Life as I see it...

Random acts of kindness, one of the many ways to put a smile on some one face. These acts do not have to be always of the monetary kind the ones that are spur of the moment and from the heart are the best.

Whether it is opening a door for some one who can't or reaching some thing off the top shelf for a person who is short these are little acts of kindness. Some times on a whim buying that cup of coffee for the person behind you in line or paying some one toll. 

I try every day to do something nice and surprising for some one. It makes me feel good. Acts of kindness are a way of life I love to see or read about every day. 

It doesn't take much and you don't have to wrap it up in pretty paper and put a bow on it. The reward I get when I see that smile appear on some ones face, it puts a smile on mine. Have you done your random act of kindness today....

Life as I see it...

Why is it when you think you have another leg up on that tree of life that a limb breaks and you lose some footing??? I am having one of those weeks!!!

It seem like when you find that you are getting ahead and can sit back and finally start entertaining the thought of a some what normal life a problem will erupt and you are back where you started. The proverbial  one step forward and in my case five steps back!

One thing I have learn tho is that stressing over it only adds to the problem and doesn't help solve it. There is always an answer or a solution it just at times impatience's  kicks in!

Salt over the shoulder, four leaf clover in my pocket, or a lucky rabbit foot on my key chain I think I will just put it in the hands of the big guy upstairs....

Life as I see it...

As we get closer to the holidays I often shake my head in amazement. This is suppose to be the season of goodwill towards men. I have yet to see any. In fact I think I have seen more Scrooge like behavior than there really need to be.

I have also observed that there is not as many glimpses of glitter adorning the landscape. I know there has been Christmas displays in the store since the end of August but I am noting that the city streets and light poles are slow in coming alive.

I am one of these that start the slow process of decorating just after the first of December but I do it get there. I love to see the decorations out and about that gives me the inspiration of trying to do something grand or at least give some inspiration.

As for the goodwill I do try to do my very best to keep that in my heart and brain not just for the holiday season but for the the whole year.  Isn't that the way it should be.......

Life as I see it.....

I don't think there is anything at times that is more frustrating than dealing with an automated operator!!! I had received in the mail a promotion for Medicare Part D address to my hubby. Slight problem he has been gone for a couple of years now.

After calling the phone number listed on the promotion then being re-directed to another toll free number I just knew this was going to be fun! I dialed the new number and after pushing this button and that button and yelling into the phone "customer service" I finally was connected with a human that sound as either tho I woke her from a deep sleep or she was bored.

I explain to her that I wanted my husband name taken off their mailing list that he was deceased. "Yes ma'am, we can take of that all we need is conformation  from your husband ." Ok I am thinking to myself what part of  deceased,passed on,no longer on this earth, DEAD!! is she not understanding here??? "Miss I would love for you to confirm with him. Do you have a crystal ball and a medium handy??" 

After another five minutes and finally talking to a floor supervisor I think I finally have his name removed from their list. If anyone wants me I will be standing with head against the wall whimpering quietly to myself.......

Life as I see it.....

Today is Thanksgiving Day. I do have a lot to be thankful for...a job, my small family unit, and a roof over my head just to name a few. This is the third year without my hubby...that I am not thankful for!!!

This year there is no hustle and bustle around my kitchen or the rich aromas of  turkey in the oven. There are only memories of Thanksgivings past that bring a bittersweet smile to this face today. Some of those memories will bring a chuckle or two, some I would rather forget (those are the ones that involves cooking disasters that all said and done did not involved the fire department!)

This will be a rather quiet day for me which brings a little sadness to the heart as I go about my routine. I will fix my Mother and I a nice meal that we will eat while memories dance around in both our heads. 

To all the families out there big, small, or indifferent Happy Thanksgiving! Embrace the ones you love and cherish the memories you make today for tomorrow they may be all you have left.......

Life as I see it....

The sun is out!! First time in a days that I have seen the golden shinning orb! Even tho there is still enough crispness in the air I have this over whelming urge to unchain myself from my desk and go scamper and romp outside!

I love this part of fall when there is a crystal blue sky and you can feel the last of  mother nature trying to hold on to what is left of the summer greenery that is now mingle with some of the fall golden redness.

The murky cloudy days that will be coming soon signaling that winter is now here will then again send me into the gray gloomy depth of drudgery that I will be forever chain to this desk again waiting for spring to show it's renewal.

I am a firm believer that weather does play a part in your soul.......

Life as I see it.....

Today my father has been gone for 7 years. He was 93 when he left to become the caretaker (as I believe) of all the family pets that have travel on before us.

Some where in the great afterlife he and my husband are tending their flock of dogs, cats, birds, and goldfish. Dad as I see it will be whistling or singing as he goes about the big grassy meadow I envision all of this is taking place in.

I know occasionally he wanders my house checking in on his bride (my mother) and I making sure that all is well. While he is here I believe he has fixed some electrical issues I have had once in awhile. Dad was always most concern about the wiring in every place we live.

Dad we miss you and I will soon take my cup of coffee and a chocolate eclair that we both enjoyed and sit in the sunlight feeling your presence as I partake in our little tradition.......

Life as I see it

Took a trip down memory lane today. I visited a place that my hubby and son spent a lot of their time at, their "play" time. I haven't been back there in years and was dreading the journey.

Surprise myself I thought it would be hard, difficult, more emotional that it turned out to be. The place really hasn't change much only the faces but it  had a comfort to it.

After we left I was telling the granddaughter it didn't bother me as much I as thought but now we were on the road putting distance behind us it was tugging at my heart a little but I feel comfortable about it.

In her wisdom she looked and me and said "Because you left some of PaPa back there where he had happy times"

True...maybe I need to start re-visiting some of those places and leave just a bit of him there but keep a lot of him still in my heart and memories......

Life as I see it.....

The bell ringers have started. They are not every where yet but they will be soon. I admire them standing there for what little pay they get to entice would be shoppers to deposit coins in their pots.

I am not beyond donating but I am a little selective. Yes there are tons of good service organizations out there and I know they all have guide lines. Guidelines to me are not hard core rules they just give you a map of where to bend that rule a little.

When my hubby died and I was flat busted I turned to a couple of them for a little assistance....I am what I call a 'loop hole baby" I was never considered in need. Now I am climbing back and I have gone back to donating to the two organizations that are near and dear to my heart. The American Cancer Society and the Boy Scouts.

Throw those coins in those red kettle, write a check to that charity, give to that special association it really doesn't have to be much a dollar or two but believe me that you will feel a little warming of the heart.

Now I will climb off my soap box for awhile......

Life as I see it...

The time..where has it slipped off too?!? I have only been half listening to the television ads until finally a very little and dim light bulb began to penetrate this brain of mine. Good grief the gift giving time of the year is bearing down on me!!!

I think this year for some of the extended family and friends I shall be giving either gift cards or books...or gift cards for books!!. I know that sounds a little impersonal but it saves me the time and hassle of trying to find that unique present for each of them. 

Now the grandchildren are a different story altogether. Toys it must be toys!!!! Do I go with the learning tool ones or the kind that comes in a million of pieces just laying on the floor in wait for bare adult feet or a vacuum cleaner?

Decisions decisions.....

Life as I see it....

Today I had lunch with a friend. One of those friends that you have known since the early days of high school lost track of and then re-connect years later and slip into conversational mode without missing a beat.

I enjoy my lunches with him it gives my "I am so lonely" mood a kick in the seat of the pants. We  share events and stories of our of children and grandchildren.

I am so thankful that his wife shares him with me for a hour at a time every few weeks. She herself is a wonderful lady.

I think every now and then it is good to step out of what is a "comfort rut"  into another comfort zone where you can shut the mind down from all your problems..petty or not...and enjoy a few minutes of human conversation outside your usual daily contact.

 Travel safe my friend and hope you make it home safe to your loving family....

Life as I see

Creatures of habits.....that is what we all are. Every morning when the alarm clock sounds my day starts. Whether it is a workday or a weekend it is always the same.

Sometimes these habits can become quite routine and boring. When there is a break in our routine it seems like our whole world is going to collapses and an upset or two can send some people into a tizzy.  I some time long for those times.

If it wasn't for some of those mundane daily habits that we all have I think our lives would would be less meaningful than it is at the present. I love the break in habits when some thing comical occurs.....it is nature's way of telling us to slow it down. 

So friends grab that other cup of coffee or hot tea go sit outside and enjoy the sunshine. Life is short break the "creature habit" once in a while!!

Life as I see it.....

Some times customer service just amaze me. There are those times when you have experience above and beyond service that always from me I will praise the employee or service tech that went the extra mile.

Then there is the other.....professional customer service. I just get amaze at times by some of these professionals and their staff that tends to forget where and how they got their start. Word Of Mouth.

After our latest adventure of professional service at a well noted local opthamologist office I am 100% sure they have seen the last of us!!! What is really sad about this is they probably really don't care. We are at all just a dollar sign to them...there are more of us out there waiting to be herded in and lighten up in the wallet.

I don't ask for them to bend over backwards every time we come in but a few pleases, and thank-yous goes a long way with Mom and I. Mainly when we have to re-arranged our schedule to fit theirs.

Please have a nice day and thank-you........

Life as I see it...

Today is Veterans day a day to remember and give thanks to all those that have and still are defending our country. Those that have live and died doing so. My Father was one of the ones defending this country of ours. Thank-you Dad!!

For those that have chosen to served that life and their families that follow them from post to post I admire them. The service is no longer about just that of the soldier and the braveness of their action it is now a family affair.

As we give thanks and praise to those that are or have put their lives out there on the battle grounds let also thanks to the parents, spouses, siblings,and the children of those soldiers for standing proudly behind them.

I image as I can not speak from experience that it is a very hard life on all those involved. I have had friends, nieces, and nephews that have chosen that life of which I am very proud of that choice. I seen the joy of the beloved soldier that has return home to the home fires and I have seen the sadness and sorrow of those that have return under a blanket of the flag.

Thank-you Veterans far and near for giving so much of yourselves so I have the freedom to express myself!! 

Life as I see it.....

I often wonder what my life will be like when I get "on in years". This came to mind the other day when I had to run an errand to one of the big box stores. The nice gentleman in the blue vest greeted me and gave me a cart. We exchanged greetings then Jeorge (so it said on his name tag) began to talk to me like we were long lost friends.

Now Jeorge is a well season gentleman it looks like he has seen more season changes than I. I listen politely as he ramble on about the latest going on's with the family and how the situation that was troubling the family had been settle in a amiable manner.

As Jeorge was finishing up his story he suddenly stop and looked at me with that "deer in the head lights" look. He drew quiet for a second or two then apologize he thought I was an old family friend.

"Funny," he muse, "the old brain is getting a little fuzzy." I padded him on the hand that was resting on my cart and told him it was ok "After all you have a lot of memories crowding around up there."

Then as I was shopping for the baby shower gift I had come in for I realized from the time we are born we start cramming a lot of memories in our hearts and brains. I hope I never lose my memories........

Life as I see it....

Some where in this brain of mine I think I am getting the hang of this Blog thing! What I want to set out to do is put a smile on some one's face when they are having a bad moment and believe me I know all about bad moments! I have had a ton of them in my life!!!

I also would like to be able to connect with the every day person and relate in every day language of what life is. I am a care giver on two levels. First I have my elderly Mother that lives with me and we are trying to combine two households...so much fun. She may have slowed down physically but that mind of her's is sharp!!! Oh how sharp it is!!!!

I have a granddaughter that has been with me since she was 13 and is now a senior...boy is that costing me money but that is a whole other blog!!! 

I had a wonderful sweet husband but lost him to Cancer a couple of years ago. Boy can I pass on some tips for coping with cancer and the family effects!!!

I have two four legged babies; one is a Sib-Husk and the other is an Aussie. I had a Dane but she decided in February of this year she needed to be with Daddy instead of me.

Just giving a quick over view of my life with hopefully more details and humor coming later. Life is short sweet and simple let's keep it that way; but a good laugh is good for the soul.

Life as I see

This is life as I see it.  

Some of it may be agreeable but some of it may not. When you sail thru life as a wife and mother  and plans are made for the future then you find yourself  standing on an edge of a cliff  of suddenly finding yourself a widow in your early 50's, a granddaughter that has become your newest teenager in the house and a 80+ year old Mother that lives with you a whole new realm opens up. I have found that a little bit of humor helps past the time but a lot of laughter makes the world go round!!

In this blog I hope to take a venture with you on life ups, downs, and those moments that a glass of wine and a bubble bath is the friend you been looking for!!

No one has a perfect life but hey if we did would we really be happy and healthy!!!  So sit back read enjoy and let see what happens!