BIG GAME DAY

Yesterday was the big day.    I had looked forward to this day for a long time and it was everything we had hoped for except Benjamin didn't feel like going.   In his place I took a neighbor boy, Nate,  with Jeremiah and I.  I think this smile tells about what Jeremiah was feeling.   Toward the end of the game he said he thought he might become a Titans fan but I really doubt that will actually happen.   Think momma Bear will squelch that idea quickly.

When we got there we realized how high our seats really were.   We were 5 rows from the very top of this stadium and we did not have nose bleeds but some oxygen would of been nice.  

Once we got acclimated to being up this high and realizing this was where we had to spend the game we settled down to have a good time.    We got some snacks and drinks and watched T-Rax, the Titans mascot do his stunts.    This was Jeremiah's first Pro Football Game so everything was new and the silly antics of T-Rax won all of us over quickly. 

The game was good.   It started out in favor of the Bears but the Titans soon ralied and finally pulled off a win by 1 point.   WHEW!!!!  

Below is a picture of took of the field from where we were.   We actually could see the players but if they had not shown the plays on the big screens I sure wouldn't of enjoyed the game as much.  

Daughter number one just left with her two in tow and the house is once again too quiet.   I think these two are very lucky to have a mom that will do just about anything within her power to make them happy.   I don't know many working mothers that would drive 16 hours in two days just so a son could go to a football game.   AND...in the process make an old woman pretty happy too.

I have to add a footnote here that Mark called this morning with good news all around.  He lives in Virginia Beach and was on our minds all week-end.   He was safe as the storm passed over him at his friends house.   They had a generator so watched a movie and played cards to pass the time.   Today he went back to the house he has rented and it was DRY.  Neighbors told him they only lost their power for about 10 minutes.   Sorry all in that area did not fare as well as he.  

IRENE

This Saturday Mark will be right in the path of IRENE.    That darned song keeps running through my mind.  It was popular when I was in high school and we used to skate to it at the roller rink.

The new path of this monster storm goes right over the top of Norfolk.   I'm hoping it moves back east. 

I wish he would leave the area but in my heart I know he won't.   His new squeeze is there and that's where he will stay.  

Suzette and Jordan are down in Pinehurst, N.C., a little safer but will have lots of wind and rain I expect.

So...as Kim is driving down here Sat. and later the boys and I are at the game Mark will be hanging on.   I hope they are safe.   So many people will be affected by this.  

I'm glad I'll have the game to keep my mind off it.

SHORTER DAYS

I know, the days are not getting shorter but our daylight hours are.   I LOVE to walk early in the morning before anyone else is up and out.  No cars coming over the small hills we have here - most of them drive in the middle of the road and go faster than they should in a small sub-division like ours. 

For several weeks I was able to leave our front door at 5:45, then a little later, now it's after 6 before daylight dawns and I can walk.

We have tall phlox beside our front step nd this beautiful black butterfly is there quite often in the afternoon.  The other day I decided he needed to be in a blog but he left when he saw me.  

I went out back to the deck and there he was, after the necter of a scraggly old verbena.  It must of tasted good for he stayed quite awhile.

We have a neighbor with a magnolia tree.   I think they are beautiful but a little too southern for me.   They bloom in the early summer but this one is blooming now.  I also have some creeping phlox poking their dainty blooms up when they are usually an early Spring bloomer.  I like them all - anytime they want to come visit.

WHAT TO DO

Most of you know I'm going to the Titan/Bears football game Saturday night with two of my favorite men,  Jeremiah and Benjamin.  

I am SO looking forward to this and the weather report looks good.   Since we are sitting in the top limbs of the trees I'm glad it isn't forcasting rain or worse yet a thunder storm.

So...that's one bridge crossed.  Another is parking.  A good friend has a parking pass on the grounds and is giving it to me and she will ride in with other friends.     I don't mind walking across the foot bridge but have only done it in sunshine, not 10:30 at night with two young men.

Then I kept thinking, what am I to do with these two if they have to use the bathroom.   Connie pretty much solved it when she said Benjamin knows he has to go in with her in public places.     Jeremiah has permission to go alone to the mens but will do as I ask.  We'll see what the situation is. 

So...we are all ready.  I know where the tickets are and time to begin to get excited.

Last night I did have a crazy dream.   I dreamed I was in this really big building and no one would let me use the bathroom.   I was running around asking people everywhere but they would send me in another direction. I finally woke up.    WHEW!!!!!  Ain't life grand?

Musical Instruments

After reading Kim's blog this morning Ted and I were talking about our own kids and their band instruments.

Kim started out with a trumpet but didn't seem to care for it so we didn't buy it.    Jill played the Viola for awhile but I wasn't very receptive of it and she finally just gave it up too.   Sorry Jill.

Connie had a clarinet and I have no idea where we bought it but I do know it was a conglomeration (that is a word)  of three different clairnets.     

When we moved to Brentwood she had a friend that played clairnet and I asked Connie if Angie's clairnet was wood or plastic.   She said "She has both".    I do remember Connie was first chair most of the time she played - even if her clairnet was put together from three others.  

Mark had a used saxiphone and then also played Tuba.   I wanted to play Tuba part of the time in Marching Band but they wouldn't let me.   I WAS A GIRL.  

STIRRED MEMORIES

I went to the library yesterday to get a book a friend had suggested.   On my way I was listening to NPR and they were interviewing an author, Gail Caldwell.  She was talking about the book "Let's Take The Long Way Home" she wrote about her friend, Caroline Knapp.  Caroline died of lung cancer but the story is about their deep friendship and love of dogs, each other, and life. 

It stirred memories of a good friend I lost 40 years ago.  I cannot believe it has been that long.   She, too, had cancer only it was everywhere in her body. 

Peggy was like a sister to me.  She knew me inside and out; the good, the bad, and the ugly and still loved me.  We met because we were both new in the neighborhood on Fell Ave and most of the other residents were older.   We started getting to know each other best when our two oldest went into Kindergarten together.   She could get up in front of a PTA meeting and talk like a pro.    I never did have the ability to do that.   I could tell her anything and knew it wsn't going to go any further.

My kids LOVED going there.   She let them walk on the furniture, play with anything, took us swimming at State Farm Park or took us out to her parents farm outside of Danvers.  They had a beautiful big front porch and every time I'd go if she saw me drive in she'd come to the door, open it and say "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?"    I can see her yet.

This book is about the grief Gail went through when Caroline died.   I remember some of the same things happening to me.  Sometimes I would miss her so much.   I think there are times I still miss her almost as much.   We had the most fun together.  

We both watched soaps because we were stay-at-home mom's and that's what we did then.   One day we went to Danvers to her parents and missed one of our favorites.   When we got home she found out one of the main characters had died in the program that day.   She called me and was all upset.   I had to laugh, I said, "Peggy, it's a T.V. show"    We both would laugh at the silly things.  

When I went in to see her one time after I got pregnant with Mark she looked at me, gave me a hug, and said, "You are so happy pregnant, you glow"    

I still have friends but friends are like your children.   Each one is different and you love them all.   I've learned to hang on to the one's I have left.   At my age we really never do know what tomorrow will bring.

MODERN TECHNOLOGY

As I was walking this morning I got to thinking of all the wonderful things we enjoy in our lives.   I'm not very good with new technology but cannot imagine living without a computer now and email and all we can do with those.

I just "chatted"  with our friends from Australia.   My heavens, that seems impossible when I stop and think about it.   I can chat with friends in Ill, Ind, VA, all over and not have to pay a cent extra.   That  probably won't last forever.

And...I remember when we got our first computer.    Someone I knew had a printer.  I remember us talking about how nice that would be "now and then" but we really didn't think we would use one much.   HA!    Mine broke this week but since it's only a year old and I bought a 3 yr warranty I get a new one after my paper works arrives.    I can't print it off the computer so they are sending it snail mail.  

I print pictures of all the things I make on mine and have pictures of a quilt, and two dresses for little girls in Africa waiting to be printed.    This saves me a trip to town to get them printed off my camera, much less whatever that costs. 

We live in a wonderful age.   I love it.  I just don't think we appreciate it sometimes like we should.   I know I don't.

THE BAG LADY

Last night I went to West End United Methodist Church for dinner and a movie.

The lady Jill works for serves dinner some Wednesday nights and usually has a movie to make us think.   This was about plastic bags and was very good.

First though I got to see Jill selling the canned goods Martha does herself.   Her husband has a stand too with organic food he raises.

Then I got to see Sam and some of his friends and before I left I got to see Tim.   WOW!!!   Had no idea I'd get to see so many.   Jill took time out to come eat dinner with me and it was nice to have a little while with her.

The dinner was delicious.  Baked chicken, corn pudding, some squash in a wonderful sauce, a roll, lemonade or coffee, or water (in glass glasses no less), and some of the best lemon cake I have EVER eaten.   Lemon refrigerator cake.   Boy, it was GOOD.

Before the dinner I was priviledged to meet THE BAG LADY.    Three years ago she decided to make her own shopping bags.   Some of her students at Belmont University saw these and insisted she have a blog and make them.   She GIVES them away.   She and several of her friends make them and they go around to different places to give them to people and try to impress on them that we should NOT be using plastic OR paper.   Each bag has a label with her name, web page, email, and a number.   I received number 17,040. 

Then the movie was very informative.   A lot of it I had heard before but one thing was new.   The man that narrated the movie even had small bags he used for our produce, apples, peaches, corn, etc.   That never occured to me but those bags are plastic too.

This may just be something I decide to try and make for family and friends IF they would use them.   I guess first I have to be sure I USE THEM.

A VERY GOOD DAY

I'm very frustrated because I still cannot comment on anyone's blog and just read the last two of Kim's and really, really wanted to comment on one of them. 

BUT...on a brighter note I am VERY excited about getting tickets to the Titan/Bears game the 27th of August.   I'm not sure just who is going yet, except Jeremiah, but they had 3 tickets together so I just bought all 3.  I bet someone from this house will fill all of them.

I can't wait to see Jeremiah.  I remember the first NFL game I went to.  It was SO much fun and I was - well a LOT older than he is.   It was so cold we nearly froze.   I had on long underware, jeans, my winter coat and gloves and still got very cold, but it was worth all of it.

The seats are on the Bears side of the field and at this game it doesn't matter one iota which side we sit on because we all like both teams.

So...on a hot Saturday August night ya'all think of 3 of the Tingley Clan going to see a Bears/Titans game.  We'll let you know later who got to go.

Life Gets so Complicated

Sometimes it seems things just don't work quite like we think they should.

First thing this morning I went to Lewisburg to see what kind of a deal we could make on a new Cruze.  Well, of course that got a little messy and he acted like I really wasn't too smart which didn't set well.   They offered us coffee money for our car and since I really like my car and have no problems with it will probably keep it.

I did drive a new Cruze and LOVED it but not sure I loved it $20,000  worth. 

Just tried to  call Verizon and opt out of some Privacy thing they sent with my bill.   I don't quite understand it but said if we didn't call they would assume we wanted it.    By opting out I'm telling them to leave my information alone and not to share it.

That call went pretty well.   I hung up and my cell phone rang asking if I would take a short survey about my recent phone call.   Of course I got a machine - no one has real people working for them anymore.    We just use a machine because it's cheaper and apparently they can't understand their directions.

They said if the call was satisfactory to press "1".    I did that.   Then they said, "They were sorry, the response didn't get through"    So I did it again and was told the same thing.   Finally after pressing
"1"  three times I hung up.  

I'd really like to get on a slow boat somewhere about now.

NEIGHBORHOOD PARTY

Today one of our more controversal neighbors has invited all of us to their house for food, fun, music, and socialization.

I just walked by their house and they have a BIG tent, some porta potties right next to it and some kind of huge toy for the kids to be blown up later.

The lady that lived there led a rather colorful life.   We never had any problems but a couple of the neighbors called the Sheriff a time or two.    I see one of those neighbors has a "DO NOT CROSS" tape up surrounding the part of her yard that might be used for parking.  I kind of get the idea these two really don't like each other.

We will probably go over for a little while.   I'd like to see just what this new man in her life is like.   He did a neat addition to her house, put in a HUGE garden, bought the one free lot in the neighborhood and now has purchased the entrance.   None of us are happy that this was sold, BUT...at least he mowed it.   He appears to be trying to put up some kind of fence and who knows what might be going in there.

More on this saga tomorrow or whenever the spirit moves me.

JUST ONE OF THOSE DAYS

Wednesday night sometime we had a pretty good storm move through.   I woke up enough to know it was coming.   I love listening to the thunder roll in but this took a long time getting here.   Once it started to rain I fell back asleep.

I woke up and my clock said 4:55 which is a good time for me to get up.   I made my bed, stopped to pee and came in here to see if I could set up a new blog.

I couldn't get my computer to go on line then realized I had to go plug Ted's in.   Of course I made more noise than I wanted to but did get it plugged in.  Mine won't come on unless he is plugged in too.

When my computer got booted up I saw it said 3 a.m.   That had never happened but my computer has been doing some weird stuff lately so I changed the time to 5.   Made sense to me.

I did get a new blog set up and answered email and my clock said it was 5 till 6.   I usually go get on some old clothes and take a walk but it was still pitch dark out.   Thinking that was really strange I checked a clock we have in the kitchen that is set automatically to be CORRECT.   It said 5 till 4. 

Why my clock in the bedroom jumped ahead 2 hours instead of blinking at me I'll never know.   So...I went back to bed for another couple of hours before finally getting up.  

I was pretty careful what I did the rest of the day.   One thing was I didn't want to make another big mistake for fear Ted might actually call the men in the white coats to come get me.

WHAT ALL CAN THEY CUT FROM THE POOR

I guess Washington finally got off the pot and did something today.  We aren't going to like this I'm afraid.  They didn't say WHAT they were cutting, but I can guess what will be going first.   Certainly they did not raise taxes for the rich.   HEAVEN forbid.   Or cut Farm Subsidies. 

On the news this evening they have cut the help people get with their rent, utilities and presciptions.   That's a good place to start.   Most of these people don't have anything anyway so why not cut their help in half.   They are just the poor.   Who gives a shit?

The next thing I heard was to cut spending for our military.   Now does that mean we can bring our men and women home?  

Sorry to be so negative but I'm just a little pissed right now.   We already have twice the amount of homeless in Nashville we had 5 years ago.   Last year when school started we heard there were over 400 more homeless children in public schools.     I didn't have much when I was growing up but by golly I had a home and didn't have to live on the street and try to go to school.   I can't even begin to imagine that.

I hope these well dress, high paid, legislaters can sleep tonight.   I don't think I will much.