Football and Racism

The Bears and the Colts are going to SuperBowl in Florida!! I'm kinda excited about it, though would have liked to see the Seahawkes actually make it. I'm thinking the Bears are going to stomp all over the Colts, win by a minimum of one touchdown, and the game will go over 50 points. I learned about football from an ex. I was determined to learn about it because I was running his bets and our rent and grocery money was won or lost on his ability to pick winners. More often they wer losing bets. Of course his cocaine habit and boozing had nothing to do with poor picking..or the fact that he'd win on the football and lose it on the tables...but that's another story for another day.

I have an attitude with the "First African-American coaches in history" hoo-haw. Who cares? And who ever thought up that African-American business anyway? Doubtful either of those guys is from Africa, doubtful either has even been there!! Does this mean I should be calling myself a Nevada-American? I'm not white - I'm Dutch, Irish, English,German. So what should I call myself? Now the hispanics want to be called Latino's or Latina's. I don't get that either. What's wrong with person, human, man or woman? Race issues come from within, not from without. Everyone interviewed about it yesterday said the same thing, they'll be so happy when race isn't an issue anymore. So, stop talking about it!!!

Grammie said she doesn't get how Dave can sit for hours and watch men run up and down chasing a football. I never got it either, till I learned what it was all about. It's about buff guys in TIGHT pants running around trying to hurt eachother! Come on Grammie, tight pants, panting, sweaty BIG MEN.... yummy. Plus that beautiful scene where the QB puts the ball 40 yards downfield into the receivers hands and the guy just flies to the endzone. Nothing as pretty to me as watching Joe Montana throw to Jerry Rice then watching Jerry stretch out like a racehorse and run. It's a beautiful thing.

Meanwhile, nearly 3 year old Benny is back to normal after better than a week. We started last Monday with vomiting and completely abnormal behavior for him. The vet thought it was something horrible like liver or pancreas disease of some sort. The vet-web site showed me that no matter what blood work, x-rays or other tests were done, if the trouble was liver or pancreas then one could show up as another and treating one would not necessarily fix the problems, he'd likely hide and refuse to eat and get dehydrated and eventually die. The vet started with blood work, although he wanted to run the $300+ gambit, I refused to let him. The blood work showed a high white cell count, and his temperature was high. They wanted to give Ben fluids ($32 for a 1-1/2 cup infusion under the skin) -- nope. I did let him sell me 14 days worth of antibiotics, of which we used 1 day. Ben got better on his own, first figuring out he didn't like being forced to drink water with a syringe in his mouth, so he got back to wanting to eat, and got out from under the sofa, and took up drinking water again, then he's finally talking and back to tripping me on the way to the kitchen every morning. I thought sure I was going to lose my little black Benny, but guess he's going to be around a while longer. (I should probably call him little African-American Benny).

Hey, where's my footnote?

Well, darn it, it's supposed to be here. I edited, answered the questions, checked the boxes, but no footnote down there. Well, at least I did away with "That Cleaning Lady" and put in my name. Since most of you know I'm a cleaning lady, I thought it was time for a more personalized name.

We're hanging in here, the weather has moved on east of us, and everywhere in town are trees and fences laying over. SO sad to see those 100+ year old trees fallen down, and all the destruction caused! Lots of people came to the aid of those in need when the trees hit power lines and so many were (and some still are) out of power. I don't remember when I was little being without power for more than maybe a day, Dad would build a fire in the fireplace, and we'd sit around and talk, or I'd read by a lantern and go to bed early. Saddens me to have it confirmed just how reliant on electricity we are. One of my clients wanted to watch TV so went to a motel. He wasn't concerned about being cold or being hungry for hot food, he just needed that idiot box. Another couple were without power from Sunday night to Wednesday night, they had to toss out a bunch of food that went soft in the freezer, and refused to go to a motel, they just bundled up and waited it out. They did go to their daughters' house on Tuesday night though since the daughter's power went back on finally.
Oh - by the way - that reminds me, those of you that have power-garage door openers. PLEASE make sure you know that you can open the door even if the power is out!!! The above noted daughter of the client was stranded in her house for 2 days because didn't know that the funny red cord hanging down from the garage door opener is an emergency opener!! What do you think would happen if the house caught fire and the firefighters needed to get the car out of the garage? Do you think they just bust open the door?? Nope, they pull the little handle and then the opener dis-engages, and you can roll the door right on up. Neato- huh?
We had no damage to trees or roof thank God. Lots of people's entire roof's blew away in the storm on Sunday. There was no one killed in town, and thank God again.

Amanda is getting ready to move her and Fay into a little one-bedroom apartment. I had the chance to talk to Useless Man last night, and advise him that I spent 15 years hunting down deadbeats and if I needed to find him, it would be very simple to do. He knows he can't run and he certainly can't hide. Hopefully he's going to keep all the promises he's made concerning his daughter. I still want him set up for wage garnishment, but Amanda is adamant that as long as he's taking Fay half the time and keeping up with bill payments and car payments and all that, that she doesn't think it's fair to make him pay child support too. Yup...we'll see.

As for my crochetting, I'm done with two afghans and waiting for yarn for a 3rd. I'm going to be reading a new Ron Franscell book (see his blog at Under The News) the book is called Fall, and I have read The Deadline and Angel Fire by him. I really enjoy Ron's writing, he writes just like he talks according to my Gram - and she would know, they are personal friends.

Oh, about lost Benny to the local owl the other night. I was washing dishes and looking out the kitchen window, saw the swoop and wings diving into our yard, and suddenly there was Ben on the cat perch in the front window, his eyes about as big as saucers. Guess he out-ran the bird, boy am I thankful to God one more time. Guess ol' owly might have tried for Buddy, but Bud weighs 30 pounds, probably too big for the owl to carry. I'll have to ask Morgan about that (Token Hippie). Meanwhile, take good care all, and good luck with your income taxes!!

In case it's not there -- the footnote is supposed to read:
Following Jesus, and tripping over the cats!! Jana

Adding a footnote

Well, thanks to Claudia I felt like wandering a bit through the editing parts today to see if I can get to the place where I don't have to sign on every single blankety time I want to do something on Blogger. I think I found it, we'll see. Meanwhile I found the place to add a footnote, and I'll be interested to see if that works too.

Life goes on in Rock Island. Last night we got a wind storm that knocked over nearly all the trash cans in the area. We have someone's trash over on the fence that one of us will have to go get. The nice trash men that got the cans today had to get out of the truck and turn up nearly all of them, sorry guys!!! Of course if they were on regular schedule (Friday) the cans would have been emptied and put away before the wind hit. It rained too, but didn't clear out the snow like we were hoping it would.

Amanda and Fay are moving into a little one-bedroom apartment on the 15th. Useless man has admitted to a mid-life crisis (at 32) and is leaving them to go find himself. He says he's not happy and kindling a romance with an old acquaintance made him realize he was unhappy. Well dogonne it, honey, happiness is what you make of it, and committment isn't always about being happy. It's about being committed and standing by the relationship. It's about holding the hand of the person that Jesus put into your life, come what may, and not wandering off to greener pastures just because you feel like you're pushing 40 and never got that Ferrari or the trip to Tahiti that you always thought you should have. What about Fay? Well, Amanda says that she and Him are going to remain friendly, that he's going to take Fay home every night that Amanda works, and take her back to Amanda in the morning. That he's going to keep paying the bills and supporting his daughter. Yaaa.... well, we'll see. Amanda is advised to advise HIM that as long as things stay friendly between them and he keeps up his end of the bargain he don't have to deal with ME. LEMME AT 'IM PLEASE!!! She poo-poo's my suggestion to get an attorney and lay out the details in writing right now!! To get his wage attachment set up right now!!! Nope, she says we're friends and its all going to be fine, yep, right, until Miss Right(now anyway) show's up and starts making demands on HIS time and money and Fay gets the short end.

Fay is coming out here for the night as Amanda is working and I miss my little Star Baby. We're going to get groceries and visit an old friend of mine that has a little chijuaua (spelling?) puppy that's only about 6" high, Tinker and Fay are going to get along famously I hope. =-).

All this business with Amanda and Useless Man really have made me feel more like its time for Chris and I to get serious about US and get married for real. It's been 6 years in March that we've been together, and living together for over 3, it's time. I just want a little ceremony with him and me and a JP in the rose garden at the courthouse. No diamonds either, just a little gold band will be fine. I even think I'll take his name... =-). I know he's worried that now that they are split up that I'll be even more involved with Fay and Amanda and he'll have less time than he does now. Well, maybe he'll have to think about giving up the graveyard shift and being home at night where a man belongs. We're still deciding on color of the sofa, and now we're talking wall paint and carpet. Oh my gosh... I know my mama is smiling down and laughing about it all, reminding me of that $10 drape. =-) Hope my new footnote is there!!

2006, the year in review

Well, my 2006 wasn't too bad really... all things considered, and the alternative in mind: (death, homelessness, illness, birth of triplets).

My daughter and her daughter moved back to Wenatchee from Everett, eliminating a 3 hour (and 2 mountain pass) trip for me to see them.
Because they are here, I have been able to see them when I want to, and become closer to both of them, which wouldn't have happened if they were still in Everett. Fay is in great health and coming along pretty good for an 18-month old firecracker!! She's the sun in my heart every day, and I thank God so much for her.

My business has grown, and I've become a lot better business person and housekeeper. The increase was small, but heck, an increase in any amount is forward motion. No clients passed away this year, but two families moved into assisted living housing. Had a few starts and stops, but mostly retained the same clientelle, and had NO bounced checks from clients this year.

Chris and I have been together 6 years this March. Show of hands of people that have been in One relationship with the SAME person (without screwing around with anyone else) for at least that long? Pointing out that it takes a LOT OF WORK to hold a relationship together. Besides, he has been putting up with ME, and my cats for this long.

I enjoyed a relatively healthy year; only a couple small colds, and one migraine (which was my fault for eating potstickers and dipping sauce). Started exercising again now that I'm healed up and feel like I can rebound again -No that's not relationship rebound, that's a round small trampoline devise that you jump on. We hiked some and walked some and took some nice long drives. Ok, and the broken ankle, that was bad, cost me the hiking and camping season, plus I put on 20 pounds sitting around healing up and feeling sorry for myself.

Except for one 24 hour period, our power, phone and kitchen devices have worked all year. We did replace the hot water tank and the bathroom ceiling fan, both of which went T.U. without notice. Chris had one bout of illness that he said anything about all year, otherwise, he has been healthy too. He bought two guitars, one that he had to return because of a broken fret board. The replacement isn't here yet, but he's still hopeful. His parents and grandmothers are in good health, his sister got married in August, and so far seems to be continuing to be happy. The computer has worked well, except for that time when Microsoft insisted we had to change to MS 7.0 software, since we're on dialup, it took DAYS to download. Chris refuses to go modern and get a DSL, and I do tend to agree, after all if we could download better and faster, we'd just be on the computer more than we are already.

My 91 year old grandmother is still in remarkable health(my dad's mother). She is healing up from her second broken hip, but heck at her age, who hasn't broken something? She has forgiven me (or at least is talking to me), and for that I am very very grateful indeed. My aunt and uncle are still in good health too, and my Gram is staying with them while she's healing up, how's that for a great daughter?? I "met" Ron Franscell (Under The News) and have enjoyed two of his excellent books, the new one "Fall" is in my bookshelf just waiting for me to stop wandering around for a while and pick it up!! He's a good friend of my Gram's too by the way.

Guess we have to talk about these cats. No changes in count or health in the past year. Benjamin has really become the domesti-kitty. He was up in my lap licking ice cream tonight. Now, he's up on my bed (no not allowed, but of course he is #1 cat). From the skinny wild and sick little comanche that was mooching food just 3 years ago, he has grown into a very handsome sleek and fat black kitty with a serious love for his MA, as he calls me. He even tried to cuddle up with Bud in the chair the other night, but Bud had a screaming flipping fit, and so Benny slunk away, dejected. Bud and Shadow are the middle kids and doing fine. Sassy the oldest at 13 is still mean and holds her own in a fight for the favorite chair.

Looking forward to 2007, already there have been a couple highlights. Amanda's useless man is going down the road finally. He met someone and is suddenly unhappy and needs his space. I wish I could send him to the moon. Jesus please help me to be helpful and forgiving and shut up and let You to do Your good works in Your own time, and thank You for sending that man out of my daughter's life. Chris found a sofa he likes and we're going to order it in the next couple days, it's L shaped from the Sera Company and a dark brown/red color. I'm excited, we both get a couch!! Hopefully Gatina is back from her holiday and had a great time in Egypt. Maybe we'll hear from Mrs. Angry someday soon too. I'm always thinking of Claudia and praying for her health and strength to stop smoking. Hoping Grammie had a great holiday season and has some new pics of Owen to share, I haven't been blog-reading for a while, been busy getting through the end of the year, and jacking my own jaw right here! Take care!!!