Our Labor Day Weekend... (Grab a cup of coffee)...

 

This butterfly found its way to a flower.
~Sunday afternoon~

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Good Tuesday Morning from Flintville Wisconsin;
I have begun this blog no less than a half dozen times. Or so.
More than a lonely bit "blogstipated" even now, I am set to finish it...
(The "Pikes Peak or Bust" mentality of the whole thing)...
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A few days ago, I was completely p*ssed at Multiply here.
Seemed that every time I tried to open a page to read a blog or comment, it gave me this screen.
"Verify you are human".

WHAT?!?!?

I pinched myself.
It hurt.

I checked for a pulse.
It was there.

In desperation I ran to a mirror to see if I was reflective or not.
I was.

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But then came "The MOTHER" of all verifications...

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I am still snickering.
All they have missed is the word "you" on this screen.

(Yes, they are still asking me if I am human; it's just funny now)!

Hmm... Are YOU my human friend?

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My heart goes out once more to everyone that is living in the hurricane belt. And living with one right after another...
Please stay safe.
May God and Mother Nature divert the worst away from you.

The weather here has been scorching. (Please, no laughter from my friends in Alabama, Georgia and Texas).
Our highs have been in the 90's; and so, SO very dry. ugh.
Today will bring more of the same. But in September, it cools off so nicely at night that it is hard to be terribly upset about all the sweating one does during the day.
Tomorrow is to be in the mid 70's. Breathable at the very least. And perhaps we may even see a bit of rain.
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Even Punk was so hot she would not wait for the kiddie pool to fill.

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In preparation for our annual Labor Day picnic,
Casey and Greg "had at" the firepit;
~so overgrown with weeds this year...
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Even though I canceled our little picnic at the 11th hour,
that firepit turned out beautifully!
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Meet my hired help...

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Ya gotta keep a vigilant eye on this crew of mine...
hehehe
(a CLOSE eye too).

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Apparently though,
I was not vigilant enough to prevent this from happening.
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HAHAHA!!!
oops...
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Master Gabriel did not seem to mind the heat at all..
except for the sweat that made the sandbox stick to his face.

And I know that there are MANY people that cannot stand to see a dirty child.
Too many.
I hope you are not one of them, because you are about to get blasted if you are.

I say if your child cannot get dirty, there is something wrong with YOU.

Besides, isn't that what soap and detergent were invented for?

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hehehe
Tired.
Dirty.
Still darned CUTE!

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On a somewhat related note, Casey had to go to WalMart to buy a little something on Sunday evening...

While she waited for a parking spot, the guy behind her was increasingly irritated and upset.
He literally stopped his car directly behind hers as she parked, waiting for her to get out of her car.

Noticing him there, she took her time;
making him wait a little longer.

(Who the hell raised her anyway) ?!?!?

After she got out, he began berating her for making him wait.

Makes my simple mind wonder what we are teaching our children when it's OK for him to wait, just to be hollering at someone he doesn't even know?

This he did, (with a car full of children).
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• Those same children he should be holding tight.
• Protecting them.
• Teaching them patience instead of hatred.
• So they could learn that a little kindness goes a long way.

Maybe he was buying soap?
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Maybe he hadn't read that Baby Mariah had died that afternoon.
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Mariah Jean Klein
2004 - 2008

.So you speak to me in sadness and the coming of the winter,
fear that is within' you know that seems to never end,
and the dreams that have escaped you and the hope that you've forgotten
and you tell me that you need me now and you want to be my friend

and you wonder where we're going, where's the rhyme and where's the reason
and it's you cannot accept it is here we must begin
to seek the wisdom of the children
and the graceful way of flowers in the wind.

For the children and the flowers for my sisters and my brothers,
their laughter and their loveliness would clear a cloudy day.
Like the music of the mountains and the colors of the rainbow
they're a promise of the future and the blessing for today.

Though the city starts to crumble and the towers fail around us
the sun is slowly fading and it's colder than the sea
it is written: From the desert to the mountains they shall lead us
by the hand and by the heart and they will comfort you and me.

In their innocence and trusting, they will teach us to be free.

For the children and the flowers for my sisters and my brothers,
their laughter and their loveliness would clear a cloudy day.
And the song that I am singing is a prayer for nonbelievers
come and stand beside us we can find a better way.
Words and Music by John Denver

 

Mariah's photo from The Green Bay Press Gazette, Obituary


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Now please go hug your own children and grandchildren.

Tight.

... Just tell them Baby Mariah sent you.

Love to all.
Hope your weekend was a good one.

XOXO
Anne

If you haven't already, kindly write to Mike, Micki, and Morgan.
CLICK HERE TO DO SO.

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Originally posted to my Y! 360, Tuesday September 2, 2008 - 11:32am (CDT)

The Last of August? ~Come if you can...

This picture, as always, is self~explanatory...
hehehe

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Good Morning all;
It is so hard to believe that this is the last day of August already!
Temps are to be in the 90's for the next three days.
Not too bad though because it cools off so nicely at night.

Our little sale has been open for the past three days. Kelli has just left once again after coming to help me open the big garage door. (Thank You Kelli)!

One of my earliest customers yesterday was a gal I grew up with. They had a farm too.
Rare within our school district, (Howard Suamico), even in those days.
Mary had just come from her sisters house...
Her sister has a daughter, 32, who during the last few weeks of her pregnancy was feeling poorly. After a few blood tests it was determined to do a C~Section to deliver baby early.
Baby is doing very well.
His mama died early yesterday morning.
An extremely rare cancer of the liver that feeds off of hormones. Her pregnancy made it grow so very fast...
So sad for everyone.

While Mary was here, she offered to go upstairs to the attic of the garage. I have been putting this off because of my back. Up she went!
After an hour of searching and finding things, she had also handed me some of the old crates that we had used for picking strawberries and raspberries. (Just seeing them made me feel like my back was burnt and my fingers were red)!
Funny, this intense power of recall that I have...
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Does anyone know anything about old fruit crate labels?

We never had given these a second thought until yesterday.

Here are a few that were up there...

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(They are locked up now until I find out more about them).
hehehe

Lots of traffic through here on this Labor Day weekend. Most people in search of school clothes. (This comes as no surprise)!
And so I have sold a few of those, making it possible for me to put a few more bags out.

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Casey was out to help yesterday too.
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Sassy, (but kinda cute)!
hehehe

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Laurie's youngest son Brett also came out- Casey helped him try to figure out his work- an essay for college- (Some Psychology that baffles even the most articulate minds).
Insert my foot stomping here. I did not even take ONE single picture of the two of them together! Mad about that too.
While he was here, Sean called from Iraq! I am so proud of them all. Sean is the middle son.
Mike is Laurie's oldest- Father of Baby Mariah.
CLICK HERE to visit Mariahs CaringBridge pages.
Please leave them a comment while you are there.
***In Miss Micki's own words,
"I will close this post by saying the words everyone is writing in the guestbook is what has been keeping me strong these past few days. We are overwhelmed with the amount of support and prayers that are being said for Mariah. It gives me great comfort that Mariah has inspired so many people in her very short life. She is and always will be loved by so many people.
God Bless,
Micki"
...end quote...


I'd better fly for now- Much to do today to prepare for the picnic tomorrow.
Here is a link to my other Labor Day entries.
http://flintville.multiply.com/tag/labor_day
Scroll about 1/3rd of the way down to read "The History of it all..."
or CLICK HERE to read about how this all has come to pass.

And pass it will.
This will be the last year for it.
At the very least, the last year to have it here.

My friend Harold stopped in Saturday- He has been a real estate agent around Green Bay for many years. I spoke with him at length. He will be getting back to me soon. There are plenty of homes on the market so I should have a lions share to choose from. I told him Hobart; or areas north, possibly Upper Michigan.
I know I sound like this is easy. But I assure you it is not.

I'd better close for now...
But before I do I have two questions...
Does anyone ever click on any of my links?
And do you know anything about those labels?

Hope you are all enjoying this notoriously 'last' weekend of summer!

Love to all!

XOXO
Anne

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Originally posted to my Y! 360, Sunday August 31, 2008 - 08:28am (CDT)

West Virginia ~and~ Michael Phelps?

Good Evening...

Time to put my feet up (in a few), but wanted to share something with you before I do.

I received an email from my cousin today.

The email was entitlted:

"How West Virginians View the Rest of the USA."

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IZZAT SO ?!?!?

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Now on an unrelated matter...

I also received an email of the very earliest picture of Michael Phelps.

NOTE:
If you don't know who Michael Phelps is, your rock is obviously bigger than my own...

Attack on the record books
CLICK HERE.
Michael Phelps went a perfect 8-for-8 in Beijing, breaking Mark Spitz's single-Games record for gold medals. He swam 17 times over nine days and broke the world record in four of his five individual swims. His three relay teams also set world marks.

However, getting back to his earliest picture...

(You may be shocked)...


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Figures.

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Have a 'wunnaful' weekend!

XOXO
Me

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Hey!!!

Where IS Everyone???

Rattlesnake Eggs for Breakfast! (Odd Wisconsin Archives)...

http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/odd/archives/002432.asp

"Odd Wisconsin Archive
Rattlesnake Eggs for Breakfast

Thomas G. Anderson (1779-1875) was a fur-trader in northwestern Wisconsin in the opening years of the 19th century. He spent the winter of 1811-1812 sixty miles from his nearest neighbor, and when the spring thaw came about March 20th, he headed south to Prairie du Chien. From there he turned up the Wisconsin River for Green Bay with his flotilla of canoes loaded with 330 buffalo robes and 10 packs of beaver and other pelts, worth several thousand dollars.
"It being early in the season," he recalled many years later, "and hard work for the men to stem the strong current of the Wisconsin River, I permitted them to..."


What a neat story!
Click above to read...

XOXO
Anne

10 Thoughts- (It's Still Tuesday)...

 

This picture is damn hilarious
I needed the smile...

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Good Evening Everyone...

# 1.
I'm hungry-
Not the "I could use a sandwich hungry", but tummy~rumbling~hungry.
Nothing I have on hand will take care of this. And I will NOT be visiting any of your blogs if you say the "f" word... (food)
Only a very thick, very rare, well marbled, fresh steak would help.
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Casey took this picture as we drove through the field
and stole a few veggies.
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But I shouldn't have stolen the melon-
God got me for that...
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Sadly, I am STILL craving a fresh watermelon...
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# 2.
Something about tonight has me upset.
One of those weird and inexplicable feelings an unfavorable kismet; an unwelcome sword of damocles...
(I think of the garage door that almost fell on my head once).
Gratefully these feelings do not happen often. But on nights like this I am almost afraid to close my eyes to sleep, and am happy that Casey lives with Greg.

It also makes me very thankful for my dogs-
One outside.
One in.
Neither of them tiny nor incapable.
There is a real sense of safety with them here.
...(And then there is always my shotgun)...
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# 3.
I have too much stuff in the old shed-

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And I have yet to post my sale in the paper...
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# 4.
I took an awesome picture at Kelli's the other night-
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Not of the horses,
but of the strangest orbs I have ever seen...
I have left it full size for you.
The sun was setting.
Breeze and May awaited their supper.

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# 5.
Kelli has just gotten tickets to the Monday Night Season Opener in Green Bay...

I am almost jealous!
More, I am so happy for her!

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# 6.
I am missing my parents...
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They were such good people
..Somewhere they still are!

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# 7.
I broke my little air pump.
The front left tire on the Cub Cadet goes flat every now and then.
I had a bit to mow, west of the old garage, and the tire was flat.
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The pump itself seems to have had a blowout.
It is dead.

Thankfully garbage day is tomorrow...
Even more thankfully, my neighbor came and inflated my tire!
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# 8.
I don't know how these flowers remain alive during this drought...
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But I am glad they do remain so pretty.

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# 9.
I gave birth 30 years ago this morning...
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8 pounds, 14 ounces,
23 ½ inches long.
Happy Birthday, Jenne.

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# 10.
I think my thyroid pills give me gas.
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Have a grand rest of tonight- and a better tomorrow!

XOXO
Me

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Originally posted to my Y! 360, Tuesday August 26, 2008 - 10:53pm (CDT)

Not By Sight?

 

CLICK HERE for picture credit.

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Good Evening.

Just a short note here...
And a blog that I think none of you will be able to comment on, or to answer.


Speaking to Laurie earlier, we shared much laughter, love and conversation.
In the midst of that same conversation came a remark from her.
One that I have no answer to.
Am highly doubting that anyone can respond...

As she watches her innocent 4~year~old granddaughter die, she comments, "I have no use for a God that allows such a small child to endure this kind of suffering."

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Know I am not trying to strong~arm God (or whatever you perceive Him to be)... And know that I have always been ever so proud of my own Faith...

So here it is for you...

In all honesty, what would YOU have said?
Please let me know...

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Originally posted to my Y! 360, Monday, August 25, 2008 - 08:45pm (CDT)

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Link

Children Die... Do you care?

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mariahklein

I find it strange (in almost a sickening way), that I have literally BEGGED you, (on here and via email), to visit Baby Mariah's site; and to leave some encouraging words for her and her family...

...And that ONLY a mere handful of you have had a moment, a kindness, or a thought to spare...

*Thank You Thers, for your almost daily vigilance...
*Thank You Beth, and Wyck, for your wonderful comments.
*Thank you Casey for the insights too rare from such a young lady.
*Thank You StangerDaze for offering your kindness and your compassion too.
*Thank you, Little Lisa, for giving them all your thoughts and love.


*And yes, I have probably missed a few of you- For that I do sincerely apologize...


Even now, they must watch their baby weaken and die.

PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO VISIT AND TO COMMENT.

It costs nothing but time...

...and in the end, what reason do you honestly have for not writing?
Please let me know what that reason might be.


............... What if Mariah was your own child?


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Big Brother, (and Black Bees)?

 

What's With BLACK Bees?
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Good Morning Everyone.
Yes. We are alive.
(And yes, I realize that is good news for some, mediocre news for others).
hehehe

I have been wrestling with my Yahoo 360 site for a while now, and can only hope this posts. About a year ago, Yahoo told us of the new blog thing, promising they would have it done by the first of the year.
Silly us, we thought they meant 2008.
But it continues to fail, this dying horse of ours... At least you all know where to find me in the event that it goes completely patooey.

Oddly too, I have been fighting with my Flickr page as well. (Knowing this is one of Yahoos products I suppose I am not entirely surprised at this)...

I was however, completely surprised by my email...

And after fighting with Flickr,
I have at least managed to save two of the pictures there.

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This is Number One Grandson,
Our Little Lawrence!
(Thank you William)!

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Kind of reminds me of myself at his age...
(All skin; covering a skeleton of energy).

He is, and will remain, MUCH better looking than I ever was.

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I thank you again William, from the bottom of my heart!

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And Lawrence's littler brothers do too!

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Sam, pictured here with his Miss Mama Marie!
Gabriel thinking "get RID of the camera already"
hehehe

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That all said I must get busy...
Am going to throw the OPEN sign on, and maybe get rid of a few things in the shed!

Love to all.

Have a "wunnaful" weekend!

XOXO
Anne

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Originally posted to my Y! 360, Saturday August 23, 2008 - 09:19am (CDT)

Made in America?

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

Made Where?
Joe Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN) for 6 a.m. While his coffee pot (MADE IN CHINA) was perking, he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG). He put on a dress shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA), designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE) and tennis shoes (MADE IN KOREA).

After cooking his breakfast in his new electric skillet (MADE IN INDIA) he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO) to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch (MADE IN TAIWAN) to the radio (MADE IN INDIA) he got in his car (MADE IN GERMANY) and continued his search for a good paying AMERICAN JOB.

At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day, Joe decided to relax for a while. He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL) poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE) and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA), and then wondered why he can't find a good paying job in AMERICA.





XOXO
Me

Wanna Laugh?

Photo courtesy of arbroath.blogspot.com

Hi All;
Sometimes the whole world cracks me up.

(Sometimes it's just CaseyFace).
CLICK HERE to see why...

hehehe

Love to all.

XOXO
Me

Happy Birthday Laurie! ~~~(And a rant)...

 

(That one's for you, Laurie).

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Good Afternoon Everyone.
I am sure many of you are wondering who this "Laurie" person is???
Me too.
hehehe

In reality, Laurie is one of the best friends that anyone could ask for-
We have known each other for many years; back to Junior High... And shared almost every part of each others lives this far.
And today she turns 50!
(Almost old enough to read hieroglyphics you'd think).
Many happy returns!
I truly look forward to the next 50.

Laurie is also Baby Mariah's grandmother.
And as such an honor is bestowed on her, I can only begin to imagine the bittersweet of the day.
CLICK HERE to visit Mariah's site.
And feel free to share and post Mariah's link on your own sites too.
Actually, please do.

Love you Laurie!

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Now on to my rant of the day.

(That scientific principle where there is an action, there is an equal and opposite RE~action)...

Two nights ago, Sunday night, I felt like death warmed over.
(Yes, my throat still hurts). But I had slept almost straight through; (I think I may have needed that).
There were a few phone calls that threatened to wake me, but nothing that wouldn't keep 'til the morning or when I felt better.

...OR SO I THOUGHT anyway!!!

One of the calls was from Roberta. Said she needed a babysitter for Monday at one in the afternoon.
I told her I did not feel well, that I was sleeping, and to call me back when I was awake.
She never called back.
Obviously this was HER choice.

She took it upon herself to immediately call Casey, (who was still recovering from her own latest visit to the hospital); and to tell her I'd said I wouldn't babysit for her.
Surprise. Surprise. (Casey and I actually talk)!

So I am very angry with this 28 year old daughter of mine.

And it was Roberta that was angry at both Casey and myself. ?

Roberta called this morning...
Would I take Gabriel today?
Given the way I have been feeling, I was truly not sure how to answer that one??

So I warned her that I might have strep and wouldn't he run the risk of getting it too?

At that point, she looked no further than this phone call; with the exception of calling to get him here.

Yes, Gabriel is here. (Thanks to Marie, for bringing him out).

Along with him came a $20.00 bill for gas, and a copy of her work schedule for the next two weeks.
She works clean through until the 29th, with the exception of next Sunday and the following Wednesday.
WTfH?

God help me, but I thought I was done raising children.
And I know that that remark sounds really bad.
I assure you, it is NOT intended to.

I love my grandchildren.
ALL of them.
I just always thought grandbabies were supposed to go home at some point.

Is this ungracious?
How about UNchristian?
Is this wrong?

And yes, I really DO know that compared to what Laurie, and her son Mike, his wife Micki, and their children are facing, this would amount to exactly nothing.

But that is ONLY by comparison.

And good grief, I really don't think there is even a comparison to be made.

I am saddened for the life that Gabriel has been given-
That, and the fact that I am not empowered to be able to change it.
Yet I do not think it right that I should be having him 24/7, and to run the risk of her calling the damned police again when she calls to tell me to bring him home and I cannot just jump on that either.
And FYI, (should she ever read these words, blocked or not); that WAS a very cheap shot to have done that to me in the first place.
For the Gods sake, she didn't even call me to tell me WHEN to bring him home that night.

Not sure what exactly is upsetting me more...
The fact that I am thrust into Mother role all over again, (not only for Gabriel but for her as well)-

OR,

The fact that she chooses to lie her damned fool head off time and time again.

I'd better close for now- as I must go try to expend some of this ranting energy I have.

Hope all is well with you.
Love always,

XOXO
Anne

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Originally posted to my Y! 360 Tuesday August 19, 2008 - 03:24pm (CDT)