we had a record player outside on the lawn near his yard and we were playing records.  For some reason I remember the song was something about Baby's got new shoes.  Maybe I'm wrong or confused.  I remember the green grass and it was sunny.  
 Maybe George will remember the record player and us playing records.