Life Goes On

What a beautiful Saturday morning, well except is a bit CHILLY outside.  The sun is trying to glow through my window and I will enjoy what I can get.  The plan today is to apply paint to canvas, at least that is the plan.  Later today little Rio will join us overnight while her parents enjoy a night celebrating their anniversary.  How can you resist that sweet face.  Oh sometimes you can when she asserts her independence and angry!  But I do love that little girl.

Yesterday I went to Daddy's to check on him.  It had been a couple of weeks because I was sick with that tummy trouble and certainly didn't want to give it to him.  He looks better I think.  I spent most of my time on the phone trying to figure out some of his bills from his last stay in the hospital and skilled nursing care.  I asked him to get my sis to deal with it as she's much better dealing with insurance (she's in the business) but oh no she told him to let me do it.  Of course, since she doesn't want to do anything to help.  Great.  

Let's see if I can make this story short.  He got a bill for $1300. so he immediately sent in a check.  About a month goes by and he receives the bill again so he assumes that it was lost.  He doesn't call the bank or check to see if the check cleared, or just WAIT, no he writes another check from this particular checking account which does not have enough money in it.  The check bounces and is a $15 penalty.  He then receives a REFUND check for $1300.  I told him to put it in the bank and let's see what happens.  Of course then he receives a bill for $1300.  (head banging on the table)  I called and they were confused too and said that it was going to have to be reviewed by the head honchos but we also realized that the hospital was only billing Medicare, that he also has a secondary insurance from when Mom worked and he has continued to carry.  He should not get a bill AT ALL!  

Daddy said he really messed up and was confused by it all.  He has a stack of bills on his little table and I HOPE he is paying them all.  I'm sure he is but I am concerned.  I told him that if he ever wanted to not have to do it anymore that I would take over but for now I think he's good.  I see it coming to that conclusion sooner than later.  I have to realize that he will be 78 and even though that is really young Daddy sees himself as 90 and just kind of has given up in a way.  I see it and it makes me sad.  He could be having a great time cause he could have 10-20 years left if he LIVED LIFE!  Get out, get social, have fun.  I have a friend who is 72 years old and my gosh you would think she is 50.  She still wears tight jeans, laughs, drinks champagne, and wears stiletto heels!  Embrace life, and do it all!  Daddy has acted like he's on his deathbed since he retired at like 50.  He has given up.  I will NEVER give up!

ADDENDUM:  Found this little piece on Facebook and thought I would add to my post.  Regrets.   It is what I am always saying!!!!! 

Random 5 Friday

Random 5 Friday is at hand.  If you would like to join in then please our host, Nancy at A Rural Journal to see how it's done!

• I read the local paper every single day and the most interesting section for me are the obits.  Not that I'm morbid but I read to make sure I DON'T know anyone listed.  I'm also struck by the fear that I will someday grace these lists of the dearly departed and as time passes the time gets nearer and nearer.  The ages of a lot of them are at least 58 -70 years old and I realize that I will soon be 58!  EGADS!!!
• Insurance, we all have some sort of insurance don't we.  We have life insurance, health insurance, auto insurance, fire and casuality insurance, liability insurance, worker's compensation insurance, general liability insurance...oh I could go on forever.  We met with our "insurance" guy yesterday for the business insurance and I am struck by the absurdity of just having to have insurance.  Really it is for the "What If" in your life, be it home or in business.  Frankly, we have had a couple of instances in our business to use the "What If" factor in insurance.  I think the only one benefiting in the industry are the insurance companies on our "What If" fear.  
• The wind lately blowing around is just about to drive me crazy.  I am hoping it is helping to blow away this stupid never-ending winter that just keeps hanging on.  It is almost April and we are still having below freezing temperatures!  Enough already.  My hammock is calling my name please.
  
• This random stuff is kind of hard.  When I think of something that is random enough to write about I'm usually in my car with no paper or pen and no place to write it down.  
• Anyone want some zebra finches.  About 3 years ago a friend called me, since she knew I already had birds, to ask if I wanted some zebra finches.  The story was that a lady friend of hers daughters had given her 4 zebra finches for Mother's Day and she absolutely, under no uncertain terms, HATED them and was going to let them out the front door.  Well, for one thing the little guys are African and not meant for Oklahoma, maybe the summer but not the winter.  Especially the winter we've had here.  I fell for the story and took the little fluttery things in and quickly discovered that there were two males and two females.  Thank goodness I had lots of cages to separate them.  I love birds but I'm really ready to find them some new homes.  I'm tired of taking care of them but will continue because that is what I signed on for but I really would like to find them another home.  Have to get hard at work at that be it the zoo or Craig's List or maybe an assisted living center!  

Weekend Fun

The weekend was absolutely awesome.  My tummy troubles finally settled down and Saturday morning was the first day since Tuesday that it was not hurting.  Just in time to host some very old friends at the cabin.  The Hubby and J were childhood buds and their parents were best friends.  In fact J's middle name is The Hubby's dad's name.  They were so much fun and we even looked at a few cabins for sale....maybe they will buy one!

When we pulled up my daffodils were in full bloom!

Saturday we went to the range and practiced shooting a bit.  It was fun. 

See those little orange thingy's, we spent time knocking them around with bullets! 

Then we girls spent time watching the guys knock them around. 

See that mailbox door.  Well, it is posted on the post of the sitting area and houses pliers, staple gun, tape, nails, stuff for the shooting range.  Well, it is head high and guess what... 

it's in perfect alignment with the bridge of my nose.  Good grief, I saw stars.  You can't really tell here but by Sunday morning it was red, puffy with slight scab.  OUCH!

All in all we had the most wonderful time with our friends and can not wait to have them up again.  They fit right in with some of the other people up there Friday night!  

Random 5 Friday

It's that time for Random 5 Friday hosted by A Rural Journal...come join in the fun:

1.  2 a.m. is way too early for this girl to wake up but it is what it is.  I don't know why I am constantly waking up at 2.  Sometimes I can go right back to sleep but this morning, NOPE, wide-eyed-and-bushy-tailed I was.  Tried to just close my eyes and drift off, but no.  Then read a bit.  Television...none of it worked so 4:10 a.m. and I just got up.  Makes me nuts but usually I can go all day and not be tired.  Could be that I just got so much sleep the past couple of days because I was SICK!




2.  Sick, yes I have had a bellyache, and I mean bellyache.  Gosh it was crazy the cramping and "other", but I think I'm on the mend.  Definitely taking it easy with the food.

3.  I did feel well enough yesterday to go to the office for a bit and then the grocery store.  Took a bit out of me but I was determined to get my agenda fulfilled for the day.  Since the weather was AWESOME  I planted in my already tilled garden, potatoes, onions, lettuce and spinach.  That done I was SPENT!  But it is in the ground and I am quite happy.  Here's to fresh stuff.  (I know The Hubby and I have sort of given up potatoes, but NEW POTATOES, well that is a different subject and we will partake!)

4.  On that little note, I have decided that it is time to get serious with the diet again and get back on Jorge Cruise's The 100 Diet.  It's really counting sugar calories but since June of last year I have dropped 25 pounds, 5 of which I have put back on.  For The Hubby this is a great diet because his triglycerides are usually HIGH, scary high.  Mine have never been an issue.  He doesn't have a weight issue AT ALL, but his blood work can be a issue.  Since we've pretty much given up potatoes, pasta, and bread it is amazing how easy it has been.  Now don't get me wrong we do get "a-hankering" for the stuff and indulge but not often.  I told The Hubby the other day that it is amazing how I rarely go down the middle of the grocery store anymore, no processed stuff.  I buy fresh vegetables, meats and some frozen stuff for convenience.  Stuff like veggies, fish and chicken.  I have some goals, not only health.  A ball at the end of April for a DVIS (Domestic Violence Intervention Services) fundraiser, a doctors appointment, and my 40th class reunion in the fall.

5.  My oldest high school bestie found out this week she may be headed to Phoenix with her job.  I am not happy about that as we have just found each other again a few years ago, but it is what it is and I know it would NOT be permanent.  She's kind of had a rough time and I hope things work out for her which ever way they may.  I'm just so happy that we have found each other again, forever!  I love her dearly.

Spring is in the House

Good morning all.  Today is the first day of spring and I am oh so happy about that.  In fact the plan for the day is to get my garden started with potatoes, onions and lettuce.  Later in the afternoon when the temps rise that is where I plan on being.  

Yesterday was not a good day for me as I spent most of the night before in agony with my stomach.  My goodness I don't know what it was but I was SICK!  I most of yesterday in bed and the little girls room.  Today I woke up after a fabulous nights sleep feeling new again and my three day headache is finally GONE.  Of course I slept in too so missed yet another workout session, in fact two of them since I missed Wednesday too.  But next week is another week and I will be back at it full force.

Tuesday I signed my big project painting!  

And on Sunday I started and finished my 5x5 for the 5x5 show at the Tulsa Art Gallery in May! 

That Girl

That girl, what can I say!

Random 5 Friday

Again it's Random 5 Friday hosted by A Rural Journal...

1.  My how time flies when LIFE gets in the way!

2.  Aging sucks, especially when it's your parents.

3.  There is just not enough time in my day to paint lately.

4.  Rio cuteness!

5.  I made this baby blanket that Rio uses when I was in high school in the hopes of having children.  It is 40 years old! 

Parent Health

Finally, a wonderful sign that SPRING HAS SPRUNG here in my world!  Next week I plan on planting potatoes, onions and lettuce in my freshly tilled garden space.  

I've been out of pocket a bit this week because I've had just A LOT ON MY PLATE!  I'm in the middle of our class reunion planning and I have the address list.  Well, that stupid address list would NOT print out labels for me so I had to retype close to 350 names and addresses into MS Word to print labels.  Oh my goodness my arms, especially after arm workout yesterday...EEK!  Tonight we slap labels on Save The Date postcards at my house.  

Sunday I also stopped by Daddy's to see how he is doing.  I knew he was not feeling up to snuff lately and he still was feeling icky.  He had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday and I asked if he wanted me to go with him and he said YES.  He is very worried about what is going on with him.  He has absolutely no energy to even shave.  That has me scared.  He also is concerned that he might have cancer!  OH GOSH!  So Tuesday morning I took him to his doctor, a new one and I really like the guy.  It was supposed to be just a check up but after he told the doc his concerns and issues they started running tests.  The doctor seems to think that on one of his walks around the block about a month ago, when the weakness set in, he possibly had a mild heart attack!  WHAT!  For some stupid reason that did not even cross my mind but makes sense.  They did take blood, x-ray's and EKG but want more tests of which they will call me to set up.  As of today they have not called.  If by Monday afternoon they still have not called I will call the office!  With some more meds to take and emergency nitroglycerin tablets we wait.  He's also giving me some cause to worry about his mind and money but that's a whole other story.  

SPRING!

LOOKIE, LOOKIE, LOOKIE what I found in Daddy's front yard!  Spring has sprung.  Momma's sweet crocus's popping up by his front step.  

Happy Birhday Momma

Today Momma would have been 78 years old.  Here's to my sweet Momma!

Art Workshop

Thursday and Friday I spent in a art workshop with fellow artist and our instructor Kelli Folsom.  It was still life and landscape but because of the STUPID weather it was only still life.  I'm not much for doing stuff outside anyway so that was just fine.  I actually got to work on three different still life's, signing one.  It was so much fun.  I learned different ways to hold my brush, technique and mediums.  I worked with different colors I had not used before.  Last night I just couldn't let it go and I was painting in my dreams.  I would dream and during the dream I would be looking around to find something to paint in that moment.  Funny.  I had ordered different kinds of boards and canvas to paint on, new paints and brushes.  Unfortunately, the brushes didn't arrive until yesterday, AFTER the class.  No problem, will have fun using them on my on creations of still life.    There is another workshop in April for three days that I HOPE I can take.  It's a different instructor so different techniques.  

Random 5 Friday

Friday has rolled around yet again and so I have to contribute to the Random 5 Friday hosted by Nancy at A Rural Journal.

1.  I was kind in the news a bit this week, not only in printed material (Tulsa Lifestyle Magazine) but on Wednesday, The Hubby and I were out to lunch at a new deli called Lassalles.  We were enjoying some New Orleans type food  when I noticed a news crew from a local station.  They were filming a quick bit for the noon show about it being Fat Tuesday and guess what, I was caught stuffing my face and licking my fingers...mmm good!  I totally forgot that there was a film crew there, obviously.  A friend saw it and sent me a message so there you go!

2.   Spent all day in an art workshop and today will be day two.  It was so fun and definitely out of my comfort zone of painting techniques.

3.  Thinking a lot about putting in my garden.  I actually got it tilled and ready.  The Burpee seed catalog arrived, I ordered, they delivered and now I wait.  Next week I HAVE to get potatoes and onions to put in.  Oh come on spring!

4. Listening to Wally Lamb's book We Are Water in the car.  Have you read it.  Oh my, it's good and I can't wait to get in my car and just drive around to listen to it.  Very, very long.

5.  Daylight Savings Time starts again this weekend.  Wow, seems to have popped up way soon.  Don't forget to SPRING FOWARD!

A Painting Sort of Way

I have been a bit quite here this week but that doesn't mean life is not barreling along for me.  We had yet ANOTHER snow here the past weekend which kind of shut stuff down Monday and Tuesday.  Even though I knew my desk was piled with invoicing at the office on Monday I decided that I was NOT going out.  I actually did not even leave my house from Saturday to Monday.  That was quite nice I must say.  I spent that time painting!  

This one I just had to paint.  It is NOT finished yet, just blocked in with a bit of color.  I've got to fix Mondo's inside eye.  Anyway, this is our little Rio and her best friend Mondo.  I just love the photo of her hugging his neck.  The Hubby, when I showed it to him said, "It's the back of her head." I replied, "Yes, because painting the back of a head than painting the front."

This one looks sort of like another one I painted but a tad bigger and I LOVE sunflowers or daisies (whatever they are).  This one is not quite finished here. 

Was kind of in an abstract state of mind here.   

But mostly, I enjoyed the sun that was streaming through my window.

(Yes the classes are crooked mostly because a paperclip is holding the earpiece on and my ears are a bit lopsided I think!  Anyway, SUNSHINE!!!!!!  That is contentment on my face.

Star Student

How excited was I yesterday when one of my friends, actually several of my friends, sent messages about this article in a local magazine called Tulsa Lifestyle Magazine.  I was interviewed a month or so ago for an piece about being a "Star Student."  I had NO idea it would be in the same issue as PS Gordon, a nationally known artist, among a few others.  Locally he is a big deal too, and a customer of our electrical business.  Anyway, my mail had not arrived yet, but I was hoping my copy would arrive soon and sure enough I heard the mail slot clang.  I was painting but finished what I was doing, signing a painting, and then went to see the publication laying in the mail basket.

Oooooo, so excited to read it.  

Oh my gosh, I had tears of happiness and joy in my eyes as I read the words.  It was a great article, although she mentioned something about me painting an eagle which I was not.  Not sure where she got that from.  

HAPPY IS MY MIDDLE NAME!

Pouch Food

Pouch food.

 Do you know what I'm talking about?  It's the new convenient way mommies can transition their babies to grownup food.  

The other night some of my girl friends came by and we were chatting before going to dinner.  These ladies work at the day school at our church, one of them is the director.  Anyway, they were discussing some of the problems with a few of the children being extremely picky eaters.  The picky eaters, they went on to say, were fed almost exclusively pouch food.  These little ones were 3-4 years old and real food still freaked them out.  My friends went on to say that there are several problems with pouch food from the picky stuff to speech impediment problems.  Oh my goodness I had no idea but had my worries about the over use of these said pouches.

Since we have a sweet little granddaughter this pouch food thing caught my attention.  Thank goodness Rio has transitioned right on to real food, not this pureed stuff.  I just found this topic of discussion very interesting and validated my concerns for the stuff.  As I've read, it should be only used for convince for travel or on the go, not for every single meal as I think some families are choosing to use.  Caution for sure.