... Is my new policy!

Earlier today I typed a post about generosity that was horrible... It was insulting but in the heat of the moment I typed it, hit publish and went to run errands... I shouldn't have and before I reached my first store I regretted it. I usually reread my posts several times before I hit publish, but today I was fired up by a heated discussion with Paul and one of his friends who dropped by this morning and let that tone set the tone of my post. I hoped nobody would see it and as soon as I got home I took it down. My stats said two people had read it, but countless others may have read it on their feed... (Including one of my closest bloggy friends who sent me an email, and I am really sorry that I hurt you.)

I am so sorry if you read it and are hurt by my words in anyway. Please forgive me.

Today...

Now isn't that a creative title... I'm finally back, and blogging and that's the best I can do? Y'all deserve better... I'll get right on that...Tomorrow...

We got a ton (ok... a little) done today. We got nine boxes of my parent's stuff that they have sorted out of here... We have to reduce the number of items in this house by at least half but every single thing is a chore... Not only must they labor over every decision, but anything that goes into a "donate" box must be catalogued for tax purposes... (Their rule)... So getting nine boxes out was a minor miracle. One whole box was VHS tapes...over 200 of them... mostly oldies, episodes of "Touched By an Angel" and bad 80's comedies... Does anybody watch these anymore? The goodwill turned them away... The Salvation Army wasn't as vigilant and let us off load our own boxes and just stamped our receipt without looking... They won't make that mistake twice.

After that I had to run my Mom up to Lincolnville for an appointment so the girlies went along to spend a couple hours on their beach...

Lincolnville Beach, Maine

Please note the girlies refuse to let me use any shots on here of them in their swim suits... So they are not in these photos...

After her appointment we picked up some sandwiches at a take out window and joined them. Actually Mom didn't join them, as she didn't think her walker would work on sand and the "breeze off the water is cold." So she ate in the car even though we parked behind a bench she could have sat on without ever touching the sand... Yes, she felt left out and seems willing to be a little more adventurous next time... While we were eating a "Windjammer" sailed right through the harbor. (See 2nd photo)

After that we came home and dropped off my Mom and picked up the Axeman (who had been keeping an eye on my step-dad.) to go see my Aunt and Uncle's new house. (They are the parents of the cousins mentioned yesterday.) They have lived in the middle of Rockland my entire life, but were tired of "in town living" so they bought a house on some acreage in beautiful Owls Head. They are so funny we were laughing so hard our sides hurt.

After that it was back home to fix dinner and do our "nightly stuff"... The Axeman grilled (again) and I prepared the sides...

That's about it... Exciting huh?

Thanks for listening,

Balance & Boundaries...

If that title was the answer (Jeopardy style) the question would be "Name two things Rebecca needs to set with her parents."

Let me go back... to answer your question... The Axeman and I arrived in Maine almost two weeks ago. We have barely slowed down for more then a few hours since. Our first task was to move all our belongings into an already full house... Moving is hard enough when your new home is empty... It is exponentially harder when the house is full. It has been made somewhat easier by the fact that they have come to terms with the reality that they are going into assisted living at some point in the next couple years and have already made a list of what they really want to keep to take with them. Other then that, they are open to setting rid of stuff, but it is still a lot of work and somewhat emotional for them to part with a life times worth of nick-knacks and other various stuff... Plus their stamina is low so I may have a couple hours of sort time a day to work with them... the rest of the time I feel like we are just moving piles from one spot to another.

The Axeman has been amazing. Not only did he agree to move here to take care of my parents, but has been and is the emotional, physical and spiritual anchor of our family. He has been so good about everything and completely willing to roll with the punches. He is the one doing a lot of that "pile moving" and has been great about it. He has also lessened my day to day work by cooking out nearly every night.

The girlies are settling in. Of course Sparky hit the ground running. She has several friends already and spends as much time as possible with them. Cate is a different story... she tends to hang back just a little, but seems to be finding her niche. They are really enjoying Maine overall, and can't wait to explore more.

We had a total small town moment last week... The Axeman, Cate and I went downtown to drop into the book store and my cousin's bakery. While down there we ran into Sparky who was walking downtown with a friend to get some lunch. We went to the bakery and got some stuff to take home, a couple treats to eat right away and some coffee (of course). We decided to walk down the hill to the public landing to eat our treats overlooking the water and came across a farmer's market set up at the public landing. It was amazing... it was a real farmer's market not the type where you suspect that all the produce was "trucked in." It was a very small town set up but they had live music and fresh selections, so we walked around then found a spot over looking the harbor to eat some of our finds. While enjoying the view who should walk by but Sparky and her friend, then my cousin Jim (brother to the aforementioned bakery owner) and his new wife.  We ended up asking them to join us and having an impromptu picnic. It was a moment full of laughter and bonding... a small bright spot in all the hard work we are doing.

Back to balance and boundaries... I am trying to find them. I haven't blogged in over two weeks and it's my fault. I need to say "I am taking a break now" and find a quit spot to write. My parents needs are huge and nearly constant... if I let them they will take over my life. I am good about saying I need a minute for time with the Axeman and/or the girlies, but as for finding time just for me... not so much. I have a new goal though... I want to take time to write everyday (except Sunday) for the next two weeks. I am also going to take at least one hour a day to catch up on reading my favorite blogs. I miss you guys... I miss blogging. Funny things happen to me all the time and I think what a funny blog they would make then don't take time to write... Crazy huh...

Thanks for listening,

I'm Sorry...

I didn't mean to disapear on everyone...

I'm not sure anyone is still out there to read this, it's been so long since I posted. When I started my blog, my goal was a new post every week day and to try to be amusing at least once a week... Well, I don't feel very amusing these days... I mostly feel physically and emotionally drained. You know the old saying "If you don't have anything nice to say, then say nothing at all?" Well, my blogging credo was something like this: "If you can't be amusing, uplifting or at least positive, don't post." I know I haven't always kept to that, but I have tried... Based on that credo I shouldn't even be posting now, but here goes...

We made it to Maine safe and sound. The Girlies and I hit the ground running as full time care givers to my step-dad (who has Alzheimer's). He is a great guy, but the past week has been exhausting... I don't want to bury you with all the gory details but it has been a lot to handle... I don't know how my mom has done it all these years, because I am drained. My mom is currently in a nursing home recovering from her latest issues and may be home in about another week and half or so. In some ways I look forward to that, so she can deal with him, but in others I dread it as I know my work in some ways will double. I miss the Axeman very much... He is back in TN wrapping things up, and I could really use his quiet strength right now.


We have had computer & internet trouble so I can't post any pictures... but suffice it to say... we have moved into a post card...It has been beautiful here it is almost unreal... I think the Lord is reminding me of his presence everywhere.

I am working on resolving the computer issues as I type this, so hopefully soon I can share the upside of moving to Maine with y'all... As for the stress... I am really trying to find balance... I need to find a church and get in touch with some old friends here make some  new friends. I am surrounded by my mom's friends, which is some what helpful, but their first allegiance is to her (as I'd expect it to be), so everything is "reported back"... Not extremely helpful for someone like me who needs to "vent" from time to time...


There are funny stories to tell, but I need some perspective to properly tell them... Thanks for hanging in there y'all!

& Thanks for listening,

"Too Many Words" Wednesday....

I know it is usually "Wordless Wednesday" but today there are things to be said....

This is the "Two Rivers Business Complex" it contains quite a few businesses and a couple churches including Grace Bible Church... 

A church that a lot of good friends and family attend.

The river crested after this was taken...

It appears at this point it is a total loss...

This flood has left me feeling helpless and speechless...

Apparently the national news feels the same way because the massive destruction in middle Tennessee is barely a blip on the evening news...

If this had happened on a slow news week when there was no oil in the gulf or failed car bombs there would be serious coverage for this disaster...

There would be news crews and national telethons....

Alas, we appear to be on our own...

Since the national news isn't covering this people assume it isn't a big deal.

I had one friend ask me on facebook if this is a big deal or if we get flooding every spring....

I had another ask "Doesn't the Mississippi River flood every couple years?"....

To answer their questions...

No, this doesn't happen every year...

This flood has broken all records...

And we are not on the Mississippi River...

This is the Cumberland River, technically part of the Ohio River Basin...

Most of the businesses lost were little locally owned "Mom & Pop" operations already struggling in this economy...

Many of the homes affected will never be inhabitable again...

That flood water is full of raw sewerage, gasoline and heaven knows what else... (Yuck)

It will take years for Middle Tennessee to recover from this...

But it will recover...

Slowly...

Please pray for the City of Clarksville and all of Middle Tennessee...

Thanks for listening,

Right now...

It's raining...

It's pouring...

This guy...

Is snoring..

And this guy...

Just built this...

Down the street...

This little guy...

Just swam by my window...

We are finally all home...

So we can put these...

away...

And put these on...

and watch this...

Unfortunately, the Axeman works for the city

Gas & Water Department...

And he is on call...

And when people see this...

They panic, and he gets called in to "look" at it...

There is nothing he can do but get wet...

Maybe tomorrow we will have this...

Alas... the forecast is for more of this...

And maybe these...

Sorry hon...

it looks like it's gonna be a loooong weekend...

(all photos from google images)

Thanks for listening...

 

Easy Peasy...

Saturday I asked you to ask me anything...

Y'all let me off the hook way too easy...

Here goes...

Mom of the Perpetually Grounded (who has a beautiful new blog design!) asked:

Why do you think our husbands love teasing us about our blogs so much?

First, I decided to do this scientifically and ask him... This resulted in no useful information what-so-ever... I was going to just say, it is either because they don't get it or they are jealous of the time we spend on here... I don't think either is true though... The Axeman reads a lot of blogs, so her gets it and I know he is much relieved that I use up so many of my daily allotment of words on y'all. You know... instead of spilling them all over him when her gets home everyday like so much "maple flavored syrup"... lol.

My new (working) theories are that they tease us about our blogs, because:

1. They are happy for us, that our blogs make us so happy, so they feel free to tease us about them since they know they make us happy and we won't be sensitive to their teasing... and/or

2. Although they like that our blogs make us so happy... we spend a lot of time on them and they can't understand working so hard on something they won't get paid for (or paid much for)...

But I could be wrong...

Jackie from My Perfect Little World asked two questions:

1. What is your favorite movie?

2. You say you move a lot so out of all the places you've lived at, which place have you enjoyed the most so far?

Jackie, there is no easy answer to question #1... I love movies... Lots & Lots of movies...  Current favorites would be The Blind Side.. so touching, &  Hochi... beautifully sad... it made me sob.

 When I need a chick flick I still love Pretty Woman, While You Were Sleeping, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and Sabrina...

When I need an action movie I love the Will Smith blockbusters... (I'm a sucker for Will Smith!) Independence Day, Men In Black, I Robot, you name it... I loves it... If I am not in the mood for Will... bite my tongue, but it happens... Then I reach for the Jason Bourne movies.. My favorite is still the first one, The Bourne Identity... but they are all great.

When I am feeling geeky (which if you ask the girlies, is always) I reach first for Serenity... The recent Star Trek movie blew my skirt up, but to tell you the truth... I loves me some Sci-Fi, but I tend to prefer Sci-Fi TV shows to movies...

Speaking of TV shows... when I watch DVDs my favorite obsession these days is watching TV series on DVD... I could while away a whole week watching the new Battlestar Galactica, or Firefly, or Gilmore Girls, or even Deadliest Catch... because nothing lifts me out of a funk like hours on end of crab fishing... go figure...

When all else fails... Sparky and I are into the Twilight Series... We are not obsessed, but we read the books together and so we love to curl up on a rainy day and watch the first two movies... (Sorry you asked yet?)

Now, for question #2... That is an easy one... Bozeman, Montana, hands down. We have lived a lot of places and have made a lot of friends everywhere we have been, so please people, don't feel slighted. (The question was about location... so that is what I based it on.)  Bozeman was the place that made my heart sing... I love the Rocky Mountains... Coastal Maine was a close second, but there is something about the mountains that make my heart sing.

Chelle from The Winey Mommy committed question gluttony... but since I love her, I'll answer them all!

She asked: (I will answer these as we go)

I having been dying to ask you what made you decide on homeschooling? When Cate was in first grade they discovered she had dyslexia... they didn't seem to be able to help her, so I reluctantly gave it a go. I soon realized that I love homeschooling, and when Sparky was old enough we decided to homeschool her too... Have you homeschooled your girls their entire time through school? As I just said I started when Cate was in first grade, we took a year off when she was in sixth grade and Sparky was in third. They went to a small private school. We moved the next summer and homeschooled for a year, but it was a hard year and the girlies really, really wanted to try public school. We had a really good experience with public school and had we stayed there they would probably have stayed in public school. Alas, my husbands job moved us out of state. Cate wanted to go back to homeschooling, but Sparky went to one semester of public school. She ran into a lot of bullying issues so after one semester she too decided to homeschool. We have homeschooled ever since...

And I am wanting to know if it's really hard to homeschool? Yes and no... does that clear it right up? Not quite? Ok... What I mean is that we have had easy years and hard years (easy days and hard days...) But overall, is it hard? No, you are the teacher, you get the answer book and there are TONS of resources out there these days to help out. I personally think it is harder to turn over my sweet girlies to be educated by strangers... after all, they get their best hours out of everyday... Homeschooling high school was really scary to me at first, but so far they have been a joy overall...   I mean you being their teacher...is it difficult? I may have just answered this one, but no, it is fun. It is a job... "teacher" but I have loved being their teacher. There are as many styles of homeschooling as there are people doing it... I am a really active homeschooler who has over the years filled our days with lots of activities, educational co-ops, support groups, social groups, field trips (Oooohhhh the field trips... I have loved the field trips... when they were younger we would do one a month...) and sports... I will miss it when I am done... I have been truly blessed to have this opportunity...  I've wanted to homeschool my girls, but get a little scared that it's really hard to do. I guess i just want to know all about it :) (Chelle, I hope that helps... and I am always open to any questions you may have... so feel free to ask anytime!)

That's it... Easy Peasy... Y'all let me off too easy!

Thanks for listening,

This or That Tuesday...

Let me start off with an apology... this is only one of three post for today... You see, I needed to announce the winner of my giveaway (scroll down) and I had messages for my family that needed to go on virtual post-its (scroll further down)... but I really wanted to join Chelle from The Winey Mommy's "This or That Tuesday" Linky party... so the result is three posts...





Her question this week is....
Do you buy your makeup at a discount/drugstore or some type of specialty makeup store?


Well, to answer specifically... I go to Sephoria. But to be honest, I don't wear makeup often. I have rosacea that is easily irritated by makeup. I can only use the "bare minerals" line by "Bare Escentuals" and I usually use the need for more as an excuse to make a run to Sephoria at the Greenhills Mall in Nashville. (I know I can get it elsewhere, but the Axeman doesn't..) Why the subterfuge you ask? Because that mall has a Cheesecake Factory... and since I don't wear my makeup a lot the once or twice a year omission for the sake of a day alone with my man and a date to our favorite restaurant seems innocent enough...

Now, I'm off to The Winey Mommy to see how everyone else answered... and I promise, no more posts today...

Thanks for listening,

Five Question Friday...

I thought I'd give this a little try... Pop on over to My Little Life to see other's answers...

1. What's your guilty pleasure? Jelly Beans... I love those little gourmet ones, and keep a jar of them by my bed... & the Big Love Series... I know... but I really like it...


2. What is your favorite TV series? Presently I'm really into Deadliest Catch & NCIS (& see above) Past... Gilmore Girls... Battlestar Galactica.... & Fire Fly....

3. Can you speak any foreign languages? Not really... I took two years of Spanish and two years of Latin... but can't remember much...

4. How many pairs of shoes do you own? 7 yep... just 7... and 4 pairs are some form of birkenstocks... sorry, not a shoe girl... purses are another issue altogether...

5. What's your favorite kind of M&M's...peanut, almond, straight up regular, etc.? Peanut... hands down... I love the classic little yellow bag for the checkout counter....





That was kinda fun....