tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61165114111819759672024-03-12T19:00:54.565-05:00Porch StoriesStories told on porches in the night are the food that feeds our souls. A porch is a stepping off place, where girls kiss their parents goodbye and disappear into an adventure,where moms wait to hear their stories when they come home.It' a place where laughter drowns out the crickets, where friends become family. C'mon up to my porch, pull up a chair and tell me your story. We'll weave it into the quilt that wraps us up when life is cold.martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-59004379206301806332012-01-20T09:15:00.003-06:002012-01-20T09:15:46.382-06:00ThinkingThinking today
about times I flung myself
into untested water
And somehow missed the rocks
about days I sleepwalked through
And nights I was alive down to every pore
wondering how they led me here
And the wondering brings me peace
And the wandering brought me home.martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-69178151982300288182012-01-14T19:05:00.000-06:002012-01-14T19:05:01.390-06:00Porch Stories: Changing My Attitude<a href="http://porchstories-marti.blogspot.com/2012/01/changing-my-attitude.html">Porch Stories: Changing My Attitude</a>martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-85585551282269863402012-01-14T18:56:00.000-06:002012-01-14T19:03:11.183-06:00Changing My Attitude<b></b><span style="font-size: large;">After a night of tangled bedclothes and half dreams, I got up and went to sit with my niece Sherri while her husband was having surgery. I visited with my mom and my friend Stephanie. Mom is in a nursing home after suffering a stroke. It makes me about equal parts happy and sad to see her.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So, I get home, put on my jammies and I'm settling in with my book when, here come my children, grandson, nephew and his wife! I put on my beer drinking clothes and adjusted my attitude!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiB7HjNn5BUgPon_c6zlZPgE_M_S29rP2u3BycGDE5OHXhT6v3frQoRGgWvDjpn4v_K1CjULiGG9SaDnMxqyBocF4CFdMQx2Eg-XPe7XvJmZWLstwx-L1rzQoYjTgdZ3k7wTXBGcDLr9s/s1600/100_0781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiB7HjNn5BUgPon_c6zlZPgE_M_S29rP2u3BycGDE5OHXhT6v3frQoRGgWvDjpn4v_K1CjULiGG9SaDnMxqyBocF4CFdMQx2Eg-XPe7XvJmZWLstwx-L1rzQoYjTgdZ3k7wTXBGcDLr9s/s320/100_0781.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-HOml0k0Ht216VqEWt7m7Mulm2WlsIAbZEMW-quKnHPGSFohzCYepJnqrXVkGCrNVCAwak0z1COLWUpVxYmyhX8J1WcP1LnGu6dydPsWMytIHiMr_2ZBqDeSd7XFvcnFGlWv2iJbQCg/s1600/100_0769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-HOml0k0Ht216VqEWt7m7Mulm2WlsIAbZEMW-quKnHPGSFohzCYepJnqrXVkGCrNVCAwak0z1COLWUpVxYmyhX8J1WcP1LnGu6dydPsWMytIHiMr_2ZBqDeSd7XFvcnFGlWv2iJbQCg/s320/100_0769.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5OGZGBQYRxoCt-ecSoqq4dUFUmOn383TMjxwi2GVm8sWtsnU9CxU9fjzKVlnilXIrsyamZ8mtIhr9Uls2Y8-6SWyMqRzDwwrSwJD3Ms0JBCPL3h1Ct37lgGA0_bZIHwfXN65oVuRJ9A/s1600/100_0773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5OGZGBQYRxoCt-ecSoqq4dUFUmOn383TMjxwi2GVm8sWtsnU9CxU9fjzKVlnilXIrsyamZ8mtIhr9Uls2Y8-6SWyMqRzDwwrSwJD3Ms0JBCPL3h1Ct37lgGA0_bZIHwfXN65oVuRJ9A/s320/100_0773.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPJF4HmCQlWtl3bEiX79nV1laOhzagAAbIhw_5T8dvE-WI9Ee-wfWKgkEIU1es-q5Dv9TPHE9TO1wz15_7A4Fn0v1g0_MRFk8cg7uevc11PbmwROpDHNLIiDOYLgGj_5sAqa9SkXRgew/s1600/100_0774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPJF4HmCQlWtl3bEiX79nV1laOhzagAAbIhw_5T8dvE-WI9Ee-wfWKgkEIU1es-q5Dv9TPHE9TO1wz15_7A4Fn0v1g0_MRFk8cg7uevc11PbmwROpDHNLIiDOYLgGj_5sAqa9SkXRgew/s320/100_0774.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LgWSuhpJ9pnfKHJoZkGdetKTi0TEPBEvE21DWPl0Zg9FBjli9x5I90jy6i6TBhHDtibjLalh4W1giCxywyaZW_EKtB5SQXypm29-YZE2Fh_BFiOZZR6r5UePaNQnQQhwCEFbb_IXrSg/s1600/100_0777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LgWSuhpJ9pnfKHJoZkGdetKTi0TEPBEvE21DWPl0Zg9FBjli9x5I90jy6i6TBhHDtibjLalh4W1giCxywyaZW_EKtB5SQXypm29-YZE2Fh_BFiOZZR6r5UePaNQnQQhwCEFbb_IXrSg/s320/100_0777.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqtb7rG9lPoVRco9SQcDgY1OqWB94SvUzRuPgKpxzZyqISnTgeFTE7ZRinuqjBBYpx_2MAqzL0XvJQBHp35J055xHPrUnV3azTRsD7KtH0ZzHPftBV3u-ztNW_THkQdeVVsyo2Ph0iLA/s1600/100_0778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqtb7rG9lPoVRco9SQcDgY1OqWB94SvUzRuPgKpxzZyqISnTgeFTE7ZRinuqjBBYpx_2MAqzL0XvJQBHp35J055xHPrUnV3azTRsD7KtH0ZzHPftBV3u-ztNW_THkQdeVVsyo2Ph0iLA/s320/100_0778.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Never miss a party! I can sleep when I'm dead!<br />
Holding eyes open with clothespins,<br />
Martimartihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com4Stapleton, AL 36578, USA30.742689 -87.793325230.729041499999997 -87.8130662 30.7563365 -87.7735842tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-70547900313973613852012-01-10T20:01:00.000-06:002012-01-10T20:45:16.700-06:00How on Earth Did This Happen?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMn3oSoe5s7PH-_CfV_DSBwwxRXcgSJ4YtvDEBYQckkniz33MYv6miSwjLYggFHmr9IQJwiIBC8YuTev40xU0TsB8OzphJG4dFQERZAxXBKj6XFR8CQRrKNSNLwGxm7co8AGfObluHB1k/s1600/100_0704.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696190964816965346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMn3oSoe5s7PH-_CfV_DSBwwxRXcgSJ4YtvDEBYQckkniz33MYv6miSwjLYggFHmr9IQJwiIBC8YuTev40xU0TsB8OzphJG4dFQERZAxXBKj6XFR8CQRrKNSNLwGxm7co8AGfObluHB1k/s200/100_0704.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 150px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
Tom and I have never been known for adding up pros and cons.<br />
Calm deliberation is not our thing.<br />
We are more the "take a running jump" kind of folks.<br />
This time last year, we each had a job we hated and a nice little cottage in a "good" section of town. <br />
Now we live in a battered trailer in a tiny community with our Tom's brother and sister in law, our nieces and nephews and their kids. <br />
I am just now realizing what happened! <br />
Oh yeah, we retired.<br />
Half the money and twice the fun!<br />
I'm so glad I didn't think this through, I never woulda done it and look at all I would have missed!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9wmeZM-m31XIRIFBWOLxJGjwV5woG7rnS5XoqoSnibwchn1Suv46Jbv89h1snB8nxF1VSTn5BLB5Bk7kAgCDTf0f7cHmNP3vyVHuIIzyCNssVcFeX1b6BUTRRbXy7pGwfAbGfYGwfWg/s1600/100_0259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9wmeZM-m31XIRIFBWOLxJGjwV5woG7rnS5XoqoSnibwchn1Suv46Jbv89h1snB8nxF1VSTn5BLB5Bk7kAgCDTf0f7cHmNP3vyVHuIIzyCNssVcFeX1b6BUTRRbXy7pGwfAbGfYGwfWg/s320/100_0259.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1oixUFTP8MXpZhhrNCjPz9HZyOLR6oGIPrgYXEEIBfKetGZwjpQG8QBirlf7dsfauuMQYYCt6zDWK7YcfLOcyKpcWsgeQxAqv93w1wGvSutoH6_qSxl-k-ICgvlNHc6ZF7a3NGIF1xM/s1600/100_0752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1oixUFTP8MXpZhhrNCjPz9HZyOLR6oGIPrgYXEEIBfKetGZwjpQG8QBirlf7dsfauuMQYYCt6zDWK7YcfLOcyKpcWsgeQxAqv93w1wGvSutoH6_qSxl-k-ICgvlNHc6ZF7a3NGIF1xM/s320/100_0752.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-37609296603875019812010-01-24T17:01:00.000-06:002010-01-24T17:04:39.725-06:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">I have a life cant' wait for you I'm not through yet more rockin than rocking chair and I want it all I f you wanna come jump in and hang on with the wind in your hair cause it's a rough ride and you can bet I'll still be here for last call</span></i></b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre-wrap; ">.</span>martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-59581835856165336502010-01-24T11:37:00.000-06:002010-01-24T11:44:51.125-06:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><b>For a long while I have felt that transferring schools was the worst mistake of my life. I have been so emotionally brutalized that I developed psoriasis, anxiety attacks and acid reflux. I was truly not aware such cruelty existed. Looking back I dont' know why I didn't hear warning bells!</b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><b>But I am stronger now because of it. I am able to pray for good for the one who has hurt me so. It is still a daily struggle. I know that I'm a good teacher who has something to give and I'm needed. </b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><b>I get up at 5 and spend the time girding myself to face the day and mostly I'm able to hold down the fear and stay positive.</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><b>Bring it on! </b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><b>I'm ready!</b></span></div>martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-91042580138911246962010-01-23T08:05:00.000-06:002010-01-23T08:09:16.349-06:00Jumping off the RainbowI feel like I've turned a corner.<div>like I've discovered a new world </div><div>and like I've come home...</div><div>feeling surer</div><div>feeling stronger</div><div>Feeling loved and loving...</div>martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-30118958020831293352009-09-13T12:49:00.000-05:002009-09-13T12:58:20.638-05:00Love Expotentially<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxF1oHLDrfBivxcQAN8AAqg6NqBHVFaxtgEbS0um__PreOvKgc0mQHxI-0GqtFQDPqd9Ln0u7myaiNh5z0IgD40zY0Zs5PaCDQtpKaXsRXP1CG5D70RMlNFW8oeLe3iFTmkUHQsKsvFds/s1600-h/see+you+in+the+dark+8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxF1oHLDrfBivxcQAN8AAqg6NqBHVFaxtgEbS0um__PreOvKgc0mQHxI-0GqtFQDPqd9Ln0u7myaiNh5z0IgD40zY0Zs5PaCDQtpKaXsRXP1CG5D70RMlNFW8oeLe3iFTmkUHQsKsvFds/s200/see+you+in+the+dark+8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381012557780494802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtBEE-FZI3sI-Qss1sd1RXIJMKZpfRkat8eqJ5VuLCcfdJ5fSddFu4W0gLzy0ivk28oxqqXLinKSajz1QJg1WWtTRGZx742bmKVu5zHCOb_XhJKjS11FJEB8Q1zNfVtZlpSdEe2wrm6I/s1600-h/see+you+in+the+dark+4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtBEE-FZI3sI-Qss1sd1RXIJMKZpfRkat8eqJ5VuLCcfdJ5fSddFu4W0gLzy0ivk28oxqqXLinKSajz1QJg1WWtTRGZx742bmKVu5zHCOb_XhJKjS11FJEB8Q1zNfVtZlpSdEe2wrm6I/s200/see+you+in+the+dark+4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381012553156376850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_iLOfdteLxcMbEc_zclc2qsr6nbySLrUcbSB8BazHtXCXUBj9CxJjcPWJ6mvIINBHxhjxFDwGG8eA05rFKROwOYeNgOqEPpbk1O3M2n_4D_dthknQrTzJPXITgwM-8mgJB57Ch9gEcc/s1600-h/See+you+in+the+dark+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_iLOfdteLxcMbEc_zclc2qsr6nbySLrUcbSB8BazHtXCXUBj9CxJjcPWJ6mvIINBHxhjxFDwGG8eA05rFKROwOYeNgOqEPpbk1O3M2n_4D_dthknQrTzJPXITgwM-8mgJB57Ch9gEcc/s200/See+you+in+the+dark+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381012253106245170" /></a><br />Sitting on the my daughter's Porch, <div>looking from face to well-loved face,</div><div>I started to think of how it all came about.</div><div>Tom and I fell in love</div><div>I met his brother David and loved him.</div><div>Tom and I made Mariah, whom we adored.</div><div>David married Judy, who became my sister</div><div>They created Katie, who has held my heart ever since.</div><div>Then along came Caitlin to Tom and I </div><div>Giving us a baby time again</div><div>Then Mariah brought us Terry, the son I always wanted</div><div>And Katie gave us Randall, who instantly became family.</div><div>Kinda makes you wanna dance!</div><div><br /></div>martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-48901986358493980222009-09-07T21:49:00.000-05:002009-09-07T22:06:21.517-05:00Response to Crisis<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVaRmwFwKLPt1sUzlueiHsFwkhvY2xwrLVi5HrmhFo3TutPJ5WnuGqeZGYPqEMOYz8C9UpYIPvIPcsnyceFNcT6z95EYGWsnmtCyE4qUkIAOdmg97zibVGiflS0edbRtoRkmDpzoBjU3o/s1600-h/Labor+day+2009+5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVaRmwFwKLPt1sUzlueiHsFwkhvY2xwrLVi5HrmhFo3TutPJ5WnuGqeZGYPqEMOYz8C9UpYIPvIPcsnyceFNcT6z95EYGWsnmtCyE4qUkIAOdmg97zibVGiflS0edbRtoRkmDpzoBjU3o/s200/Labor+day+2009+5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378927568777523666" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7EHBJgENDTRhpZjDbvyNSPwkgorNZoKp7BPCp-SO5cdlooX_WSFuSiKE6D7Vxq4g0a6HLoTvWO-R9dj5TNu86lWMWdSzwejZosC5ZyuYznpYGFD6cXAjCAFx-vu2eF2NXRt_NCbiLmE/s1600-h/labor+day+2009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7EHBJgENDTRhpZjDbvyNSPwkgorNZoKp7BPCp-SO5cdlooX_WSFuSiKE6D7Vxq4g0a6HLoTvWO-R9dj5TNu86lWMWdSzwejZosC5ZyuYznpYGFD6cXAjCAFx-vu2eF2NXRt_NCbiLmE/s200/labor+day+2009.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378927216685117122" /></a><br />It's a lovely laid back Labor Day weekend<div>As it has been our custom for many years,</div><div> the Lagoonatics have gathered for Dana's birthday.</div><div>Cold beer</div><div>warm hearts</div><div>on Paula's deck</div><div>A sudden scream pierces the Florida drizzle!</div><div>We all jump to our feet and pound through the house!</div><div>We fling open the front door where our children are sitting on the front porch.</div><div>"Who's yelling?" I demand.</div><div>"You!" Caitlin replies, dumfounded.</div><div>"It's Stephanie!" Stacey shouts.</div><div>"Where is she?" We all scream at each other.</div><div>"She left hours ago!' Caitlin hollers.</div><div>"No she didn't" Dana counters.</div><div>"Stephanie, where are you?" I demand in my teacher voice.</div><div>"She cant' see in the dark! She's in the water!"Stacey shrills, waving her arms.</div><div>So we all thunder to the back deck</div><div>( where we were sitting to begin with)</div><div> and hear hysterical laughter</div><div> from the endangered Stephanie </div><div>who was locked in the bathroom </div><div>we all roared by twice!</div>martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-39072799691089311442009-07-23T02:59:00.000-05:002009-07-23T03:24:39.431-05:00Summer-ary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePtxnfn2esnc7IYQmDe2Oy-0nMWOc4RCc9tqnZCIDWwlWV8RJzBpII8TwutQ6opti_d5uasAq_NOH_49xM2Nh0nFERYWa1np7bXuke-RWtAyXAWpR7nFVkqvOyd5bzmpgRudOOo-01Bs/s1600-h/July+4+2009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePtxnfn2esnc7IYQmDe2Oy-0nMWOc4RCc9tqnZCIDWwlWV8RJzBpII8TwutQ6opti_d5uasAq_NOH_49xM2Nh0nFERYWa1np7bXuke-RWtAyXAWpR7nFVkqvOyd5bzmpgRudOOo-01Bs/s200/July+4+2009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361564562715298914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92hFGAxq1Zxk3RZRWqJejLwWXcu0AAtLZYs0gvaeqxlW-u-hyOFGT-3NhvlETttZb4gChMJP1t5o-l6ZIbwrDUmh47JIKFDWzWSZuaKTf-gsaXoFZzuyOCboIK78kefeZ8i1xEJmu3dw/s1600-h/July+4+2009+relaxing+on+the+beach.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92hFGAxq1Zxk3RZRWqJejLwWXcu0AAtLZYs0gvaeqxlW-u-hyOFGT-3NhvlETttZb4gChMJP1t5o-l6ZIbwrDUmh47JIKFDWzWSZuaKTf-gsaXoFZzuyOCboIK78kefeZ8i1xEJmu3dw/s200/July+4+2009+relaxing+on+the+beach.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361564562605366034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjGIi7XxSX95tzScL7rqWG2r0VfbA1sc1sZzat0zTjkqCt7WmNbFnEhLRTcC9fzaBlZyDL54XkbJY2xCmfIOggLyPJc5X-o8W5CGdaalAPT3DDZnExkE7drxHxaDuhRga0JAkQ3MDUWk/s1600-h/July+4+2009+Gulf+Shores.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjGIi7XxSX95tzScL7rqWG2r0VfbA1sc1sZzat0zTjkqCt7WmNbFnEhLRTcC9fzaBlZyDL54XkbJY2xCmfIOggLyPJc5X-o8W5CGdaalAPT3DDZnExkE7drxHxaDuhRga0JAkQ3MDUWk/s200/July+4+2009+Gulf+Shores.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361564559823390626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicI0M0NOurC0AR9CQ0FhyphenhyphenUcuE73JBm5dxoktYyQKM-cb_r35TARTqwbdTfrpIhb1TiN6stfzn6rooE7hzBTYtwdaUQeXw158bMCRorya-G4C6QJDLGMOfWmSxq7kfxpfJceIgTnH9vft8/s1600-h/granny's+birthday+017.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicI0M0NOurC0AR9CQ0FhyphenhyphenUcuE73JBm5dxoktYyQKM-cb_r35TARTqwbdTfrpIhb1TiN6stfzn6rooE7hzBTYtwdaUQeXw158bMCRorya-G4C6QJDLGMOfWmSxq7kfxpfJceIgTnH9vft8/s200/granny's+birthday+017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361564556731100450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPee4YD3PFRxoPW8Y3tfJ5lYoCKpVsryDg9M-93bNyWctZG3Rueu0zsO8PK15AirpuEEj0NhqWVNcSpR226Wir8G05QBtqDcD9ODY7KHUToJT77pAB2_RjBbVo-CIxbwldM56xSJkUkxc/s1600-h/Im000447.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPee4YD3PFRxoPW8Y3tfJ5lYoCKpVsryDg9M-93bNyWctZG3Rueu0zsO8PK15AirpuEEj0NhqWVNcSpR226Wir8G05QBtqDcD9ODY7KHUToJT77pAB2_RjBbVo-CIxbwldM56xSJkUkxc/s200/Im000447.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361564551989703586" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">The summer starts speeding by after July 4.<br />After my birthday it careens toward school.<br />It's been a good one.<br />I've slept<br />slept <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">recreationally</span> for the first time in years<br />Like the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Nyquil</span> commercial<br />I've slept like I slept before I had kids!<br />I've sat on the Porch watching the sun on the leaves<br />and prayed with no words<br />just opened my heart to peace.<br /><br />There's been nights laughing on the Porch with Tom<br />we're still finding out new things about each other.<br /><br />Stephanie's birthday, where the cops came 3 times!<br /><br />The great <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Lagoonatic</span> graduation party for Caitlin, Leah, Cass and Ian where I got called down for cheating at beer pong!<br /><br />Riding down the Causeway with the smell of the delta and the wind in my hair<br />the top down and the radio up<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">goin</span> to see David and Judy<br />and my adorable nieces, great nieces, nephews , great nephews<br /><br />The party at Katie's where there was<br />a motorcycle wreck, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Tasar</span> incident<br />and a wrestling match between me and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Mariah</span><br />that led to removal of clothing (it's all family)<br /><br />lots of beach trips<br />In Florida with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Lagoonatics</span><br />Dauphin Island with Eileen, Dell and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Steph</span><br /><br />too much time on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Facebook</span><br /><br />good books<br /><br />visiting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Mariah</span> and Terry in their new home<br />I love seeing the pride they feel<br /><br />reconnecting with Donna and Ellen<br />My friends from the time when teaching was fun<br />and school was a safe place to be<br />They showed me that friends can always come back<br /><br />singing in the car with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Caitlin</span><br />riding on the boat with Gina and Caitlin and her friends<br />watching <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Caitlin</span> suddenly grow up<br />and become a deep spiritual person.<br /><br />Party on the Porch with my yard full of children<br />whose parents were once children in my yard<br />Michelle, Kelley, Katie, Shannon, Justin and their babies<br /><br />going to the 18<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">th</span> birthday of Stormy and seeing Ava there<br />part of my family<br />when they were small<br />and we fall back into our old ways<br />where the lines between ages are blurred<br />and we are all kids<br />And there was an Elton John imitator there!<br /><br />It's been a good one!<br /><br />And I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">haven't</span>' gotten all the goody out of it yet!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-40644668808605029882009-06-22T08:10:00.000-05:002009-06-22T08:31:48.536-05:00Piles of Toys, Church Camp and FathersIt was a good weekend here on the Porch.<br />My great niece Evelyn who is 4, came to stay with me.<br />She is a hoot.<br />She pulled her nightgown off and had it stuck on her head.<br />"Look, Aunt Marti, I'm a Muslim!"<br />Like most little kids, she is up at full tilt in the mornings.<br />Like most people who have forgotten this because they deal with teens who sleep so long you check then for crib death, I'm kinda foggy till coffee.<br />She kept, "Aunt Marti I'm hungry, Aunt Marti I'm thirsty, Aunt Marti, gotta poop" till I told her she had worn out my name and she couldn't say it any more until I had waked up a bit. so, she said, "whoever you are...."<br />We played in the hose, we drug out old toys, we went to the park, we had ice cream.<br />I hope she had as much fun as Tom and I did.<br />Caitlin has wanted to go to church camp.<br />I think some Jesus would do her good,but I have no funds for this trip.<br />I'm trying to get her into college.<br />My philosophy with my kids is I will lovingly adn joyfully feed, clothe and shelter them as long as I live, but after 18, recreational activities are their responsibility.<br />To put it a little more crassly and honestly, after 18 years of eating beans so she could cheer, do gymnastics,leading Girl Scout troops, dance lessons, field trips, if I'm going to send anyone to camp it's gonna be me and Tom!<br />Plus I'm trying to teach Ms. Sweetandcute to take some responsibility.<br />So the church sponsers her to go!<br />I'm real proud of my big-eyed baby.<br />We went to Mariah's big new house for dinner. She has invented a dreamsicle cake made from scratch that is out of this world. She is really enjoying cooking and taking care of her house. She will show you all the drawers where the dish cloths are neatly stacked and color coded.<br />Where did this young woman come from?<br />From our house, where we are redoing our bathroom by peeling off a srip of wallpaper every time we go in there?<br />Tom and I passed the evening sitting in the velvet darkness on the Porch, tallking of the past and future, living in the now.<br />I am continually astonished at the miracles that happen each ordinary day.martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-84733829460487485882009-06-10T11:12:00.000-05:002009-06-10T11:44:01.925-05:00My Summer Manifesto<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxPtrZ4elq2dz4tPBHOdcAVcHD5g2z7Q49pyLQzUdDM4yUqe-788IwXBLYDnrEdi7JEOSpEFF9BKW_a9xbHHb_LpsJMqHQ6U63VXNPsTkCfOG1OCyr6Em1nkbAfRHnzNBpcPNN3HOK-w/s1600-h/granny's+birthday+017.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxPtrZ4elq2dz4tPBHOdcAVcHD5g2z7Q49pyLQzUdDM4yUqe-788IwXBLYDnrEdi7JEOSpEFF9BKW_a9xbHHb_LpsJMqHQ6U63VXNPsTkCfOG1OCyr6Em1nkbAfRHnzNBpcPNN3HOK-w/s200/granny's+birthday+017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345739301640879506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOFicacnHhDKYZ-oz9W3MJjlp5lybkJ6M_c6QG2XSd33cmaTN1-AZ_E17wIMiYqMteRBBJXUQ0AcwZTBznC1J6U87lTle7QptH7glk0pkF6MpoaN77CJ0FQCfyy3K0HqDO0uXATu86SU/s1600-h/senior+pictures.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOFicacnHhDKYZ-oz9W3MJjlp5lybkJ6M_c6QG2XSd33cmaTN1-AZ_E17wIMiYqMteRBBJXUQ0AcwZTBznC1J6U87lTle7QptH7glk0pkF6MpoaN77CJ0FQCfyy3K0HqDO0uXATu86SU/s200/senior+pictures.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345739299842919186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIHT0VKP8IGhDHEhNNka3PnMYlhcSO9bDTjSbpZ_TC7izZpi4rtYWF75doHThwZoPTJ_ZY70qed0-LmGcWVzLitJRIIfb2EBPmOg5ENuPNqWOxggWgALkn8TygZkTm9lRzEqB4hkkmd4/s1600-h/Graduation+Party+022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIHT0VKP8IGhDHEhNNka3PnMYlhcSO9bDTjSbpZ_TC7izZpi4rtYWF75doHThwZoPTJ_ZY70qed0-LmGcWVzLitJRIIfb2EBPmOg5ENuPNqWOxggWgALkn8TygZkTm9lRzEqB4hkkmd4/s200/Graduation+Party+022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345739294691553330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQSeY_8PW-u1s_GNlXIWCMzszN-eVH2Oq-loCTNml5wOL56WBu7bztgZsqcduBsAG6JBBZBGajkzTtIiqWOppORhB9SfzPU1TCJdeQ1-HRLILhDTXEbb_JyIL-k-v4VHOKhynwWaDM4I/s1600-h/Father's+Day+2008+017.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQSeY_8PW-u1s_GNlXIWCMzszN-eVH2Oq-loCTNml5wOL56WBu7bztgZsqcduBsAG6JBBZBGajkzTtIiqWOppORhB9SfzPU1TCJdeQ1-HRLILhDTXEbb_JyIL-k-v4VHOKhynwWaDM4I/s200/Father's+Day+2008+017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345739290437741330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghe-zA_LlCrhk8EI46oBzI461ICt21au4RPdD7pH78jCIfw6vzLuSVadvrhS4Z4VJFps_t5y7uqIFSOTABN2EfICliOQ0j3qwxRaeS6mTxSIEinloLhF8vS-awozlwBPzZdcnO3zpsrSg/s1600-h/laughter+Jerry%27sbday+2009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghe-zA_LlCrhk8EI46oBzI461ICt21au4RPdD7pH78jCIfw6vzLuSVadvrhS4Z4VJFps_t5y7uqIFSOTABN2EfICliOQ0j3qwxRaeS6mTxSIEinloLhF8vS-awozlwBPzZdcnO3zpsrSg/s200/laughter+Jerry%27sbday+2009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345739283142999154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXwHngYDibQXwwsr5W9G83GrVWpXPaU1EGvy4GWjp853F0lJpLPy1rHFfVKOgytOCe7yipmGXI80DDtWp33bevuFABt8gCV9-B24PCPE1CKYoFYeTy_1ze-44bDo5ORelTyvmB3W6Moo/s1600-h/hat+jerry%27s+bday+2009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXwHngYDibQXwwsr5W9G83GrVWpXPaU1EGvy4GWjp853F0lJpLPy1rHFfVKOgytOCe7yipmGXI80DDtWp33bevuFABt8gCV9-B24PCPE1CKYoFYeTy_1ze-44bDo5ORelTyvmB3W6Moo/s320/hat+jerry%27s+bday+2009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345737484394562306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ISLThVt0bXF2yBgBv_HTjSRS0czrkj-LDcJc1Gsk3crOfad0-TDRSzSbBIYv3VrF_k1jt3mAf1JIgdPeGcokt6rmy0R0xR0auBuYBky8qyEl69sdq_eGzNtgWt1iMAAlyQMEdI_embI/s1600-h/cuddling+Jack.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ISLThVt0bXF2yBgBv_HTjSRS0czrkj-LDcJc1Gsk3crOfad0-TDRSzSbBIYv3VrF_k1jt3mAf1JIgdPeGcokt6rmy0R0xR0auBuYBky8qyEl69sdq_eGzNtgWt1iMAAlyQMEdI_embI/s320/cuddling+Jack.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345737290223820178" border="0" /></a><br />This is it!<br />I had a year from absolute HELL at school.<br />I am suffering from TOPUWOPS syndrome.<br />Tired of putting up with other people's shit!<br />I am going to do exactly as I please this summer!<br />This is official notice that I am no longer responsible for the emotional well being of the entire Mobile County!<br />So...<br />This is what I have done so far on my summer vacation....<br />got a pedicure (ooh, it's like crack, once you've done it you have to have more)<br />ordered a Bruce Springsteen Tshirt (this is a big step for me, before my daughter shopped at Puttin on the Ritz, I shopped at Goodwill)<br />walked the dog<br />did Yoga<br />gone to see Paula and Dana in FL<br />went to a tailgate party Friday<br />went out to lunch at Ed's Shed Saturday (great seafood overlooking the bay)<br />went to the beach with Tom and Jack Sunday<br />went to the beach with Dell Monday<br />went out on a boat with Gina and Caitlin Danielle and Samantha Tuesday ( I was napping when Caitlin surged in and said"we're going on a boat" and I jumped up and replied, "where's my shoes?")<br /><br />went to see my nephew Kelley and his band Fat Man Squeeze at the Blue Gill Tuesday night with the top down and the warm salt air in my hair.<br />Today I am having a pajama day!<br />I am so lovin it!martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-50286550661009077622009-06-03T17:13:00.000-05:002009-06-03T17:20:26.979-05:00Mustang SallyIt was 1983.<br /> Tom and I were in love with each other, life and our daughter Mariah.<br />Then something else touched my heart.<br />She was old<br />rusty<br />and needed lots of work<br />but underneath the years of neglect I could see my dream car:<br />a 65 Mustang.<br />red, no less.....<br />It took a while to come to my senses<br />and realize she required more work than I could have done.<br />I couldn't even ride my baby daughter in her<br />no seat belts!<br />So we found her a better home<br />kinda like the dog you take to live in the country.<br />and life went on<br />My baby grew up.<br />and gave me her<br />red<br /> convertible<br />88 Mustang!<br />Yep, it pays to raise 'em right!martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-19699052211327775672009-05-21T18:48:00.000-05:002009-05-21T18:54:13.311-05:00Thunder Road<span style="font-size:180%;">There was no extra money.<br />My car was not running.<br />Friends that I bought tickets for baled on me at the last minute.<br />But none of that matters.<br />Eileen and I went to Atlanta to see Bruce Springsteen,<br />Fueled by Granny's credit card<br />and Cadillac (God love her)<br />lots of coffee<br />and Born To Run up real loud on the stereo<br />"we rolled down the window and let the wind blow back our hair"<br />drove 5 hours there and back<br />missed an unpaid day of work<br />ate beans for a week<br />and it was worth every bit of it!<br />As long as there's rock<br />I'll keep rollin!<br />and it was worth every bit of it<br /></span>martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-16960294738953686702009-05-21T18:31:00.000-05:002009-05-21T18:32:36.079-05:00The Best Part<div id="pBlogBody_490372118" class="blogContent"><p><a href="http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=174800180&albumID=0&imageID=20355721"><img src="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/6/m_5a330d39347b0d677f327e7ae0b1fda9.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=174800180&albumID=0&imageID=20355692"><img src="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/58/m_20d478870790c92a95b3a6b1ff488b0d.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=174800180&albumID=0&imageID=1218017"><img src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/50/m_e1d2623439cda80faa6146973860845b.jpg" title="in the front yard at christmas" border="0" /></a><a href="http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=174800180&albumID=0&imageID=2189297"><img src="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/1/m_bd1a51c582fd8570c784271e976bd88e.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /> </p> <p> : the best part of my day was a visit from Mariah<br />she brought the sun in with her.<br />I don't want to be one of those creepy empty nest whiney mothers,<br />but I miss her terribly.<br />We have these moments around the coffee pot that started when she was just past toddling.<br />I worked as a waitress at night,<br />She would get up before me,<br />sneak into my jeans to count my tips<br />then start the coffee.<br />She woke me up every day with a cup by my bed from the time she was tall enough to reach the pot till the day she moved out.<br /> We would sit in our tshirts and frilly jammies , have a cup and plan our day. (hers was mostly milk and sugar the way she<br />drinks it till this day)<br />She has never been like a child to me<br />She is a best friend I made myself</p><p>Wishing you all someone you love to drink coffee with,<br /></p><p>Marti<br /></p></div>martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-61541660995150112262009-05-14T19:55:00.000-05:002009-05-14T20:12:48.059-05:00My Final Rant on This SubjectI am a teacher to my morrow.<br />I can teach a rock to read.<br />I have taught and loved special needs children for 25 years.<br />I was told recently that I didn't do my job by a resource teacher that I had met twice.<br />She's right.<br />I was teaching a group of Mild Learning Disabled children while holding a wheel chair bound non-verbal child in my arms who was having a seizure. My team leader burst in and was appalled that I could not immediately file a paper. I'm not flinging the seizing child to the floor to search the holy file cabinet.<br />I am not going to stay up till 2 AM doing paperwork. (although I recently filled out 5 pages explaining why I had not taught a blind child to distinguish a figure from the background of a picture)<br />When I started teaching, I had the children in my room all day long. I had them from first grade until they left elementary school. I went to their birthday parties. I was friends with their moms. My room felt like church. I couldn't wait to get to school each day.<br />Then somebody decided it made sense to take the children out of the special education room and "include" them. Kids who had never had behavior problems stated acting out because they were placed in regular classes with over burdened teachers who had no training in special education. Special education teachers became overpaid aides and paper pushers.<br />I did a good job.<br />I loved it.<br />I'm done.<br />I retire in December.<br />I'm counting the days.martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-68014178143203624712009-04-19T14:18:00.000-05:002009-04-19T14:26:18.542-05:00Spring Break While BrokeMy new to me car died.<br />I'll get it fixed soon.<br />Now I can stay home when I want to!<br />Luckily I have friends and family who love me enough to come get me from neighboring states<br />and rescue me when I'm ready to come home!<br />I spent a day with Judy, my SIL and her grand kids.<br />I was a dragon, a wild horse and a dinosaur!<br />I went to FL to visit dear Paula where I sat in the sun with Kelsey and Leah, talked through the evening with Paula and Dana.<br />I walked on the beach with the sun turning the water to diamonds.<br />I saw the Blue Angels against the sapphire sky.<br />Then my niece Katie came to get me.<br />My nephew Kelley and I played the drunk aunt and uncle in the middle of the day in the middle of the week.<br />I sat in the swing with a sleeping child in my lap and watched the leaves dance .<br />It's a good life.martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-35266043759025272312009-04-17T21:43:00.001-05:002009-04-17T21:45:32.514-05:00EvelynMiss Evelyn<br />my great niece<br />Four years old<br />and the queen of the universe<br />came to play with me today<br />We made clover necklaces<br />Drank honeysuckle juice<br />Jumped on the trampoline<br />I did everything she did<br />except take a nap<br />Goodnightmartihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-10952333433248637332009-04-14T11:14:00.000-05:002009-04-14T11:27:29.881-05:00Rest in Peace?My husband and I generally get along great.<br />I am cheerful and he is kind and gentle, plus there is the deep suspicion that no one else could stand either one of us.<br />The one place we are irritable with each other is where we should be peaceful.<br />The bedroom.<br />He has bad dreams which cause him to FLING himself out of bed.<br />For some reason, instead of eliciting concern from me, it infuriates me.<br />"what the hell is wrong with you?" I roar."Get back in this bed right now!!"<br />(I have never spoken to anyone that way while in a waking state)<br />Then there is the menopause factor, which causes me to alternate yanking all the cover off him and rolling up like a burrito with piling all the blankets back on him.<br />Last night I woke up about 3 AM and was aimlessly channel flicking when he sat bolt upright in bed and shouted "What's that noise?"<br />After levitating off the bed, I told him I didnt hear anythingting<br />"That noise!'he insisted, pointing.<br />It was the mighty earsplitting sound of the remote control buttons I was pushing.<br />At that point, I felt it wise to go to the couch.<br />I was up for hours playing word games on the computer.<br />When I finally dozed off, he woke me up to tell me he loved me.<br />It's hard to maintain my feelings of indignation.martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-58001707336351574842009-04-02T12:38:00.000-05:002009-04-02T12:39:24.450-05:00A Voice in the WildernessI got this from dailymotivation.com<br />really spoke to me!<br /><br /> LOVE WHAT YOU DO, OR DO SOMETHING ELSE<br /><br />You'll never achieve real success<br />unless you like what you're doing.<br /><br />No one has ever succeeded in a line<br />of endeavor which they did not like.<br /><br /><br />Your chances of success are directly proportional<br />to the degree of pleasure you derive from what you do.<br /><br />If you're in a job you hate, face the fact squarely and get out.<br /><br /><br />It's better to be a failure in something you love,<br />than attempting to be a success in something you don't.<br /><br /><br />Don't set compensation as a goal.<br /><br />Find the work you love, and the compensation will follow.<br /><br /><br />The more you love what you are doing,<br />the more successful it will be for you.martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-31433202106640242162009-03-27T21:12:00.000-05:002009-03-27T21:14:30.449-05:00hey guys<br />I miss the communion we had on AOhell<br />I think it's due to the way comments are set up<br />Let's all leacve our email addys on comments so we can continue discussions.martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-26696088852829661012009-03-14T14:18:00.001-05:002009-03-14T14:26:31.981-05:00Today's Reason Why I love my Husband<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAzCrUariThHFdt_BmGVolB3dylZEcYy9CB4fe6xjvUjH1BwNBbfhEZWRAXCVRWUHYyoCn4Bgmu_DbNVJW5Xb3BsgxCE5FdFQooXWgRngoLorj8gBFyOuyD9EQewRju5Lz5ZY9k2XBl8/s1600-h/when+all+else+fails,+throw+a+party%21+041.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAzCrUariThHFdt_BmGVolB3dylZEcYy9CB4fe6xjvUjH1BwNBbfhEZWRAXCVRWUHYyoCn4Bgmu_DbNVJW5Xb3BsgxCE5FdFQooXWgRngoLorj8gBFyOuyD9EQewRju5Lz5ZY9k2XBl8/s320/when+all+else+fails,+throw+a+party%21+041.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313126169359184978" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSuUQcVkLSooJ3kd8qTaMdr_2pGxlLcUd-nlQQ-ao5hdrr1zxFTh6gp4VF4YXQVNeK87Ootwo6JwLM9IeiLVVOb_G1OYYu96l-Sv9XjU-hyBqV_o0xgPAgLPQI6f00uVg3aGip60kd9A/s1600-h/Jerry's+50th+birthday+018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSuUQcVkLSooJ3kd8qTaMdr_2pGxlLcUd-nlQQ-ao5hdrr1zxFTh6gp4VF4YXQVNeK87Ootwo6JwLM9IeiLVVOb_G1OYYu96l-Sv9XjU-hyBqV_o0xgPAgLPQI6f00uVg3aGip60kd9A/s320/Jerry's+50th+birthday+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313125744090655058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbj_A3bUwNPuWhPWBOadNPjaXxaYgVvfr1v6iFTKrng-OKjNQBD_c1-Emyc6YENdthnX_wwZATX7QK3-ds-riWbYPqc1GUlnxK43T07twIYI_CZO1sX-2-jxNhi-RDKtAfjgoIBHW_ZtM/s1600-h/Jerry's+50th+birthday+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbj_A3bUwNPuWhPWBOadNPjaXxaYgVvfr1v6iFTKrng-OKjNQBD_c1-Emyc6YENdthnX_wwZATX7QK3-ds-riWbYPqc1GUlnxK43T07twIYI_CZO1sX-2-jxNhi-RDKtAfjgoIBHW_ZtM/s320/Jerry's+50th+birthday+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313125449283962018" border="0" /></a>He believes pennies that are tails up are bad luck , but he turns them over so another person can find them with the lucky side up.<br /><br />Although he has not been inside a church since our youngest was christened (and that was a struggle) he is planting flowers in a grotto at a local church where he goes to meditate.<br /><br />When Caitlin got a ticket and was crying, he rode his bike 5 miles to comfort her.martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-58945509804489202812009-03-12T05:13:00.000-05:002009-03-12T05:16:33.864-05:00Things I Have to Get DoneI have got to find some way to get some money to send Caitlin to school. I think bank robbery is out of the question and we are too rich(have these people looked in my cabinets?) to get a grant. Does anyone have any suggestions?<br />On a lighter note...prom dress shopping....wheee!martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-56095813135963544062009-03-07T20:40:00.000-06:002009-03-07T20:51:21.811-06:00The Late Lamented LaFondaIt was Mardi Gras<br />and I was headed to a party.<br />I put my liquor (and I bought the GOOD stuff), the chips I was supposed to bring and my purse in LaFonda the Honda and thought, "It's a bit cool, better grab a hoodie"<br />I ran inside<br />When I came out, LaFonda was nowhere to be seen!<br />Fearing dementia had stopped its slow creep and had jumped me, I looked in the back yard...I looked under the bushes....<br />I called Caitlin<br />"Do you see the car anywhere?"<br />My child is right there with me.<br />"Did I leave it somewhere?" she asks.<br />I indignantly stride to the phone as a fine upstanding citizen to report it stolen.<br />Nope<br />Repo'd<br />Welcome to the new economy!<br />So I did what any self-respecting person would do who has their priorities in order...<br />I called someone to give me a ride to the party!<br />I took a day off from work to travel to Milton friggin Florida to get my purse and liquor back.<br />I had a great Mardi Gras.<br />Today I went and bought a a 13 year old car that I don't owe a dime on.<br />I'll drive it till it dies and get another one.<br />And never break my stride!martihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116511411181975967.post-87212262898815822662009-02-21T10:37:00.000-06:002009-02-21T10:38:55.554-06:00drug testingi firmly believe in drug testing for teachers<br />daily<br />and if it comes back negative<br />for god's sake<br />give them some<br /><br /><br />my capitals and punctuation will not work on my key board so i am forced to be an ee cummings sort of poster nowmartihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02893821778233129286noreply@blogger.com4