I-luv-Eeyore’s blog

June has not been a kind month to our celebrities.

1. David Carradine.
2. Ed McMahon
3. Farrah Fawcett
4. Michael Jackson
5. and now Billy Mays.

I know Billy Mays wasn't huge-ly popular but he was a great pitchman and TV will not be the same w/o him loudly proclaiming that something is the best.

An autopsy is going to be performed.  I wonder if the conk on his head caused a lot more damage than originally thought.

RIP Mr. Mays.

Prayers and hugs going out to your family.

I grew up in the age of Michael Jackson; he was only five years older than I am.  However, we did not have cable so I have never seen many of Michael's videos.

I loved most of his songs and was amazed with the way he could move his body when I saw him on regular TV.

I especially liked that he organized the "We are the World" charity 'thing'.

My biggest and most remembered MJ moment was one Sunday.  My then boyfriend and I were on our way to see some new puppies.  The radio was playing Kasey Kasum's American Top 40 he was commenting about the album that had just taken over the tope spot as the most sold album ever.  Kasey Kasum said he'd tell us after the commercial break.  I was excited and telling my boyfriend that I knew it was Thriller.  I knew it.  He didn't believe me and was looking forward to proving me wrong.  It was at that moment that one of the tires on the car blew out...we ended up flipping the car and sliding down the highway on the roof and hood of the car....landing in the ditch on the other side of the road.  We never did hear Kasey Kasum tell what album he was talking about.  But I know I was right.

RIP Michael Jackson RIP

Totally Terrible Things on Tuesday:

• The heat.  I HATE hot, anything over 85 is too hot and we are headed for our---oh, I don't know---7th day in a row of triple digit heat index's.
• Finding out that Jordan's bedroom just bakes in the sun---there is a definite temperature difference between the hallway and his bedroom.  The thermostat is in the hallway and has been reaching 79 degrees in the afternoons and Jordan's room feels like it's 90.  Vent is open, light/heat blocking curtains are hanging in the window and his ceiling fan is going 90-to-nothin'.  Still hot. 
• Still so very sad that Baron is so unhappy at night...now, though, I've pretty much started sleeping through his whining and scratching of the crate door.
• No rain for what seems like a long time and none in the forecast.
• Excel
• Being a one car family
• Need to pay the bills....and don't want to.  Have the money to, just don't want to write out the checks or go to paymybills.com to actually get it done.
• Need to get Caroline's b-day present in the mail---today!  Her 2nd birthday is Sunday.
• Surrounded by so many pregnant women----although I'm almost to the point that I'm glad it's not me.

Totally Terrific Things on Tuesday:

• Going to St. Louis in a couple of weeks. 
• Chris's grandma is turning 90.
• All my flowers seem to be thriving, even in the heat.
• The sprinkler system.
• I have a job....while so many don't.
• Planning a special surprise for Chris's 40th birthday!

 

According to my iGoogle Homepage anyway.

So, in honor of it being Nature Photography Day here are a few pictures I took of some of the flowers in my yard.

Can you believe the people that owned this house before us left that pretty pot that I have those pretty purple flowers in?

Someone PLEASE look at the bottom photo and tell me what kind of plant/flower/thing that is.  I have no clue and we have five or six of them around the house.

 

 

Totally Terrible Tuesday Things:

• Bad dreams involving the ex-husband and this life with Chris and Jordan only being a dream.
• Remembering what it was like to be backed against the wall---'you know, I could kill you (snaps fingers in front of face) just like that'.
• Having to sit through the wedding video of my step-niece.  I wasn't invited, why should I have to watch it?
• Even more---seeing that cute innocent little baby who is damned to a miserable red-neck backwoods life.

Totally Terrific Tuesday Things:

• My son.  He's a great kid.  I love him.
• My husband.  He's the best.  My hero.  I love him.
• Steak and baked potato
• My parents.  They mean well.
• All the flowers in my backyard.

I just got through reading _If I am Missing or Dead: A Sister's Story of Love, Murder, and Liberation_.

Uhm.  Wow!  I saw myself in this book a time or two (or three).  The author writes of her growing up years with a father that is not so nice.  Then she tells of turbulent young adult hood, complete with rape and a physically abusive boyfriend.  Interspersed in the story of her life she tells of her baby sister's life and subsequent death at the hands of an abuser.  Janine Latus also tells of her emotionally abusive relationship with her husband of many years.  This is where I saw myself.  She brought to mind some of the many times I felt like I had to have sex with my ex in order to not make him mad and not get into an all night argument.  Even then there were still accusations and arguments flung at me no matter the time of day or night.

This book is a must read for anybody embarking on their life.  This story of Janine and her sister, Amy, lets a person know in a non-threatening manner what is NOT normal and acceptable behaviour in a boyfriend or husband.  A person who says they love you should never ever threaten to kill you or any member of your family.  If this is happening to you, get out.  Get out now.  Get help and get out.  You can do it.  You deserve to feel safe in your own home.  Get out before he hurts you again.

(((Hugs))) to all.

Totally Terrific Things on Tuesday:

• Home alone for the week means:
• A.  You can have popcorn for supper if that is what you want
• B.  You can follow that up with a Klondike Bar for desert and not have to share the rest of the package.
• C.  You can watch what you want on whichever TV in the house you want to watch it on.
• D.  You can leave all the lights on--if you want and no one will make a fuss about it.
• I am very pleased with my yard work over the weekend.
• Did more yard work this afternoon.
• Laughing at Darcy trying to chase and bite the stream of water coming from the hose
• Feeling content and peaceful with life--even though I'm home alone.

 

Totally Terrible Things on Tuesday:

• Home alone for the week means:
• A.  The dogs don't have anyone else but me to keep them entertained
• B.  You eat alone.
• C.  You don't have anyone to talk to about your day.
• D.  You sleep alone.
• E.  The dogs don't get it and they roam the house all night looking for the other people that belong in the house....thus keeping you awake, especially when the one stands next to the bed and watches you sleep----just breathing at you.  *pant pant pant*
• You are responsible for getting the garbage out for garbage day and the trash out for trash day (yes, they are two different things!)
• I have a new work project---on an Excel spreadsheet.  I guarantee I will not delete any important columns off of this one!
• Did I tell you my step-niece got married?  Pregnant at 15, a baby at 16, married at 17.  She has only just begun on a life filled with troubles...oh, and why did she get married? Because the food stamp office said in order to qualify she either had to get married or move back in with her Mom and my brother.

Inspired by other posts along the same lines.

When I think of family members that have served in the military during war time I am always thinking how very lucky my family has been.  We have not lost a man during war time....at least not in the family records (which honestly don't go back all that far).

My Dad's Grandpa served the country during WWII.  Unfortunately he died before I was ever old enough or interested enough to ask questions.  I'm sure my Dad knows what 'front' Grandpa served on, but I don't know.  When Grandpa died of a brain anuersym he was given a military funeral but was buried in the local cemetery.  I managed to hold my 19 y/o self together until they played Taps---then I was bawling.

My Mom's Dad did not serve.  I'm not sure why, it could have been health issues.  But I'm not sure.  Her Step-father served, though.  He was in the Navy.  Again, I never asked questions so I don't know whether he served in the Pacific or if he was in European waters.  He and Grandma didn't marry until I was five or six but he was my favorite Grandpa.  He died of a heart attack on Dec. 26.  I was young, married, and broke when he died.  I didn't get to go to his funeral---but he was buried with full military honors at the Naval Base in San Diego, CA. 

My Dad served during the Vietnam war.  He was a Submariner and was doing some top secret stuff that the Navy didn't/doesn't want known.  He was not allowed to talk about it for many years and it's only been recently that we found out his submarine was depth charged several times.  He was an officer of sorts: his title was Chief of the Boat.  I don't know what he did--but he had his own office.  Which was a rarity in submarines.

Neither of my brothers felt the call to serve our country.  Which is okay, I could have served but chose not to, too.  But, all three of my brother's children are in the Service.  Ray is in the Air Force, he has not seen action but is well trained on loading bombs onto F-16s and F-18's.  Ray was been stationed in England for five years and did a quick three month tour in Turkey.  Right now he is in Alamagordo, NM.  My other nephew, Christopher, is in the Army.  He was in Iraq for a few months and the position he was in kept him safely in camp most of the time.  He did go out on missions a couple of times, but they were really short and he made it back to camp safe and sound each time.  He is currently in Fort Bragg, NC.  My niece is married to an Army guy.  When he went to Iraq for six months she and her son lived with Chris and I.  Michael was injured while he was over there----but it wasn't technically an injurry recieved during combat.  He fell out of a helicopter and screwed his knee up.  Right now they are in Hawaii and he is undergoing numerous surgeries and rehab.  I believe when he is well enough he is going to take classes to become a medic so he can stay in even though his knee is toast.

I have an Uncle that was in the National Guard.  He spent several months in Iraq during the first Gulf War.  We are lucky that he came home uninjured and he has finally retired from the National Guard.

My family has been blessedly lucky.  I thank veterans and their families every chance I get---because if it weren't for the sacrifies of these brave men and women we might all be speaking German or Japanese.

I'll start out with the good today

Totally Terrific Things on Tuesday:

• I'm done with that work project!
• Jordan's Spring band concert was last night.  All kids did a great job!
• I noticed when Jordan tucked his shirt into his pants that he has slimmed way down since we've moved.  I actually thought he was looking down right skinny.  No wonder he has to wear a belt with all of his pants.

Totally Terrible Things on Tuesday:

• That work project?  Yeah---I didn't finish it.
• That work project?  Yeah---I thoroughly screwed it up and our Excel guru has been working on it for two days trying to get it fixed.
• That work project?  Yeah---Nothing I can do about it now.
• That work project?  Yeah---that means that I will now become part of the 'team' again and have actual daily duties that must be done and done on time.

Totally Terrible Things on Tuesday:

• One of my daily vitamins didn't go down right and it is stuck in my throat causing discomfort.
• The grass in the back yard is so tall I can't see the birds when (if?) they are on the ground pecking around for seeds.
• Work project that I've been working on for months and months is due on Friday.  I'm just now at a half-way point.
• Spiders in the house, black ones, black widows and wolf spiders---I no longer drop clothes on the floor and I look in my shoes/slippers before slipping then on my feet.

Totally Terrific Things on Tuesday:

• The sun is shining this morning---it's been two weeks or longer since the sun has shined in my office window first thing in the morning.
• I had a good birthday yesterday and a decent Mother's Day.
• The plants and flowers in my backyard are growing and flowering: each day I wonder---what kind of flower/plant is that?
• Lizards and frogs in my back yard, too.

 

So, any idea what kind of flower this is?