for my life lately.
It has been brought to my attention that I haven't posted for a couple of weeks.
Several things have happened that I must work through before I can intelligently post so I will just say that I am OK, not terrific, but OK.
When I am sane, I'll post more.
God bless you all.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Gloomy Weekend - again.....
Once again it's overcast, drizzly and a bit chilly. I hope Fall hasn't come early and that we get a little bit of Indian Summer. Cold weather just doesn't make it to the top of my list.
This past week has been hectic at the office. Losing two work days put me behind and there was a time when I thought I would love to change my name to "Mommy". Everybody seemed to be calling "Joanna". The boss lady was in back to back to back meetings as usual. I really wonder if the executives realize just how counter productive it is to have a department 'leader' unavailable for such an extended period of time. There were several of my coworkers who, as I did, had questions to be answered before projects could be completed. Most were time sensitive and with her absences, were late. Don't look to good on us.
I'm still in a bit of a funk after coming back from my trip. It left me with a lot of food for thought. Of course my relatives are there and most would be delighted to have me move back. I could sell my house here and with the financial gain, buy a very nice place there, most likely with money to spare. But I don't like the cold or the constant humidity generated by Lake Michigan. The first day there was a beautiful day - high 70s and sunny. But it was short lived and it turned cold, overcast and rainy Saturday and Sunday.
I would have to re-establish a social circle, be it in a senior group or church group. I would miss my own family of friends of 40 years that I have here. They are one of the main reasons I haven't moved south for retirement. I sometimes feel I'm too old to relocate and make new friends. Yet I know in my heart of hearts that I can't continue to work forever. One of these days the body is going to tell me it can't get up at 4:30AM anymore and put in 9 busy hours. I think this is one of the reasons why I've been so skittish this past week. I worry about what I'm going to do. But as my friend Steve said, I don't have to make this decision today, so quit driving myself nuts.
Today I'll get caught up on chores around the house and do a bit of grocery shopping. Only thing left in the house is a can of enchilada sauce and some butter. Can't do much with that.
Hopefully the sun will shine tomorrow and I'll be better.
God bless you all.
This past week has been hectic at the office. Losing two work days put me behind and there was a time when I thought I would love to change my name to "Mommy". Everybody seemed to be calling "Joanna". The boss lady was in back to back to back meetings as usual. I really wonder if the executives realize just how counter productive it is to have a department 'leader' unavailable for such an extended period of time. There were several of my coworkers who, as I did, had questions to be answered before projects could be completed. Most were time sensitive and with her absences, were late. Don't look to good on us.
I'm still in a bit of a funk after coming back from my trip. It left me with a lot of food for thought. Of course my relatives are there and most would be delighted to have me move back. I could sell my house here and with the financial gain, buy a very nice place there, most likely with money to spare. But I don't like the cold or the constant humidity generated by Lake Michigan. The first day there was a beautiful day - high 70s and sunny. But it was short lived and it turned cold, overcast and rainy Saturday and Sunday.
I would have to re-establish a social circle, be it in a senior group or church group. I would miss my own family of friends of 40 years that I have here. They are one of the main reasons I haven't moved south for retirement. I sometimes feel I'm too old to relocate and make new friends. Yet I know in my heart of hearts that I can't continue to work forever. One of these days the body is going to tell me it can't get up at 4:30AM anymore and put in 9 busy hours. I think this is one of the reasons why I've been so skittish this past week. I worry about what I'm going to do. But as my friend Steve said, I don't have to make this decision today, so quit driving myself nuts.
Today I'll get caught up on chores around the house and do a bit of grocery shopping. Only thing left in the house is a can of enchilada sauce and some butter. Can't do much with that.
Hopefully the sun will shine tomorrow and I'll be better.
God bless you all.
Monday, September 11, 2006
A Walk Down Memory Lane
This was my High School 50th reunion weekend. I'm very glad I made the trip for many reasons.
I had a chance to visit my cousins. There was a small gathering of some I haven't seen in 21+ years and some I've not yet met. My cousin Dennis was my best friend growing up. We are 6 months apart in age and we went to school together. Ten years ago he was stricken with cancer and lost his larynx. He talks through an amplifying aparatus which works quite well. But he get a bit frustrated with it because we are Polish and are loud. In a group of 15 people, all talking at once, he is a voice not heard too well. Saying goodbye was hard because I most likely won't see him again. I don't think I'll go back again.
I drove by the old neighborhoods. Winchester Street where I lived until I was almost 10 has changed. Most of the old houses are still there, but is really bad shape. The house in which we lived is still there. Painted white but divided. What was a duplex now houses 4 apartments. I sat in my rental car across the street and tried to see that little girl playing in the front yard. The hedges are gone, the lilacs are gone and so is the big tree on the side that gave us so much shade. I was glad I went.
I also drove by the last house we lived in, on Burdick Avenue, before my Dad and I moved in 1965. The woman who owns it now, drove in as I was sitting, looking and I walked up the driveway and apologized for the intrusion. She was quite gracious once she knew who I was and showed me around the yard and even offered to take me inside. I declined because I knew it would upset me more than I already was. I spent about 20 minutes with her and she thanked me for stopping as I left. I was glad I stopped.
The next morning I took the tour of Pulaski High School with about 10 of my classmates. The building was fairly new when we attended there. The marble floors were always polished and the halls were kept clean. Now, any breakable surface is covered with grating or wire and most doors have bars on them. Each hallway, at the stairs, has a security door which is kept locked during class. Unless you have a special pass, you don't leave the corridor where your current classroom is located. This made me very sad and a little bit mad. 9What kind of kids are we raising???) We saw our swimming pool, the gym, the cafeteria, the study halls and our home rooms. We ended the tour in the library where they had a gallon of Leon's Frozen Custard. Leon's is the drive-in, located across the street from the school, that the TV series 'Happy Days' is based.
Later that evening, I went to the dinner. There were 23 of the students (out of a class of 61) in attendance, some with spouses, some without. It was good to see them all and hear what they have done in the past 50 years. Most are retired. Most have aged. I was aghast when I saw some of the gals. Several look in their 80s. I guess life was hard. In comparison either I'm well preserved or I've not faced many hardships because I can say, I looked good. Even the majority of the men have aged. Balding and what hair is left is white. Many hunched over, many with liver spots......Geesch. I am thinking is this going to hit me too!
A couple of the kids I knew at Jr. High were also there. We were in 7th and 8th grade together. I had forgotten that part of my life. There were several snapshots taken outside that school and we look like we are the case of 'Grease'. Yes, we actually did look like that LOL One of the guys, LeRoy, married one of the gals from high school and have been married for 43 years. When she saw me she said "My husband has been talking about you for years". I laughed and let it go. In two other conversations she brought it up again so I asked HER "And what has your husband been saying about me?" She looked a little surprised and said "Well, you were the big love of his life." I looked at him and said "Why in the world didn't you tell me that?" He was actually blushing and said "I guess I was shy". As it turned out, he sat next to me at dinner and we did have a nice conversation. But I never knew............. :o)
As for 'that other guy', he didn't show up. I really didn't expect him and would have been very surprised if he had.
All in all, I am glad I went because it made me see that I am very very blessed. I am in good health, I can still work and most of all, I have a great support system of loving friends that I choose to call 'family'.
God bless you all.
I had a chance to visit my cousins. There was a small gathering of some I haven't seen in 21+ years and some I've not yet met. My cousin Dennis was my best friend growing up. We are 6 months apart in age and we went to school together. Ten years ago he was stricken with cancer and lost his larynx. He talks through an amplifying aparatus which works quite well. But he get a bit frustrated with it because we are Polish and are loud. In a group of 15 people, all talking at once, he is a voice not heard too well. Saying goodbye was hard because I most likely won't see him again. I don't think I'll go back again.
I drove by the old neighborhoods. Winchester Street where I lived until I was almost 10 has changed. Most of the old houses are still there, but is really bad shape. The house in which we lived is still there. Painted white but divided. What was a duplex now houses 4 apartments. I sat in my rental car across the street and tried to see that little girl playing in the front yard. The hedges are gone, the lilacs are gone and so is the big tree on the side that gave us so much shade. I was glad I went.
I also drove by the last house we lived in, on Burdick Avenue, before my Dad and I moved in 1965. The woman who owns it now, drove in as I was sitting, looking and I walked up the driveway and apologized for the intrusion. She was quite gracious once she knew who I was and showed me around the yard and even offered to take me inside. I declined because I knew it would upset me more than I already was. I spent about 20 minutes with her and she thanked me for stopping as I left. I was glad I stopped.
The next morning I took the tour of Pulaski High School with about 10 of my classmates. The building was fairly new when we attended there. The marble floors were always polished and the halls were kept clean. Now, any breakable surface is covered with grating or wire and most doors have bars on them. Each hallway, at the stairs, has a security door which is kept locked during class. Unless you have a special pass, you don't leave the corridor where your current classroom is located. This made me very sad and a little bit mad. 9What kind of kids are we raising???) We saw our swimming pool, the gym, the cafeteria, the study halls and our home rooms. We ended the tour in the library where they had a gallon of Leon's Frozen Custard. Leon's is the drive-in, located across the street from the school, that the TV series 'Happy Days' is based.
Later that evening, I went to the dinner. There were 23 of the students (out of a class of 61) in attendance, some with spouses, some without. It was good to see them all and hear what they have done in the past 50 years. Most are retired. Most have aged. I was aghast when I saw some of the gals. Several look in their 80s. I guess life was hard. In comparison either I'm well preserved or I've not faced many hardships because I can say, I looked good. Even the majority of the men have aged. Balding and what hair is left is white. Many hunched over, many with liver spots......Geesch. I am thinking is this going to hit me too!
A couple of the kids I knew at Jr. High were also there. We were in 7th and 8th grade together. I had forgotten that part of my life. There were several snapshots taken outside that school and we look like we are the case of 'Grease'. Yes, we actually did look like that LOL One of the guys, LeRoy, married one of the gals from high school and have been married for 43 years. When she saw me she said "My husband has been talking about you for years". I laughed and let it go. In two other conversations she brought it up again so I asked HER "And what has your husband been saying about me?" She looked a little surprised and said "Well, you were the big love of his life." I looked at him and said "Why in the world didn't you tell me that?" He was actually blushing and said "I guess I was shy". As it turned out, he sat next to me at dinner and we did have a nice conversation. But I never knew............. :o)
As for 'that other guy', he didn't show up. I really didn't expect him and would have been very surprised if he had.
All in all, I am glad I went because it made me see that I am very very blessed. I am in good health, I can still work and most of all, I have a great support system of loving friends that I choose to call 'family'.
God bless you all.
Friday, September 01, 2006
It was a dark and stormy night...
...day? Either one, it is chilly, rainy and dark. It's 6:00PM and it feels like fall. After the hot summer we've had, 60 degrees feels cold. Hurricane Ernesto is working his way up the coast and we're getting his wind and rain. We need the rain, but 5 inches today? A bit much. The City of Alexandria is passing out free sandbags to homes and businesses in hopes that if the water rises, they will keep the water out.
Being this far inland we won't have problems with flooding, but there are several creeks and 'run's that will overflow and cause roadways to wash out. The traffic advisors are reminding motorists to not drive through any standing water on the roads. One can not tell how deep the water may be.
I don't like weather like this. It's unpredictable and uncontrollable. I feel bad for those in Hurricane Katrina, a year ago. God bless them all.
This will be a long weekend. Labor day is upon us. The summer has flown by and it was fun. I had a chance to travel to Missouri in the Spring and I visited with Donna and Cliff and got to meet Blue and Sadie. Something I had never dreamed could happen, but relished the idea when I was invited. I loved it.
Next week at this time, I'll be back in Milwaukee for my 50th high school reunion. The body may be 50 years older than the day I graduated, but the spirit that lives in it is as young and lively as it ever way. I just run out of gas too quickly :o)
I'll spend some time with the relatives. I don't know who will gather at my cousin's home, but it will be good to see them. That is if I can remember them all. I look forward to the trip.
Tomorrow I'll sleep in and do a few chores. I plan on not 'laboring' on this Labor Day.
God bless you all.
Being this far inland we won't have problems with flooding, but there are several creeks and 'run's that will overflow and cause roadways to wash out. The traffic advisors are reminding motorists to not drive through any standing water on the roads. One can not tell how deep the water may be.
I don't like weather like this. It's unpredictable and uncontrollable. I feel bad for those in Hurricane Katrina, a year ago. God bless them all.
This will be a long weekend. Labor day is upon us. The summer has flown by and it was fun. I had a chance to travel to Missouri in the Spring and I visited with Donna and Cliff and got to meet Blue and Sadie. Something I had never dreamed could happen, but relished the idea when I was invited. I loved it.
Next week at this time, I'll be back in Milwaukee for my 50th high school reunion. The body may be 50 years older than the day I graduated, but the spirit that lives in it is as young and lively as it ever way. I just run out of gas too quickly :o)
I'll spend some time with the relatives. I don't know who will gather at my cousin's home, but it will be good to see them. That is if I can remember them all. I look forward to the trip.
Tomorrow I'll sleep in and do a few chores. I plan on not 'laboring' on this Labor Day.
God bless you all.
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