Ta-Da!!

Today was an adventure. Andy and I went into SA for my thyroid biopsy, and it went like clockwork. The nicest technician took some scans first, then it was time to meet the doctor. They both agreed my thyroid was "not pretty; a mess", but not the worse they'd seen.



I was pretty cool about the whole thing until he announced right before starting that he didn't think he'd use the deadening- "it's just another poke, and that needle's a lot bigger than the one for the biopsy." Let's just say my attention was all his; and the tech's hand was nicely squeezed!! They both assured me that if I was "uncomfortable" after the first poke, they'd deaden me then. Oh, thanks!



Three pokes later, all "dead on center", and it was all done. Now we wait another week for the results, but I'm thinking it's all good.



I'll keep you posted.

"...for whom the phone rings...."

My post today begins with the "the bell tolls for thee" reference, because of the way my day began.

Telephones are great inventions. Our lives today are not even fathomable (sp) without them. They bring the most mundane of news and the most wonderful news into our lives instantaneously. I think about the "olden days" when news traveled by letter or even word of mouth, and how things were said and done before we ever heard of the possibility. Now we take the cell phone into the bathroom with us in case we miss an "important" call. How ridiculous and dependent we have become.

At 8:39 this morning, my phone rang. Now people who know me know that 9:00 is the best time to catch me up and going, so I figured this had to be a telemarketer or something else. Instead, it was the secretary of my school, calling on the "phone tree." That meant at emergency. I learn from her that a co-worker's husband has had a stroke/annurism and that today they are taking him off life support. They are harvesting his organs for donation, and then she will become his widow. Good morning, Amy.

They live down the street from us, and I've worked with Mary Caroline for may years. She was very dear to me at the passing of my
mother. Their children are my daughters' ages. Now, she is without her spouse. Andy tells me he spoke to him on Sunday, and is shocked himself.

All over town today, the phones are ringing for Jim Chambers. Keep his family in your prayers as they face the coming days.

Being 52

Sometimes lately, I feel like I'm looking at life out of someone else's eyes. I find myself thinking and saying things the "old Amy" would never have done. Here are some reflections of my new mindset:

I get REALLY irritated when someone tells me how I feel or what I think about something. Used to, I'd just stay quiet and let them, but now it is almost a dare to go all over them just to make my point.

My sweet daughters know that "stupid questions" have always gone all over me, but lately, I just will not answer. That is so rude, and so unlike who I've always been - patient, understanding, etc. Not I can barely tolerate people who ask the obvious. I truly think this is due to our society becoming SO mindless that I am overwhelmed at the lack of brain being used. My favorite: "Are you serious?!" No. I'm lying.

I just do not worry anymore (Except for a few dear loved ones) just what people think about me. Oh my gosh - this is from the people pleaser of all time! One particular little woman at church is craving attention and will run you down to get a hug, and I walk right by her.
I'm headed to Hell....

Dana tells me that it's my menopausal brain. I've GOT to read that book. But even if it EXPLAINS why I'm acting like I am, does that EXCUSE it? I mean, school is starting soon and I'll be back around people for long periods of time - I've got to get this back under control. At least during the summer, I've been able to control the majority of my bad behavior, but those days are coming to an end, and I have a reputation to defend.

Do I need hormones? Any suggestions??

Hold me back!!

For the past three years or so, Andy and I have worked on using the Dave Ramsey method of budgeting and getting ourselves out of debt.
While we haven't exactly been "beans and rice, rice and beans", we've made good progress on our average American debt of credit cards and signature loans. Because of that, my surgery expenses out-of-pocket were almost easily manageable, for which we are most greatful.

However, I am in the mood right now to SPEND MONEY!! Big, serious, use-of-plastic, taking big steps backwards spending. Furniture, clothes, yard, you name it, I want it TODAY. I mentioned to Andy last night I'd like to go out today and spend $10,000.00, and I actually think he thought I was part serious.

But I won't. You see, it looks like I have another surgery facing me, and the house needs a new roof. Those two things are daunting, and I will just have to use them for my splurge and delay gratification in other areas.

To quote one of my favorite childrens' story lines, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!!"

Tony and Eva's wedding

In spite of looks of disgust from my husband, I purchased the - not one, but TWO - editions of OK! magazine that had pictures and details of THE WEDDING. Yes, it was beautiful, in spite of the red wedding cake, but I'll be writing a well-worded letter. There were no pictures of any of the SPURS !! Over and over, we saw the lovely ladies from "Desperate Housewives", but no Manu, Pop, or even the Red Rocket!!

This is one fan who's majorly disappointed!!

Meeting "Dr. Jones"

A few weeks ago, I spoke with a lady from church who'd had her para-thyroid taken out about her doctor. My own tyroid is dead, so I needed to see a specialist, and she'd made favorable comments about him... when I asked, she told me what she'd liked about him, and that she would recommend him. Later, she called me, to tell me that she'd failed to mention that someone she knows felt like he was gay, and that she wanted me to know going into the meeting.

I met him yesterday, and there's no doubt in my mind - he's gay. So gay. I immediately liked him and felt very comfortable with him - he spent about 20 minutes with me - an eternity for a specialist these days. And now I wonder, is it a good thing I was told ahead of time? Would I have been so taken aback by his mannerisms that I would not have listened to what he told me?

Years ago, I would have been repulsed by this man. I would have seen only the lifestyle and not the person - a competent doctor. I would have not wanted him putting his hands on me; I'm ashamed to admit this, but I wonder how tolerant I can become. I'll probably see him once or twice more; it's not like I'm going to be socially in "his circle," but I don't want to become someone who accepts and approves of a lifestyle that I believe is wrong.

I really sound bigotted here, and I don't want to - this is just on my mind a lot. I've got to deal with these ideals on my own. Just venting.

My heritage, revisited

Twice, over the past several months, I've had an opportunity of visit with a couple of people who've known my grandmother and aunts. My grandmother died in 1970, at the age of 70, and so she's been gone a long, long time. When she died, it seemed to me as a teen that she was old - now I know how much longer she could've lived.

To sit and hear people talk of her - and yesterday, of her daughter (my mother's oldest sister Lee) is both comforting and interesting. The lady to who I talked yesterday, told me that my grandmother would go up to the school for something and wear an odd, knitted cap on her head no matter the weather. It would embarrass my aunt to death for her to do that, and I laughed at the thought that, even "back then," parents embarressed their kids. She (my Mamaw) had to have been a young woman then - and yet I only see her in my mind's eye as an elderly saint.

All this brings to mind - what is it my family and friends will say about me when I'm dead and gone? Will my granddaughters wrap lovely stories around them as I have these? Will they be proud to tell people, "Amy LaMore was my grandmother!" ? Will I leave funny stories and stories of good deeds for them to emulate? I can only hope....

Mondays

During the school year, Mondays are not my favorite. They are the start of another hectic week of work - and while I had a really good group of kids last year, I'm at that stage where I'm just tired of working. I know that sounds crazy, but I think it's a change I'm wanting. Those Mondays during school usually come after a wonderful weekend of being home with Andrew and my church family and relaxing.



My summer Mondays, however are just about my favorite day. After a busy weekend full of people, I am coming to love the quietness of Monday. Andy has gone back into his routine, everyone is back at work (save Dana, and she usually sleeps later) and so I have the morning to be by myself. It is a time I am truly coming to look forward to - and just about the time I begin to take it for granted, school will start. A little taste of retirement, I think.

I hope your Monday is going well!

Dana's Decision

From the time she was a little girl, Dana has said she wanted to live on her own. Having never had that - went from Daddy straight to Andrew - I thought that was a pretty neat goal. She's done really well for herself, and no mom could be prouder of a daughter.

Now, she's made the decision to box up her life and head to Houston. My nemesis - the one place on earth I gripe about going, and now the people I most treasure are all going to be living there. The good things about her move are wonderful things, and I know God is working in her life to make this happen, but HOUSTON?!?! Maybe this is God's way of making me repent and look for things to like about the city - other than family being there.

I'm happy for my girl - that school is lucky to be getting her, and I know a marvelous church family awaits her with open arms; not to mention Gregg, Erin and Roarke have her close by.

Please pray for her as she transitions into this new phase - I'd appreciate it a lot!!

Memories

The other night, we were eating with the Huttons, and the topic of our earliest memory came up. Andy, Robert, and Jackie all have very early memories, but mine doesn't come to mind until I am about 4 or 5 years old. I know that I have a lot of memories of that time in my life, because my mom did a lot with me; taking me to school to help sort beans with the cafeteria ladies while she gathered school news for the local paper, and stuff like that, but before then, there aren't any memories.
So, when does your earliest memory pop up? Let me know....

Oh, my word!!!

I watched "The Departed" today for my daily movie time. It won Scorsese a Best Director Oscar, and almost everyone in it was nominated for something as well as Best Picture. If nothing else, I wanted to say I'd seen it, and Andy wasn't interested, so I just went ahead by myself.

Do people REALLY use the F-bomb that much?!?! I mean, the movie would have been half as long just omitting that one word!
How many times does the brain hear it before it becomes desensitized to the sound of that? Even pretty boy Leo DeCaprio spewed it frequently, so unlike his nice guy Jack in Titanic.

Well, now I've seen it. It's in my collection, but it will probably gather a nice layer of dust before it's watched again.

I shoulda listened to my husband!!

Oh, brother!!

I HATE to look dumb. Usually, if I think there's a chance of that happening, I just close my mouth and let it pass. You know, "better to be silent and thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt?" or something like that.

Well, let's just say I'm not always successful at stopping myself.

We have a group of families that began attending our church a few years ago when their congregation "died." They are all the same age and sit together, and I've come to love them all. Recently, one of the women had serious surgery, and I was discussing her case with a friend. She asked me how this lady was related to the others, and as I tried to clarify, my mouth revealed my ignorance.

It seems that, while I've known all these folks all this time, something very basic never dawned on me. The conversation went something like this: (names changed for privacy)

"Now, is she Joe's mother?" "No, she is Paul's and Bob's mother." Is that Bill's wife?" "No, her husband is deceased. You are thinking of Ron's wife." "Isn't HER name Sue?" (Now at this point, I should have just shut up, but....) "She is Ron's wife and Paul's mother."
"No, she is Sue. Joe's mother is Mary." "But I thought Ron's wife was Mary." THINK, Amy, THINK! "Her name IS Mary, but so is Joe's mother!" By now, we both have headaches, and I have come to the awful realization that, even after knowing these three ladies all this time, it NEVER - EVER dawned on me that two of the three had the same name.

Is that pitiful or what....

Missing my girls - and Gregg, too!

Both my sets of kids have been out vacationing lately, and I sure have missed talking to them. I try not to call so much that I'm a bother, or cause them to roll their eyes upon seeing my name on the caller ID, but this inability to just up and call when the mood strikes has been hard on the old mom gene.

Erin and Gregg had a great time on their trip... I'm so glad to know they are able to go and do these trips now before too many responsibilities limit their flexibility. And Dana has had a nice long break from the trials of job hunting to clear her head and relax. Now, we'll see what the week holds for her.

It appears my computer is agreeing to work with the new modem, THANKS, Robert!! I've missed my computer time very much, such a part of my daily routine it had become. It'll take me a while to get caught up, but I will. How spoiled we have become to the technology!

Well, hopefully until tomorrow -

Sleep well!!

Perhaps tomorrow

Well, we're here at the Hutton's, bringing in the 4th of July - in the rain. So much rain the streets are blocked off and the yards look like lakes. After so long in a drought, one hates to complain, but REALLY - we've all had enough of the deluge.

Got two opinions on the old computer - we need a new modem, so we bought one today. Hopefully, I'll be writing from the comforts of my own space tomorrow or whenever we can get it installed.. I've really missed writing and reading the several blogs I keep up with - and I can't wait to become prolific once again.

Dana's in Denver with friends and Gregg and Erin are in NYC for a few days. I'm so happy they are out seeing and doing fun things. Can't wait to hear all about their adventures.

Enjoy this 4th of July - and remember to count our blessings that come from living in this land of the free!!

technology, smecnology!

Blogging from Jackie's. My computer is still down, so here's a quick update.

Had a wisdom tooth taken out today. Glad Dana was here to drive me and dish out icecream. Now if I can just heal without a dry socket. To do again, I'd take better care of my teeth....

Hopefully this weekend, I'll have some answers to the computer problem; we think it's the modem.

Have a great weekend!

Amy

Computers are a curse!

First of all, sorry it's been so long since my last post - my computer will not sign on; saying I have no dial tone. Right - I do have one, so it's internal somewhere and I'll have to wait for Robert to come home and look at it.

I'm north of Dallas at my cousin's. Her brother whom I'm written about passed away, and the funeral was today. Wonderful service, testament of a life lived to the fullest. His mother turns 84 tomorrow, and this is her third child to bury, along with her husband. Bobby Aaron was 57 years old, and leaves a loving wife, son, daughter-in-law, and 3 grandkids along with his mom and siblings. Too soon to die....

WON, SPURS, WON!!

Those of you old enough to remember the Beatles remember that there were basically two types of girl Beatle fans. Some were screamers and jumpers, and the others were cryers and hair-pullers.
I was the cryer-type, and during this past Finals, with my Spurs, I discovered that I still am!!

Lastnight, while everyone was jumping, high-fiving, and yelling; I sat on the couch and soaked it all in!! I was just as excited as everyone else, I'm just not a jumper/screamer. My passion stays internal, personal, intense. ( Wow, that sounds deep.)

We hosted the game, so I was able to just stay in my nest and watch the interviews and such instead of driving home, which was nice. It was hard to sleep afterward, and I would be in front of the tv all day listening to it over and over if Andy were at work, but he's heard all he wants, and we'll do something else.

So, here's my last SPURS blog for a while; thanks to Tim, Tony, Bruce, Manu, Pop, and all the rest for giving us such wonderful entertainment for another season. Thanks for sharing your friendship, commitment, and passion with us, and for showing the world that good guys do win. Take some time off, and come back ready to do a back-to-back; it's the one thing left for this newly born "dynasty" to do.

It was truly fun.

Green, green grass...

Living in South Texas, you become numb to color in the summer. Everything is dull, blah, brown; the color ranging from the light color of the sand that burns your bare feet to the dark, deep brown of old mesquite bark. Leaves that survive hang limp, and the wildflowers bloom and quickly die. Tanks dry up and crack, the thirsty cattle trying to survive. It's the way things usually are, and it has the ability to make you think everywhere is the same.

Today, Andy and I drove to San Antonio to Home Depot - the grown man's Toys R Us. Along the way, I saw several tanks with nice, blue water nearly up to their tops. Cattle standing under trees with lush, full leaves and green grass beneath them made me realize how unusual this is for us in June. The Spring rains have given rise to the world as it should be - and it is beautiful. Wild flowers are fading, but the ones still standing are in profusion and standing tall with their faces to the sun. How long has it been since this was the case?
The summers of drought and scorching heat have numbed us to thebeauty of our climate. I know that July and August may return us to the dryness to which we are familiar, but for now, it is wonderful.

Thanks, God.

My psychotic daughter who can't make up her mind...

It was SO much easier when she was a baby. She was compliant and obedient and such a people-pleaser. No more - she won't let me tell her what to do, and yet we talk about almost nothing else. I am at quite the breaking point with her making decisions, because I want to know when the move is taking place and where she will be and what her job will be, and she won't make up her mind!!!!

Dana - it would be so much easier if she'd let ME choose her destiny!

So where are the Christians?!?

Pleasanton is growing - you can almost see it happening daily. Chili's, Best Western, Walgreens - not to mention the explosion of housing surrounding me! I'm not sure what's bringing them all here - some say Toyota, but for whatever the reason, Pleasanton is attracting folks from all over.

Now, for many years, every Spring I begin praying for new families to move here to help grow the Church stronger. Ray kind of teases me about it - he's aware of my ritual and asks me each year if I've started adding that to my prayers. (I know I do it in Spring because of school being out and people tending to move then.) Anyway -

with all this growth, we've not added many members. Oh, sure, we've grown little by little and I've very greatful, but it's not in proportion with the cities' growth. I mean, surely some of these folks are bretheren, right?? Do I need to go door-to-door to check?

It's not that I want us to grow huge or anything - I just like new families bringing new ideas and excitement to perk the rest of us up.... a hold-up from growing up in the Poteet church where we WERE desperate for new members regularly.

I guess we'll just have to convert some....