madameblogalot

With all the talk of economic downturn, business closings and folks losing jobs, my kids are wondering just what all of it means. My son asked me exactly what is “bankruptcy.” Honestly, I don’t know what it is exactly. I did read a quick explanation of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. I found out you can even search US Bankruptcy Records. Maybe this will help me better explain to my kids just what is going on when we hear all the talk, and then turn around and see companies declaring bankruptcy and yet building a brand new store!

A couple of weeks ago, the men and boys of the neighborhood got together for an impromptu dodgeball game! My husband and son, the man next door and his two boys, a man across the street and his son, and another man from down on the corner all joined in the late afternoon fun. It was fun to watch and good for all these guys. I know it made great memories for all the kids (and dads too, I’m sure!) I would guess that all those guys who didn’t make it home in time were sorry to have missed out on this grand event!

neighborhood dodgeball

dodgeball

A couple of years ago, Granny had to start using a walker. She hated that thing. It was cumbersome and not easy to get around with. So at times she would not use it; then, she would fall. She was frustrated by it and was hoping not to have to keep using it.

Then, my oldest nephew saw just what she needed! He was visiting a church where my dad was speaking and saw a man on a motorized scooter. My nephew asked permission from my mom to go talk to the man. He found out all about the man’s great scooter and what all it could do! The man was of course thrilled to show my nephew all about his scooter and spent time showing him all the details. My nephew said “Granny NEEDS this!” Later my nephew tried to talk my mom into getting one of those scooters for Granny. He even saved up some of his own money to contribute towards it! Later that summer, when staying with his other aunt, he drew a family picture, complete with Granny in a “rocket powered wheelchair”, complete with fire coming out of the engine! Boy, Granny could have done some neat tricks in that thing!

SCARY WORDS coming straight out of my teenager’s mouth. He got his license last week and we are hesitant to let him begin to use it. Our area is heavily trafficked and he wanted to go to a YMCA a little far from here, reached only by accessing either the freeway or local highway. We decided to have him wait. He went begrudgingly to the local Y a mile from here. We asked him to wait until he has more experience and in his frustration asked how is supposed to gain that experience if we won’t let him get it! But when discussing (again) the dangers of driving, he blurted out that the scenario we brought up would never happen to him. That comment pretty well shut down the conversation, sealing the fact that he could only drive to the local Y today. I guess it is a first baby step in gaining the desired experience, though all he can see right now is the “babying” in it….

Today was moving day for my granny. She was released from her weak, failing body today. I am happy for her that she no longer has to suffer through the pain any longer. We will miss her so very much. As I sat by her bed today I was thankful to have known her so long and to be able to be with her at the end. As I sat seeing family surround her I knew that nothing else in this world matters. I don’t know what heaven will be like, but I know she is up there happy, probably running around laughing and visiting everyone! I am happy she was able to make the move from this life to a brand new one, a much better one. Happy moving day Granny!

While at the hospital the other day I noticed a little bitty girl, probably only two or three years old, in what appeared to be one of those cool new Ed Hardy shirts. I asked my daughter if she saw that little girl and if she had on an Ed Hardy shirt. She confirmed that it was, or at least one that looked very much like a Hardy shirt. I’ve noticed lots of tots in stylin’ togs. I guess it is a trendy thing to do, to dress your toddler in todays hottest fashions.

Today I found a web site where you can get those stylin’ togs for your own toddler. If you have been looking for unique toddler clothing for your own kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews, or for a friend’s baby, you can find a wide variety online. You can shop for the hottest toddler brands without having to leave home! I found over thirty pages of items on sale where you can save 20, 30, even 50% on sale items. And if you buy over $50 your shipping will be free! They also offer accessories and costumes. Pretty cool way to keep your own kids looking cool!

My granny is pretty awesome. We have always thought she is the coolest Granny around. She had a full set of Dr. Seuss books. She had my uncle’s old surfboard. She loved the “in” music. She took my cousin to Disney World. She was hip and cool. Growing up, all my friends called her Granny too. When my other grandmother died during my sophomore year, Granny let me just sit on her lap and cry. That really touched me as a teen. The immature thought that she could do that for me without feeling “bad” or “jealous” over my grief for my Grandma.

Since she lived in Pasadena, TX, we would refer to her as “the little old lady from Pasadena.” We could literally say “go Granny, go Granny, go Granny go” as she was always busy, busy, busy. She helped tutor at the school several days a week. She got a commendation from President George H.W. Bush for that work. When she wasn’t doing that, she was working with ladies bible class and the elderly at church. She would visit shut ins and cook food for those in need. She regularly made time to come visit me and my kids when they were young. She would also make the extra effort to go to ball games and plays to see them perform. She was official scorekeeper for my cousin’s Little League Baseball team.

Today my Granny is very sick. She is not doing too well. She has decided that she will no longer continue her dialysis treatments. It makes me sad to see her so ill. But I know she will soon be free from her pain and discomfort and be in a much better, happier place. She has been ready to go for sometime now. It is hard for us.

I know she will be busy and happy in the place she is headed. I want to be able to continue to say to her here ever after “go Granny, go Granny, go Granny go”. I love that little old lady from Pasadena.

A blogging friend of mine, Susanne, at Sue’s Daily Photography, has just embarked on a longtime dream of her and her husband. They have packed up and are getting ready to travel the United States from coast to coast. For now, they are headed back to Florida where they resided for several years to warm up a bit before they head out on their journey. As they travel, they hope to see interesting things for her to photograph and him to paint. They hope to meet many new people and have even asked for places to pick up a hot meal or a night in a bed along the way. Of course I told Sue I would love to meet her and have her here for a time during the course of her trip.

Sue is originally from Switzerland and has been in the US for some time now. She is a professional photographer and does a lovely job, as seen on her blog. In thinking about having Sue and her husband here for a night or two, I began thinking about how to host them. I am not much into big dinner parties, but a small neighborhood get together would be nice, especially since our neighbors regularly get together on Friday nights. Since we live in South Texas, I thought Tex-Mex might be in order.

On the Celebrations website there is a party planning menu for a Mexican dinner party on a budget. It includes a menu, shopping list and estimated price for the items. They even include ideas for table decor. Their menu feeds six for an estimated $43!

I just turned off Oprah. The infatuation with Obama is really getting to me. I don’t quite understand it all. Just before going to a commercial, there was a clip with Justin Timberlake talking about the energy felt over this change in administration. He talked about walking with a swagger after the election. He talked about how now America has a swagger. “America, we’re cool now.” I didn’t realize that’s what it was all about….

My cousin just bought a new house. A huge new house. They got a real steal on a home built in the ’80s. It has 5+ bedrooms! The builder had built it for himself so it is built right. They are really excited about moving in this month!

As interest rates continue to fall, we are looking at refinancing our house again to take advantage of the much lower rates. Although we have looked/thought about moving since a year after we bought this house, we have not looked at moving out of town. One of our friends recommended we move near them. My husband’s friend wants us to come look at Austin Real Estate. We have never looked at living there, so I am not even sure we could afford Austin real estate . I guess I could do some research on line to find out that info. I do know that it is gorgeous there and lots of folks love living there. It seems like it’s a good time to buy a house, at least according to my cousin. But I don’t know if we could sell our house and if we would be up to moving several hours away (of course that would depend on if my husband could get a job there.) But it is an interesting thought…