Grandmamom's old red traincase

I have my grandmother's old red traincase on my dresser and I just love it and love having it there, out in the open like that! I miss the old luggage sets, the way they looked when I was a kid and when my grandmother was a young woman. But also, having it in here, in plain view, makes me feel like I have a piece of my grandmother in my room with me. And that just fills my spirit with warmth.

I also think of the days when my grandmother and her sisters and brother would ride the train to go somewhere. Traveling was a big deal then, a big affair. Everyone would get dressed up and it was a real treat. The journey itself was actually part of the trip.

I know the one time that I took the train, I absolutely loved it! I cannot wait until I can take my own kids for a train ride. Even if we only go a short way like I did (from Dallas to Austin) we will have so much fun!

I know we have a lot of totally cool modern conveniences in this day and time (the internet! could NOT live without it!) but, there are just some things about the past that seem so special and so magical. And I see a little bit of that 'magic' in my mind's eye every time I glance over at my dresser!

We've had a Dell delay!

That darn deliveryman! Haha! Just kidding, totally kidding! Actually, my poor dad has been quite ill. He had a fever that just didn't want to leave him alone! So he is going to come visit next Friday and deliver said Dell.

I was getting a little worried about him, since he lives alone. And so I asked him if he had a thermometer. I just don't think of a single man living alone as a person who would have a thermometer. Heck - I didn't even have one until I had kids.

When I asked him, though, he asked me why. I told him that if his fever were too high, he'd need to go to the hospital.

His reply?

"Nah, I'll just go to the crematorium."

Just like that. Just flat. Just a fact.


I swear! That man cracks me up!!!

Anyhoo - he'll be hear next weekend cracking my ass up and giving me the finest machine I've ever owned!

Boys can be so silly

Those of the grown-up variety, that is. See, Mark's been taking the kids out shopping for all of their school supplies. So I asked him to get me some more Pens, because, the kids have stolen all but ONE of mine off of my desk! They were sort of nice ones, too, that he had bought me for Christmas. So you know what he did, upon hearing that request? He went over to the cabinet where he keeps all of his office stuff, got me out one black pen, and handed it to me. 'Here ya go', he says. I tell ya, when it comes to spending green stuff on people, grown-up boys just don't like it! Ugh! I'm gonna have to take the checkbook and go get myself some damn pens! Might buy a little desktop safe to keep them in, too! Grrr!

I'm getting a new laptop

I am so excited! My dad just bought a new computer for himself, and guess who is getting his old laptop? Yep, that would be me! I have been wanting a laptop for a very long time! There are just so many instances when I want to get OUT of this office and continue to do work. Sometimes it is a beautiful day and the kids are playing out front and I would like to go out there and watch them and just hang out with them. And sometimes when the kids are at school and I would like to just go sit outside with Puppy. There was a day not too long ago when Mark and Sammie and I were sitting on the balcony and I wished that I had a laptop then, so that I could sit out there with them and still work. And there are a lot of times that I am not feeling well, and would rather work from the couch or my bed. Any way you slice it, I am just totally excited about this! Parents can be so cool sometimes, you know?

Cool people along the journey

There are people in our lives along the journey that have a very strong impact on our lives. One of those people in my life was my Uncle Pat. He was just the coolest! He was the happy-go-lucky, let's have fun guy in our family. He took us on a Florida vacation one year that was a total blast! It was the first year that Epcot opened up. Along with loving him for his "fun-ness", I was also able later in life to connect with him through Alcoholics Anonymous. He was a recovering alcoholic, and when I was sixteen, he would go to an AA meeting, his daughter would go to Alatot, and I would go to Alateen. And then a few years later, I was going to AA meetings, too! I was working for him when I first tried to get sober, and I remember him taking me out to lunch and our having long talks together. He was very influential in my life and I cherish every memory I have of him. He went to Heaven in July 1990 and I miss him so much, but, I'm so glad that we had the special times we had together!