Going...Going...Gone

Indy 500
Went to the Indy 500 today. It was awesome! To attend that race has been something I've wanted to do since I was small. To finally accomplish it was incredible! The cars were so loud, we had to wear earplugs and went so fast, over 200 mph, that it only took the lead car 47 seconds to circle the 2.5 mile track.

Of course the pace car was a Corvette. On the down-side, the race kept being delayed due to rain. It was supposed to start at 11am, but didn't until 1pm. They ran 27 laps and called it again for rain. It didn't start again until around 3pm. They ran 180 laps and called it for rain again. A short time later, they called the winner, Buddy Rice. He regained his first place position twice after pit stops. Anyway, it should have ended around 2pm had all gone well. We had really good seats and could see the beginning of the race, the cars in pit row, and the finish line. We could also see turn 1 and 2.

A lot of "STARS" attended too. Academy Award-nominated movie actor Morgan Freeman drove the Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car. Jessica Simpson sang the Anthem. Her husband was there too. Lee Ann Womack performed. Other stars were: David Letterman, Television host of "The Late Show with David Letterman, Indiana native and co-ower of Rahal Letterman Racing (Buddy Rice is the driver), Melissa Joan Hart, star of "Sabrina The Teenage Witch," Jim Caviezel, who starred as Jesus Christ in the Mel Gibson film "The Passion of the Christ," "Survivor" star and Indianapolis native Rupert Boneham, Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, Jane Pauley, former co-host of the popular number one rated morning program, "Today" on NBC, Indiana native, Judge Reinhold ("The Santa Clause", "Beverly Hills Cop," "Fast Times at Ridgemont High",) Patrick Dempsey ("Sweet Home Alabama," "Can’t Buy Me Love",)James Garner ("The Notebook," "Grand Prix")and a native Oklahoman from Norman, Jim Caviezel (actor), Jared Fogle (Subway restaurants front man), Mike Patrick (ESPN football anchor), Maria Menounos ("Entertainment Tonight"), LeVar Burton ("Star Trek: The Next Generation), Neal McDonough (actor), Charles Fazzino (artist), Florence Henderson (actress), Jim Nabors (actor, singer), Ruth Buzzi (comedian), Godsmack (rock band), Andrew Firestone (TV's "The Bachelor"), The Judd's (country singer), Michael Madsen (actor), Peter Reckell (actor), and Adam Mesh ("Average Joe".) They were all driven around the track in separate cars. Pretty cool.

Ok, so they call the race, announce the winner and immediately begin to say over the loud speakers, "Tornado Warning, Tornado Warning, Tornado Warning. Evacuate the grandstands immediately. Marion County is under a tornado warning." Major bummer and scary too! So we all herd out and the sirens are blaring. We have to walk a ways to the truck and when we get there and turn on the radio, it's saying that tornadoes are along I-70, the exact way we need to go. We drive home all the way for over an hour dodging tornadoes that we don't know where they are or how big. We're surrounded by them and they don't even know how to track them or tell where they are like we do in Oklahoma.

Compared to Sooners dealing with tornado alley, Hoosiers are way behind in knowing what the heck is going on and exactly where and how big. They don't have any spotters out and I never heard them say whether these tornadoes were F0 or larger. When they announce there is a warning, they say for the whole county and not specifically where it is or where it will track next. I really geforecastingd with the storm forcasting here. When we get home, Vigo county in under a tornado warning too and the last 20 miles or so the road were partly flooded.

So to end, the race was awesome and I hope to go agin, the storms I hated and wish they knew how to track them the Sooner way!

South Vigo H.S.

Congratulations Graduate!

Here he is, the Rickster.

Sister and Mom

Graduation Day
Son graduated HOORAY! He walked, he had on his dew rag (is that how's it's spelled)he had to take it off, but he's got the diploma in his sticky, little hand! I'll post a picture to prove it along with some of his mom and sister.

Don't Go!
Reason's Keelan should stay in Indiana for another year:
Free College
Free Room & Board
Free Food
Help With Homework
Help With Car When It Breaks Down
Pampering
Her Job Let's Her Off Whenever She Needs It
Air Guard Close To Home
Health Insurance
I Want Her To

Keelan is getting insulted that everyone thinks she is skinny. It was just the outfit and the angle the shot was taken.

Keelan Not Skinny

Not Skinny

See, she's not skinny

SON
Son pulled off the highest grade of anyone in his chemistry final. He surprised himself. He's talking college now and SAT's etc. Hopefully, he'll change his course in life.

FLIP-FLOPS
Ok, so I know flip-flops are popular and two of my daughters love them, but enough already! They're beginning to get on my nerves. Girls are even wearing them to their Prom. Anyway, we went to the mall tonight and nearly every woman, girl, and little girl had on flip-flops and the whole mall resounded with the stupid flapping sound the shoe makes when it hits your foot. Besides that, some people don't know how to walk in them because they're either too flat, too high, or too slick depending on the type of sole. So we're sitting there while my daughter eats a pretzel and I hear this flapping racket behind me. I don't turn around because I know what it is by the annoying sound. It's a whole herd of women, girls and children flip-flopping their way through the mall. Some of the kids can't keep the silly things on and keep having to either chase them because they've flung off or go back and get them because they've stepped out of them. The women and girls have on varying levels of flatness from high to low. Some shuffle along making tiny little flapping sounds because they're having trouble keeping them on and some make loud slapping noises everytime their foot hits the shoe, trudging along for all they're worth trying to keep their foot from coming out. STOP IT!!! I NEED SPACE FROM ALL THOSE FLAPPING FEET!

Just kidding, but the sound does annoy me.

Base paint in living Room is a lighter gold with a darker gold wash over it.

Living Room Color

It's hard to see the gold under the orange-red, but it livens up the room.

Dining Room Color

Poem of the Day
MEMORIES

Time and space have no meaning
when in memories a person lingers
a simple touch, an aromatic fragrance
a fleeting smile make simple pleasure.
Lost in time, in memories gone
passing feelings wander by
echoing thoughts of long ago
of songs and feelings
I used to know.

Life
Son brought his cap and gown home today and put it on. It's a scene I though I'd never see. He made it though high school and might even pull of a Core 40 diploma if he passes his chemistry test. What a waste of his intelligence and his IQ. His IQ is 160 so why should he have all these problems with school? Irresponsibility plain and simple.

My youngest daughter, Son's half sister on the other hand, is on the high honor roll with a 3.75 GPA. She's no dummy either. She should still be 5 instead of going into her 2nd year in Middle School.

My other daughter, the one who is going back home transfered her job here in Indiana to Oklahoma. That's great for her. I still don't want her to go though.

My oldest son who is 21 just bought 20 acres and a house. He's got great credit and a good job. Now he needs health insurance and I'll feel better.

My oldest daughter has a lovely home, good husband, and a great life. She has a BMW. I'm jealous! Not really. I'm happy for her.

Of course, I'm getting older which I seriously don't like! I'm considering getting a Ph.D. or another master's since I'm not working at this point. I haven't decided yet what I will do.

This Hello is cool!


My Daughter

Ticked
Holiday World was fun. Son decided not to go. It was a very clean amusement park and all soft drinks were free. It has the #1 rated wooden roller coaster the Raven and also the #5 rated wooden coaster, the Legend. It also had a giant waterpark that had lots of neat stuff.

Son is going to graduate. We didn't know for sure until last week. His real mom said she wasn't going to come and then yesterday while we were at Holiday World she calls and says she is and she wants to have a picnic. Now this is turning into a huge ordeal because they (they being his half-sister, her husband, and his mom)haven't been able to find a hotel to date due to the Indy 500 and she wants a picnic. So...they may have to stay with us. That's ok except it's thrown me into a rush to clean the house spick and span and I had told my husband we needed to buy extra food and he said we'd just order out.

Ok, so now I'm ticked off because my husband who just wanted to eat out, has now changed his mind and wants a picnic too. He lets himself be swayed by everyone, except the people he lives with. We've gone through 3 other graduations, all my kids, and not one time did we do anything except go with everyone to eat. We picked up part of the check on my son's and part on my daughter's last year. Now he's saying he doesn't want to pay $200 bucks to take them all out. We never spent that the other times. It was never discussed with me what I wanted to do, like, "Do you want to do this? Do you want to pick the groceries up? Do you want to cook.?" He's even saying we'll have to buy a grill. We've got a commercial restaurant for pete's sake, with a grill.

I better go, I'm getting ticked again.

Finished
Finally, the heat/air is finished. The guys did a good job. Everything seems to be working well. The ADT is turned on and I feel safer. Tomorrow we go to Holiday World, the last family vacation ever. It makes me sad. By that I mean, the last time the last 3 kids will be together as a family. Since my son moved in with his dad 7 years ago, it's been my one daughter from my previous marriage, my step-son I've raised since nearly 5 and my husband's and my daughter who is almost a 7th grader. She was 4 when my oldest daughter got married and 5 when my son went to live with his dad. How time flies! Wasn't it only yesterday?

Helping OutThere was a great side benefit from the ADT installation guy; he took the 2 refrigerators the previous owners of our house left and the washer and dryer they left too. I am soooo happy! It also helped this guy out because he's going through a divorce and gave everything to his former wife. He's a young guy and having to start all over so I was glad to just give them to him.

Ok, so we're getting all these things repaired and now the hot tub is not working properly. I just placed a call to the service man. The pump and blower isn't working the way it should.

Only 2 weeks until my daughter moves home....boohoo.

Installation of Stuff
The ADT tech came yesterday and installed. Hmmm...It's going to take some thinking to remember all the codes and such. Son goes out at night and I don't want the alarm to go off and the police show up. We've seen enough of them because of Son. Off the subject, but it appears Son will graduate. He only has 1 1/2 weeks to go, but this morning he was late, the second time this week. He can't be suspended anymore or he won't graduate. So back to the other stuff. They also came yesterday to install the heat/air. Two outside units and a furnace. They had to cut another hole in the roof for a different vent and the furnace is too large for the closet it's in. They think they can move it back and everything work properly. We'll see. I just don't want the roof to leak or us to get carbon monoxide. We had a carbon monoxide unit installed with the ADT so I'll feel safer.

Ex's
My ex and I have maintained a great relationship for the sake of our kids and just because we wanted to. We have all, (his wife and my husband) gone out to eat with the kids and also I have intermingled with my husband's ex and her kids. Many people think it's weird that all these different former and current spouses can mix and mingle. It can happen if all parties are willing. I was married to my ex for nearly 15 years and had 3 kids with him. I certainty didn't want to hurt my kids because their dad and I didn't hit if off anymore. Besides, that's like denying part of your life occurred if you refuse to acknowledge the years spent with a former spouse.

Childhood Dreams
We're going to the Indy 500, God willing. That has been a goal of mine since I was a child. It will be my first time. I've been lucky in being able to achieve several of my childhood dreams. I've been to New York at Christmas, visited the top of the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty, viewed Niagara Falls, seen the Great Lakes, visited Elvis' home in Memphis, viewed the Liberty Bell, independence Hall,and George Washington's home. I've been to Atlantic City, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, Phoenix, Reno, Lake Tahoe where I visited the Bonanza set, and many more to numerous to go into. I've visited Rome and Sicily Italy, Canada, and different areas of Mexico. I've been blessed in all the things I've been able to see and places I've visited. I do still have some goals left however. Visiting Egypt is top on my list. I love things about ancient Egypt. I'd also like to visit Africa and view the wildlife before it is all gone. I'm an amateur photographer and writer and have captured much of what I've seen on film and description through my writing.

Well, I didn't know I had all that waiting to be blogged. I'm out of here.

Finally
The heating and air guy is going to be here early tomorrow and the ADT guy later in the day. The ADT tech dropped the ball on scheduling us and I had to call. It had been 10 days since I signed the contract. We wound up not having to pay anything on the heat and air, that's a first. My daughter and I planted flowers all evening and the yard is beginning to look colorful at last. Still have to drain and refill the hot tub. So much to do, so little time!

Had a rather interesting and out of the ordinary night. My husband and I went to an awards banquet and one of the guests was Butch Lockley, one of the final 4 from the TV Reality Show Survivor Amazon. He was an interesting speaker and yes, he was nice which in the real world can be an asset; especially if you happen to be a teacher. He took a picture with us and hopefully, my daughter can help me post it. He had some interesting things to say about how he got as far as he did. All in all, it was a good night.

Poem of the Day
“D”

I met a friend of Italian decent
a New Yorker by trade with a Brooklyn accent
out of her element, with a Poteau address
not too many months passed till she was depressed.
But there was something that she didn’t know
God’s gracious plan was to watch her grow
becoming the woman that she now is
shining her light because she is his.
To my friend “D” I owe quite a lot
a true friend indeed, a “Johnny on the spot.”
now if we could decipher her Brooklyn accent
many more sinners would surly repent.
Until that day comes, I’ll never regret
the moment I met her, I owe a great debt.
So “D” this is yours, my tribute to you
not many are like you and that is the truth.

My friend "D" just called with the news that her husband had died. I just talked to them both in April and he died in the last week of April. All you can really do is listen and let them talk. They live in Indiana for a short while, somewhere around Evansville. Ah well...I think with that I'll close.

Not Too Much, Just Life
We lucked out not having to pay for a new motor in our dryer. It's only 3 years old and was still under warranty, so hooray. We still don't have our heat/air installed yet, but it is coming. The home warranty called today. The equiptment has been ordered and as soon as it's in, they'll be out to install. We'll still have to pay half, but that's better than all. The re-decorating of the house is coming along. Next thing up, floors and light fixtures. A good day all-in-all.

Poem of the Day

SANDS OF TIME
The sands of time
quickly trickle by
disintegrating the past while structuring the future
And with each particle that is displaced
another comes to takes its place
Circling round in an ethereal state
finding no restraint
assembling the future from fragments encountered
then tiptoeing through the ages.

What Has Changed?
For the past 26 years, I have been surrounded by kids; my kids, his kid, and our kid for a total of five. The last of the original three is getting ready to launch out into life. Many times I've dreamed of some far off future when I could actually go to the restroom without someone wanting something, but as that time draws nearer, I find I'm dragging my feet a little. My step-son is graduating as well (I hope) and the loud, busy house will dwindle to only one kid. My youngest child will finally become the only child, something she's longed for since she's at the end of the line with 4 other siblings ahead of her.

I've learned that I am someone who yearns for change, but when it comes, I'm not as ready for it as I think I'll be. Such is the case now. So, I peer into the future with mixed feelings. It's always a little hard to close the door on something that's been such a part of life for so long, but it's also exciting to see first hand the people my children have become and to know that I had a hand in raising respectful, independent, caring people.

Think of my children and me as we all go through this transition; them into adulthood and me into...whatever comes next.

Daughters
To My Daughters: God could not have given me any better daughters than the three I have. Not only are you my daughters, but my friends as well. Brandy, your voice is beautiful. When you sing, tears come to my eyes and your laughter is infectious. You've stood by me in harships of life. Keelan, you are true blue and loyal and always make me laugh. Many times it's been "You and me againtst the world." Rylee, you're growing into a beautiful young girl. You are always quick to comfort and stand up for someone who is being mistreated.

To My Boys: Rantz, There's never a dull moment when you're around. You've always kept me on my toes. You have a tender heart. Ricky, You were the little boy I took in who wanted and needed a mother. You are good to your friends and try to help them.

Love You All

Mother's Day
My Mother's Day began early and lovely. It began Thursday when my youngest daughter spent her birthday money on me. She bought me 2 pot holders. It means a lot because youngest daughter is tight with her money. In the mail yesterday I received from my oldest daughter, American Butterfly a watch and decoration book both of which I've really enjoyed. Today from my middle daughter, American Tink I received a dozen of the most beautiful roses. Most were yellow tinged with orange, a few were pure red and some yellow. Heavenly. I got cards from my mother and American Butterfly and later today my husband bought me the most magnificent cushioned seat in colors that match my newly painted dining room and living room. Fantastic. I have not heard yet from my son in Oklahoma, but expect I will and Son hasn’t for a very long time acknowledged Mother's Day or Father's Day. Later on husband took American Tink and me out to eat where he tried to persuade American Tink not to go back to Oklahoma yet. He bribed her with all sorts of things, but so far, she is standing strong. After that, we took the dog for a walk in the perfect night air. The aroma of lavender was everywhere. Perfect!

I sent my mother 15 beautiful tulips. They were awesome and she liked them.

Happy Mother's to all Moms’ everywhere.

HOORAY
Son passed the ISTEP. He'll graduate if he isn't thrown out first. He's suspended Monday (this is the 3rd time) because he used a cell phone in class. But, back to the ISTEP. His counselor said he was a genius and he is; intellectually that is. His IQ is 160, but who would know by his conduct.

My daughter had a funny post at American Tink. It concerns a shop vac and a spider. She's really funny! My other daughter at American Butterfly got groped by an old man. Too bad I'm not home, I'd have to find that old man and tell him to lay off my daughter.

The ADT man came back today and I know more about him than last time. He's a nice guy, but a little stuck on himself. Our heating and air has been approved. They'll pay $2500 and we’ll pay almost the same amount.

I've been messing with students unhappy with grades this week. Glad it's finally over. It seems students want A's for mediocre work and I simply won't go with that. HELLO!!!! A college degree is why you get paid more in the working world. It's supposed to be hard to get. If not, everyone would have one.

We ate at TEXAS ROADHOUSE tonight. It makes me laugh because the Hoosiers who work there don't really know a think about Texas. Being an Okie, I however, know much about Texas; especially since I lived there for 3 years. Texan's and Oklahoman's are severe rivals. We'd as soon fight as anything. However, our families intermingle. You know, cousins here and cousins there. So it goes.

My youngest daughter’s middle school has the coolest field trips. The PE class took them skiing and the Social Studies class is taking them to Chicago to a Medieval Festival. I never had such field trips in middle school.

Well, I'm out of here for the night. More later.

Road Rage Day
Ahhhh, so it was road rage day here in Terre Haute. The Hautians were mega ugly today. I don't think the wennies I encountered can take the heat. It busted 75 degrees today and the Hautians encountered needed an Okie attitude adjustment. I wish I could have given them one... a boot right up the patootie.

Ugly Attitude #1: It's 8:00 and my husband and I are going to an appointment. We get "rail-roaded" (that means traffic's backed up due to all the train tracks with trains going) and the cars are backed up for 2 blocks. We get stopped at an intersection, but can't go through because we would have been blocking the intersection the other way. This broad in a (can you guess the color of her van) is behind us and starts honking. I don't know where she thinks we can go, but she's sititng on the horn. The people who want to turn right just go around us. Now here's where that lady needed an Okie attitude adjustment. She's honking her horn, but she's making a left turn. Where we were had nothing to do with where she wanted to go. She and her green van blaze off to the left. She get's the first boot up the patootie Okie award for the day.

Ugly Attitude #2: Incident two happened around 3 hours later. My husband had some tests run today and the nurse told me to go get the car and pull it up front and she'd walk him out. There's 2 cars ahead of me which quickly get their people and leave. I'm sitting there waiting and this lady pulls up behind me, gets out and picks up a senior citizen. While she's doing this, she's eye-balling me. I know she's gonna cause trouble by the way she's looking at me. I can see she's mentally sizing up the situation and decides I'm in her way. She's looking at me like, "You see me here, I'm gonna want out in a minute." She loads her person up, gets in her car and starts honking for me to move. I promptly ignore her. All she has to do is back up. The only way out of there was right behind her anyway. She's honking and I turn around and signal for her to back up. There's no way I'm moving for this impatient lady! She's sooooo rude. My husband comes out about that time and saves her from her boot up the patootie Okie award.

Ugly Attitude #3: Incident three happened around 1:10. My daughter slowed down at a green light and from out of no where we hear a guys voice yelling that the light is green... GO. I turn around and there's this guy in (can you guess the color of his pickup) a green Dodge and he looks like he's having a titty-baby fit throwing his arms around and gesturing. I kind of throw my hands out in a "What's the matter with you" gesture which he doesn't appreciate. He really freaks now and sticks half his tiny man body out of his window screaming, "Put the crack pipe up!" My daughter climbs half-way out of her window and yells, "SHUTUP!" The intersection is loaded with people and they're all looking around trying to see what's going on. Then Mr. Man starts yelling something like, "Stop shootin' up the heroine!" He keeps yelling stupid things and I hear him say, "They're heroine addicts!" The lights green again by this time and my daughter just keeps sitting there. Tiny man is totally enraged now and leans on his horn. He was still sitting there honking when we were half-way up the next block. Then he tail-gates us until we turned off. He really, really deserved the boot up the patootie Okie award. Oh, if I were just a man he'd still be walking around with that boot firmly up his patoot.

And how was your day?

Regrets
Someone asked me the other day if there was anything I regretted in my life such as passing up an opportunity or saying something I wish I hadn't; something that would have made a big difference in my life. After thinking about it for a day or two, I would say that one thing changed the course of my life in a negative way; being forced to move at the age of 15 to an extremely rural high school in my home state of Oklahoma. Had I not been forced to move at that critical stage of my life, many things that happened as a result of that move probably would not have happened.

I didn't go to college right out of high school like I would have had I not moved to a location that did not promote college. I got married too young to the wrong guy because of that move. I lost my childhood sweetheart as a result of moving and also spent the last 3 years of my high school experience terribly depressed. There was no prom of any type, so I never attended a high school dance. My brother got into drugs and many of my friends had affairs with the male teachers. On the senior trip, one classmate got pregnant by the principal, another had an affair with the basketball coach and on and on. The superintendent that year had an affair with the counselor (which I might add was the first time the school had ever had a counselor) and divorced his wife of 30 years and married the counselor. They carried on the affair while school was going on and would lock the door to the superintendent’s office and....(I think you can fill in the blanks).

That one experience had a profound effect on my brother and me that carried itself into many years. I found out years later that we moved because my dad was having an affair and my mother didn't want to be in the same town with the other woman. The ironic thing about it though, was the house my mother picked was just a short distance from the house the other woman had grown up in. It didn't change a thing for my mother, just for my brother and me which has carried far into both of our lives.

Another thing that happened because of the move was having to sell a prosperous business that we owned. We moved from a house in a nice location with all the amenities to a house that had no central heat or air, no shower, and the first winter we were there, I had to wear a hat and mittens to bed and have 5 blankets on by bed because my room was so cold, ice would form on the inside of the windows. We lived on 40 acres in the middle of no where, totally cut off from former friends because all phone calls were long distance. We were on a party line with 3 other people too.

Actually, it was comparable to that show Green Acres where Lisa was moved from New York to that shabby house and forced to move whether she wanted to or not. If I had it to do again, I would have rebelled against my mother and moved in with my grandmother because her decision has had a profound effect on what happened in my life.

I'm Back
I'm back. I've finished all the portfolios and interviews, written all reference letters, turned in the evaluations, attended the seminar today and turned in final grades.

It's still cold in Terre Haute. Last night we were under a frost warning. Everyone tells me that, "We're having a late spring." I'll say! I'm ready to work the flower beds, but you'll never get this wimp out in cold, wet weather to do it! Life has been boring lately. Not too much going on but work. The ADT guy came by today to check out our system and stayed for 2.5 hours. I know all about him, his life here, his time in L.A., when he graduated H.S., that some people in California don't know what a hayride is, that even if he is only 5 feet 8 inches people would be surprised to know that he is great at softball and can shoot baskets, and ETC..... Geesh, just sell me the alarm already!

The guy across the street had on the weirdest outfit today while he was doing yard work. He looked like the scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz because he's really tall and because of what he had on. He reminded my daughter of Jeepers Creepers. He had his pants tucked in rugged work boots and had on huge gloves that made his hands look a foot long! The hat he had on was kind of like a stove pipe, really tall, but the brim turned down all around and it was kind of a short brim. An evil, treacherous type of hat. You couldn't see his face at all. He was walking around with a leaf blower swinging it around like the chain saw massacre guy in a random motion. In short, he looked scary and I couldn't decide if they had hired someone for yard work or if it was the owner.

When we moved in this house, it had only been owned by the people we bought it from. They had this cord coming out of the master bedroom wall that had a button on it and looked like a thing that would be attached to a hospital bed. I found out from Mr. Information (the ADT guy) that it is called a "hold up button" and used to be installed in businesses. He said the former owners were afraid they were going to be kidnapped and that those things aren't even installed anymore because there are panic buttons on the key pad. If the system had been on when I pushed the button the police would have come. I'm glad it wasn't on.

Caffeine's worn off now. More later.