What's the one thing you would never, ever give up?
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This was a tough question for me! I guess because most people immediately think of intangibles. Like your faith, your sense of humor , your children, your spouse. But these are not really things. These are non - negotiables! But a thing. Actual material possession? I don't really know. A lot of people have keepsakes, heirlooms handed down to them from a special person. These items hold memories for them. A loved ones face, a smile, a certain event relating to that object. I know what my husband's would be, he'd have to have two actually. It would be a box of keepsakes from his dad , who recently passed away, and an album of photographs of his mother who died when he was 7. It's really all he has of her, and I know it would be one of his most prized material possessions. As for myself, I am just having a hard time pinning down any one thing I would be devastated if I lost. It's probably all the albums I have filled with photos of our boys, and family. I guess it's funny if you get right down to it. If someone told you , "You must choose. One thing is all you are allowed to have to remember your life by." , what you would you take? Kind of narrows it down , huh?
Here's to knowing what really counts~ Ruby Jeanette
Finding the funny, fearless, and furious things about everyday life.....
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
An " Invention", a Disappointment, and an IDEA.........~
I was a little disappointed with the purchase of the new hardback novel. I have a bad habit of just reading the flaps, and not really looking THROUGH the whole thing. And usually this is not a problem, cause I know the authors I like, and very rarely get a book I don't care for. I like big, thick hardback books. Although I will settle for a big thick paperback when I have to. This was a big book, 500 plus pages. And here's the kicker. Probably three-quarters of that was black and white illustrations. Ohhhhhhhhh, I was so mad! It's a beautiful book. It's Brian Selznick's "The Invention of Hugo Cabret". I hear it's a movie now, and hope to see it. It's really a young adult book, but I don't generally mind those. What aggravated me about it is I wanted it to last more than a day, because I wasn't feeling well, and was just looking forward to spending some down time with a book. In hindsight , I suppose that's a dumb thing to be annoyed about, but I was. It really is gorgeously illustrated, and it's got these black end papers, and chapter separators. Then, I had an idea! I actually told my son what I most wanted to do with it now was to buy those gel pens, that write on dark paper, and scribble on all that fabulous dark glossy paper! Shame on me , I know! Defacing a book. What depths I've sunk to. It really is quite tempting though. It almost seems as if the author intended for it to be written on. Of course if you've read my blog any before, you know I kind of have this thing about paper. Hobby Lobby, Michaels , Office Depot, any place with more than just plain white typing paper, has me drooling. Scrapbook paper, drawing paper, construction paper, need I say more? I've made a lot of scrapbooks, journals, and so on, that I've illustrated. I've never actually wanted to draw in a ready made book though. Do you think if the library finds out, my card will be revoked? I can hear the library ladies now, "She actually wanted to scribble in a book!!" Shock and horror. Ohhhhhhh, my rebellious side calls me to run to the nearest purveyor of gel pens and scribble away......bwahahahahahahaha!! Man. I either have too much time on my hands, too much going on in my brain , or both. Maybe, just maybe, if I DRAW for a while, it will calm my brain...............:)
Monday, November 28, 2011
Mini-Me~
This is my three hundred and fifteenth blog post ! Yay me!
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I know I chatter on far too much. But if you only knew how many things I want to say, and don't......~ Anne of Green Gables
I'm sure my mother despaired of me doing ANY -THING three hundred and fifteen times , when I was growing up. Well, anything really constructive anyway. I could definitely leave my room dirty that many times in a row. Or come up with some inane thing to say at least that many times. I used to think my Dad was a quiet man, but now I realize he was only quiet because I never let him get a word in edgeways. I have come to this realization because now I have a son who is the exact copy of me in personality. He looks just like his dad, but his personality is ALL mine. (Except he doesn't mind school work, which I hated with the passion of a thousand dying suns.) But other than that. He's me. In all his awkward , geeky glory. He once informed me, "Gee Mom, you're a veritable fount of useless information." This from a 7 year old. How many 7 year olds even know the meaning of the words fount and veritable? At that age, I told the boy I had a crush on, ( he was older! 13!) , that Trilobites were a prehistoric animal that lived in the water, and went on to describe them in great detail. He looked straight at me, and said, "You know, I just really don't believe that." I was crushed! Of course, this was a fairly common reaction . I read, read , read, anything I could at that age , too. My sister and I were some of the few children allowed access to the adult section of the library, so I had access to the better books, you know. So, I was not just nerdy, but immensely nerdy! I have also come to the realization that I was not very easy to get along with as a child. I was notoriously messy. I'm an artist, and so paper, pencils, watercolors, markers, chalk, charcoal (shudder!) cardboard, scissors, yarn, glue, beads, and so on, were EVERY where, ALL the time. It drove my mother wild! Just the other day , the boy of mine we've been talking about had a box full of colored pencils sharpening them into his own bed , while gleefully drawing some imaginary creation. He never even had a second thought about sleeping with pencil shavings that night. I must admit though, perhaps he's not an EXACT replica of me personality wise. I had an attitude about a mile wide. My mottos in life were "Don't TELL me to do anything. You can ASK , but don't TELL me." , and , "If it's do it or else. I choose ELSE." Yes, you can imagine the conflict that ensued over those particular philosophies. I 've mellowed some............I think. I am still an avid reader. I 'm still an artist. There are STILL paper, pencils, watercolors, markers, chalk, charcoal, cardboard, scissors, yarn glue , beads, and so on scattered everywhere. I try to keep them "loosely" organized. I 'm still pretty messy. Although I prefer "creatively cluttered". In retrospect , and now that I have a real live subject to study, myself in the looking glass if you will, I realize that with your mind going in something like 529 different directions at once, it is very difficult to care about things like clean bedrooms, or organized work areas. If you take time to clean , that masterpiece you are currently thinking about might not get down on paper. That invention might not get made from wire and old gears. If you do EVERY thing you're ever told, it seems as if a piece of yourself gets lost somewhere. If you never speak your mind, you can be a doormat. Of course, there are negative consequences to these actions , too. If you don't clean , you can lose time looking for JUST the right color for that masterpiece. If you don't mind your parents, losing privileges is a real possibility. If you do speak your mind, you can really hurt someone's feelings( even if what you said was true.) All these things I can see in hindsight and happening for my little guy in real life , everyday. I have grown up now, (mostly), and can clean , listen to my parents, I'm working on the speaking without thinking problem, but I'm by no means perfect! My little man came home the other night, and told me "Mom, this girl said I was geeky and awkward. " I just put my arms around him, and said , "Me too, Bubba. Me too."
Ruby Jeanette
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I know I chatter on far too much. But if you only knew how many things I want to say, and don't......~ Anne of Green Gables
I'm sure my mother despaired of me doing ANY -THING three hundred and fifteen times , when I was growing up. Well, anything really constructive anyway. I could definitely leave my room dirty that many times in a row. Or come up with some inane thing to say at least that many times. I used to think my Dad was a quiet man, but now I realize he was only quiet because I never let him get a word in edgeways. I have come to this realization because now I have a son who is the exact copy of me in personality. He looks just like his dad, but his personality is ALL mine. (Except he doesn't mind school work, which I hated with the passion of a thousand dying suns.) But other than that. He's me. In all his awkward , geeky glory. He once informed me, "Gee Mom, you're a veritable fount of useless information." This from a 7 year old. How many 7 year olds even know the meaning of the words fount and veritable? At that age, I told the boy I had a crush on, ( he was older! 13!) , that Trilobites were a prehistoric animal that lived in the water, and went on to describe them in great detail. He looked straight at me, and said, "You know, I just really don't believe that." I was crushed! Of course, this was a fairly common reaction . I read, read , read, anything I could at that age , too. My sister and I were some of the few children allowed access to the adult section of the library, so I had access to the better books, you know. So, I was not just nerdy, but immensely nerdy! I have also come to the realization that I was not very easy to get along with as a child. I was notoriously messy. I'm an artist, and so paper, pencils, watercolors, markers, chalk, charcoal (shudder!) cardboard, scissors, yarn, glue, beads, and so on, were EVERY where, ALL the time. It drove my mother wild! Just the other day , the boy of mine we've been talking about had a box full of colored pencils sharpening them into his own bed , while gleefully drawing some imaginary creation. He never even had a second thought about sleeping with pencil shavings that night. I must admit though, perhaps he's not an EXACT replica of me personality wise. I had an attitude about a mile wide. My mottos in life were "Don't TELL me to do anything. You can ASK , but don't TELL me." , and , "If it's do it or else. I choose ELSE." Yes, you can imagine the conflict that ensued over those particular philosophies. I 've mellowed some............I think. I am still an avid reader. I 'm still an artist. There are STILL paper, pencils, watercolors, markers, chalk, charcoal, cardboard, scissors, yarn glue , beads, and so on scattered everywhere. I try to keep them "loosely" organized. I 'm still pretty messy. Although I prefer "creatively cluttered". In retrospect , and now that I have a real live subject to study, myself in the looking glass if you will, I realize that with your mind going in something like 529 different directions at once, it is very difficult to care about things like clean bedrooms, or organized work areas. If you take time to clean , that masterpiece you are currently thinking about might not get down on paper. That invention might not get made from wire and old gears. If you do EVERY thing you're ever told, it seems as if a piece of yourself gets lost somewhere. If you never speak your mind, you can be a doormat. Of course, there are negative consequences to these actions , too. If you don't clean , you can lose time looking for JUST the right color for that masterpiece. If you don't mind your parents, losing privileges is a real possibility. If you do speak your mind, you can really hurt someone's feelings( even if what you said was true.) All these things I can see in hindsight and happening for my little guy in real life , everyday. I have grown up now, (mostly), and can clean , listen to my parents, I'm working on the speaking without thinking problem, but I'm by no means perfect! My little man came home the other night, and told me "Mom, this girl said I was geeky and awkward. " I just put my arms around him, and said , "Me too, Bubba. Me too."
Ruby Jeanette
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Can't I Have ONE?~
Yesterday I posted a "funny" thing, so today I am posting a "fearless" thing . Well, it's kind of a fearless/furious thing about life that I kind of wanted to get off my chest. Big breath, whew, here goes.
I feel bad. I mean , really physically bad. I never, ever tell complete strangers that. But I kind of figure, well, after nearly a year, maybe we aren't complete strangers. I don't share a lot about feeling bad. I always think everyone has their own struggles, problems, and concerns, and it really makes other people feel bad because there is nothing they can do. You can pray, I know, and I'll accept all the help I can get in that department!
The thing is , it's not even anything real specific. I DO have major ulcers and lesions in my mouth and on my gums right now. That's a "lupus thing". I 've had them before, but it's been a long time since I had any this bad. But the weird thing is with lupus and auto immune diseases you get this condition called "malaise". Which is really just a fancy way of saying your body feels out of sorts with itself. Imagine that feeling you get when you know you're coming down with something , but don't really know what. Like the flu. Or some type of virus. You feel really "blah" and just can't seem to get going. You're tired for no reason, and the couch and warm covers seem like the perfect place to be.
I guess that' s the really sucky thing about a chronic illness. It's not even the "big" things that get you down. It's the nagging, seemingly little things. Like persistent fatigue, mouth ulcers, joint pain, or lack of energy. Yeah, a couple of days a year with those type of things, and you manage. But after a while, the very monotony , all day , every day, of the annoying symptoms start to overwhelm you. Like your own body is giving you the Chinese water torture treatment, or scratching invisible fingernails on a chalkboard.
So , that's it. In a nutshell. I've got a physical thing to deal with, and I'm sure everyone out there has their own "little" things that frustrate them every day. Soooooo.......
I've had my ONE grouch session for the year! Although as blessed as I really am, even ONE seems more than I am due.I 'm not trying to bum anyone out, or even collect pity from anyone. No pity needed! :) It is what it is. I am here, and I'm grateful that everything is as well as it is. You know with illness , it's not even anyone's fault, so you can't even really be angry! My genetic lottery just was not a winning hand for me. But , you know, I feel better now. Sometimes it helps to be able to tell someone , anyone! about what is going on with our lives. So, now that I've turned my frown upside down for the day, maybe I'll get my pillow and a good book. An Ibuprofen and a cup of milk. I think I hear the couch and covers calling my name.
Here's to taking care of yourself , when you need it, and thanks for listening.........~ Ruby Jeanette
I feel bad. I mean , really physically bad. I never, ever tell complete strangers that. But I kind of figure, well, after nearly a year, maybe we aren't complete strangers. I don't share a lot about feeling bad. I always think everyone has their own struggles, problems, and concerns, and it really makes other people feel bad because there is nothing they can do. You can pray, I know, and I'll accept all the help I can get in that department!
The thing is , it's not even anything real specific. I DO have major ulcers and lesions in my mouth and on my gums right now. That's a "lupus thing". I 've had them before, but it's been a long time since I had any this bad. But the weird thing is with lupus and auto immune diseases you get this condition called "malaise". Which is really just a fancy way of saying your body feels out of sorts with itself. Imagine that feeling you get when you know you're coming down with something , but don't really know what. Like the flu. Or some type of virus. You feel really "blah" and just can't seem to get going. You're tired for no reason, and the couch and warm covers seem like the perfect place to be.
I guess that' s the really sucky thing about a chronic illness. It's not even the "big" things that get you down. It's the nagging, seemingly little things. Like persistent fatigue, mouth ulcers, joint pain, or lack of energy. Yeah, a couple of days a year with those type of things, and you manage. But after a while, the very monotony , all day , every day, of the annoying symptoms start to overwhelm you. Like your own body is giving you the Chinese water torture treatment, or scratching invisible fingernails on a chalkboard.
So , that's it. In a nutshell. I've got a physical thing to deal with, and I'm sure everyone out there has their own "little" things that frustrate them every day. Soooooo.......
I've had my ONE grouch session for the year! Although as blessed as I really am, even ONE seems more than I am due.I 'm not trying to bum anyone out, or even collect pity from anyone. No pity needed! :) It is what it is. I am here, and I'm grateful that everything is as well as it is. You know with illness , it's not even anyone's fault, so you can't even really be angry! My genetic lottery just was not a winning hand for me. But , you know, I feel better now. Sometimes it helps to be able to tell someone , anyone! about what is going on with our lives. So, now that I've turned my frown upside down for the day, maybe I'll get my pillow and a good book. An Ibuprofen and a cup of milk. I think I hear the couch and covers calling my name.
Here's to taking care of yourself , when you need it, and thanks for listening.........~ Ruby Jeanette
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Oh, yes. I Did. ~
Okay. I must say this up front. I do not watch organized sports. I don't watch football, basketball, soccer, golf, tennis, hockey, wrestling, ice skating, volleyball, or any other sport. I don't play video games, like Wii, PlayStation, Nintendo , Xbox, and so on. I don't play computer games, like FarmVille, CityVille, TownVille, FrontierVille, Angry Birds, Mad Cows or anything in that vein , either. I DO read, read, read, just about anything I can ,although being a mom, wife, teacher, homekeeper, homemaker, and general Queen of the Castle has cut my reading from about 20 books a week to WAAAAAAAY less than that. I DO enjoy chess, puzzles, word games, and anything of that sort. I consider myself a fairly intelligent person. ( Most of the time!) So after saying all that, let me now explain my red-faced moment of the day, week, possibly lifetime, ( although with me it is never safe to be certain of anything !) . Since being on FB, I notice people have all these little acronyms, and abbreviations for things. You know, LOL (LaughOutLoud) , TY (ThankYou), YW ( You'reWelcome), ROFLOL, (Rolling On Floor Laughing Out Loud) , and so on and so forth. Well, since it's been football season, everyone keeps posting WPS. Wellllllllllll, I didn't know what that meant!!!!! I kept trying to figure it out without asking because I did not want to be seen as some weirdie. ( No danger in that , right, RIGHT?) Anyhow, I keep thinking to myself , "What in the world does that stand for?" (Will Pray, Surely!) (Well Played Sister!) (What? People Sick? ), and I knew it wasn't something tacky or vulgar, because it was good Christian people posting it. And then........... it hits me. WhoooPigSoooieee. Yes. So, there is your moment for the day . Don't you feel better about yourself now? YW. Please feel free to say TY while ROFLOL.
Here's to being able to laugh at yourself...........(I've no shortage of material , in that department!)
Here's to being able to laugh at yourself...........(I've no shortage of material , in that department!)
Friday, November 25, 2011
Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and January's Jewels!~
"Does thinking you're the only sane man left on earth, make you crazy , Doc? Cause if it does, then maybe I am." ~ Will Smith in "I, Robot."
I guess I 'm either crazy , or the only sane woman left on earth, but I DID NOT go Black Friday shopping today. I did not go last year. I have NEVER in my life , been Black Friday shopping. I haven't ever been Cyber Monday shopping , either. I saw all kinds of FaceBook posts about , "Ooooooh, we scored a huge deal!", or "Got the electronical whatsitwejusthaddtohave for 30 dollars!" , or my favorite!" There are so many people here we can't even breathe!!!!" all posted with some type of maniacal glee. Like, "This is fun and cool!". Or they are desperately trying to convince themselves it is. Going shopping at midnight or 1 am, waiting in a line full of pushy people , while cold, caffeinated , and probably needing to pee, all trying to save a few dollars for something that will probably be cheaper in January anyway. No thanks. I mean , no offense if that IS your idea of a really good time, but it just doesn't do it for me. People might think my husband and I are Scrooges somewhat, but we've taught our boys that if you can wait til after "The BIG day", you can get twice as much stuff for your buck. They know if you save your money , that toy set or electronic gadget will be marked down after Christmas. One year they scored their faves ( Lego sets) , for over half off. That convinced them! So, if you 're waiting for me to post about how I managed the Black Friday madness, it won't ever happen on here.......just sayin!
Here's to everyone 's own way of scoring that deal! ~ Ruby Jeanette
I guess I 'm either crazy , or the only sane woman left on earth, but I DID NOT go Black Friday shopping today. I did not go last year. I have NEVER in my life , been Black Friday shopping. I haven't ever been Cyber Monday shopping , either. I saw all kinds of FaceBook posts about , "Ooooooh, we scored a huge deal!", or "Got the electronical whatsitwejusthaddtohave for 30 dollars!" , or my favorite!" There are so many people here we can't even breathe!!!!" all posted with some type of maniacal glee. Like, "This is fun and cool!". Or they are desperately trying to convince themselves it is. Going shopping at midnight or 1 am, waiting in a line full of pushy people , while cold, caffeinated , and probably needing to pee, all trying to save a few dollars for something that will probably be cheaper in January anyway. No thanks. I mean , no offense if that IS your idea of a really good time, but it just doesn't do it for me. People might think my husband and I are Scrooges somewhat, but we've taught our boys that if you can wait til after "The BIG day", you can get twice as much stuff for your buck. They know if you save your money , that toy set or electronic gadget will be marked down after Christmas. One year they scored their faves ( Lego sets) , for over half off. That convinced them! So, if you 're waiting for me to post about how I managed the Black Friday madness, it won't ever happen on here.......just sayin!
Here's to everyone 's own way of scoring that deal! ~ Ruby Jeanette
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Don't Let a Rock Take Your Job~
It's Thanksgiving Day!
I rise at 5:45, thankful for alarm clocks , because it means I have things to do to busy my hands and heart. I am thankful for messy kitchens because it means I fed my family yesterday. I am thankful for cluttered living rooms, because it means my children feel that this is their home too. I am thankful for grocery sacks scattered in the floor, because it means we will eat today , and share it with family. I am thankful for hunter orange, stray ammo, and dried mud crumbled, because it means my husband was well and able to go deer hunting this morning. I am thankful, so VERY thankful, that this Thanksgiving , I am at home, and NOT in the hospital, with myself, or one of my children. Of the 15 years we've been married, we have spent 3 or 4 Thanksgivings, and 1 or 2 Christmases , in the hospital. I am thankful , thankful, thankful ! For salvation from sin, for forgiveness of my very human fallen condition, because it means that JESUS loves me! I am thankful, thankful, thankful, that I've been blessed with one more day to be present in this body, and thankful I am one day closer to being present with the Lord. I am so very blessed, with so much more than I ever deserved. If I fail to praise Him, the rocks will cry out. I refuse to let some rock take my place! How about you?
Blessed Thanksgiving to you and yours~ Ruby Jeanette
I rise at 5:45, thankful for alarm clocks , because it means I have things to do to busy my hands and heart. I am thankful for messy kitchens because it means I fed my family yesterday. I am thankful for cluttered living rooms, because it means my children feel that this is their home too. I am thankful for grocery sacks scattered in the floor, because it means we will eat today , and share it with family. I am thankful for hunter orange, stray ammo, and dried mud crumbled, because it means my husband was well and able to go deer hunting this morning. I am thankful, so VERY thankful, that this Thanksgiving , I am at home, and NOT in the hospital, with myself, or one of my children. Of the 15 years we've been married, we have spent 3 or 4 Thanksgivings, and 1 or 2 Christmases , in the hospital. I am thankful , thankful, thankful ! For salvation from sin, for forgiveness of my very human fallen condition, because it means that JESUS loves me! I am thankful, thankful, thankful, that I've been blessed with one more day to be present in this body, and thankful I am one day closer to being present with the Lord. I am so very blessed, with so much more than I ever deserved. If I fail to praise Him, the rocks will cry out. I refuse to let some rock take my place! How about you?
Blessed Thanksgiving to you and yours~ Ruby Jeanette
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