Wednesday, December 31, 2008

new year's hope

I always get a little giddy and hopeful when I go into an office supply store.
The rows and rows of neatly stacked office supplies have a way of convincing me that if I just had one of everything or if I had the right combination of supplies, then organization would be possible, piles would disappear and projects would never go uncompleted.

I know this is an illusion.
But every time the automatic doors slide open and I walk into Staples, I believe it none-the-less.
Same goes with the New Year.
Every December, I'm swamped with the world of retail at work and video editing for the Family Christmas video at home. It's a non-stop, all work and no play month. I start to dream about the New Year about mid month and start to form lists and resolutions and plan about how great it's gonna be to have a clean slate and about how much I'm gonna do, get done and who I'm gonna be. It's a little like the office supply giddiness.

I know this is an illusion.
But every time the year approaches the end of the calender, I believe it none-the less.

So here we go.
2009...all shiney and new.
Let the illusion begin.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

New Day Dawning

On the way to work today, I was cursing the fact that I agreed to switch shifts and open the store instead of close it.
But upon arrival, I got to see the sun on the other side of the sky....
and decided to practice seeing and shooting for the upcoming
365 project.

It's time to load your film, er, uh, memory cards, pack the camera bag, take the lens cap off and start looking!

Directions to here:
It really was the best moment of the day, as I later had an unexpected $1,000 lunch appointment with the dentist, getting a temporary crown on a broken tooth : (

Monday, December 29, 2008

Are you in?

Announcing the 365 Project.


I got this idea from a blog I follow.

I'm want to try to take a picture a day for the next year.

January 1st seems like the proper time to start.
I'm looking forward to the ways this will wake me up to "seeing" new things everyday.

Did you get a camera for Christmas?
Are you like me and want to better understand your digital camera?
If so, then join the 365 club.

And let me know, so I know I'm not alone. And if you are posting them, let me know where I can find you.

For more info & ideas : http://photojojo.com/content/tutorials/project-365-take-a-photo-a-day/

Directions to here:

I plan to make a picture everyday, but will probably post them at the most, once a week...probably on Flickr.

And yes, that really is my licence plate number

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Flashback Friday...picture disscection

I was too tired after all the Christmas festivities to write anything about the vintage Christmas pics I posted. But here are some commets and questions.

Picture 1:
1. Check out Janet's cowgirl outfit!
2. I absolutely love that Susie's face is so similar to the doll's face and the kewpie doll mouth matches hers.
3. Anybody know where this was taken? Mom and Dad's, or elsewhere?

Picture 2:
1. Pre back porch house. Where the door frame to the back porch was in the dining room is, in the picture, a window.
2. I love that Patty is holding the reins on the horse, just like she would have if it was a pony over at Uncle Ralphs.
3. What is Mike's gift? It looks like it's wired and he's reaching for a controller.

Picture 3:
1. I spy the Christmas globe/ball lights on the tree. I think this was b/4 dad started tying the tree to the wall. (a result of unruly grandkids...you know).
2. I love that Dave and I have the same hairdresser. (Kitchen salon...on the white folding stool)
3. Notice that the deer hoof gun rack has not been rotated to the bedroom, yet.
4. That the pre-teen hip Dave is wearing a ring.
5. It amuses me that I'm wearing a dress and red tights with a brown (albeit groovy...flower power dress)...yet red tights with a brown dress..none-the less. Even better that it was the 70's and that combination made sense.
6. That Dad is dressed in the only thing we ever saw him in before the late 70's. Long sleeve grey, dark green or black work shirt and no tan bald head. I'm sure he's instructing me on how to repack the furniture into that small box.
7. And I'm proud that up until 2003, I knew exactly where all these toys were. (on the shelves in the basement). The red box had the furniture for the dollhouse. And yes, I still have the lightbright...and the box.

That's all.
What are you comments and questions?

Friday, December 26, 2008

Flashback Friday...A Very Vintage Christmas

Ghosts of Christmas past

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Ho X three
Merry Christmas everyone!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008


Happy Birthday, Shelby !

Friday, December 19, 2008

Flashback Friday...Aunt Kay

In Memory of Kay Vandercar
Taken at the Grange Hall in 1981.
I believe there was a "this is your life" program honoring Aunt Kay.

Directions to here:
Keeping all of our Vandercar cousins in our thoughts, prayers and fond memories of Aunt Kay.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

check it

Well someone is back to posting and it's not me. Between work, video and keeping all these dr. appointments = no time.
Click on Drew's dad to see the latest.

Friday, December 12, 2008

link

So, if you couldn't see the video about sandy...

here's the link.

The Sandy comparison starts at about 3:58.

Directions to here:

FB friday is on the way...sometime this weekend.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Happy Birthday Janet and Taylor

Monica is Sandy...Sandy is Monica

I knew the Craig's list post would get a response from Sandy.

Here's pretty much what she said:


And since she couldn't get help the clean sweep the Craig's list apartment...here's what she did after seeing the post:

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

I'm just sayin'


I know the goal of Sandy is to get me on clean sweep or turn me in to Oprah so Peter Walsh can come and make me cry.

I know how she defines the term "dirty bird" to mean not just dirt, but messy as well.

But after seeing this on the Best of Craig's List, I think even Sandy would have to admit I'm doin' pretty good.

I'm just sayin'.

Directions to here:
Someone might need to call Sandy to see if she's alright after looking at these pictures. It might send her into a fit of marathon vacuuming.

Friday, December 05, 2008

Flashback Friday...10-4 Good Buddy


Terms of Endearment.

Junior Moore used them.

He called himself, J.R.
He called my sister, Babe.
He called his dog, Bear.
He called his son, Durwood or Dur for short.
He called underwear, skivvies.
He called his cars and trucks, my ride.

And that's just what I remember off the top of my head.

He spoke in C.B. lingo without sounding put on and had nicknames for everything and everyone.

It's just one of the things I miss about my brother in law.

Thursday, December 04, 2008

We miss you, Junior.

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Birth of the Cool...
Happy Birthday,
Heidi !

Monday, December 01, 2008

"I can't remember all the times I tried to tell myself
to hold on to these moments as they pass...."
(a long december by the counting crows)



Sunday, November 30, 2008

This
is funny!

Friday, November 28, 2008

Flashback Friday...Thanks....Giving

Past Thanks Given
Thanksgiving Turkey
(or possibly Christmas ham)
Thanksgiving 2003
Thanksgiving 2007

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Happy Birthday, Sarah!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Shoulda stayed down on the farm.

Went to Sunday dinner and instead of my usual leaving Monday morning and going straight to work, I left Sunday night in order to be a good girl and keeping my medical resolutions and Dr. appointment on Monday.

Well, I shoulda stayed on the farm.
'Cause after 17 years of driving back and forth from Indy to Lowell, I finally met Officer not so friendly.
He was parked on the opposite side of the road, facing oncoming traffic, with no lights on, just south (I'm sure) of where the speed limit sign changes from 55 to 40 on a deserted back road at 1 in the morning.

No mercy,

no warning.

Just a ticket

and a court date.

Bah humbug.

Directions to here:
I'm thinking about removing the policeman from my flat person collection.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Flashback Friday...The patient patient

Patient: (n) One who receives medical attention, care, or treatment.

Patient: (adj.) Able to put up with pain, troubles, difficulties, hardship, etc without complaint or ill temper.

Four years ago when I turned 40, I made a New Year's resolution to find and go to the doctor for a long overdue check up and consultation.
Four years later and after two years of complaining about a sore foot and a growing list of symptoms, I finally kept the resolution and found and went to the a doctor.

For whatever reason, it was excruciatingly hard for me to pick up the phone and get this done. I dreaded it. I complained about it. I put it off. And I don't really know why.
I am blessed to have had insurance for the last 2 jobs, totaling almost 19 years and even more blessed to have only used it a total of 2 times.

In all of this, I've often thought about my Mom.
Even though I don't get sick that often, I have a feeling I would be a horrible patient.
She was not.

I remember Louetta telling a story about when they were young, mom made a comment to her about how she was having a hard time finding shoes that felt good. She later, at 26, I believe, was diagnosed with the arthritis that she would battle the rest of her life.
As a 9 or 10 year old I can remember seeing the look of excruciating pain on her face as she would battle to get up out of a chair. I can remember feeling helpless, but I never remember her complaining. In 1974, or so, she went to the Cleveland Clinic to have a knee replacement, which back then, was a huge operation with an extremely long recovery time. It meant being away from us and a long road of physical therapy (does anyone remember the homemade sand bag weights she had to lift)? But I think if she were telling this story today, she would still say it was the best thing she ever did for her health. She took a risk (they said it might not help and may even come out worse) and had one knee and then the other replaced. She never had great range of motion in the second one, but the most important thing was...the pain was reduced. She said gone, but as we all know, it was probably just less unbearable.

In my book, that was enough.
Living with that kind of pain should have extempted her, or so I believed, from other types of suffering.
I was wrong.
In 1995, she went to the Doctor in October.
I remember coming home and she was in her room lying down on the heating pad. I laid down on the bed next to her and she told me the doctor said that she had lost 85 percent of her kidney function, but it was a slow process and at that point she should outlive the other 15 percent.
He was wrong.
Within 3 months she was on dialysis 3 times a week.
Doctors, dialysis, nurses, dialysis, hospitals, dialysis, needles, dialysis, infections, dialysis.
Still, a smile. Laughter. Yes, tiredness. Yes, aches and pains. And I'm not forgetting the times it would all be too much and I'd hear her crying in the bathroom. But honestly, how many times did you hear her complain? Your answer is the evidence of her testimony.

Awhile ago, when my foot starting hurting and then I had to stand on it 8 hours a day, I saw how pain can really ruin the quality of life. I felt how on edge it can make you. How even if you didn't want it to, it could make you short with people and irritable. And I thought and said out loud almost everyday: "Honestly, I don't know how she did it."
How did she live with that kind of pain...everyday and stay the person she was?
If there ever was the model of a patient patient..it was my mom, Helen Jean Vandercar.

Directions to here:
Okay...edit.
I take that back, I heard her bitterly complain on two separate hospital visits.
The complaint?
Being surprised by lemon pudding (she thought it was vanilla)!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Daylight savings...what?

I agree with Tammy's post a few days ago.
The weather and the darkness at what seems to be mid-afternoon.
Ever since the time change, followed by the week of rain and now frost on the windshield and cold temperature, all my good intentions of posting vacation pics and catching up on birthdays and news have been trumped sleepiness and the do it later blahs.

Directions to here:
So, my lunch break is usually at 4 and when I come out of the back room at 5, it's almost dark outside...does that mean that my northern family is in the dark at 4pm? How are you getting anything done?

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Doctor's orders:

"I'm sorry that I couldn't find anything wrong with you."
(a quote from my new doctor...spoken with a Russian accent after listening to my scroll like list of symptoms.)

Directions to here:
Hopefully she'll say the same thing after the labs come back and the next three appointments with other doctors are done.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Keeping Resolutions

Gonna cross this New Year's Resolution off my list today.
(well, at least the Dr. part)

Directions to here:
Yes, I know it was 2004's resolution.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Flashback Friday...For Freedom

"There was a time when the world asked ordinary men to do extraordinary things."
Band of Brothers

Monday, November 10, 2008

November 10, 1946
They said, "I do."

We're glad you did!

Sunday, November 09, 2008

Happy Birthday Joshua!

Saturday, November 08, 2008

Georgia on my mind.

Shel & James,

You are on all of our minds and in our prayers.

"...Georgia, Georgia, The whole day through Just an old sweet song Keeps Georgia on my mind I'm saying Georgia Georgia A song of you Comes as sweet and clear As moonlight through the pines..."

Directions to here:
Precious Lord, take their hand.

Friday, November 07, 2008

Directions to here:
Well, the scanner won.
If you want to call it a win, 'cause it's sitting next to the door and then only because I refrained from throwing it out the window.

So I'll save the scanning for next week and use the other subject and pictures already on my computer.

Turkey Supper:

I honestly don't remember life without it.
Hopefully, neither will this kid!

I don't always make it home for it,
but I'm glad that these people always pull it off.

God bless the saints that have gone before us
and thank you everyone that has stepped up to take their place and carry on the tradition!







Flashback Friday...T.B.A.

It's coming...

but I'm currently having a fist fight with my scanner.

Directions to here:
Literally.
If I had a hammer like Dave and the lightbulb story, my fist wouldn't be sore right now.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

I Want...

or
either one will do.

Directions to here:
Please Cori, Ed Elser, Ed Mc. please tell me you know what "Steampunk Mod" is and that you know how to make these!

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Unwanted wake up call(s)

Read this on Yahoo news today...
and I'm adding my own "rest of the story."

"Afterward, Obama traveled to Indianapolis for final campaign stop to encourage voters in Indiana to support the Democratic candidate from next door. He helped about two dozen members of United Auto Workers Local 550 in Indianapolis work the phones at their union hall."

...and called and woke up Nancy, the bookseller, FOUR times in, what is, the early morning, according to her schedule.

Directions to here:
I hate politics.

Sunday, November 02, 2008

Edit

Okay...
Since Sister Susie has been on a posting roll lately...

Once you go to "the farm"...you'll have to scroll down to the second post to see the Drew-o-Lantern!

Saturday, November 01, 2008

Pumpkin vs. Jack-O-Lantern

A few weeks back, Gramma Susie and Jacinda were cutting up orange construction paper into the shape of pumpkins.
Jacinda informed us that if a pumpkin doesn't have a face then it's called a pumpkin. If it does have a face, it's called a Jack-o-lantern.

I guess these two qualify as Jack-o-lanterns.
Or should I say Jacind-o-lantern.
and Gramma Soos-o-lantern.

But to see a real treat, or trick, depending on which side of the camera you're on, go the THE FARM. Is this what they mean when they say if you're not home by midnight, you'll turn into a pumpkin?

Directions to here:
So Jacinda, what category does this fall into?

Friday, October 31, 2008

Flashback Friday...Halloween Previewed

Last Sunday we got the
Halloween preview.
Hosted by:
and:
Thought I might give you a heads up as to who may be knocking on your door tonight.
The Crew (minus Dora)
Dora the explorer: pre melt-down
The Brother's Grimm
Hello Kitty
Drew came as a Dragon, but once he sat in his chair ended up channeling Grandpa Bob
Jeremy channeling Drew
Drew modeling the Masonic Chapeau
Dave and the Chapeau
White Fairy and the M& M sugar Buzz
And myself as Wonder Pirate along with The Mummy

Directions to here:
Don't be afraid...give them the chocolate and no one will get hurt.