An Extreme Day

Yesterday was spent visiting the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Tim, Daniel and I had a ball!


Currently On Exhibit
Extreme Mammals: The Biggest, Smallest, and Most Amazing Mammals of All Time
November 6, 2010 through April 17, 2011
Location: Kahn Hall. A mammal so small that it could stand on the tip of a pencil eraser? An armadillo with horns? A whale – with legs? Extreme Mammals: The Biggest, Smallest, and Most Amazing Mammals of All Time brings to light these extraordinary extinct mammals and dozens more, many so unfamiliar to us that we have no common names for them.
In addition to this exhibit, there were so many great things to see. The Planetarium was wonderful. 50 minutes of wonder. When the narrator (a live narrator) asked for the names of planets, Daniel asked "Has anyone ever gone to Pluto?" "No" said the narrator. "Well I am going to be the first" said Daniel. The whole room full of spectators reacted.

The day was stress free and exciting. The outdoor exhibits were pretty wonderous as well.

Glad to have gotten the tickets as a gift.
Glad to have used them.

Yesterday was "just glad"!

Ole' and Buenas (Buenos) Noches y Buenas (Buenos)Dias etc!

This photo was taken last year at the Medina Board of Realtors Chili Cookoff. I won first place for the Howard Hanna Office in Brunswick.

This year (photo coming) I participated representing the office and we came in "second", out of twelve offices.

This year we kicked it up a notch' by adding a half of a potato/cheddar sauteed pierogie as a garnish on the top of the sample cup. The chili filled the 4 oz. styrofoam cup and the half pierogie topped the chili like a "sail". Garnishes of cheese, sour cream and crackers were available. A huge thank you to my office for providing the money to purchase the ingredients, and a huge "thank you" to Tim Rhodes, my Howard Hanna Mortgage rep. for purchasing the 10#'s of meat, beer and fresh limes that go into my special recipe!

Thanks to Mollie Pfister, Karen Tittel, and Jan Ivory for their help at the event, and a HUGE thank you to Dave Ivory and Tim Rhodes for manning the electric saute' skillet and cutting board. (I made 10 dozen pierogies for the event) They prepared my pierogies and sliced and topped the chili cups. All donned latex gloves and looked so professional. I could not have done the work without you all!

People were surprised to see our product and were delighted to enjoy them!

Brunswick Rocks (Tangos if you will)

Gracias amigos and senoritas!

Yeah Howard Hanna Brunswick!

Inquiring minds...

.........want to know. At least some inquiring minds want to know. I had the opportunity to meet this woman, Amy Chorew, at the Ohio Association of Realtors Winter Conference on Sunday afternoon.

Now, I have taken a class or two with her. She left an impression on me then also. The impression that she left was this: She is incredibly bright, intelligent and a Tech savvy genius, while I on the other hand am a slow, plodding slug- -like person who has no apptitude for tech skills at all.

Well, I actually have some skills, I just don't have the same type of skills. My skills are: I can get up in front of a crowd of people, friends and foe alike and speak. Sometimes I make people laugh. Go figure! I do not speak from "scripts". I just speak. That is why there is always the danger lurking that the words are not always "G" in rating.

As my friend Linda of Louisville says, "we all have our gifts".

Hers are connected to small incredible black objects and mine are connected to my mouth.

I can make people smile and she can make people smile and text at the same time.

(actually, she is a huge supporter of NOT texting while driving, which is a big Hallelujah (sp?) from me.

Actually, I can't wait to go buy a smart phone. After seeing her whiz through some pretty intense apps that are available, I can only hope that when that little black box enters my life I will grasp it and run with it instead of running over it. (see previous blog regarding my most recent experiences with ATT)

As I pointed out to Amy in the the short session that she taught, I am from the farm and the biggest danger to a smart phone, or any phone (It would appear I now own a "dumb" phone)

is it's life expectancy is fairly short. Falling out of my pocket while I drive a tractor, or lawn tractor (I have driven the lawn tractor into the pond on one occassion and I have driven over the phone with the mower blades running)or falling out as I mount my horse, or dropping it into a water bucket in the barn or while I am up in the hay loft are all distinct possibilities.

The last time I went to the AT&T store to get a replacement phone the gal at the store mistakenly asked me if I had a duplicate SIM card. Say what?

You all get it don't you? I can see you smirking now.

Until a short time ago I thought FACEBOOK was the autobiography of Elizabeth Arden!

Cheers everyone, text me after reading!

It's here!

Finally, after waiting 30 days, we have a replacement truck.

Tim arrived at 7:30 p.m. yesterday with "Ole Red".

Today will be spent evaluating what needs to be done to put him and "Ole Red" on the road safely.

Thanks to our friends, family (for all of your help, encouragement, kind words, support), and the grace of God!

"On the road again"!

The Brunettes!

We are dog sitting. Sarah, Kevin and Daniel made
a vacation trip to Albuquerque to vist Scott and Tina Good and family. They left on Friday morning and will return Tuesday evening. In the interim we have houseguests.

Dozer and Jinx, our brunette grand dogs (we have blonde grand dogs owned by Nathan and Traci) are spending a few days at the "spa".

Dozer, Doberman rescue is aptly named. He never got the hang of "His own Space" as opposed to "Your Own Space" will get as close to you as his fur will allow.

Jinx, a Rott/Dobie/??? mix was adopted at the
Columbus dog pound after Brinks, the Dobie/Rottie mix that was Sarah's College graduation gift, left to cross the Rainbow Bridge.

Two more different dogs could not exist on this planet. Dozer's sheer size alone would strike
terror in the hearts of men but he is as gentle as a pussycat. That is, if you are not entering his home area and are an "alien or unknown". If you gently blow in his face, he will lick his chops.
Quite cute actually. Jinx is quite vocal, growly and crabby. Well...cutting her some slack, she does have to live with Dozer.

Anyway, it is our weekend diversion taking them out for potty breaks. Tim has to take them out at night, black dogs in the dark....no fun! Thankfully they have a white snow background during their visit or I would not be able to see them!

The last deed

Yesterday morning, Tim and I went up to the farm to await the arrival of the excavator that would be bringing his equipment to dig a grave for Zana.

As I was waiting in the lounge, Sarah came in to warm up and we sat quietly for a moment before she said "I opened the big arena door and opened the arena gate all the way out into the driveway"...( to allow the equipment operator to have access to the spot where Zana lay covered with a large blue horse cooler, a rectangular soft blanket used to keep horses from cooling down too rapidly after workouts or baths).

"As I walked away, the large gate slammed shut and latched". "She's gone Mom".

I then asked Sarah to do one final deed for me. I always kept a crystal for Zana

I kept it in the horse trailer when we traveled, and placed it discreetly in her stall

when we were at a show. It was clear and reflective, about 1-1/2 inches tear drop

shaped. I asked Sarah to braid it into her forelock so it would always be with her.

Sarah did.

We believe that her soul was waiting for the gate to open to allow her to leave.

Farewell Zana, and God's speed.

Zana Bey

She was buried this morning with dignity and respect. The equipment operator was very gentle and careful, Sarah went down into the grave and spread a clean sheet on the floor of the grave, then the mare was gently lowered down to her final resting place.

Sarah covered her with a clean bedspread making sure she was totally covered so that no dirt would fall on her face or body. She placed an apple under the bedspread, I said a few words, placing two handsfulf of dirt gently over her saying "ashes to ashes, dust to dust", God's Speed dear friend, and then the operator gently filled the grave.

She was laid to rest next to Max the quarter horse of Louisa's. There is a cross on Max's grave with a Christmas wreath still in place.

The graves are adjacent to the west fence of the pasture. I believe Zana would have wanted to someday be beyond fences.

I will plant flowers in the spring.

God speed my dear one.

Zana Bey (AA Apollo Bey X Zannadu)

Foaled March 11, 1997
Entered into Heaven January 12, 2011

My beloved mare.

We had dreams didn't we!

Somewhere in time's own space
There must be some sweet pasture place
Where creeks sing on and tall trees grow
Some paradise where horses go.

Zana Bey....she has earned her wings!

The famous "Church Ladies and their typewriters" for the bulletin

Thanks to my friend Joanne Thueneman in Florida for this:


The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals. -------------------------- The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.' -------------------------- Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands. -------------------------- Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you. -------------------------- Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help. -------------------------- Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation. -------------------------- For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs. -------------------------- Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get. -------------------------- Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days. -------------------------- A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.. -------------------------- At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice. -------------------------- Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones. -------------------------- Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children. -------------------------- Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.. -------------------------- The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility. -------------------------- Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow. -------------------------- The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon. -------------------------- This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin. -------------------------- Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM .. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B S. Is done. -------------------------- The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday. -------------------------- Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM .. Please use the back door. -------------------------- The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM .. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy. -------------------------- Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance. -------------------------- Donuts will be served after mass in the church basement followed by blood pressure checks.--------------------------------
and finally:
The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan last Sunday: 'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours.

O M G!

I went back to the A T & T Store promtly after speaking with Wendy.

I spotted her the minute I came through the door. Very stoic face,

hard to tell her emotions by looking on her face.

"Do you have an extra SIM card with you?"

(She's kidding right? )

"No, I surely don't" said I with a smile on my face (Don't get in her face, don't
get in her face etc.) I had vowed to be pleasant on the trip back to the store.

Wendy looked up at me and said "I think I can fix this".

"Have at it" said I.

She took my phone, fiddled with it, played with it and finally got up from her
chair and proceeded to get on her hands and knees in front of each trash can
behind the counter and take out every piece of paper, trash and gum wrapper.

She found three SIM Cards in the last trash can. Pulling them out (from the bottom
of the can..assuming they wiggled their way down, down, down) and placed them
on the counter. "I think yours was blue and yellow like this one" said she.

Well lo and behold. It was mine. She placed it in something on the computer, played
around with it, looked up and said "Von Duyke"? "You bet" said I.

"This is yours"!. Placing it into the innerds of the phone carefully and handing it back
to me.

She declared "This was totally my fault, I don't know what is the matter with me today.

I am so sorry".

Well okay then.

"If I couldn't find your data I would be sitting here crying".

"Me too" said I. "On second thought, you and I would be out of here and over at Applebees' drinking away our sorrows" said I.

She readily agreed.

Okay, A T & T got a reprieve!

Huh?

I just got back from the AT&T store in Medina. I have been having problems
with my cell phone.
Place 4 calls, only 1 will connect.

So.....they cheerfully said "It's your SIM Card. You need a new one, here let
me take care of that for you".
Two minutes...job complete, cheery Miss Wendy
handed the phone back to me and said "all done, no charge".

Thanks so much!

One problem. All of my cell phone book numbers are gone.
I called the store and just hung up.
I was fortunate to get Miss
Wendy. "Oh that happens sometimes". What?
"Oh that happens sometimes, bring it back and I will try to fix it.
"Try?"

All of my business and personal contacts are in that phone. Where
are they?

"I don't know" said Miss Wendy "Maybe they're gone"

Somebody hold me back!

How do you look in red?

This may be the next truck in our future.
This is the closest thing to the truck that was
just wrecked in Connecticut.

Owned by someone Tim knows, and he is only
the second owner. Maintenance records going
way back.

Keep your fingers crossed and perhaps say a
prayer to two or three.

Next step, getting financing!

Wish us luck!

ASAP

Thank You for another new year and for new chances every day.
We pray for peace, for light, and for hope, that we might spread them to others.
Forgive us for falling short this past year.
We leave the irreparable past in your hands, and step out into the unknown new year
knowing You will go with us.
We accept Your gift of a new year and we rejoice in what's ahead,
depending on You to help us do exactly what You want..
We rejoice! in Jesus name,
Amen.

ASAP means "Always Say A Prayer"