A Christmas Wish

Since I just don't do email forwards, I had to share this with you because it's such a smart idea.

Think about it!!

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor.

This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Oh.... Yes there is! It is time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamins on a Chinese-made flat-screen TV? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a gazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint?

Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip.

And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre? Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community.

If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US (We the People), encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we could not imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition!!

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups.

-- throw up a post on Craig's List in the Rants and Raves section in your city.

-- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments.

This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?

Trying to Cope

I've pretty much been avoiding this all summer. My attitude seems to be less-than-perfect, and, whether I have a right to be snarky or not, I tend to tire of hearing myself in that constant state.

We have lost so much this summer, and sometimes it's hard enough just to face another day. What's really hard is to be feeling so helpless in all of it. Insurance doesn't want to pay, FEMA doesn't want to pay... the mortgage company doesn't want to have anything to do with helping us out. It's all just a mess.

What's been amazing is the outpouring from my friends and even strangers. The Presbyterian Church has been having suppers for us every Thursday night, all summer. They have also been gathering food pantry donations as well as cleaning supplies. They sent us with a cleaning bucket that had the most amazing note in it. I left it in the car, which is just as well. I just totally fall apart every time I read it.

Someone from the Methodist Disaster Service has also been over to talk shop. She said to keep pushing the insurance through and keep asking about programs for our mortgage. Then the insurance people seem to wonder what I mean by pushing it through again. Apparently, they are used to people taking that news better than I did. The mortgage company says there's nothing they can do because our home is uninhabitable. They could have helped us before. There are programs for that. For what? For the government redecorating my bedroom with their river? Or by being surprised that the "La Nina" system that brought a 100-year snowfall would also bring a 100-year spring rain?

Ok, this is why I don't blog. Snarky.

So, my day today:
7:22am: Leave for band in Sidney
8:44am: Arrive in Sidney, 11 min late
9:20am: Pick up Mallory and rush to house to meet drywallers
9:30am: Too late, drywallers about done. Discuss a few things. More bad news tomorrow.
10:30am: Take Morgan to Sidney for Saxophone lesson
10:45am: Grandma's taking Matthew to band, so Mallory and I go feed random abandoned kitties.
11:45am: Pick up boys from band and head HOME (Percival) for some lunch.
1:15pm: Meet with house-jacker. Ok, sounds strange... we're hoping to jack the house up about 2 feet not only to fix it, but also to be out of harm's way in the future. Also have to decide if we just jack it up 2 feet or if we dig a new basement and possibly add some much needed office space to our house. Many decisions. All very costly. Not looking forward to all of those quotes.
2:30pm: On the road back to the NE City house.
3:45pm: Back in NE City. Unload the car, re-pack for the boys' campout.
4:20pm: To the troop trailer to figure out what they might need from it since no one has a truck that can pull said trailer. Hope they got it all!
5:30pm: Off to check on my neighbor. Where time stands still. Until I remember that I left his bananas on my counter. Food Pride is closer. Off to buy bananas.
7:30pm: Finally home. Time didn't actually stand still after all.
Wow... actually only a 12 hour day for a change... why do I feel like I've been hit by a truck?

Happy Birthday, Mogi!!

Well, I'm not happy about being separated from my little guy on his birthday, but I'm thrilled with the fun he's having with his grandparents. Sounds like they did some serious fishing today, then some serious fish-frying tonight! He called me a couple times today, and he didn't sound happy to be away from me, either, but he is having a really great time!

I was wrong... It could be worse.

Just got word today that my baby didn't make the move. Bonnie and Clyde went to live with some friends during the big evacuation and we all thought they seemed to be doing very well. I'd been over to check on them a few times, but somehow today proved too much for Clyde. For no apparent reason, my friend returned home to find him no longer alive. It was a very long, hard, sad day for all of us, but I'm sure my friend is feeling it, too.

This was my first real dog. Not my brother's or my husband's or my childrens. He was mine. My baby. And he knew it. He had a certain affection for skunks, which I did not understand and I let him know that. But he was the most fun and most loving dog I could ever imagine. He loved being on my lap while I was doing any gardening and loved circling the property with me. He really loved doing anything with me. Morgan had planned to take him to the Fair this year, but we don't even know if Fair will be in our list of opportunities this summer. Our whole lives are just upside down right now. And sad. Very sad.

Good bye, Clyde. We will all miss you so much!!

Time for change

Well, it's pretty hard to believe, but we're being told to expect a flood like no other. I'm hearing things from a 100 year flood to a 1000 year flood. Apparently, it took the Corps of Engineers to actually make it this devastating. Spring floods are a way of life around here; we're used to that. But they way things have been handled in this whole catastrophe is just plain wrong.

But I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content.

And so thankful I am. All of my family, pets and belongings are safely on higher ground. Friends have been helping in more ways than I ever could have imagined. Hundreds of people have been to our small towns helping to pack up entire lives and get us moved to safety. My church friends have offered homes for me and my family, along with other friends offering to house my pets. Small town neighbors are now scattered abroad.

It is depressing, but my God is Good. All the time. I'm working through a lot of emotions, but I have to remember. God is Good. All the time.

Cleaning up!!

We've been working hard on the property these last few days. We're still feeling less than well, but life goes on!! Mallory really was hit the hardest and the last, so she's been in the house answering the phone, taking messages and making sandwiches. But the rest of us have been burning off ditches, hauling brush, clearing trails and cleaning up. This is stuff I've wanted to do since we moved in 4 years ago!!

It's been fun doing all this with Matthew. Grandpa came over, too. Coupla pyros!! Matthew actually found a propane torch in the middle of the road one day. Grandpa keeps him supplied with the propane tanks... they are a pair!!

Anyway, Matthew and I started with the area around the incinerator, then some of the dry grass on the hill, then in the back where I've seen some asparagus come up in the past. We've been picking little spots carefully, picking low-wind days and burning against the breeze. Then we get a little braver and go a little farther... It was the spot by the asparagus that we decided to call it good, so we burned a nice patch there to make sure the fire would stop there. Then we went to the other end and lit the big one!! The day was a little too still, though, and we had a hard time keeping it going! Matthew had his torch and kept starting more where it skipped.

Second verse, same as the first...

Happy Birthday Mallory!!

We are so tired of being sick!! This is Mallory's 14th birthday, for crying out loud!! Well, at least she got her favorite thing... a day alone in her room with her iPad!! So it wasn't a total loss! She had a great time with friends last weekend and we will have family down next weekend, so hopefully she'll have a better time then.

Right now, we're just praying for healing for my grandpa. He was just taken to the hospital with problems walking. He's 86 and usually has his potatoes in by now, so his new limitations are making a big impact. I was hassling him about his potatoes yesterday and he responded with, "These days, I like projects you can start and finish in one day." Amen, but I never thought I'd hear him say that. I just want him home safe, garden or not. Please pray for his recovery. We need a little more time with him.