For one day I would like to be one of our cats. I would like it to be on a day when Jacob is not home because he is not always pleasant to the cats. He is not down right mean, just cantankerous. Particularly to Emmitt who has a tendency to yell about nothing all the time. If Jacob were home, then I would want to be Elsa for the day. If Jacob were not home, then I would want to be Sophie for the day. I don't think I would ever want to be Emmitt for the day because he is really high strung and doesn't relax as much as I am planning on relaxing on my one day as a kittie.
So here is how my day is gonna go when I am Sophie for the day. I will wake in the morning whenever who I am sleeping with wakes up, but I won't get up. In fact I will move little for the next hour or so. I may go from my warm spot above the covers to the extra warm spot under the covers. Elsa will probably beat me to it and even though she is afraid of me, I won't want to start something that early in the day. After my morning nap, I will go eat something and then drink out of the dog water dish. The basement water is not to my liking. If it is before 9AM, the heat register will kick on one more time and I will sit on that until it quits for much of the day. I will will all the heat to be absorbed into my little body. I will then do one of two things, find a sun spot or find another warm spot to sleep away the day.
On the way to where ever I am going to rest, I will throw up. I will try to throw up on a blanket or carpet. I realize that I will have to go out of my way to throw up on the carpet unless I am heading upstairs. But what's the fun of gagging for half an hour if I can't spew half eaten cat food on the comfy throw on the couch or leave orange and brown vomit on gray carpeting.
I will probably sleep the day away in the basement. I am not allowed in Jacob's room so I will settle in on the little couch. Elsa will join me there and Emmitt will lay on the edge of the couch until I look at him sideways then he will go lay on the floor. I know he outweighs me by eight pounds, but I rule this roost.
The basement is the warmest place in the house during the day, unless Danny is sleeping and then I try my hardest to get in his room. But he is pretty quick at throwing me (and I mean that literally) out when I start gagging.
When I am a kitty for the day, I will plan it for a day when there are lots of people home in the evening. That way I am guaranteed many laps to lay in. It would be especially nice if we had company so I could get extra attention from people that didn't know I was such a needy little cat. Oh, I can see it now, warm lap to warm lap to warm lap. I would curl up just like a baby. Yeah, that would be alright.
If I chose to be Elsa for a day, I would probably find a blanket to burrow into and stay there the entire day. I would get to be bitchy and grouchy and would not have to be polite to anyone. I would also get to sit in a darkened doorway and blink a lot. No one would be able to see me until the light caught my eyes just so. Jacob would come to my defenses whenever I was laying where Sophie wanted to lay and she was going to kick me out. I would also get my fill of Wild West Treats from Danny because he spoils me.
That would be an alright day. Being any one of the cats, finding a sun spot, sleeping the day away! Yeah, I could probably handle that for one day, or until I had to pee in a sand filled box in front of God and the washing machine!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Going Green
I want to be environmental and ecological and responsible. But it is hard. And often more expensive! And sometimes, no fun at all. I recently read an article about a family that threw away just about nothing because they were ubber unwasteful! The mom took mason jars to the deli so she didn't get the meat wrapped. The kids got experiences for their birthdays instead of stuff. They recycled and reused and composted. It was very interesting and I was jealous. But I am more lazy than jealous so I can promise you that I will not be taking mason jars to the deli so I can carry home my sliced ham in them instead of the shiny white paper that I have grown accustom to!
Here is what I do to be green. Granted, some days I am the really light green that almost looks yellow. Yellow-green is what Crayola calls it. But other days, I am a pretty vibrant green like the Sinful nail polish color Irish Green. I don't think I will ever make it to kelly green or forest green. But I will strive for that.
Anyway, I have switched as much as I can to email so I don't get paper bills. But I still get magazines because I don't want to take my e reader in the tub or to the pool or to work. So those two kind of cancel each other out. But I do pass my magazines on to others so they are read more than once.
I use energy efficient light bulbs in about three fourths of the fixtures in my house. I have yet to find a good outside one that is bright right off the bat and can withstand the cold weather. My current energy efficient bulbs that are on the garage take twenty minutes to get bright and I am not exaggerating. Harlow can go outside, dink around, go pee, dink around so more, go to the fence and bark at nothing, search the yard for a good place to poop, decide that that isn't a good place to poop, dink around behind the deck, roll around in the dry leaves, poop, run to the fence, perk her ears up at some sound, look at me for explanation of sound, dink around in the leaves by the garage, sit on the back door stoop and be let in. Just as I am about to flip off the garage lights, they shine at their brightest.
I wash most everything in cold/cold but I don't air dry much of anything. I wouldn't mind a clothes line, but someone in the house doesn't like stiff, scratchy line dried clothes. I use a dishwasher and run it when it is full but I don't use the dry cycle.
I don't buy water bottles but do get five gallon bottles filled at Hy Vee. And say whatever you want about that, but I can taste a difference. We did try a filter on the tap and a pitcher with a filter, but neither of these worked out for us. The tap filter didn't fit the faucet and the pitcher never got used.
Danny and I bought fuel efficient cars. That is our biggest green thing at the moment, but any good that we have done will be offset by the plane trip we take this April. So much for lowering that carbon footprint.
Many of the greens steps we have taken are green in two ways, environmentally and economically. We have installed better windows and doors. We put in a heat blanket in the attic and we have a high efficiency washer. The blanket has done such a good job for us that our heating bill is lower now with the blanket AND running the hot tub than it was before the blanket and the hot tub.
I search online for more tips but so much of what I find just isn't feasible. We can't have a goat mow the yard. I will not bike or rollerblade to work. The city will not allow me to erect a windmill in the yard. But I could plant more local plants in the yard. I could have one day a week that I don't drive the car. I could even email companies to encourage them to reduce their packaging.
You know though, Kermit is right, it isn't easy being green. It takes thought and effort. It takes being diligent about turning off everything and even never plugging some stuff in in the first place. It means looking at what I am buying and if I need to buy it in the first place. It means shopping local, living local. It means trying to think of a larger picture than the one I am starring in. Greater good and all that feel good mumbo jumbo. But as Kermit said,
I am green and it'll do fine
It's beautiful!
And I think it's what I want to be!
Here is what I do to be green. Granted, some days I am the really light green that almost looks yellow. Yellow-green is what Crayola calls it. But other days, I am a pretty vibrant green like the Sinful nail polish color Irish Green. I don't think I will ever make it to kelly green or forest green. But I will strive for that.
Anyway, I have switched as much as I can to email so I don't get paper bills. But I still get magazines because I don't want to take my e reader in the tub or to the pool or to work. So those two kind of cancel each other out. But I do pass my magazines on to others so they are read more than once.
I use energy efficient light bulbs in about three fourths of the fixtures in my house. I have yet to find a good outside one that is bright right off the bat and can withstand the cold weather. My current energy efficient bulbs that are on the garage take twenty minutes to get bright and I am not exaggerating. Harlow can go outside, dink around, go pee, dink around so more, go to the fence and bark at nothing, search the yard for a good place to poop, decide that that isn't a good place to poop, dink around behind the deck, roll around in the dry leaves, poop, run to the fence, perk her ears up at some sound, look at me for explanation of sound, dink around in the leaves by the garage, sit on the back door stoop and be let in. Just as I am about to flip off the garage lights, they shine at their brightest.
I wash most everything in cold/cold but I don't air dry much of anything. I wouldn't mind a clothes line, but someone in the house doesn't like stiff, scratchy line dried clothes. I use a dishwasher and run it when it is full but I don't use the dry cycle.
I don't buy water bottles but do get five gallon bottles filled at Hy Vee. And say whatever you want about that, but I can taste a difference. We did try a filter on the tap and a pitcher with a filter, but neither of these worked out for us. The tap filter didn't fit the faucet and the pitcher never got used.
Danny and I bought fuel efficient cars. That is our biggest green thing at the moment, but any good that we have done will be offset by the plane trip we take this April. So much for lowering that carbon footprint.
Many of the greens steps we have taken are green in two ways, environmentally and economically. We have installed better windows and doors. We put in a heat blanket in the attic and we have a high efficiency washer. The blanket has done such a good job for us that our heating bill is lower now with the blanket AND running the hot tub than it was before the blanket and the hot tub.
I search online for more tips but so much of what I find just isn't feasible. We can't have a goat mow the yard. I will not bike or rollerblade to work. The city will not allow me to erect a windmill in the yard. But I could plant more local plants in the yard. I could have one day a week that I don't drive the car. I could even email companies to encourage them to reduce their packaging.
You know though, Kermit is right, it isn't easy being green. It takes thought and effort. It takes being diligent about turning off everything and even never plugging some stuff in in the first place. It means looking at what I am buying and if I need to buy it in the first place. It means shopping local, living local. It means trying to think of a larger picture than the one I am starring in. Greater good and all that feel good mumbo jumbo. But as Kermit said,
I am green and it'll do fine
It's beautiful!
And I think it's what I want to be!
Monday, January 9, 2012
Gone Surfing
It was about two years ago when we took our trip Make a Wish Trip to Australia. There were a lot of really amazing parts, bridge climbing, koala bear petting, Outback Resturant dining and surfing. I wanted nothing to do with this particular part of the wish. Now, before you start in on me about how it was Ashlyn's wish and she survived cancer and Hayley donated life saving marrow and Jacob was half my age and he wasn't chicken blah, blah, blah. I am terrified of water that is deeper, darker and bigger than me. In other words, I like swimming pools, shallow streams, the very edge of the Pacific Ocean.
Anyway, back to this part of the wish. Ashlyn wanted to go surfing. Danny, Hayley and Jacob were all pretty stoked about it. See, I am not against surfing, I know the lingo. I just know that I did not want to go that far into the ocean. I cannot swim. I have no upper body strength. I have an unnatural fear of sharks and pirates. (The pirate fear is why I won't go on a cruise!). But there I was, knee deep in the Pacific Ocean. I was in my super cool wetsuit. I had my board. I had a real life Australian Surfer Guy to show me how to surf. He had the zinc oxide and the surfer terms and everything! (He also had a huge tolerance for Dumbasses from America!)
There are a lot of steps to surfing. I don't remember what they all were because I never mastered any of them. I know that I started out on the board and ended in the water. Over and over again. Danny and the kids managed to get their feet out from under them and rode a wave or two into the beach, but not me. And that was perfectly OK. I had no intention of leaving New South Wales a proficient surfer. Considering I came to New South Wales with no intention of even trying surfing, I think wiping out a couple of dozen times was pretty cool.
After the lesson was over, the boards were put away, the wet suits returned and the certificates signed (yes, I am a certified surfer, not really but I do have a certificate from a surfing place in Bondi Beach and that is good enough for me) I began the tedious task of telling Danny, Ashlyn, Hayley and Jacob that they were right. Surfing, or my version of it, is fun and not that scary. The chances of me being eaten by a shark were none. I didn't even have to go out into the deep, I could touch the whole time. So in a nutshell, they were all right and I was all wrong. Who knew?
Now, this rationale will not get me to jump out of a plane or bungee jump or run with the bulls. But it will get me to think twice before I completely poo-poo something. Oh, I will probably poo poo it, because that is my M.O. but I will relent and do whatever it is they want me to do and I will end up loving it. And I will end up telling them that they were right and I was wrong.
So the next time you see me with sheepish grin, head hanging down, scuffing feet along the pavement, you'll know that I just had a great time doing something I was adament that I would hate!
Anyway, back to this part of the wish. Ashlyn wanted to go surfing. Danny, Hayley and Jacob were all pretty stoked about it. See, I am not against surfing, I know the lingo. I just know that I did not want to go that far into the ocean. I cannot swim. I have no upper body strength. I have an unnatural fear of sharks and pirates. (The pirate fear is why I won't go on a cruise!). But there I was, knee deep in the Pacific Ocean. I was in my super cool wetsuit. I had my board. I had a real life Australian Surfer Guy to show me how to surf. He had the zinc oxide and the surfer terms and everything! (He also had a huge tolerance for Dumbasses from America!)
There are a lot of steps to surfing. I don't remember what they all were because I never mastered any of them. I know that I started out on the board and ended in the water. Over and over again. Danny and the kids managed to get their feet out from under them and rode a wave or two into the beach, but not me. And that was perfectly OK. I had no intention of leaving New South Wales a proficient surfer. Considering I came to New South Wales with no intention of even trying surfing, I think wiping out a couple of dozen times was pretty cool.
After the lesson was over, the boards were put away, the wet suits returned and the certificates signed (yes, I am a certified surfer, not really but I do have a certificate from a surfing place in Bondi Beach and that is good enough for me) I began the tedious task of telling Danny, Ashlyn, Hayley and Jacob that they were right. Surfing, or my version of it, is fun and not that scary. The chances of me being eaten by a shark were none. I didn't even have to go out into the deep, I could touch the whole time. So in a nutshell, they were all right and I was all wrong. Who knew?
Now, this rationale will not get me to jump out of a plane or bungee jump or run with the bulls. But it will get me to think twice before I completely poo-poo something. Oh, I will probably poo poo it, because that is my M.O. but I will relent and do whatever it is they want me to do and I will end up loving it. And I will end up telling them that they were right and I was wrong.
So the next time you see me with sheepish grin, head hanging down, scuffing feet along the pavement, you'll know that I just had a great time doing something I was adament that I would hate!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
All's Well that End's Well
It was one of those weeks. Last week, I am glad it is over. Nothing really bad came of any of it, but there were moments when it felt like it was going to be bad.
Ashlyn left for London. That wasn't particularly stressful except for the fact that she had a doctor's appointment on the day before and had had this lingering cough and they wanted to do a CATscan and...So my mind is racing with what if's and then what's. Ashlyn informed me that she was going to London regardless of test results so it really didn't matter, and there were doctors in London if something had to be treated.
Turned out that all was well and good. Ashlyn had a little scar tissue on her lung. That will take care of itself, cough was diminishing. Trip went ahead as scheduled.
Ashlyn flew out on Wednesday from Chicago. Danny drove her to the airport after very little sleep the night before. He had to pull some extra hours with the Occupiers and Caucus nonsense. So I was concerned with the driving and the being tired and such.
Danny got Ashlyn to the airport in plenty of time. He stopped outside of Chicago and got a hotel room. He got plenty of sleep and arrived home in tip top condition.
Hayley had to leave her futon at UNI before winter break. She was able to get all of her stuff home but that. Her roommate was bringing up her own futon so Hayley needed to get hers out ASAP. But there wasn't a time that was working. Also, the day Ashlyn headed to London, Hayley started to transform her room into her very own room. Now I had intended to have all of my stuff out of there before she moved home, but that didn't quite happen so Hayley had to deal with getting my stuff out and her stuff situated.
Hayley's roommate's parents brought the futon to our house after they dropped off the new futon at UNI. All of the extra stuff in Hayley's room slid nicely into my room with little effort. Hayley now has her own little space at our house that maybe feels a bit like her dorm room without the crazy friend down the hall.
Harlow hadn't been eating much for about a week. I chalked it up to new medicine and a lot happening around here. Wednesday night she threw up followed by blood in her stool. These were now the symptoms of the poisoning that our pup died of in 2004. It was late, the vet was closed. The emergency vet costs a fortune. Danny was already asleep. I was up and down much of the night with Harlow worried and berating myself for not taking her to the ER.
Thursday morning Harlow ate a little. She survived the trip to the vet without any issues and after her thorough exam, was deemed fit and fine. Turns out that Harlow just had a bit of tummy trouble. Nothing an bland diet and a few pills couldn't take care of. Three days later and I would never have guessed that Harlow had any ailments in the previous week. She is back to her ole goofy self. The only thing is sticking my hand half way down her throat to administer pills.
While I am at the vet on Thursday I get a call from the assistant principal at Valley. There has been an incident and Jacob is fine, but (Holy cow lady, can you draw this out any longer?!) a student had an outburst at the study hall teacher and attempted to throw an overhead projector at the teacher. The projector was still plugged in so instead of going forward, it snapped back and hit Jacob in the arm (three spots) and the head. I wanted him to come home, I wanted to go to the doctor to make sure he didn't have a concussion. Jacob wanted to stay in school and let things be.
Jacob came home from school that evening with a sore arm and a headache, but not too much worse for wear. I don't know how this one will end. The student had charges pressed against him. Whether Jacob will ever have to participate in any type of proceeding, I don't know. Jacob wears his projector scars as badges of courage and honor and dumb luck.
So when Friday arrived uneventfully, I was glad. When Saturday came and went without any hitches, I was over the moon. When Sunday woke me with Ashlyn safely in London, Danny sound asleep next to me, Hayley set up in her little efficiency and Jacob in the clear of all mobile school supplies, I felt very thankful that all is well.
Ashlyn left for London. That wasn't particularly stressful except for the fact that she had a doctor's appointment on the day before and had had this lingering cough and they wanted to do a CATscan and...So my mind is racing with what if's and then what's. Ashlyn informed me that she was going to London regardless of test results so it really didn't matter, and there were doctors in London if something had to be treated.
Turned out that all was well and good. Ashlyn had a little scar tissue on her lung. That will take care of itself, cough was diminishing. Trip went ahead as scheduled.
Ashlyn flew out on Wednesday from Chicago. Danny drove her to the airport after very little sleep the night before. He had to pull some extra hours with the Occupiers and Caucus nonsense. So I was concerned with the driving and the being tired and such.
Danny got Ashlyn to the airport in plenty of time. He stopped outside of Chicago and got a hotel room. He got plenty of sleep and arrived home in tip top condition.
Hayley had to leave her futon at UNI before winter break. She was able to get all of her stuff home but that. Her roommate was bringing up her own futon so Hayley needed to get hers out ASAP. But there wasn't a time that was working. Also, the day Ashlyn headed to London, Hayley started to transform her room into her very own room. Now I had intended to have all of my stuff out of there before she moved home, but that didn't quite happen so Hayley had to deal with getting my stuff out and her stuff situated.
Hayley's roommate's parents brought the futon to our house after they dropped off the new futon at UNI. All of the extra stuff in Hayley's room slid nicely into my room with little effort. Hayley now has her own little space at our house that maybe feels a bit like her dorm room without the crazy friend down the hall.
Harlow hadn't been eating much for about a week. I chalked it up to new medicine and a lot happening around here. Wednesday night she threw up followed by blood in her stool. These were now the symptoms of the poisoning that our pup died of in 2004. It was late, the vet was closed. The emergency vet costs a fortune. Danny was already asleep. I was up and down much of the night with Harlow worried and berating myself for not taking her to the ER.
Thursday morning Harlow ate a little. She survived the trip to the vet without any issues and after her thorough exam, was deemed fit and fine. Turns out that Harlow just had a bit of tummy trouble. Nothing an bland diet and a few pills couldn't take care of. Three days later and I would never have guessed that Harlow had any ailments in the previous week. She is back to her ole goofy self. The only thing is sticking my hand half way down her throat to administer pills.
While I am at the vet on Thursday I get a call from the assistant principal at Valley. There has been an incident and Jacob is fine, but (Holy cow lady, can you draw this out any longer?!) a student had an outburst at the study hall teacher and attempted to throw an overhead projector at the teacher. The projector was still plugged in so instead of going forward, it snapped back and hit Jacob in the arm (three spots) and the head. I wanted him to come home, I wanted to go to the doctor to make sure he didn't have a concussion. Jacob wanted to stay in school and let things be.
Jacob came home from school that evening with a sore arm and a headache, but not too much worse for wear. I don't know how this one will end. The student had charges pressed against him. Whether Jacob will ever have to participate in any type of proceeding, I don't know. Jacob wears his projector scars as badges of courage and honor and dumb luck.
So when Friday arrived uneventfully, I was glad. When Saturday came and went without any hitches, I was over the moon. When Sunday woke me with Ashlyn safely in London, Danny sound asleep next to me, Hayley set up in her little efficiency and Jacob in the clear of all mobile school supplies, I felt very thankful that all is well.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Make Me Beautiful
One afternoon, a very nice looking woman in the fifty age range came into the store. She was griping about how the magazines tell her to not wear shimmery eye shadow because it will age her, but that all she found on the shelf was shimmery eye shadow. I agreed with her, the majority of the eye shadows had some shimmer to them. (Revlon had come out with a line of matte shadows that did not sell well in the drugstore market, and they were discontinued.) But I also suggested that she wear whatever makes her feel beautiful and her response broke my heart. "Nothing makes me feel beautiful."
Ok, we have all had days like that, I am sure. I hope that this was one of those days for her. Something told me that is wasn't just the day, but really was how she felt about herself. During our interaction, she never smiled. She was frustrated at the mixed signals that she got from the industry that should be helping her. She was frustrated that I could not pull the magic elixir off the shelf. I was frustrated that I couldn't help her either. I could not, can not make someone see themselves as beautiful. I can say it, but they have to believe it.
When I look in the mirror, I see the flaws caused by too much sun. My Aunt Rosanne warned me and I didn't listen. I now put a little lemon juice on those spots and I am seeing them fade. I am also putting a SPF on my face every day to try and protect what is left of my mother's genetic gift. I also see the lines across my forehead. They are more prominent at the hair salon, I suppose it is the lighting and the constant mirror staring. I don't love these lines, but I definitely own them. I don't think they are frown lines, I don't frown that often, but worry lines, perhaps. I have had some cause to worry these past few years. A little high quality face cream does seem to be doing the trick and the lines are fading slightly. I read up on what tricks of trade will hide or highlight what I would like to hide and highlight. With a little effort, I can leave the mirror looking pretty nice. That is not what makes me beautiful though.
Beautiful is the smile I share with the struggling mom with the frustrated child that does not want to stay in the cart. My smile (your smile) can go a long way to make her feel less judged and more able to cope with the matter at hand. Beautiful is the look in my eyes when the elderly lady cannot find the perfect shade of coral lipstick. (By the way, the perfect shade of coral lipstick is getting harder to find as the drugstore lines fazes them out for more youthful trends. It is sad that the generation that really ignited the make up industry has been all but forgotten by them now.) Beautiful is the time we take to listen with the ears decorated with diamond studs, huge loops or dangling snowmen. Beautiful is the whole package and it really does come from the inside.
Beautiful also seems to be the way a fella looks at his gal. I am lucky enough to have a job that gives me a lot of interaction with the retired set. So many of these couples are still so head over hills for each other and they look at each other with such love. They also treat each other with such love. I think that adds to the beauty of it all!
Do I think I am beautiful? Sometimes, sometimes not. Sometimes I think I am pretty frickin ugly. I tend to believe that pretty is only skin deep, but beautiful and ugly goes all the way in.
Ok, we have all had days like that, I am sure. I hope that this was one of those days for her. Something told me that is wasn't just the day, but really was how she felt about herself. During our interaction, she never smiled. She was frustrated at the mixed signals that she got from the industry that should be helping her. She was frustrated that I could not pull the magic elixir off the shelf. I was frustrated that I couldn't help her either. I could not, can not make someone see themselves as beautiful. I can say it, but they have to believe it.
When I look in the mirror, I see the flaws caused by too much sun. My Aunt Rosanne warned me and I didn't listen. I now put a little lemon juice on those spots and I am seeing them fade. I am also putting a SPF on my face every day to try and protect what is left of my mother's genetic gift. I also see the lines across my forehead. They are more prominent at the hair salon, I suppose it is the lighting and the constant mirror staring. I don't love these lines, but I definitely own them. I don't think they are frown lines, I don't frown that often, but worry lines, perhaps. I have had some cause to worry these past few years. A little high quality face cream does seem to be doing the trick and the lines are fading slightly. I read up on what tricks of trade will hide or highlight what I would like to hide and highlight. With a little effort, I can leave the mirror looking pretty nice. That is not what makes me beautiful though.
Beautiful is the smile I share with the struggling mom with the frustrated child that does not want to stay in the cart. My smile (your smile) can go a long way to make her feel less judged and more able to cope with the matter at hand. Beautiful is the look in my eyes when the elderly lady cannot find the perfect shade of coral lipstick. (By the way, the perfect shade of coral lipstick is getting harder to find as the drugstore lines fazes them out for more youthful trends. It is sad that the generation that really ignited the make up industry has been all but forgotten by them now.) Beautiful is the time we take to listen with the ears decorated with diamond studs, huge loops or dangling snowmen. Beautiful is the whole package and it really does come from the inside.
Beautiful also seems to be the way a fella looks at his gal. I am lucky enough to have a job that gives me a lot of interaction with the retired set. So many of these couples are still so head over hills for each other and they look at each other with such love. They also treat each other with such love. I think that adds to the beauty of it all!
Do I think I am beautiful? Sometimes, sometimes not. Sometimes I think I am pretty frickin ugly. I tend to believe that pretty is only skin deep, but beautiful and ugly goes all the way in.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Reaching Her Goal
Where were you three years ago? We had just celebrated Christmas and were preparing for the unknown. It was January of 2009. One daughter was gravely ill and the other daughter was set to save her life. I made only one resolution that year, to keep this family. By the grace of God and the amazing medical staff at Blank and University of Iowa Hospital, I was able.
I mention this today for one reason. Ashlyn is raising money for Dance Marathon which donates all of its proceeds to the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. Ashlyn will not be participating in the event this year as she will be in London. She has already served on the planning committee in the fall. Last year, she was a moral dancer. The previous year, her freshman year at Iowa State, she was a dance.
The year prior to that, she was a patient surfing the web on a laptop in her room. She was enjoying the tropical view of the fish in the tank in the hall in her specialized ward. She was reaping the benefits of weekly massages from the visiting therapist. Outside of her room, there were hundreds of other children on laptops, playing games, doing crafts because of Dance Marathon. And the parents of those children were able to go to a quiet room to catch their breath, grab something to eat, pretend to unwind with a book or movie.
This year, Ashlyn has set a goal of $500.00. Pretty lofty, perhaps. But I have seen this girl of mine set some pretty high goals in the past, and breeze right by them!
If you have ever spent any time in a hospital room with a child, then you understand how important the generosity of Dance Marathon is. If you haven't, then please count your blessings and maybe the change in your pocket and...
I mention this today for one reason. Ashlyn is raising money for Dance Marathon which donates all of its proceeds to the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. Ashlyn will not be participating in the event this year as she will be in London. She has already served on the planning committee in the fall. Last year, she was a moral dancer. The previous year, her freshman year at Iowa State, she was a dance.
The year prior to that, she was a patient surfing the web on a laptop in her room. She was enjoying the tropical view of the fish in the tank in the hall in her specialized ward. She was reaping the benefits of weekly massages from the visiting therapist. Outside of her room, there were hundreds of other children on laptops, playing games, doing crafts because of Dance Marathon. And the parents of those children were able to go to a quiet room to catch their breath, grab something to eat, pretend to unwind with a book or movie.
This year, Ashlyn has set a goal of $500.00. Pretty lofty, perhaps. But I have seen this girl of mine set some pretty high goals in the past, and breeze right by them!
If you have ever spent any time in a hospital room with a child, then you understand how important the generosity of Dance Marathon is. If you haven't, then please count your blessings and maybe the change in your pocket and...
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Her Bags are Packed
She's ready to go. She's standing there beside the door, and she will have to wake me up to say good bye. The dawn is breakin, it's early morn, Dad's waiting, blowing the horn. Already I'm so excited I could die!
...Cause she's leaving on a jet plane. I know when she'll be back again. And I am glad that she will go...
Forgive me, John Denver for mucking up your words, but where you were so sad to be leaving, I am not sad. No, quite the contrary, I am so excited. Obviously, I am not keen on Ashlyn being away from me for four months. I will miss her so very much. There will be no surprise weekend visits. She will not be here to cheer the Cowboys on to Super Bowl victory. Emmitt will not have someone to love him unconditionally.
But, Ashlyn will have adventure and culture and pubs. She will take on London as she took on Chicago, with delight.
This is Ashlyn's fourth trip to Europe. That sounds so ridiculous. The first trip was on Uncle Sam's dime and she lived there for four years. Her second trip was to Ireland with the Valley Marchmasters. Ashlyn marched in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin. The third trip was just a few weeks after her final surgery related to her treatment for leukemia. That trip was her victory tour.
And now, she heads to London to study at The London College of Fashion at the University of Arts of London. So you can see why I am not sad. I am thankful. Thankful that the travel bug bit her nearly at birth. Ashlyn drove cross country when she was three months old. She visited seven countries before she was seven. She has been on three of the seven continents.
Thankful that her grades are where they needed to be to qualify for this program. A job well done has always mattered to her. That ethic has taken her to Chicago for a summer and now, London.
But most of all, just thankful that this incredible young lady that I had a hand in creating is able to seek adventure.
...Cause she's leaving on a jet plane. I know when she'll be back again. And I am glad that she will go...
Forgive me, John Denver for mucking up your words, but where you were so sad to be leaving, I am not sad. No, quite the contrary, I am so excited. Obviously, I am not keen on Ashlyn being away from me for four months. I will miss her so very much. There will be no surprise weekend visits. She will not be here to cheer the Cowboys on to Super Bowl victory. Emmitt will not have someone to love him unconditionally.
But, Ashlyn will have adventure and culture and pubs. She will take on London as she took on Chicago, with delight.
This is Ashlyn's fourth trip to Europe. That sounds so ridiculous. The first trip was on Uncle Sam's dime and she lived there for four years. Her second trip was to Ireland with the Valley Marchmasters. Ashlyn marched in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin. The third trip was just a few weeks after her final surgery related to her treatment for leukemia. That trip was her victory tour.
And now, she heads to London to study at The London College of Fashion at the University of Arts of London. So you can see why I am not sad. I am thankful. Thankful that the travel bug bit her nearly at birth. Ashlyn drove cross country when she was three months old. She visited seven countries before she was seven. She has been on three of the seven continents.
Thankful that her grades are where they needed to be to qualify for this program. A job well done has always mattered to her. That ethic has taken her to Chicago for a summer and now, London.
But most of all, just thankful that this incredible young lady that I had a hand in creating is able to seek adventure.
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