Category: Junk Drawer

Home again, home again, jigitty jog.

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment

Dear Blogary,

I believe my first post within the past 7 days should be made to you, my most intimate keeper of my most not-so-secret thoughts.

Blogary, I returned late yesterday from a family trip to Coppell, TX. We visited my sister and her family, celebrating the high school graduation of her youngest son, as well as the college graduation of her oldest daughter. Fun was had by all.

Today, as I step into my first day back to work after vacation, I find I am drinking from the fire hose. Though I typically long to find distractions and diversions of the edible nature during ‘rushed’ times like these, I am actually enjoying the gushing work load and deadlines. [Blogary, please note, I am still finding ways to procrastinate and avoid the tasks at hand, but I am doing so without the help of food.]

We drove from Woodstock, GA to Coppell, TX in a rented mini-van, with my Mum as our guest passenger. We made the drive in two days, stopping in Minden, LA going to Texas, and stopping in Tuscaloosa, AL coming back from Texas. The drive was uneventful, which is a wonderful thing. Plus, I am thrilled to say the boys were fantastic in the car. And Blogary, as an added bonus, my Mum was fantastic in the car, too!

Some of my siblings also made the journey from Georgia to Texas, though they chose to travel by plane. [Whimps] Overall, our family trip could not have been better. The journey to and fro was easy and enjoyable. And, the time spent with family and friends was fantastically fun and enormously enjoyable.

Joe, Carson and Charlie. Note the black cups containing bugs.

Blogary, if you asked Joseph, our 5 yr old, I am fairly certain he’d say his favorite part of the trip was finding bugs in Texas. Please keep that in mind, as I review my trip with you.

We headed out West in a Chrysler not a Lexus.
“Mommy, do they have clover flowers in Texas?”

We stopped in Minden, LA for the night.
“Mommy, do these little black bugs bite?”

We arrived at my sister’s house Friday afternoon.
“Look, Mommy! I found a caterpillar cocoon!”

The boys spent many hours swimming in the pool.
“Mommy, I think the best bugs can be found at that school.”

Family and friends gathered enjoying food, laughter and hugs.
“Mommy, do you think Jack will help me look for more bugs?”

At night we lingered, holding off our good-byes.
“Mommy, can we stay longer and catch fireflies?”

Bribing for camera shots, oh how we did wheedle.
“Hey Mommy, come see this HUGE big, black beetle!”

The Family that Gathers Together ... (This is just a sampling of my family. Some folks could not make it to Texas.)

Come Monday it was time to travel eastward by car.
“Mommy, can I take these bugs home in a jar?”

We stopped in Tuscaloosa, and there we did sleep.
“Oh Mommy, did you see that cricket just leap?”

Tuesday afternoon we made it back home with glee.
“Mommy, I’m going outside to try and catch a bee.”

Blogary, though I had a great time with family and friends, I also had a blast watching Joe’s never ending quest for finding bugs.

.:::.

Pit-stop in Minden, LA

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment

Dear Blogary,

I have headed West. We are en route to Coppell, TX to celebrate the graduation of my niece (from college) and nephew (from high school). We left this morning around 8:45 ET, and we arrived in Minden, LA close to 6pm CT.

Blogary, the weather was perfect for driving – overcast but not raining. The boys did great, too. Yep. A safe and uneventful trip thus far.

Blogary, I am tired and I want to go to bed. I’m on ET, and though that is only different by one hour, I feel that hour. Still, I unpacked my laptop, checked out Facebook, Twitter, NOAA and CNN.com. An hour later, I am still sitting here with my laptop. Charlie is asleep with Rob, one bed over – and Joe is asleep in my Mom’s room, next door. I get my own bed tonight. SCORE!

We crossed the mighty Mississippi river today. I love the Mississippi river. And, I sang the Doobie Brothers’ ‘Black Water’, while driving across the bridge. Traveling through Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana today, I can’t help but think about the oil spill. And, as I mentioned earlier, I accessed CNN.com, which has pictures of birds covered in oil. It’s awful. Awful.

Because the spill occurred in such deep water, the full extent of the ecological impact this spill has caused remains to be seen. It is frightening to think how much is going to surface within the next several days. And, I mean ‘surface’ figuratively and literally.

Blogary, I am not sure this post is post worthy, from the entertainment/humor perspective. Still, because I am sleeping in Louisiana tonight, the people of Louisiana and Mississippi are heavily on my mind. These areas are still recovering from Katrina. The economy is in the tank. And now, fishermen and other people making a living off the Gulf Shore water are facing even greater challenges. Plus the animals. The animals and our environment are taking such a huge hit. What can we do? How can we stop it? The inability to fix it and make it better is maddening. Helplessness never felt so – helpless.

Tonight, as I lay my head down in this Minden, LA hotel, I will say a prayer for the people of the Gulf Coast region and up and down the Mississippi river. And, I will say a prayer for the marine and aquatic life suffering. My God have mercy on our souls, as we continue to destroy the Earth He gave us.

Goodnight, Blogary.

Love,
Me

Memorial Day and Super Powers

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment

Dear Blogary,

Today is Memorial Day. I know my Uncle Gene is taking part in a Memorial Day celebration today. He is retired from the US Marine Corp, and he fought and was wounded in World War II. I don’t see Uncle Gene as often as I would like to see him. He and my Aunt shuffle between Palm Beach Gardens, FL and Martha’s Vineyard, MA. Still, he is in my thoughts today, as I know his thoughts are focused on his fellow service men and women.

Though in his late 80s, Uncle Gene continues to tirelessly participate in any and all ceremonies honoring those who have fought for our country. My father was also in the military. He was a Chief Warrant Officer for the United States Army, and he served in the Korean War. I am proud of my Dad, Uncle Gene, and all the other men and women of the military.

Thank you, service men and women, for the sacrifices you have made and continue to make on and off the battle field.

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So Blogary, I’ve lost my super power. I, Lenore Diane, had the power to read people. Judgmental, perhaps. But my track record for judging correctly was excellent. I don’t know what happened, Blogary. Apparently, I am surrounded by some sort of kryptonite.

Blogary, it became clear to me when I went to the Montessori schools to observe the classes, environment, etc. When I met the directors at two different schools, I was taken aback. Suddenly, my ability to anticipate their next words or train of thought was thwarted. What was happening? I would try to finish the director’s sentence, only to find I was mistaken. What?!

On Friday, Blogary, I took Joe to eat lunch at his new school. I sat next to one of the many mothers, also attending the pizza lunch. She and I started talking immediately. Initially, I felt my super power was turned on and working properly. But, after the initial salutations, it was clear my super power was again – incapacitated by some mysterious force.

Looking at her facial expressions and hearing the words that came out of her mouth confused me; it was as if I was listening to someone speaking a foreign language. All I could do was sit, watch and listen. Listen?! Who ever heard of such a thing. Listen? Really? Please, I never had to listen. I knew what was going to be said. I had the power to complete sentences; the power to judge accurately and anticipate with precision. Listen?! I would laugh in the face of ‘Listen’. Ha! Ha! Haaaa!

Blogary, without my super power, I am forced to listen to each and every word muttered by the people around me. However, I find it hard to listen, because I am flustered with the fact that I am unable to engage my super power. [Do these talking heads see me blinking my eyes quickly, in an attempt to ignite the switch? Do they notice my intense gaze, as I try to use ESP?] Because I am forced to listen, but distracted by my floundering super power, I hear less than I did with my super power.

As I reflect back, I suppose my super power died due to lack of use. I am the social one in the family, and unless I pursue social functions – we are not social. The past several years our social outings have decreased significantly; in part, because I am just too tired to plan, unable to find a sitter, or tending to sick kids. Had I known limited social functions would prove to be my super power’s kryptonite, I would have fought through the tiredness, the lack of baby sitters and sick kids. After all, Grandma was almost always available to watch the kids. And sick? Please. Sickness makes one stronger. Buck up, sick kid. You’ll be fine. *sigh* Had I only known.

Blogary, clearly I have some work to do, if I plan on getting back my super power. And, I will get my super power back. Oh yes, Blogary. I will get it back.

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In Memory and Honor of the United States Military men and women,
as well as their families. May God bless you.