Tired, Very Tired

Last night I got on a roll working on re-working my CU class. I've taught it so many times and have kept adding to my notes and activities that I needed to clean it all up. All of a sudden I looked at the clock-it was later than I typically am in bed and sleeping. Since I was at a friend's house I still had to drive home.

It's been a long afternoon to stay awake.

Am I getting old?

C.S Lewis quote

From church this a.m.:

Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.


C. S. Lewis

Thankful Wednesday

What I'm thankful for today:

1. For my birthday my mom sent me the three ceramic pieces above instead of a generic Thanksgiving/fall decoration.

2. For the people these pieces represent. My great Aunt Hulda, who had a stroke I think in her mid-50s that left her paralyzed on her right side, and my great Aunt Louise, who took care of Aunt Hulda. The therarpist suggest Aunt Hulda take up a hobby so my aunts decided on ceramics. They went all out and started a small business, L & H Ceramics. The cleaning and painting the pieces was very therapeutic on many levels for Aunt Hulda. They put a kiln in their basement and painting many pieces of ceramics kept us kids busy when we visited IL. Hmmm, kept us quiet and kept us in the basement--not a bad idea I'm sure.

I don't remember Aunt Hulda before her stroke, but she gave me plenty to remember. She would want to give us some money which we had been told not to accept, and she would say, "People don't offer you money unless they want you to have it. So if someone offers you money, you take it and say thank you."

Aunt Louise sewed many clothes for us through the years, and the curtains she made for Mary and me one Christmas when I was probably 5th or 6th grade are still hanging in a house in Decatur that is waiting for a buyer. One summer Mary and I were going to spend a couple of weeks in IL with them and our grandmothers, but our luggage got in the vehicle headed back to AL. Aunt Louise took us to the store to buy some essentials (fine washables as a friend of mine would say) and a couple of knit cotton shirts. She bought material to make several pairs of shorts for us as well. She even put our first initial on the pocket to make the shorts special instead of just cranking something out as fast as she could.

Aunt Louise always made such beautifully wrapped Christmas gifts and for many, many years they bought an individual gift for every niece, nephew, great niece, and great nephew for the Martin Christmas every year. By the time they stopped, there must have been 100 gifts to buy! Every child got called up individually and gave them a kiss when they got a gift. I'm always a bit ashamed of the gifts I wrap because they are look so pitiful compared to Aunt Louise's wrappings.

3. That I learned such good character qualities from my aunts: generosity--I think weekly they went to World Relief sewing to make layettes and comforters for people around the world. And for us nieces and nephew there was a pretty much unlimited supply of Pepsi and Christ's donuts when we visited. Love--we always knew we were loved. Simplicity--we would joke about sitting on the driveway and watch the cows in the evening when they moved to a duplex, but that's pretty much what we did do.


4. That they left me with many, many more memories that I can describe here.

So for the last almost two months, this has set on my dining room table. Thanks for making them Aunt Louise and Aunt  Hulda, and thank Mom for giving them to me now.

To my family: any memories of Aunt Hulda or Aunt Louise you want to share?

Thankful Tuesday 11/23/10 pt. 3

Thankful for Pandora app on my Touch to listen to Christmas music.

And for those who think you shouldn't listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving:

I'm thankful I can listen to and enjoy Christmas music anytime of the year.

Thankful Tuesday 11/23/10 pt 2

Thankful I can listen to Christmas music even before Thanksgiving!!!

Thankful Tuesday 11/23/10

What a better way to wake up then getting this text on Sunday morning at 7:28 a.m.

"Hope this doesnt wak you. Im in new jersey getting ready and i just thought of you. Hope you are well this morning! Love you!!!"

From my favorite college senior nephew

Thankful Monday 11/22/10

The 401K match is back!!!!!

Thankful Thursday 11/18/10

This was scheduled to post yesterday early evening but for some reason it didn't so it's one day late, but I'm still thankful
Today I'm thankful

1. my parents have a wonderful house!
2. I got to see half of my wonderful nieces and nephews last week!!!
3. the FatBooth app is only .99 so I didn't waste too much money before I found out I can't use it on my IPod Touch.
4. for a great trip and that I'm still friends with my friend.
5. my infected subaceous cyst is finally getting better.

Trip to SC

Today I'm back to reality after my "mission trip" to SC to help my parents get settled. I can say that because my dad said it first!

A few pictures from the drive back. Renae and I visited "My Old Kentucky Home" State Park to tour the house Stephen Foster wrote about in his song that became the KY state song, the Abe Lincoln Childhood Home and Birthplace (the birthplace had a good film but if you want to learn about Lincoln go to Springfield, IL), and Churchill Downs.

I'm not a big horse person or racing fan, but it was interesting to see the place I watch once a year and understand a bit more about it. I will say the tour guides are very serious about the Derby and the horses. One cried through the new Secretariat movie so she had to go back again. She almost cried talking about the size of his heart. Another tour guide couldn't think of anything else the rest of the day 2 years ago when Eight Belles finished in second and then broke both front ankles and had to be euthanized on the track. The first one cried and cried the day they had to put down Barbaro.

We found it interesting how outdated and rough the jockey quarters are, but the jockeys are so superstitious that they don't want anything changed.

Jockeys dressing room:

Renae riding a racing game:

 The track from millionaire's row:

 The winner's circle used only for the Derby:

 In front of Secretariat statue with statue of Pat Day in the back left:

Thankful Thursday 11/11/10

Thankful for

1. so many people who served and serve in our military to allow us so many freedoms.
2. safe trip (aka "traveling mercies") to SC
3. Mom and Dad's very nice new house.
4. a friend who is helping me do a lot of work around the new house.
5. getting to see Andrew, MaryLee, and Lauren so far. JM and Jeffrey on Saturday.
6. Mom and Dad being recognized on Friday night for the impact the last 45 years in Alabama.

I Like Mike-uh!

Yesterday I met a friend for lunch at my favorite Penn Station on the trip South. 4-year old Micah was not pleased that there was "watermelon" (actually two thin tomato slices) on his sandwich. I looked at him and pretty seriously said, "You don't eat tomatoes? Don't you know that will put hair on your chest just like your Daddy?"

Six hours later I got a phone call that at the dinner table Micah asked his father if he ate onions. After an affirmative answer Micah told his Dad "they will put hair on your chest!" Ryan wondered where that comment came from, and now Sarah is glad I can influence her children only every 4 years or so!

Thankful Thursday 11/4/10

1. A big project at work is winding up and we report out on Monday. The group I'm working with is really good, and I've enjoyed these 8 weeks.
2. Today I met with a group to begin our holiday giving project. It's great to work around people who are so generous. Last year we sponsored 2 families and an organization. This year we want to sponsor 4 families.
3. Monday night is the last night of my current CU class. It's a really good group, and I'm kind of sad that as I just really start to get to know them the class is over.
4. So glad I have good help going with me to help my parents get settled.
5. Thankful that although the "infected sebacious cyst" (my friend says I just like to say it) isn't gone, the pain in my shoulder is much better.

AND THE BIGGEST ONE THIS WEEK:
I'm glad I've had Alabama to call home for 45 years.

Who do you really want?

I've been getting some calls for an 877 number and mostly haven't answered plus they don't leave a message. Yesterday I took the call but since no one picked up for a few seconds I hung up. About an hour ago during lunch my phone range and I saw it so I took the call. (Remember that we sit in cubes so people around me can hear. I was just ready to hang up when I heard a girl's voice.


Hello, is Mr. or Mrs. Klopfenstein there?
Well, who is calling?
My name is ____ and I'm with ________________.
Why would you ask for Mr. Klopfenstein?
We're told to ask for Mr. or Mrs.
Well what if there is no Mr. Klopfenstein (pause) anymore?

She hung up.
The ladies across from and beside me both just cracked up laughing!!!

Heat

It's November 1, I can now turn on the heat!

Actually, I decided Saturday rounded to November so I turned it on while to enjoy reading the newspaper.