Grandma?

For those of us not local, Frau, keep us posted on the baby-watch. How is baby-daddy? Is Vanessa waivering at all in her decision to keep the baby, especially with domestic issues? I've been praying for you all.

We are getting old. Kathleen is driving. Joseph is snapping Tim in half like he's a toothpick, Will just went to see the cheerleaders at the Georgia Basketball State Tournament, and you're about to be a grandmother. Yikes. What happened to those days in front of a black and white eating cheerios with syrup and peanut butter?

Westward Ho ye amphibians!

So, last night we stood in the pouring (I mean buckets) rain in the dark with flashlights while spotted salamanders made their annual pilgrimage across the road from pond a to pond b. The good folks at the park service close the road for their protection and we dopey higher evolved beings watch them cross the road. I can't quite put into words the dichotomy of feelings this raised with in me. I can put in to words the massive goosebumps I got from the cold water that gave me the shivers. What the heck - the kids had fun.

baby update and angry musings

has anyone notice VonTootlesburg's new picture? it is snazzy and full of sizzle. (all those years at the Carousel have indeed rubbed off). Anywho...baby Jaeden could arrive any time. They want her to go at least one more week for lung development but after that who knows? Apparently with her blood clotting disorder the farther along she gets the more jeopardy the baby could be in, so she wont go past 39 anyways. Baby Daddy is ...well what can one say that would be positive? Hmm....nibbling lip trying to form positive thought so hold on a short sec.....
The fear of chewing my lip off looms large in my thoughts, so I simply state he's around. He is not large, not in charge and not living life respectfully or carefully. His maternal unit brings out incredible anger in me. I try very, very hard to keep it in check and mostly succeed. I did have a temper lose last weekend and thankfully baby daddy and baby daddy momma stayed away. I of course dont stand around screaming obsenities and all such useless moments of that sort, but I do speak my mind with ruthlessness that really seems to unnerve people. Still, I dont want this for Vanessa or Jaeden. Baby Daddy is either gold or garbage...theres no middle ground with this kid. Lately he's garbage. But he is Jaedens father, so I ask all my family to pray for his sorry useless baby making ass. And of course Vanessa and Jaeden and throw me in for good measure. I would like to not have a ruthless moment because they are damaging in life. Reality is important, but knowing what people think of you (collectively speaking) and your life is not and serves no purpose other than to inflict pain. So as the wonderful moment of Jaedens appearance into the world approaches that joy has the dark cloud over it. Bummer. Time to change the weather.

Yea, I have no idea what to title this.....

Hello everyone.

Okay, so yesterday morning, I got up around 5:45 to let the dog outside, I was still very much asleep and layed down on the couch while she was outside walking the perimiter and depositing yet another doggie land mine, anywho, i heard her bound up the stairs so I got up to let her in. Well, instead of going back to bed for a few more minutes I just decided to lay back down on the couch and curl up with Winnie the Pooh. Next thing I know, Deano comes out and asked me why I was on the couch, and I proceeded to say "I had to let the dog out, plus I'm trying to figure out why my mom is in Indiana." He said "Your mom is in Indiana?" I said, "I guess but I don't know why." He asked me when I found that out and I responded with "this morning." So I got up and was motoring about getting ready for work, etc, and he asked me again when I found out my mom was in Indiana? I looked at him and said "what are you talking about? My mom isn't in Indiana, she's at home and probably still sleeping." He just said "OH MY GOODNESS>" and then proceeded to tell me the events of the morning.

Then this morning, same thing happened, I got up to let the dog and and layed down on the couch only this time, I didn't dream that mom was in indiana, I dreamt that someone was trying to break into the house.....I think the couch has it in for me.....I told Deano we should probably get a new one that doesn't have issues with me.

News Flash!

Marti joined a gym and is torturing her thighs! Ha! Told on ya lil sistern! Also, her giant fat hamster got stuck in his traveling tube and she had to break it to rescue his oversized hammy butt. Hence he had to have an entire new hamster kingdom purchased for his living comfort. Pretty slick move for a hamster huh? She also insists he is now litter trained with some new high tech hamster gizmo she installed. Hmmm.....

juvenile big people

Well, as I said in my comment on Tim's post, the boys' "Grampy" died on Saturday. He had cancer and at 83, it was stronger than he was. He went to the hospice hospital on Thursday evening and died at 8:10 Saturday evening. I know the exact time, because I was with him. Gran was so tired, and felt comfortable going home because she knew he would not be alone. I sang to him for about 30 minutes, then quietly sat in the chair in the corner. In about 30 minutes, he was gone. The part I want to share is this. When the Lannings arrived at the hospice center at about 4:00, we went in his room and all said a sweet word to Grampy, who was by then very quiet with his eyes closed. Aaron had insisted on bringing his new bible, and without hesitation, he knelt down beside Grampy's bed and read (his choice) Psalm 100, the last two verses of Revelation, and a passage in Micah (What does the Lord require of you...?) that we had read earlier. When he was finished, Will stood at his other side and prayed the most amazing prayer, thanking God for Grampy's life and for the comfort in knowing that "You will be right here to receive his spirit." Who needs a preacher? (Tim, this reminds me so much of the recent chapter in Alan Hirsch's book chiding the church for isolating its ministers-in-training in seminaries and away from a congregation. All that book-learning couldn't have improved on the innocent trust and compassion of these two little fellers as they ministered to their Grampy.) The best part of being 8 and 10 year old boys is that as soon as they finished giving their version of "the last rites," they went out into the lobby and giggled at SpongeBob.

Hello chaps. Sitting here, quite happily, amidst the snow flakes. There is still something magical about the sound of a snow plow on a school day. I was thinking this morning how we used to lay in bed ( it was about 58 degrees in the house ) and listen for the plow on 224, hoping that Mom would call up the stairs that school was cancelled. At that point, an Obama-like joy would overwhelm me. Anyway, thats it from Jersey. Expecting 8-10 inches before its all done, but it will be gone by this time next week. Later.