Ab's Graphic Art Project

Is that awesome or what!

Art and Providence

 

"Providence creates an unfolding situation that is exactly what the person needs, although not always what he may think he wants or desires.  This is called luck by those who are unaware of the workings of higher Worlds.

Providence also creates very difficult circumstances to reveal or dissolve a fixed situation ... This is called bad luck or later, A Blessing in Disguise."
                                                                 ~ Warren Kenton

 

Having been thoroughly enjoying my current empty nest, I’ve neglected my journal. I don’t know whether that’s good or bad. Perhaps most of my writing is generated when I am at my wit’s end and life is simply overwhelming. Right now, I am in a good place emotionally and the words don’t come so easily.

This quote from an Inspiration Line ezine just really hit home with me today while I was thinking about Ab and the events that led up to her going to boarding school. While she initially believed that her life was ruined forever, I think she’s beginning to believe that this has all been a Blessing in Disguise.

When I visited Ab during Parent’s Weekend, I noticed a significant change in her attitude and appearance. She was wearing very little make-up and she was obviously happy, introducing me to all of her eclectic friends and chattering almost non-stop. I commented about how many friends she had and she said, “Mom, everyone here says that I am adorable!” Oh how this child needed that validation from someone other than her family!

We toured her classrooms, met her teachers and learned about what she was studying academically and in her art major. It’s truly an awesome learning environment with teachers and administrators who really care about their student’s success. The art displays were exceptional and I am proud to say that my daughter’s three dimensional ceramic sculpture was one of only four to be displayed on a pedestal in the art show! Her colorful and very professional graphic arts project was also display and it looked like it could have been a CD cover!

My 13 year old aspiring artist was very matter of fact when talking about how often they have nude models for their drawing classes. Although, she said it kind of grossed her out when one of the nude women raised her arms to reveal her hairy armpits.

In some aspects, the independence she has in that para-college campus atmosphere is a little daunting, as for some reason the kids like to think of them selves as young adults. And, in many aspects they are, but I don’t like hearing my daughter or her friends curse as if it’s totally acceptable.

As we were having dinner with the students in their chow hall on a perfect evening for enjoying the crisp outside mountain air, several people decided to come back in from the patio area after being bombarded by hungry wasps hovering over their food. As the door opened right behind us, a mom commented about the wasps and Ab’s girlfriend who joined us said, “There’s a shit load of ’em out there!” Ab threw in a few colorful phrases once or twice during our visit. Her older sister and I had to advise her that she is still only 13 years old, and that she should not use that kind of language, especially in front of her mother!

Tam and I tried to get Ab to come spend the night with us at our cabin that we’d rented for the weekend, but Ab was adamant about hanging out with her friends instead. It didn’t hurt my feelings in the least, because I am thrilled to see my baby girl happy and enjoying life once again.

Providence, for sure.

He's Home!!!

Welcome HOME Fly Boy! 

Well Done, Soldier!

I am so very proud of you and very grateful that your tour in Iraq is finished!  Thank God you are home on American soil!  I send my love and thanks for your service to the Iraqi people and the United States of America!

Now, can I have some grandbabies?  Please?  ;)

Love, Mom

 

Monday Photo Shoot: Fall Foliage

San Bernardino National Forest, in Southern California

I took this shot Saturday in Idyllwild while visiting my kid at school!  It was a beautiful day...in more ways than one!

Internet Dating

To reach any significant goal, you must leave your comfort zone.

~Steven Covey

 

Papa used to say he’d get married again when he needed help back and forth to the bathroom. Me? I’ve decided to start looking now considering I ain‘t gettin‘ any younger.

So, I stepped way out of my comfort zone. Yep. I joined one of those online dating services; the one that claims it‘s “Different” with “Thousands of Success Stories!” You know the one, founded by the grandfatherly Doctor; a relationship “expert” who combined “clinical expertise with the latest technology” (a computerized Personality Profile) to help millions find the right person for life-long love and happiness.

Compatibility is the key according to our relationship expert and his detailed questionnaire will measure the intricate facets of a person to include the “29 dimensions that are most important in relationship success.”

Now, supposedly he finds you matches, based upon some of the important dimensions. The introductory profile information lists three of the “Relationship Strengths” from the person’s Personality Profile, his best life-skills, how his friends would describe him, what he’s passionate about in life, what he’s thankful for and how he spends his leisure time. Then of course is the list of things you two have in common. You may also receive a photo of your match, or he can share it with you at a later stage. The next step is for one of you to begin communicating with the other match by selecting 5 questions out of a possibility of 20 or so that they provide for you to ask your match.

Call me picky, but any woman who’s worked around convicted felons as long as I have can quickly spot an idiot. Who knew there were that many on one dating service? I have “closed” matches on 55 of ‘em.

The latest………………………

Meet dick. Yes dick. Not Capital D…Dick. Just dick. Obviously dick doesn’t know how to capitalize his name.

I don’t know. Maybe he had potential; he’s 55 and a successful Real Estate Appraiser, who lives about 45 minutes away. But you know….I just find it hard (no pun intended) to refer to someone as “Dick.” Try introducing your new boyfriend “Dick” to your 13 year old daughter.  It just wouldn’t work.

Although, it wasn’t just his name that sealed his fate with me, it was his choice of introductory questions that he asked me to answer.  Well, actually it was just one of the 5 that was a real turn-off for me and I felt it was indicative (again, no pun intended) of his true colors.

The offending question:

How do you feel about premarital sex?

Answers available:

0 I am completely opposed to it.

0 As long as marriage is imminent, it is okay.

0 In the context of a loving relationship, it is okay.

0 I accept sex as a natural part of dating.

0 _________________________________________________.

 

There was just not enough room in that fill in the blank section for me to completely answer this question as I wanted.

Something like…………Dick!  Dick…….Dude…is this really a problem for you? How many 50 year old women have you dated that have decided to save themselves for their 2nd marriage?

So, instead I just closed the match.  You know, I have a feeling there are a lot of Dicks out there.

I may be single for quite awhile.

 

Being somewhat germ phobic and almost obsessive about washing my hands, I haven't been sick in a couple of years.  So, what ever hit me last Tuesday, knocked me on my rear and I've been in bed for days now with fever, congestion and feeling downright yucky. <==== Surely a clinical term.

I can't remember when I've slept that much!  Actually, yesterday I did manage to stay vertical for several hours in front of the television until I'd had enough of the ever perky designers on home makeover shows on HGTV.  In between naps, I finished two fun, girly books; The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters, by Elisabeth Robinson and Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella; author of Confessions of a Shopaholic (both of which I loved) and have started a third, Blue Shoe; by Anne Lamott.  I am willing to share the first two mentioned hard-cover books with any of my journal friends who are interested, if they'd also pass them along when finished.  Just send me an email with your address and I will send them off bookrate. 

On a positive note, Fly Boy is counting the DAYS until he's home.  Yes, he will be home sometime this month!  Can you believe it's been a year already?  He's saying..."Only 12 more flying days!"  And, based upon the harrowing combat time he's had lately, I can understand why he's counting flying days!  We were both crying when he shared his 4 hour combat mission where they took continuous fire and two direct hits to the helicopter without crashing!  It was incredible and I cannot believe the stress these soldiers experience and then get right back out there and do it again! 

Please keep him and his troop in your prayers as they wrap up their time in Mosul, Iraq.