A couple of weeks back I had a golden opportunity to accompany the loveables on a community service event.
(In other words, I was cluster-effed by the bitches ( see Urban Dictionary definition # 4-2 which says this about the word "bitches"... This word can be used as a term of endearment when inserted instead of someone's name) who normally work these Friday events.
They were out farting around on some kind of special weekend trip having all kinds of fun tearing down houses in the searing heat.)
The community service event was to be performed at what used to be the 3rd Police Precinct in Detroit.
The building was sold, bought, then rented by a group of artists.
They have a wonderful plan of making it a space for artists to hone and display their crafts.
No matter what the medium.
When we first arrived we were shown around the room we'd be cleaning. It was pretty well stocked with more than a really big, huge, and gigantic butt-load lot of old crap.
(STOCKED to da gills)
(So much so that one of the great minds behind this undertaking admitted to being Horders, Buried Alive material)
(not a joke by any means)
We were asked to pile the piles in new spots around the huge building.
Most of the salvaged "treasures" proved to be much too heavy, dusty, sharp, peculiar shaped, odd colored, moldy, broken, dead spider containing for me to handle on my own, so I mainly just supervised.
And talked to the couple of artists that were there working.
One of the artists worked in sculptures, the loveables and I oohed and ahhhed over his work.
One of the other artists described himself to be multi-diciplined.
He laughed when I told him that I was an art teacher's worst nightmare... not an ounce of talent in any art form.
"I pretty much do all my charcoals, colored pencil, water-color and acrylics, etc using different sized sticks to make up the people".
(That was a stretch to describe the crude markings as "people")
I also told him I've been known to turn out an acceptable, one deminsional flower, namely a tulip (because that is the only flower I know how to depict) every now and then.
(That was a stretch too)
The artist told me that he also sometimes draws people using sticks.
He asked if I'd like a piece of his artwork.
He rooted around the place for a few minutes and came back with a colored pencil drawing done on what looked like a torn off chunk of a paper bag.
He had it numbered and everything.
#33
out of 100.
I was stoked, I'd not even so much as ever talked to someone who worked as a real live artist, let alone received an original, numbered piece.
He even signed it too.
I wasn't sure if I should curtsey or genuflect or offer him a *Jackson when he presented me with it.
I excitedly told my lovable thugs about what I'd been given and they all asked to see it.
With the artist proudly watching, I held it out in my hand.
One of the loveables picked it up, scrutinized it for a second or two, chuckled, loud and long, then remarked.... "geeze, is this guy just starting out, or what?"
I went and dove, head first, into the nearest, rodent droppings filled old oil barrel I could find and patiently waited for my scarlet colored cheeks to right themselves.
*for all you filthy minded people who imagined a "Jackson" being some "unclean" action or deed or something just plain nasty and inappropriate, shame on you, a Jackson is nothing more than a twenty dollar bill.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
A true love story has no end....trois
She reached for his hand and held on for dear life.
The car rolled over at least twice.
The windows had to be kicked out in order to pull him away from the wreck.
She had to be cut out of the vehicle.
By the grace of the Good Lord, they survived.
Time marched on, and through good times and bad they stayed true to one another.
Relied on each other, cared for one another.
Their children grew up and gave them grandchildren who grew up and gave them great grand children...
In October of this year they will celebrate 56 years as husband and wife.
55 + years... now that's a huge accomplishment.
To this day they continue to finish each other's sentences.
She dotes on him and he has no doubt that he is adored beyond measure.
That goes for his affection for her as well, there's never been anyone else above her.
When she's near him she can't help but brush his thick hair back, and all the while he's looking at her with the sappiest, brightest blue eyes you've ever seen.
Hours have turned to days, days into weeks, weeks to months, months to years... an entire lifetime of loving one another has served them both well.
When the sun sets these days and she's tucking him in for the night he puckers up and she gently kisses his lips.
He is 90 years young.
She is...well, it's not really considered polite to tell a lady's age, so I won't.
Before the lights go out she lovingly caresses his forehead and kisses that too.
She always says to him " good night, I'll see ya in the morning"
He now replies, "you may not"....
"I may not WHAT...?!!!!" she responds.
"You may not see me in the morning" he says.
"What are you talking about?!!!" she demands "you're not going anywhere without me !!!!"
You may be wondering how this beautiful love story is going to end... ???
It isn't ever going to end.
Because real, true love stories never do.
****Marie and Martin (Marty) Janas your beautiful and unique love story has been (and continues to be) an inspiration to all who have been lucky enough to witness it.
I love you !!!
And I thank you both from the bottom of my heart for the example you've shown to me and to the rest of the world about "how to do it right".
My husband thanks you too.
May God continue to bless your special union and the both of you.
xoxo
Elizabeth
The car rolled over at least twice.
The windows had to be kicked out in order to pull him away from the wreck.
She had to be cut out of the vehicle.
By the grace of the Good Lord, they survived.
Time marched on, and through good times and bad they stayed true to one another.
Relied on each other, cared for one another.
Their children grew up and gave them grandchildren who grew up and gave them great grand children...
In October of this year they will celebrate 56 years as husband and wife.
55 + years... now that's a huge accomplishment.
To this day they continue to finish each other's sentences.
She dotes on him and he has no doubt that he is adored beyond measure.
That goes for his affection for her as well, there's never been anyone else above her.
When she's near him she can't help but brush his thick hair back, and all the while he's looking at her with the sappiest, brightest blue eyes you've ever seen.
Hours have turned to days, days into weeks, weeks to months, months to years... an entire lifetime of loving one another has served them both well.
When the sun sets these days and she's tucking him in for the night he puckers up and she gently kisses his lips.
He is 90 years young.
She is...well, it's not really considered polite to tell a lady's age, so I won't.
Before the lights go out she lovingly caresses his forehead and kisses that too.
She always says to him " good night, I'll see ya in the morning"
He now replies, "you may not"....
"I may not WHAT...?!!!!" she responds.
"You may not see me in the morning" he says.
"What are you talking about?!!!" she demands "you're not going anywhere without me !!!!"
You may be wondering how this beautiful love story is going to end... ???
It isn't ever going to end.
Because real, true love stories never do.
****Marie and Martin (Marty) Janas your beautiful and unique love story has been (and continues to be) an inspiration to all who have been lucky enough to witness it.
I love you !!!
And I thank you both from the bottom of my heart for the example you've shown to me and to the rest of the world about "how to do it right".
My husband thanks you too.
May God continue to bless your special union and the both of you.
xoxo
Elizabeth
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
A true love story has no end...part duex
Read the first part of this story HERE
He was calling to ask her out.
Come with me to an Initiation Party for the Veterans of Foreign War, he asked.
On the phone he also asked her to bring along her sister.
Ahh, she thought, he's not interested in me, he wants to get closer to my sister.
It's nothing like that, he insisted.
There would be lots of nice, single guys at the dance, maybe she'd meet a good one.
Her sister politely declined saying she'd hate to interfere with their reunion.
She pestered her sister and told her that she wouldn't go alone to the dance.
She worked her over and didn't stop until she finally changed her mind and agreed to accompany them.
While there Theresa was asked to dance by a nice young man named Mike.
A good choice.
One, that as of this writing, has lasted for 54 years.
Of course, if you happen to be a hopeless romantic like me, you probably think you know just where this is going.
And you are probably going to be right.
The beautiful young girl and her handsome suitor did fall deeper in love.
They dated for two years before he asked her father for her hand in marriage.
He got down on one knee and basically begged the man.
She watched as her dad answered this most important question "why do you only want her hand?" her father said "take ALL of her !!"... funny now, she says, but at the time she wanted to die of embarrassment.
Her dad defended his actions by saying some comic relief was needed.
She was 18.
He, a mature 34 when they married.
Over the years they welcomed into their lives a total of six children.
Three girls, three boys.
They worked hard as a team, he, sometimes working three jobs at one time in order to support them.
She did her share too, caring for the children and making his home his palace.
Never was there such a meticulous homemaker, she's been known to say that her home is her "crowning glory".
And what a lovely glory it was.
It was a place he was always so glad to come home to.
Their love story hasn't been all fairytale, certainly they had their fair share of great times but they also suffered more heartache than any family should bear.
They buried a daughter before her seventh month.
And later would suffer the loss of a beloved granddaughter.
But time and time again they proved that together they could weather any storm.
Their teenaged children like to tell tale of all the time the two of them spent in the bedroom... something that made the kids red faced and tickled pink all at the same time.
Who could say that after all those years their parents still wanted to spend time together in the bedroom..?
(And no, they were not sleeping).
Their romance was the part that keep everyone watching, to watch them dance was definition of poetry in motion.
In perfect sync, he leads and she follows.
Life moves swiftly, it ebbs, it flows.
Good follows bad follows good... and on it goes.
During a cross-country road trip to Arizona the children nearly lost them both.
She was behind the wheel, he resting in the passenger seat next to her.
A truck driver playing a game of chicken kicked off a chain reaction that would cause their car and trailer to dangerously fishtail.
While she fought to keep the car on the road he did all he could from where he sat.
When he knew that the car was going over the edge of the road he screamed to her "give me your hand, we're going over".
To be continued.....
He was calling to ask her out.
Come with me to an Initiation Party for the Veterans of Foreign War, he asked.
On the phone he also asked her to bring along her sister.
Ahh, she thought, he's not interested in me, he wants to get closer to my sister.
It's nothing like that, he insisted.
There would be lots of nice, single guys at the dance, maybe she'd meet a good one.
Her sister politely declined saying she'd hate to interfere with their reunion.
She pestered her sister and told her that she wouldn't go alone to the dance.
She worked her over and didn't stop until she finally changed her mind and agreed to accompany them.
While there Theresa was asked to dance by a nice young man named Mike.
A good choice.
One, that as of this writing, has lasted for 54 years.
Of course, if you happen to be a hopeless romantic like me, you probably think you know just where this is going.
And you are probably going to be right.
The beautiful young girl and her handsome suitor did fall deeper in love.
They dated for two years before he asked her father for her hand in marriage.
He got down on one knee and basically begged the man.
She watched as her dad answered this most important question "why do you only want her hand?" her father said "take ALL of her !!"... funny now, she says, but at the time she wanted to die of embarrassment.
Her dad defended his actions by saying some comic relief was needed.
She was 18.
He, a mature 34 when they married.
Over the years they welcomed into their lives a total of six children.
Three girls, three boys.
They worked hard as a team, he, sometimes working three jobs at one time in order to support them.
She did her share too, caring for the children and making his home his palace.
Never was there such a meticulous homemaker, she's been known to say that her home is her "crowning glory".
And what a lovely glory it was.
It was a place he was always so glad to come home to.
Their love story hasn't been all fairytale, certainly they had their fair share of great times but they also suffered more heartache than any family should bear.
They buried a daughter before her seventh month.
And later would suffer the loss of a beloved granddaughter.
But time and time again they proved that together they could weather any storm.
Their teenaged children like to tell tale of all the time the two of them spent in the bedroom... something that made the kids red faced and tickled pink all at the same time.
Who could say that after all those years their parents still wanted to spend time together in the bedroom..?
(And no, they were not sleeping).
Their romance was the part that keep everyone watching, to watch them dance was definition of poetry in motion.
In perfect sync, he leads and she follows.
Life moves swiftly, it ebbs, it flows.
Good follows bad follows good... and on it goes.
During a cross-country road trip to Arizona the children nearly lost them both.
She was behind the wheel, he resting in the passenger seat next to her.
A truck driver playing a game of chicken kicked off a chain reaction that would cause their car and trailer to dangerously fishtail.
While she fought to keep the car on the road he did all he could from where he sat.
When he knew that the car was going over the edge of the road he screamed to her "give me your hand, we're going over".
To be continued.....
Monday, May 21, 2012
A true love story has no end....
They met at her uncle's wedding. Her uncle was marrying his sister. He danced with her and all the other single girls at the wedding making quite an impression on them all.
Later that night she would tell her mother that he was the man she was going to marry someday.
Her mother dismissed her comment, "shussh up and go to bed" she said, shaking her head.
Silly little girl... she was only 8 years old.
And the handsome man she had her eye on was 24.
He began dating her older sister making the little girl so angry she stopped speaking to her sister.
When he'd been around the family long enough to reach "he really is a nice guy" status he realized that his interest had been misplaced.
By this time the young lady was 16 years old.
They began dating, but she thinks that his mother was worried about her young age and told her son so.
He gave the relationship a break, six months went by with no contact.
She mourned the loss and refused to look at another man.
One day he placed a call to her neighbor's phone, the neighbor ran across the street to get her.
"Someone is on the phone for you" the neighbor said.
"Who?" she asked.
"Who have you been waiting for?" her neighbor replied.
She leapt across the bed and bounded across the street where she couldn't get to the phone fast enough.
Life for him, just hadn't been the same, without her.
..... to be continued
Later that night she would tell her mother that he was the man she was going to marry someday.
Her mother dismissed her comment, "shussh up and go to bed" she said, shaking her head.
Silly little girl... she was only 8 years old.
And the handsome man she had her eye on was 24.
He began dating her older sister making the little girl so angry she stopped speaking to her sister.
When he'd been around the family long enough to reach "he really is a nice guy" status he realized that his interest had been misplaced.
By this time the young lady was 16 years old.
They began dating, but she thinks that his mother was worried about her young age and told her son so.
He gave the relationship a break, six months went by with no contact.
She mourned the loss and refused to look at another man.
One day he placed a call to her neighbor's phone, the neighbor ran across the street to get her.
"Someone is on the phone for you" the neighbor said.
"Who?" she asked.
"Who have you been waiting for?" her neighbor replied.
She leapt across the bed and bounded across the street where she couldn't get to the phone fast enough.
Life for him, just hadn't been the same, without her.
..... to be continued
Thursday, May 17, 2012
A formula for successful writing...
Work is trying to kill me... I'll be back in a few days (hopefully)
I read this today and finally figured out what it is that I'm going to do with the next 10 years (or so) of my life...
The Groupon Guide to: Writing a Novel....
Cut and pasted (below for your reading pleasure)
(Swear-word Thomas perspective, who would I pick, oh who will I pick??...hilarious)
(THANK YOU GROUPON FOR THE GIGGLE...XOXO)
Unkempt Hair
Black Turtleneck Typewriter (symbolizes writing)
A Rocky Beach
I read this today and finally figured out what it is that I'm going to do with the next 10 years (or so) of my life...
The Groupon Guide to: Writing a Novel....
Cut and pasted (below for your reading pleasure)
(Swear-word Thomas perspective, who would I pick, oh who will I pick??...hilarious)
(THANK YOU GROUPON FOR THE GIGGLE...XOXO)
The Groupon Guide to:
Writing a Novel
With the economy in its current state, the most
fiscally responsible plan of action is to quit your job to write a novel for
teens that adults will read. Here, then, are all the bones that make up the
skeleton of a good novel:
• Narration
Your book will need a narrator.
Your book can be…
1st Person Perspective: Told from the point of view of the first
character you come up with
3rd Person Perspective: Told from the point of view of the weakest of three triplets
Swear-word Thomas Perspective: Told from the point of view of town character, Swear-word Thomas
3rd Person Perspective: Told from the point of view of the weakest of three triplets
Swear-word Thomas Perspective: Told from the point of view of town character, Swear-word Thomas
• Inciting Incident
Your book needs a moment that starts off the story. It can be when…
The mayor declares being in love illegal in this proud Space Station
The family needs someone to fetch Lilly’s medicine from the capital, but Pa’s in the ground and Ma’s got the Fester Leg. Looks like it’s up to bookish little Tabitha Greenwood!
The tornado gains sentience and a hatred of humanity after colliding with the computer factory
The mayor declares being in love illegal in this proud Space Station
The family needs someone to fetch Lilly’s medicine from the capital, but Pa’s in the ground and Ma’s got the Fester Leg. Looks like it’s up to bookish little Tabitha Greenwood!
The tornado gains sentience and a hatred of humanity after colliding with the computer factory
• Plot Structure
Your book needs a plot
structure. It can be…
We learn about the characters in their pleasant if boring lives until
the bad thing happens. The main person is sad about the bad thing but resolves
to change it. They try to have some success but then something related to the
main person’s main flaw makes the bad thing way worse than ever. Then something
even worse happens. The main person wants to give up but through the power of
not giving up fixes the bad thing and falls in love with the person they
overlooked in favor of the hot person who turned out to be bad or neutral. They
are happy in the end.
Nothing Else
• An About the Author Photo
Your About the
Author photo should contain at least three of the following:
Unkempt Hair
Black Turtleneck Typewriter (symbolizes writing)
A Rocky Beach
A Labrador
Thick Eyebrows
Thick Eyebrows
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The difficult years..birth to present
I had a beautiful Mother's Day and I hope if you're a mom that you did too.
Buttercup and his Mrs came over on Saturday with a balloon, a mushy card, and cupcakes Mrs Buttercup had made.
(When I peeled back the foil and looked at them my (not so) "poker face" must have spoken volumes... WOW, these are very nice (incredibly plain) and unfrosted yellow cupcakes. WT-frick??? I leaned in to smell them in order to understand WHY my daughter in law would so proudly gift me with unfrosted cupcakes... now, the kid's no Ellie Mae Clampet by any means, but she was mysteriously very proud of the cupcakes...they were beautifully shaped, even plain they looked like they would taste great)
When I broke one in half to eat it I discovered the middle was filled with chocolate frosting...
Oh how I love a surprise, chocolate filled middle...
Mrs Buttercup also brought me a vase she made. A clear glass hurricane vase that was decorated with painted sticks that she picked up from the woods near her home.
She saw it on Pinterest and made one for her mom and I for Mother's Day.
I'm a sucker for vases, I'm a sucker for natural branches (of any size)... I put a candle in it and then did what any good mother would do...I sent an email picture to Googie's phone letting her know that she'd been replaced as my number one girl.
Since it was Saturday that gave Googie one more shopping day to try and "one up" her sister in law..
Ohhhh how I do love me a good game of "who loves mother best?"
teee heeeeeee
Googie, Bear and Trouble came bearing awesome (over priced Hallmark) cards and gifts on Sunday.
Bear's card was hilarious...on the front it had a picture of a red-faced screaming baby and said "Mom, Thanks for raising me during my difficult years." on the inside "Birth to Present" ...
I cackled when I read that. How freakin true, every damn day we're mothers there is potential for a new challenge, the difficult years are often Birth to Present.. and seriously, who ever said it would be easy?
I am convinced that mothering is what I was born to do and what a validation to have three kids (plus two bonus kids) who tell you by words and deeds that they think you did it right.
Better than all the tea in China I tell ya.
PS... I'd better gush and brag and tell you that Googie and Bear bought me a pedicure for Mum's day. Trouble got me a card (JUST FROM HIM..WOW-ZA) and he and Googie got me some neat Elvis memorabilia, a dazzling spawk-ley copper diamond dusted bracelet (ohh she does know bracelets make my heart spaw-kle and sing songs of utter spaw-kley-ness). Googie also got me a small bird that sits on it's butt with it's little spindly stick legs and feet sticking straight forward, I put it on my windowsill and smile every time I see it.
PSS.. the real crack up here is that they didn't have to do a damn thing for me and I'd still know they love me and I know they appreciate me...even when I'm not helping them through the "difficult years"and their lives are hunky-dory and they don't need me for jack they still love ME and appreciate ME... they don't have to spend one red cent for me to know how loved I am.
I appreciate the things they do for me, really I do, but I must say that as long as they're happy and healthy and living a good life...that's all this mother needs to have a happy mother's day..it really is as simple as that.
(that said, you should SEE my bracelet, it's divine)
Buttercup and his Mrs came over on Saturday with a balloon, a mushy card, and cupcakes Mrs Buttercup had made.
(When I peeled back the foil and looked at them my (not so) "poker face" must have spoken volumes... WOW, these are very nice (incredibly plain) and unfrosted yellow cupcakes. WT-frick??? I leaned in to smell them in order to understand WHY my daughter in law would so proudly gift me with unfrosted cupcakes... now, the kid's no Ellie Mae Clampet by any means, but she was mysteriously very proud of the cupcakes...they were beautifully shaped, even plain they looked like they would taste great)
When I broke one in half to eat it I discovered the middle was filled with chocolate frosting...
Oh how I love a surprise, chocolate filled middle...
Mrs Buttercup also brought me a vase she made. A clear glass hurricane vase that was decorated with painted sticks that she picked up from the woods near her home.
She saw it on Pinterest and made one for her mom and I for Mother's Day.
I'm a sucker for vases, I'm a sucker for natural branches (of any size)... I put a candle in it and then did what any good mother would do...I sent an email picture to Googie's phone letting her know that she'd been replaced as my number one girl.
Since it was Saturday that gave Googie one more shopping day to try and "one up" her sister in law..
Ohhhh how I do love me a good game of "who loves mother best?"
teee heeeeeee
Googie, Bear and Trouble came bearing awesome (over priced Hallmark) cards and gifts on Sunday.
Bear's card was hilarious...on the front it had a picture of a red-faced screaming baby and said "Mom, Thanks for raising me during my difficult years." on the inside "Birth to Present" ...
I cackled when I read that. How freakin true, every damn day we're mothers there is potential for a new challenge, the difficult years are often Birth to Present.. and seriously, who ever said it would be easy?
I am convinced that mothering is what I was born to do and what a validation to have three kids (plus two bonus kids) who tell you by words and deeds that they think you did it right.
Better than all the tea in China I tell ya.
PS... I'd better gush and brag and tell you that Googie and Bear bought me a pedicure for Mum's day. Trouble got me a card (JUST FROM HIM..WOW-ZA) and he and Googie got me some neat Elvis memorabilia, a dazzling spawk-ley copper diamond dusted bracelet (ohh she does know bracelets make my heart spaw-kle and sing songs of utter spaw-kley-ness). Googie also got me a small bird that sits on it's butt with it's little spindly stick legs and feet sticking straight forward, I put it on my windowsill and smile every time I see it.
PSS.. the real crack up here is that they didn't have to do a damn thing for me and I'd still know they love me and I know they appreciate me...even when I'm not helping them through the "difficult years"and their lives are hunky-dory and they don't need me for jack they still love ME and appreciate ME... they don't have to spend one red cent for me to know how loved I am.
I appreciate the things they do for me, really I do, but I must say that as long as they're happy and healthy and living a good life...that's all this mother needs to have a happy mother's day..it really is as simple as that.
(that said, you should SEE my bracelet, it's divine)
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Blake Shelton - God Gave Me You (Official Video) FOR MARMIE..
Dear Marmie...
God gave me you Marmie...
Blessed beyond measure.
Country music star Blake Shelton wrote a beautiful song (It was written for his "woman", but I don't care, most of the words of this song can be said about how I feel about you).
(Just for the record I'm not a walkin heartache...not today anyway)
(you have to click on the corner "watch on YouTube" buttheads... In order to see/hear it, I would have re-done the whole post, but I had to go rub Daddio's feet, yeah I know it's Mother (tee-hee) Day and all, and he sure can be a mutha..especially today, he "helped" by doing the wash and shrunk my two (quite new) white shirts... I screamed so loud he thought I was being murdered, then I went nearly homicidal and hurt his feelings and he was sad, which made me have to apologize and kiss his rear for about a half hour..which had me thinking I really married a cleaver man, he shrinks my clothes and I end up worshipping him and making him a special breakfast, after the shabby way I treated him, I owed him that at least...whoa boy, yes I did, okay, sure, whatever you say...)
(GREAT, NOW THE VIDEO IS GONE, I'M GOING TO TRY AGAIN)
God gave me you Marmie...
Blessed beyond measure.
Here is a letter we sent you many, many moons ago (my spelling has gotten a bit better over the years)
The prettiest, most wonderful mother God ever gave to three (plus 3 bonus) lucky kids..
 |
Marmie
|
HAPPY MOTHER DAY MARMIE.... I LOVE YOU TO THE STARS AND BACK
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