It has been sitting on my desk for months. I thought I could just let it lapse and move on with life, but I just can't. Grandma paid my dues religiously, as she did with all her granddaughters. So, even though she isn't here anymore, I'm going to mail in my check and get my card. I may not be active with the American Legion Auxiliary, but I'm not ready to let go of this little reminder just yet.
Sorry it took me so long to do it, Grandma.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
It's that time of year again.
Usually around this time I recap my year and promise myself all the wonderful changes I am going to make to enrich my life and the life of those around me. Since I am not a huge fan of change, I think I'll at least stick to this "tradition" but because I'm not feeling particularly verbose, it will be presented in the form of a list.
1. I retired from the fire department. It sucked and was necessary but the half-hearted goodbye hurt worse than the actual leaving.
2. Moved across the country. Awesome, spectacular, terrifying change. Possibly one of the best decisions I have made in my life.
3. Married JB. Yeah, that guy. Definitely the best decision I have made in my life.
4. Said goodbye to my paternal grandmother. Thankfully, I was able to actually say goodbye and then days later witness first hand the love and bond that she shared with my grandpa shown through stories, pictures and precious, heart-twisting comments from the man who loved her most.
5. Bought a new house. Carpet and paint... famous last words. In fact, it is almost finished. Nothing makes a marriage stronger like renovations. No, seriously. We are having a blast!
6. Managed to rent my house to three consecutive renters all without a gap in tenancy. (Two of which defaulted and left their leases early.)
7. Went through a cancer scare and came out of it healthier and happier, even if I am short one ovary and a useless appendix. I don't need 'em anyway.
7. Adopted a second dog, er puppy. The perfect addition to the family, even if I am scrambling to remember all my puppy training tricks.
I'd have to say, 2010 was a great year. It had it's share of heartache and frustrations but I really can't complain. I'm loved by many family and friends and I have many opportunities opened to me. I am truly blessed.
As for 2011, I anticipate great things. I don't have any resolutions, per say but I do have a few things I really want to accomplish. As always, I want to eat healthier and get back to exercising daily and having a more positive outlook about my body. I intend to continue to grow my relationship with JB and create a positive and healthy example not only for my step-son but also any future additions to the family. I will call my grandpa more. I may not be able to check on him in person, but I don't want him to ever wonder if I love him. Finally, I'm going to relax. That's right. I am going to find more time for doing a whole lot of nothing. No worrying, no fretting, no cleaning. Just enjoying my life for what it is and finding contentment in the day to day mundane.
I'm excited for the next year of my life. Things could only get better from here, even if they stayed exactly the same.
1. I retired from the fire department. It sucked and was necessary but the half-hearted goodbye hurt worse than the actual leaving.
2. Moved across the country. Awesome, spectacular, terrifying change. Possibly one of the best decisions I have made in my life.
3. Married JB. Yeah, that guy. Definitely the best decision I have made in my life.
4. Said goodbye to my paternal grandmother. Thankfully, I was able to actually say goodbye and then days later witness first hand the love and bond that she shared with my grandpa shown through stories, pictures and precious, heart-twisting comments from the man who loved her most.
5. Bought a new house. Carpet and paint... famous last words. In fact, it is almost finished. Nothing makes a marriage stronger like renovations. No, seriously. We are having a blast!
6. Managed to rent my house to three consecutive renters all without a gap in tenancy. (Two of which defaulted and left their leases early.)
7. Went through a cancer scare and came out of it healthier and happier, even if I am short one ovary and a useless appendix. I don't need 'em anyway.
7. Adopted a second dog, er puppy. The perfect addition to the family, even if I am scrambling to remember all my puppy training tricks.
I'd have to say, 2010 was a great year. It had it's share of heartache and frustrations but I really can't complain. I'm loved by many family and friends and I have many opportunities opened to me. I am truly blessed.
As for 2011, I anticipate great things. I don't have any resolutions, per say but I do have a few things I really want to accomplish. As always, I want to eat healthier and get back to exercising daily and having a more positive outlook about my body. I intend to continue to grow my relationship with JB and create a positive and healthy example not only for my step-son but also any future additions to the family. I will call my grandpa more. I may not be able to check on him in person, but I don't want him to ever wonder if I love him. Finally, I'm going to relax. That's right. I am going to find more time for doing a whole lot of nothing. No worrying, no fretting, no cleaning. Just enjoying my life for what it is and finding contentment in the day to day mundane.
I'm excited for the next year of my life. Things could only get better from here, even if they stayed exactly the same.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Busted
Scene: Hwy 65 somewhere deep in Alabama, me belting out most of the lyrics to Heart's Magic Man, heading south to the homestead.
Blue lights dance in the rear-view mirror.
JB asks why I'm pulling over. I reply, "I think I'm getting pulled over for speeding. I had the cruise set!" *cue visions of questioning as to why my car is registered to Bernice Oldlastname and my license says Bernice Newlastname. The prickle of nervous sweat stings my armpits. Visions of $300 speeding tickets bombard my brain. The beam from a MagLight travels up the passenger side of the car, pauses on a sleeping dog in the back seat and ends at the open passenger window.
Good evening. License and insurance please.
Oh, no problem officer. *rummaging in glove box* Uh, it seems I didn't put the newest insurance card in here, but it just got renewed this month.
No problem. Do you know how fast you were going?
Well, I have the cruise set at 77, sir.
Actually, you were doing 81. Is there an emergency?
Other than the need to put as many miles between me and sub-zero temperatures? No, sir. Just heading home.
I see. Everything correct on your license?
Yes, sir.
Alright, well sit tight, I'll be right back.
*cue the return of visions of $300 fines*
Well ma'am, I decided to give you a warning tonight. No points and no fines. Any questions for me?
No sir! Thank you sir!
Have a good night and slow it down.
/end scene
I'd like to extend a hearty thank you to the kind officer who decided that it wasn't worth the trouble to write me that speeding ticket round about 01:30 Sunday morning. I swear I had the cruise set at an acceptable speed but apparently my right foot was more anxious to get home than I had anticipated.
The tachycardia kept me wide awake for at least another hour and by that time JB resumed occupancy of the driver's seat.
Happy New Year to me!
Blue lights dance in the rear-view mirror.
JB asks why I'm pulling over. I reply, "I think I'm getting pulled over for speeding. I had the cruise set!" *cue visions of questioning as to why my car is registered to Bernice Oldlastname and my license says Bernice Newlastname. The prickle of nervous sweat stings my armpits. Visions of $300 speeding tickets bombard my brain. The beam from a MagLight travels up the passenger side of the car, pauses on a sleeping dog in the back seat and ends at the open passenger window.
Good evening. License and insurance please.
Oh, no problem officer. *rummaging in glove box* Uh, it seems I didn't put the newest insurance card in here, but it just got renewed this month.
No problem. Do you know how fast you were going?
Well, I have the cruise set at 77, sir.
Actually, you were doing 81. Is there an emergency?
Other than the need to put as many miles between me and sub-zero temperatures? No, sir. Just heading home.
I see. Everything correct on your license?
Yes, sir.
Alright, well sit tight, I'll be right back.
*cue the return of visions of $300 fines*
Well ma'am, I decided to give you a warning tonight. No points and no fines. Any questions for me?
No sir! Thank you sir!
Have a good night and slow it down.
/end scene
I'd like to extend a hearty thank you to the kind officer who decided that it wasn't worth the trouble to write me that speeding ticket round about 01:30 Sunday morning. I swear I had the cruise set at an acceptable speed but apparently my right foot was more anxious to get home than I had anticipated.
The tachycardia kept me wide awake for at least another hour and by that time JB resumed occupancy of the driver's seat.
Happy New Year to me!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Ice, Ice Baby.
When you are born and raised in a land dubbed "the frozen tundra" daily errands are rarely hindered by a little or even a lot of snow. You learn to drive through drifts that tower over your tires and how to appropriately encourage those in front of you that are paralyzed by fear as they slowly navigate the snowflake mine field. On the other hand, even the most daring Cheeseheads fear ice. If you don't respect it, it will learn your ass right quick. To illustrate this fact, let me tell you a little story...
It was one of those nights you prepare your gear as best as you can for the storm front that is currently tearing through your zip code, and every surrounding zip code for at least 40 miles. I have always lived by the code of being prepared with gear set out and wool socks on in bed which generally means a full night of blissful, uninterrupted sleep. This fateful night, I crawled into bed after double checking my gear and setting it as close to the radiator as possible... just in case. Much to my dismay the shrill beeping of my pager ripped me from my dreams of tropical beaches where the only thing frozen is the drink in my hand. Slowly, I dug my old, but faithful two wheel drive Chevy from the blanket of heavy snow and started my way towards the call. My time out should have been about 5 minutes in good weather, but tonight I spent a good ten minutes crawling to the scene.
As I approached, I saw a car delicately wrapped around a telephone pole. Eager to do what I did best, I opened my truck door and stepped onto the road. Little did I know, this east-west road flanked by barren farm fields was a perfect venue for Disney on Ice. One foot out and that same foot flying away from me at a speed that would make the Blue Angels green with envy. But wait! Where is my other foot? Now let me just say, back in my gymnast days, I was a rubberband-like force to be reckoned with. I didn't go by the nickname Gumby for no good reason, but this was not high school and I was no longer the nimble 17 year old. With one boot still stuck in the cab and the other doing a triple loop, I found myself toppling over face first into the glistening pavement while fearing the worst for the crotch of my turnout pants.
Of course, falling is pretty common for my graceful self in good weather and in bad. Regardless, a pair of concerned EMTs (who of course were not needed to tend to the patient) and a firefighter or two took notice of my plight and attempted to shuffle slowly towards me. They didn't need to use much effort to shuffle as the wind forced them forward against their will. They were making great progress until one went down, grabbing the coat of the next and before they knew it, they were a pile of helpless helpers. While the uninjured patient was carefully removed from the crumpled mess of a vehicle, the rescuer's rescuers removed themselves from the ground. Now I know laughing on a scene is quite unacceptable in most cases, but at this point, there was nothing left to do. The patient was okay and so were we, except a little ding to a couple of now sore egos. Of course we still needed to report back to command so I came up with a genius solution. I decided that my jump kit would make a perfect chauffeur across the road. That's right, I sat on top of that jump kit and scootered myself across the ice. I must say, it worked like a charm. The rest of the call went by fall free and thankfully everyone returned home without injury, minus some bruises to various limbs and hind quarters.
So what did we learn from Bernice's little run in with gravity? That's right class. Scene safety. We look up, we look around, but never forget to look down.
It was one of those nights you prepare your gear as best as you can for the storm front that is currently tearing through your zip code, and every surrounding zip code for at least 40 miles. I have always lived by the code of being prepared with gear set out and wool socks on in bed which generally means a full night of blissful, uninterrupted sleep. This fateful night, I crawled into bed after double checking my gear and setting it as close to the radiator as possible... just in case. Much to my dismay the shrill beeping of my pager ripped me from my dreams of tropical beaches where the only thing frozen is the drink in my hand. Slowly, I dug my old, but faithful two wheel drive Chevy from the blanket of heavy snow and started my way towards the call. My time out should have been about 5 minutes in good weather, but tonight I spent a good ten minutes crawling to the scene.
As I approached, I saw a car delicately wrapped around a telephone pole. Eager to do what I did best, I opened my truck door and stepped onto the road. Little did I know, this east-west road flanked by barren farm fields was a perfect venue for Disney on Ice. One foot out and that same foot flying away from me at a speed that would make the Blue Angels green with envy. But wait! Where is my other foot? Now let me just say, back in my gymnast days, I was a rubberband-like force to be reckoned with. I didn't go by the nickname Gumby for no good reason, but this was not high school and I was no longer the nimble 17 year old. With one boot still stuck in the cab and the other doing a triple loop, I found myself toppling over face first into the glistening pavement while fearing the worst for the crotch of my turnout pants.
Of course, falling is pretty common for my graceful self in good weather and in bad. Regardless, a pair of concerned EMTs (who of course were not needed to tend to the patient) and a firefighter or two took notice of my plight and attempted to shuffle slowly towards me. They didn't need to use much effort to shuffle as the wind forced them forward against their will. They were making great progress until one went down, grabbing the coat of the next and before they knew it, they were a pile of helpless helpers. While the uninjured patient was carefully removed from the crumpled mess of a vehicle, the rescuer's rescuers removed themselves from the ground. Now I know laughing on a scene is quite unacceptable in most cases, but at this point, there was nothing left to do. The patient was okay and so were we, except a little ding to a couple of now sore egos. Of course we still needed to report back to command so I came up with a genius solution. I decided that my jump kit would make a perfect chauffeur across the road. That's right, I sat on top of that jump kit and scootered myself across the ice. I must say, it worked like a charm. The rest of the call went by fall free and thankfully everyone returned home without injury, minus some bruises to various limbs and hind quarters.
So what did we learn from Bernice's little run in with gravity? That's right class. Scene safety. We look up, we look around, but never forget to look down.
Friday, December 24, 2010
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