"Where oh where can my little car be?"

So I walk out of Wal-Mart this rainy afternoon, having taken advantage of the newly allowed Sunday shopping-- those darn informercials woke me up last night and hooked me into listening to Kevin Trudeau promote his newest novel-- something about new natural cures, secrets finally revealed--- especially the part about acid reflux (Frank) and high cholesterol (me)---caught my ear.

Sure enough,, just as he said, the book was available at Wal-Mart--- but the cover price was thirty dollars, and the informercial said if you call that 800 number right away, the book would be sent free,,, so I couldn't justify spending all that moolah-- but I did sneak a few free peeks..picked it up an put it back about ten times, before I decided that maybe I'll get lucky and be woken up by that infomercial again---- if I can REMEMBER what channel the TV was on!!!!

As I walked out the front door of said superstore,, I knew instantly I was in trouble-- had no idea from which direction I had parked--- so I sauntered,, at first casually so as not to draw attention from the "waiting in car people"... around the lot, as if I was out for a Sunday stroll,,, then desperation and panic set in as I realized that little red Echo was NOT in the whole parking lot !!

SOMEONE HAD STOLEN MY CAR--

AS I HEADED BACK TOWARDS THE STORE, INTENDING TO PHONE MY PERSONAL 911-- FRANK----

IT OCCURRED TO ME!!

I was driving Jennah's blue yaris!!

As for Kevin Trudeau,,, I wonder if he has a cure for memory loss!!

Prayer for Chris

O My God! O Thou forgiver of sins! Bestower of gifts! Dispeller of afflictions!
Verily, I beseech Thee to forgive the sins of such as have abandoned the physical garment and have ascended to the spiritual world.
O my Lord! Purify them from trespasses, dispel their sorrows, and change their darkness into light. Cause them to enter the garden of happiness, cleanse them with the most pure water, and grant them to behold Thy splendors on the loftiest mount. Abdu'l-Baha

Reality Check !!

Oh my GAWD!!!

In high-pitched valley girl drawl---

OH MY GAWD,

as I lay writhing on the bed this morning, sucking my gut through to my back,,

trying to get the teeth in that zipper to mesh,, close,, join,, unite.

These are the fattest of my fattest pants !!!!

Now I won't even be able to wash them----

this has got to be the limit--

the apex, the zenith,,

This is the line in the sand-- it's all out war---

I refuse to buy the next larger size----no, no,, Let me weigh the options-

-- smoke, live a shorter life ,thin.

OR

live a longer life Fat!!!

This Day in History

April 20--- Ridvan begins at sunset

April 20, 1999--Columbine High Massacre

April 20, 2005--- Mom died

No flowery peace and love syrupy obit---

it wasn't gentle,, it wasn't peaceful.. it wasn' t loving.

No easy pass

It was brutal, barbaric, endless rattling,

dry-parched throat curdling,

eyes screaming silently, beseeching,

pleading,

"Why can't I have a sip of water?"

Last words---

Wouldn't let an animal suffer so!

Medical technology ????

I prayed , begged, and tried to deal with God-

Let this be her last breath!

He listened.

Love you Mama, may God refresh and gladden your spirit, and may your spirit be quenched with lifewater.

Just Because .....

Just cuz it's time--- time to post a picture of Lexy with the pigtails,, Lexy with the shiny mouth-- some kind of rash--- but can't let that stop us from capturing time----

She's learning so much,, new words and funny actions every day---especially how to use her feminine wiles to get her way with Papa,, and everyone else--- a real livewire!!

We Say Good-bye, You Say Hello .....

Hey Chris,

Billy and I walked to the cemetery today to pay homage to you and Kurt ! I'm sure you were there to welcome him across and show him all the ropes-- he was such a great influence --- after you died, I read voraciously, all things kurt-- Cat's Cradle, Slaughterhouse five, Galapogos, and more whose names I can't quite recall--- thinking the more words of his I read, the closer I could connect to you-as if reading the same words you had read at one time would keep you here with me--- with only Billy to accompany me, my thoughts went places I try to avoid, but it is that time of year--- and this morning I watched a tv tribute to the man---

it took me back to those days,, four years ago, as vivid in my mind as if it were only yesterday!

As I walked, I wondered who is part of your karass now,,, or the many karasses you are undoubetdly a part of---

I imagine you with Pa, watching his favourite wrestler and cheering Philip along with boxing,

Dropping by to visit Mom and meeting her family.

You and Max learning all kinds of new and exciting things, yet never too far from your families left behind-

Jamming with Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrisson--- Watch out for your cousin Paul in Afghanistan..

I know you still keep an eye on us,

Dad told me about the light show last week when he was at Phil's apartment-- keep watching out for him-

and Austin too!!

So today, I say a special prayer for you and Kurt!!

Love, your mama ...

"For all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, It might have been." Kurt Vonnegut

What's Wrong with this Picture ???

The rubber bin on top of the wood stove ??

The water bottles on the hearth??

NO NO NO

The Easter Bunny left a T-Ball set for Aussie to play with-----

an outdoor activity

Outdoors?????

Not gonna happen

Still too cold and there's talk of another nor'easter on the way for Thursday-

Nor'Easter Bunny ??

Oh yeah,,,

the bin and bottles are off the rug because the night before I steam cleaned the carpet----

you don't want to know why, but here's a hint---

Billy----

another hint--- compost bin----- regurgitation---

sorry,,,

too much information and Frank will be upset with me,,,

and I so wanted just to keep it cutesy, to go along with the pics,,,

but somehow I always have to bring it down--- or should that be bring it up ????

ain't he sweet???

And the carpet is clean now,, even though it's probably the repository of thirty years of crud--- even the "rug doctor" cleaner can't cure what ails it---

I want hardwood floors----- did you hear me darling,, dearest,,

hardwood floors !!!!

And I promise, if we get new flooring,,, I'll clean up all future regurgitations !!! Deal or NO Deal???

Bunny Tales !!

Been substituting alot--- Last Thursday,, before the Easter holdiday weekend,, I was in a Grade Two classroom-- we had an Easter party of sorts in the pm--- couldn't help but wonder what the sweetest little girl from Iraq must have thought of a bunny delivering chocolate eggs --- rabbits?? eggs?? When you've grown up with the tradition, I suppose it just seems normal-- then i remember trying to explain to our Baha'i friends, newly arrived as refugees from Iran about twenty years ago---how silly it seemed !!! What do eggs have to do with rabbits??

There is a walking trail through the woods near our home that borders Riverside Cemetery--- Frank and I had walked it regularly with Billy--- then after Chris died, the walk took on special significance-- especially the days after the headstone had been ordered--- We didn't know exactly when it would be there,,, so we approached with trepidation, wanting to see it,, and dreading to see it--- On the day we first saw the stone,, well,, it's a sight no parent is ever ready to accept--- so after the tears, we headed home-- the trail is rectangular ,, and as we turned up the last ninety degree corner, Frank whispered Shhhh!!! Look!! Even Billy stood still-- There , just ahead , at the highest point of the trail was an adult brown hare- standing erect on his hind legs and looking to the right, as if a statue----- As we watched in awe, the rabbit turned and stood the other way, looking to its left. It all happened in a matter of seconds,, and the rabbit scurried away--- not a usual occurrence!! Suddenly it made sense !!

http://www.amonworld.com//

Our tears turned to laughter--just the sort of thing Chris would arrange and somehow it felt as if he was walking along with us , pulling his usual pranks!!!!

PS: Mandy has some clearer pictures of our skating excursion!!

PPS: They're giving a winter storm warning--- isn't this spring???