ROLLER COASTER LIFE

It has been 3 weeks since the last time I typed something I thought someone would be interested in reading and I don't know how much interest I can stir up even now. My life lately has seemed to be on a roller coaster ride and I never liked roller coaster rides even as a young person so putting it in print seems scary.

One week my volunteer self is working on all four engines. Organizing school supply drives, collecting petitions for political candidates for 2010 elections. Heading to the Board of Elections office to enter signatures into a data basis. Then boom, the roller coaster is on the descend and the volunteer group has fallen apart, the signatures are all in and election time right now is all about fundraising (which I have no funds to attend these fancy dinners) so I'm not needed now and I find myself sitting here playing Majhong on Facebook all day.

Family matters work along the same amusement park lines only this is the all time thriller roller coaster ride of your life. A few days of creeping up those tracks, clickity click, clickity click is all the breathing time you get. Hit the top and bam! a swift fall, a quick turn, up and down, up and down, scream out loud, and start all over again until you think the only thing you can do is jump off. All of a sudden with no warning at all, a little sun shines through and you get a small amount of time to breathe again. But not for long. Here we go again.

And after all these years you realize that life is a roller coaster. There is nothing you can do about it but enjoy the slow time going up the tracks, take a deep breath on the down turn and start all over again. Stay in your seat, keep your arms inside the seat and please don't jump. Look around you when you are on the top. Take in the beauty of it all and try to enjoy the ride down because it's over before you know it.

DISAPPOINTMENT

As most of the world and all of Chicago knows by now we were ousted in the first round. The chance of seeing the Olympics in my hometown in my lifetime is over. I have carried gloom and sadness around all day today. I was awake in the middle of the night watching the presentation. I was standing in front of the TV watching every thing before the vote. I looked at the crowd in the loop and thought about the night in Grant Park when the election results named Barack Obama president and knew how some of those people there were going to feel when they announced Chicago as the winner of the 2016 Olympic games. I have been in combat with every friend and relative who thought it was bad for Chicago to have the games here. I felt the wind go out of the sail when the first round results were read.

And yet I don't know why I was so on the side of victory for Chicago. In 7 more years I would probably not only be unable to afford any tickets, I probably would be too old to fight the crowds and walk the avenues and just enjoyed watching on TV like I do every Olympic event. I would moan and groan about the congestion, the back up of traffic all over the city and the crowds in restaurants, stores and public transportation which is my way of getting around. We would be prisoners in our own homes until all the visitors left and went home with their gold, silver and bronze and the torch was dimmed but we would be proud. Proud that Chicago put on the best Olympic show ever. That Chicago showed the world what a beautiful and friendly city is all about. That Chicago's reputation is in the past and we have change the way we do business and are no longer second city but the city every citizen of our city, our state and our country is so, so proud of.
I guess that is what I was looking forward to and feel the disappointment of that maybe, just maybe not happening in my lifetime. Sorry all Chicago citizens for or against the games, I hope you will feel that in your lifetime.

BOREDOM

Every year the thoughts of winter start to flow through my brain and depression starts to set in, only this year it seems to be taking over sooner. It's 6:30 and it's almost completely dark. I had to dig out a heavy sweater today to take the dog out. It was 47 degrees this morning and it's not even Oct. yet.

I hate winter. I have always hated winter. Truthfully it is not so bad since I retired because I don't have to go out if I don't want to which is the cause of my boredom. I don't go out most winter days. Why I have stayed in Chicago my whole life has always been a question I can never answer except for family. I have said because I don't drive, Chicago is a great place to live. Public transportation in Chicago allows me to go most every place I care to go. And because I have always been a chicken, I was always intimidated with thoughts of going way from the comfort of home alone.

For the last two winters nothing kept me indoors. Snow, sleet, ice were no obstacle for me to overcome when I was out there campaigning for Barack Obama. In Iowa in December, knocking on doors in four feet of snow. Canvassing, working at the volunteer headquarters, phone banking, winter didn't stop me. Boredom was not in my vocabulary.

I wish I could find something that I believed in as much. I wish I could find something I could learn so much from as politics, I knew very little. I wish I could find something that I could meet so many wonderful and exciting people as I did then. That's the cure for boredom. I keep looking.

AN OUTSTRECHED HAND

Doing a good deed can really help someone who needs it whether it is just an act of kindness, a monetary handout or a friend to turn to in need. I have always known that when you do something nice for someone it makes you feel good also. As most of you know I have been volunteering since I retired 3 1/2 years ago but this week-end event just made my heart soar.

Our little group decided a few weeks ago to have a school supply drive. Four of us worked really hard passing out change jars in the local businesses, calling friends, family and neighbors for donations. We contacted one of the local schools who really needed help. They are in one of the poorest districts in our area with one of the lowest income per family around. The principal supplied us with a list needed for each grade and off we went.

On Saturday we collected the cans, stacked up the donations and counted out all those pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters and ended up with over $400.00. Pretty good for so little time and not many volunteers.

Sunday two of us split the money and hit the stores looking for the cheapest prices we could find.

Now anyone that knows me at all finds this very strange because I hate to shop. I avoid stores like I avoid being in a car. If there is an alternative I take it but this was different. It was for the kids. It put a smile on my face just thinking about those kids. Plus it wasn't my money I was spending.

Because it was only two days before school started most of the stores were all sold out so it took many many stores to spend all our money. Thanks Kim for being so patient in driving me around all Sunday morning. But finally every penny was spent. I had to con a few managers to overlook the 3 limit allowance, "after all I could be spending a few hundred in your store."

Three carloads were delivered to the school on Labor Day morning and it was truely a labor of love. If only more people would extend a hand just think how many smiles there would be on so many faces. Coming up winter clothes drive, food drive. Who knows maybe a few more will put out a helping hand. They don't know what they are missing.

VACATION

I know I am on vacation most everyday. I don't count days that the laundry has to be done or when dusting, closet cleaning or floor washing are a necessity as vacation days. Days like today when it is 2:10 in the afternoon and I am only half dressed cause I was really busy doing volunteer work which I love and creating brochures which brings out my artistic side I consider vacation days.

But the real vacation is coming in 5 days. Vegas here we come. I can't explain why I love it so much. It is a different world from the one we live in. I love the sound of the music playing while I'm sitting at the slots trying to win my fortune. Listening to the shout of the people striking it rich. At least that's how loud they yell. I love eating at restaurants whenever you want to. I love the lights, the beautiful art of each and every hotel. I pretend I can afford the stuff in those ritzy shops even though I wouldn't buy most of it even if I was as rich as Oprah. Not a glitzy person. I always feel like I am a different person when I'm in Vegas. And most of all I love spending those lazy, happy days with close friends, sharing time with we don't get much of during the rest of the year.

Although I would probably never need the slogan "What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas" the idea of knowing it's there is exciting.

So here's hoping I strike it greedily rich but knowing if I don't and if God is willing I'll go back next year and try again. If there are no more blogs from me, I'm traveling the world with all the money I won. I'll call instead.

POLITICS

Most people in this country, or at least the people I know have just about gotten the Presidential election and campaign out of their blood. They have stopped watching most of the political news stations on cable and are able to turn on the TV without hearing about the polls or who is ahead or who won the debate last night. They have stopped complaining about how long the campaign is and how much it cost. But not me. As anyone knows from reading my first blog or knowing me personally I was so involved, election day was a wonderful day for me but Nov. 5th was a punch in the stomach. It was over. My life for the last 2 years as I knew it was over. My political conversations were over. My political social life stopped. I had nothing to do. Most were happy, I was lost. Luckily there was the close knit group who worked side by side for 2 years who understood and felt the same way.

But life has begun again. Oh I kept myself busy. Redecorating a bedroom. Joining a neighborhood volunteer group. Catching up with old friends. And watching political news daily. But now it starts all over again. Not quite so big. There is no presidential elections. All local but that's ok. I will be involved. Tuesday was petition day for the 2010 candidates.

My friend who I worked closely with during President Obama's march to the White House has been hired as campaign director for a gentleman running for congress in a district in Chicago and has asked me if I would be willing to help. Of course I said yes. I said yes because I would help him no matter what He is a good guy, my friend, not the politician. I said yes because I loved doing this before and will love being involved again. And I said yes because I love our city, our country and I feel if you are unhappy about the way things are run then you have to do something to change it. I know I can't change a great deal about the way politics are but I can keep trying. And at my age when you learn about new things, it's a good day. And I am learning new things daily.

YOUR MOTHER'S DAUGHTER

A blog written by my niece sent my mind wandering about my mom. The blog was not about moms, it was about napkins. She mentioned how older folks, especially grandmas always seem to have a tissue, paper towel or something on or near by at all times. As my mother got older, more and more there was always a paper towel in her hand or a tissue in her pocket or tucked into the sleeve of her blouse. My siblings and myself would shake our heads when helping her with the laundry cause 9 out of 10 times tissue that was left in a pocket was spread all over the clean clothes. The problem with that is I find myself doing that all the time. I can't sit at the table without a paper towel in my hand. And yes I do stick them in the sleeve of my shirt.

It's amazing what DNA does for you. My mom was of German heritage and dad Italian. We never mentioned or lived the German part. We were Italian in our actions, food and even friends but as I age I can't go a day without someone who knew my mom say "I feel like I'm looking at your mom right now. You look so much like her." And looks are not the only thing.

I think I am the luckiest of my siblings. Not to brag, or maybe I am, but I think I have picked up some of my mom's best traits. When my first child was starting school there was a parent meeting to get to know the teacher. Talking to my mom that day she warned me, "Don't volunteer for anything". "Sit on your hands." You see she was a doer. She was involved in everything we did growing up. I used to get so mad at my friends as a teen cause they loved her and wanted her chaperoning everything we did. Parties, dances, trips to the beach. Not much fun to have your mom around all the time but really I was proud of her. Needless to say before I left that meeting, I was the room mother, craft helper and anything else they needed me to do and I have been volunteering my whole life. I will join.

I am also proud to say I picked up her crafty talents. She did it all and was self taught. I don't ever remember her hiring a decorator, she did it all herself. Someone asked me how much a painter would cost. My reply was "I don't know, never hired one." I just did it. She never had a lesson in her life in any craft but got a job as a craft teacher with the Chicago park district. She taught herself to design and make her own hats. I never went that far, hats for women went out of style, but I was never afraid to try anything. I love art, crafts and decorating and in my next life I will become a famous designer or artist of some kind.

All thanks to you, mom. And still after 15 years I miss you daily and want to pick up the phone and ask you for help on some project I am working on.

DESIGN DILEMA

My project for the week is done except..............

I love the colors, I love the comforter and I love the picture (painted by yours truly). For a very small room it came out bright, crisp, just like a small room should look. I also was pleased that it did not cost much. I pledged I would be frugal in there because 1) it is a spare room and no one sees it often in the back of the house 2) it is small and you can't put too much into it.

So when I decided a chest was needed I went hunting for the bargain. If you know anything about me I do not shop for bargains...I do not shop for anything. The online shopping was no help so I took a walk to this junk store on the next block and struck gold. 2 matching chests, just the right size. I did not need 2 but for $20.00 each I could not pass them up. I struck pay dirt. Got them home and painted the one to match the room. I was excited until..........

As you can see in the picture there is no hardware on this one or the other one. As a unprofessional, in her dreams designer I look for the details. I decided to use copper colored accents. I pulled things from around the house and used my handy copper paint and added accents in copper for no cost. Frugal.

Then I went looking for hardware for the $20.00 chests. Home Depot had the most extraordinary pulls that were copper and peacock blue. The exact match for the bedroom. What a designers dream or nightmare. About $120.00 for drawer pulls for a $20.00 chest. They were perfect, but the cost. I walked up and down that aisle 10 times and then out the door.

No I did not buy them but I did not buy any. I am now going to have to let time go by and leave it alone for awhile cause right now I will not find anything that will work or anything I will like as much.

DISCRIMINATION

In the time of a jobless economy we all know young people who are looking for jobs. Whether it is a summer job to help pay for college expenses come September or an entry level job to march forward as an adult and join the working fools of the world they are out there pounding the pavement.

My 21 year old grandson Nick who has been filling out applications and knocking on doors for months is having no luck. He came to visit Friday and also to use my computer to fill out more online apps. He also brought the good news that my 18 year old granddaughter, recent graduate, Amanda and her friend found a job in a newly opened restaurant. They are both planning on the community college in the fall. I was very excited since Amanda is the girl with 4 brothers, who thinks whatever she does her world is protected by her male siblings. From all accounts she has probably filled out 2 job applications since graduation in May. And she landed the job.
As grandmother I then questioned Nick about why he didn't go there as long as they were hiring. By the time he learned of it they had already hired their quota and the only reason the 2 cute young girls got the job was because the owner, a male, happened to walk in while they were being told, by a woman, that all positions were filled and he looked at them and said to hire them and give them a chance.
Nick was claiming foul play. Just because your cute you get a job. Unfair. I agree with him in my heart but she is my granddaughter and I'm happy for her.
So as a grandmother who believes in the idea that inner beauty is more important then outer beauty, that no matter who you are or what you look like you can achieve anything you set out to do could only come up with this simple advice for Nick.
Narrow your search to women owned companies, put on your irresistible charm and sex appeal and go out and get that job.
I'm only human and they are my grandkids.

MAN
VS.
WOMAN

DO I OR DON'T I ?

This entry may be a paragraph or two of mindless rambling because that is exactly what is going through my mind about this subject. Fortune tellers, card readers, psychics whatever you want to call them I am not a believer. Or am I? Many years ago a lady who read pictures, yes you brought her photos of loved ones, friends, neighbors, whoever and she told you about them and your relationship with these people. On most of those she was right or near right but I'm still waiting for the beautiful house on the water and the tall grey haired gentleman that was suppose to come along soon. I just figured I wasted my money and never tried it again until Sunday.

My daughter Kim had one of those girl parties. Make-up, a lady selling purses, food and a tarot card reader. For $20.00 you could have a stranger tell you your life story. One by one the ladies sat down at her table in my room (the party was held at my house because there was more room) plunked down their cash and spent 30 to 45 minutes having these strange cards spread out in front of them and their past present and future unfolded. I was not planning on wasting my money, I have other things I can waste money on, but as each lady came out from behind the closed door spewing amazement on how she hit the nail on the head each and every time I had to prove that she didn't know everything or everyone. I was sure these ladies only heard the general statements. You're going on a trip, money in your future or the love of your life is just around the corner.

When it was my turn I walked in with the nonbeliever look on my face and walked out with a pit in my stomach and a frown on my face. What she told me did not make me happy but it was so part of my life right now no one could have known that. I don't know how she knew this but she did and I don't know what I'm going to do with the info she gave me. But I do know this. I will never have my future, past or anything else read again because I really don't want to hear what they have to say whether it is true or false. I don't know what I believe anymore but I don't want to believe there is some stranger out there who can look at some cards or lines in my hands or leaves in the bottom of a cup and tell me my most personal secrets.

ITCH

I often wondered when it would come back again. Maybe never, maybe you are getting too old.

My entire adult life I have loved anything creative especially interior design. I even went back to school evenings at the Academy of Interior Design for several years.

From the time I got my own apartment, I always did my own decorating, painting, wall papering, sewing and I even tried tiling a backsplash once. I have refurbished my kitchen cabinets, designed my tile and wood kitchen floor and so on and so on and so on. Of course I have also been commisioned for a flat fee of zero to redo my kids houses again and again. I loved the feeling of pride and satisfaction when a project turned out better then expected. I was never afraid to try anything.

But then something happened. Age. Four years ago, the house needed MAJOR construction so the contractors not only did the construction work, we also had someone do the decorating. I picked out the colors, the tiles, the fixtures but they did all the work and everything came out beautiful. I love the way my house looks. I still had the pride in knowing I chose it all but I didn't do it and couldn't do it. So when the boredom itch came along I volunteered. I got involved deeply in the Obama campaign and after Nov. 4th 2008 I joined a community volunteer group but that is kind of lagging energy at the moment.

And then it happened. The design itch came back in a strange way. My grandson Nick who moved in with me 2 months ago for whatever reason young people do anything he decided to move back out. This really upset me because I did not think this was the right road for him to take, but he is 21 and makes his own choices.

But back to the itch. I knew to keep my mind off my problems, keeping my mind busy is the best way to go. First I started reading again. That helped a little but my mind kept straying to what once again is the spare bedroom. It has been the Michael Jordan room for about 12 years and my heart could not tear the posters from the wall or remove the red Bulls curtains until now.

I am happy to announce the itch struck again and the black and white striped wallpaper is gone. The Bulls border is down. All traces of the Champion Chicago Bulls are gone. I even got rid of my VHS tapes of every playoff and championship game they played in the 90's. My heart broke but I did it.

I ordered new bed linens and curtains. Painting the room will start Monday and I will do it. Every muscle in my body will probably ache for weeks but I suddenly feel creative and productive again. And I'm not quite so mad at Nick.

WE TRY

As a mother and a grandmother, why do we think if we really try we can solve all problems? Who do we think we are? Dr. Spock, Dr. Phil, Einstein or God? And if you happen to be one of the people we love most in this world, just come and tell us your problems and we will take care of it.

If someone pushes you down in the playground, we will clean the scrape, stop the bleeding and march right over to that bullies house and tell him and his mother off. Probably not the right thing to do but we love you and it will be better.

As a teenager that heart gets broken, let's go shopping and it will be all better. You really didn't need all those new clothes but we love you and it will be better.

We take care of the grandkids. We pay for that. We help with that all because we love you. Give, give, give. We do it out of love because we want it all to be better.

And then all of a sudden we realize it's out of our hands. We can't make it better. We have to let them get through it themselves, even though we know they may chose the wrong road.

We're told tough love is the only thing that will help even though we told ourselves we will throw ourselves across that road we don't want them to go down. Love is not enough. So we stand back and watch mistake after mistake while our hearts break a little day after day. We hope and pray that one day they realize that the love given to them and the advice they shunned is actually what will set them on the correct road after all. We just keep trying and loving. We patch up the aches in our hearts and go on and keep trying.

SHOWERS

As we all know showers are good for the body. Cleansing the dirt and grim of the day, the sweat from the sun or hard work and having hot streaming water pour down on those old aching muscles. But showers can be good or bad for the thought process.

Sometimes the stress and upset of life flows through your mind as the water flows over your body. Things you thought went down the drain long ago suddenly pop up as if it were yesterday. Memories of dearly missed loved ones cause tears to flow along with shower water.

Happy times can come just as fast. The other night standing under the hot stream just thinking about how good it felt jarred memories of other showers or lack of a shower. When my 21 year old grandsons were 10 I had a chance to send them both to Michael Jordan basketball camp. It was held at Elmhurst College and was 4 days that the boys stayed at the college, played nothing but basketball, met M.J. and learned the basics of b-ball.

As a grandma who was fanatic about Michael, I was more excited then they were. I planned on going everyday to watch and see Michael Jordan. And I did.

Of course I wanted everything perfect for them so shopping we went. New clothes, new Nikes, new sheets for their beds, pictures to have autographed etc. etc. etc.

On the magic day off we go arriving and registering and locating the dorm they would stay in for the next 3 nights. I instantly started unpacking their bags, putting their clothes in drawers and putting the new sheets on the beds, when 2 boys could not wait any longer to head to the gym. They promised they would finish with the housekeeping later. Yeah right. Off we went to find the fun.

They then had 4 days of basketball, Michael Jordan, Michael's sons Jeffery and Marcus and a wonderful memory for all of us. 2 little boys had the time of their lives.

What did this have to do with taking a shower or lack of a shower and brought these memories back to me so vividly. It was on the 4th day, walking into the gym to pick them up, with about 400 boys ages 8-18 and no parental badgering about hygiene the smell was so thick it was obvious that not one shower knob had been touched in 4 days. And not one happy and excited boy noticed or cared. The car windows were down all the way home. The grins from ear to ear and 2 happy tired boys. Thank you Michael Jordan.

APOLOGY

For those of you who have continued to read my blog on a regular basis I have to say I'm sorry for ignoring you but I have found a new love. Thanks to my grandson Nick, I am learning to play Texas Hold'em on the Internet.
As anyone who knows me knows Las Vegas is my favorite place. I keep saying it's because of the glam, the glitter but we all know it's because of the gambling. When I'm there I only play the slots because even though I know how to play poker, I'm always afraid of betting wrong or making a fool of myself so I stand and watch but never have the nerve to sit in. I watch all the hold'um games on TV, even Poker after Dark which comes on at 3 am but never could pick up the betting, when to check, when to raise and when to go "all in". So now I can practice for free. Yes I am playing for free.
Nick showed my how to sign in, what games to play and how to maneuver around the table. When it came to playing I was on my own.
MY FIRST GAME: One of the problems with free play is at times you have to wait for long periods to get in a game and when you do there are thousands of players from all over the world. OK, I decide on a game and sit and wait for 45 minutes to register. Finally I register and within a minute there are 9000 players signed up. Again you wait for another 20 minutes or so before the game begins. I was nervous counting down, 5 minutes to go. 3 minutes to go, 1 minute. Game starts. You start out with $1,500 chips. Bet, raise, fold. Lost again. Fold. Fold. All in (hurray a win). Fold, Bet. It was going so fast around the table I was getting lost. A couple of more bets. Lost, Lost, Lost. and 2 minutes after starting this game I was broke and out and I didn't know what happened.
So waiting 65 minutes with sweaty palms and racing heart I was out in 2 minutes.
Most people will say this is dumb but someone who likes to gamble even for free will practice, practice, practice until I get it right. I have played several games since then. I am figuring out how to register for different games so it doesn't take so long and I am staying in longer which means I'm starting to figure out what is happening during the game but I have a long way to go. So if as a friend you don't hear from me much don't worry that I'm dead of a heart attack in my bed. I'm just practicing Texas Hold'em for Vegas. Oh by the way My table name is ko4bucks. If you come across me at the tables, you better fold cause I'm out to win.

BEING A GRANDMOTHER

When I got a call from my 21 year old grandson Nick asking if he could come stay with me there was not a hesitation in my answer. Not only are my grandkids my heart but I always told them I would be there for them and I felt proud that he knew he could turn to me. I said "of course" hung up the phone and instantly started cleaning out the spare room. Where the hell did all that junk come from? It's such a small room.

Several hours later it hit me like a dart between the eyes, he's 21 not a child, a grown man. As an over protective grandmother I'm going to smother him to death. I can't be following him around the house, he's not a toddler who will trip and hurt himself. I can't ask who's he talking to on the phone, it's none of my business. And I can't tell him over and over again "pull your pants up", he'll wear them any way he wants. So after going over the normal house rules, pick up after yourself, here's the washer and dryer learn how to use it, and call when you are going to be late, he hung his clothes up and settled in.

Then all hell broke loose. I started to feed him. He looks like he weighs 100 lbs. soaking wet but eats like a 400lb. wrestler. I have shopped with Peapod for several years so the first week I told Nick to sit down and order what he likes. After taking out a loan and looking in the delivered bags to see chips and pop and ice cream and steaks and more chips and more steaks my comment to the Peapod guy was OMG. He asked what is happening cause has delivered to me several times and this is not the norm.

He eats and gets up from the table to look in the fridge to see what's next. He eats again. Dinner in the oven cooking is only a signal that is time for an appetizer so a sandwich or a large salad with all the added goodies and a dish of ice cream will hold him 10 minutes till I get dinner on the table. It's a sight to see.

And of course the arrow in the heart for someone who looks at food and gains 10lbs is this skinny love of my life get down on the floor and works out daily so he can start eating all over again. It's grand to be 21 but wait until he hits 40 and his eating habits stay the same. Hopefully he will be living on his own happily ever after feeding me in the style I've become accustom to.

AND HE IS ALWAYS SMILING

MOTHERS DAY

At times during the last couple of days I thought about what my blog would cover for Mothers day. There are several directions as a daughter, a mother and a grandmother of 8 that I could go. Unfortunatly due to an accident yesterday, my Baby got hit by a car. She has an injured front right leg which, at first, I did not think was broken but as time passes I am getting more concerned. It seems to be getting worse. I have talked to the on call vet last night and from what I described he did not feel it was broken either but prescribed baby aspirins and rest. If it is not better by tomorrow bring her in, he said, which of course I will do. But this sure puts a damper on Mothers Day.

First of all, like a neglectful mom, I was not home. I was out doing volunteer work, which should lessen my guilt some but every time I look at her hobbeling around here on 3 legs I feel awful. She just lays there looking at me, telling me with her eyes, "this hurts" and "where were you"?

I have tried to make her as comfortable as possible but she won't tell me what she wants. For 4 months I have been trying to teach her she can not pee in the house no matter what. Now I have spread carpeting all over the kitchen (she loves to pee on carpeting)and told her feel free to go whenever you need to. I will be glad to clean up after her. No! Now she has decided the only place to go is in the back yard which means carrying her up and down the stairs. I am feeding her by hand cause I don't want her to move too much and of course giving her more treats then she deserves.

So no matter if it's a child or a dog or whatever mothering never stops. Mothers Day or not. Enjoy the day and thank God all are healthy no matter who, child, pet, friend, or neighbor.

100 DAYS

Wow! 100 days. For some of us it seems like yesterday. For others it seems ages ago. The news reporters and political correspondents have been reporting for hours a day since day 25. What has he done today? What has he accomplished? There's the economy. There's the war. There's health care. What's his report card looking like? I can't imagine why anyone in this world would want the responsibility especially in this day and age.

100 days for those waiting to go on vacation or retirement or for kids waiting for Christmas or summer vacation will never get here. For those watching their grandkids grow up or celebrating that social security birthday, "Wow where did the time go"? I tried to think of the things I accomplished in the last 100 days. I joined a group called Community for Change to help better our community, organized and helped out with several fundraisers, had cataract surgery on both eyes and like the first family got a dog. Wasn't much compared with getting a stimulus package passed, taking on the banks and car manufacturers, visiting several foreign countries and heads of state, setting policies for Afghanistan and Iraq, nuclear weapons in Korea, fighting pirates, Mexican drug dealers and the Republicans on a daily basis. And now he has to battle the swine flu and answer for the planes flying over New York. What idiot thought of that? What will the next 100 days be like? It makes my head spin thinking of it. When I have a doctor’s appointment or something I am not comfortable with happening the next day, tossing and turning all night and thinking about it is normal for me. Can you imagine what goes through the president's mind each night as he lays his head on his pillow trying to fall asleep?

I am just extremely happy that he was the one who won this election, the one who will handle all these issues and problems. He can do it. During Meet the Press this week-end it was said that he loves the job. That he maintains a normal routine and is the "politics of calm." Wow with someone like him at the helm our chances are good. I worked hard for the right candidate and am proud of it.

IT'S HERE, IT'S HERE

Yes, it is finally here. I thought it would never come. It is SPRING. Although it is about a month late, seems like many months late, it is here. I knew it yesterday when the dog signaled she had to go out and I just put her leash on and walked out in the back yard. Slippers still on my feet. No slosh or water on the ground to cause stopping to put on the heavy shoes or boots. No coat or hat. Didn't need them. And I wasn't out there yelling "Hurry up, it's freezing out here". Baby does like to take her time no matter what kind of weather. So except for the rain, we won't have that to worry about for the next 5 or 6 months.

Now that the sun is shining again, I don't find it necessary to harass Pat on a daily basis. "Why can't we go to Vegas now instead of in October?" I would like to go tomorrow but I don't find it necessary to voice that over and over again. She is the travel director and I have to go along with her. She also is still working (poor soul) so vacation schedules have to be worked out.

Now that spring has sprung, I don't find it so hard to correspond with family and friends that live in warm weather parts of the country. Jealousy does not take over during the months of May, June , July and August as much as it does in December and January. It starts creeping slowly back in after that just knowing what is coming. The older I get, the faster it creeps.

I don't know why I get so excited about spring. It's not like I'm the big outdoorsy type. I'm not. As everyone knows I haven't owned a swimsuit since my teenage years. I don't like gardening. I never did play sports even as a child. It just has to be the warmth. I rarely complain that it is too hot. I love Vegas and have been there when the coolest day was 103 and dry. Florida is my favorite state. Hot and humid in July. Love it.

The one and only draw back with spring right now is happening already. I stand here at my closed up windows. Winter blahs disappearing, wondering "Who's going to start this SPRING CLEANING" You can barely see the sun shining through these dirty windows, the dust inches thick on the shades. Didn't seem so bad with the gloom of winter, but now. I guess as I look around and I'm the only one here, the answer must be me. So get out the rags and paper towels. Find the pledge and windex and the phone book. Oh, the phone book is for a cleaning service. You didn't think I was doing it. I'm retired. I have to enjoy Spring.

YOU CAN'T KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES

How do you tell a 3 year old that not all things in this world are equal? Some are just born under the right star. There is nothing you can do about it. That's just life. Some say you have to be born into it. Some say you just have to be in the right place at the right time. And some say it is just destiny. Whatever it is, be thankful for all the good things you have and don't be jealous if others are just given more. True happiness can't be bought.

Ever since yesterday when Baby caught the news on MSNBC and spotted Bo, the first dog prancing around the White House lawn with hundreds of cameras and reporters following his every move, she has been moaning and groaning and laying around the house claiming life is not fair.

My friend suggested seeing that I'm so close to Barack I should get an invite for Baby to go visit. Bad idea. Baby is not at all a social being. Another dog occupying her space (and she thinks all space is her space) sends her into a diva spin. Barking and howling and jumping all over. I can see the headlines now, "Diva Bitch attacks poor Bo in White House" FBI and secret service called to subdue her. Led out in pawcuffs.

I just tried to explain even though she does not have acres of green lawn to romp on or hundreds of servants to cater to her every whim or 2 cute little girls, a first lady and the President of the United States to call family she has me to love her, feed her, spoil her. What more could she want? And besides she is only 3. No one knows what the future will bring.

HAIL TO OBAMA

Being a news junkie, I have kept a close watch on the pirate saga for the last couple of weeks. Before that I joked about the "pirate situation" not taking it very seriously.

When these ignorant criminals decided to jump aboard an American vessel and kidnap an American crew and captain, I figured trouble would be brewing. Not so much between the pirates and the US Navy but between the American right wing and President Obama. Once the Navy ships showed up and parked surrounding the plastic dinghy, I wondered how long it would take the conservative party to blame President Obama for the pirates of the world and their hijacking on the Somalian seas. It had to be his fault, everything else is.

Well it didn't take long. This morning on George Stephanopoulos Sunday show, with guest Newt Gingrich and others from the right he was blamed for not doing anything, for the problem in the first place and for not getting the rest of the world to do something. Even though the shipping companies have been paying millions in ransoms, even though other countries such as France tried to fight back with some casualties it is our fault ( or should I say Obama's fault.)

Well now that they gave him all the blame I hope they give him all the credit because it was just announced that the captain has been rescued and 3 pirates killed when our Navy Seals under the cover of darkness performed a successful rescue mission. Hurray for our side. Here's hoping that pirates everywhere take notice. "You can't mess with the worlds best Navy and get away with it. We won't let you.

OVERLAPPING

Thank God Barack Obama got elected president and not John McCain. I write this for many obvious reasons but there is one reason I have been made more aware of the last few weeks. Age. I have been, of course, watching every step our president has made since he took office. Actually I have watched every step he has made for over 2 years but that's my problem not what this is about. I marvel how he can keep so many complicated and important issues straight in his mind. How he can answer one reporters intricate question on one subject and then instantly switch to something completely different and sound like he knows what he is talking about.
This past week at the G-20 Summit meeting with all the top leaders on world issues, dine with dignitaries and their wives on a social level, just trying to remember who you shake hands with who bows, who you don't touch, has to be mind blowing. Then he gets on a plane with many other people and heads to another country, a country that doesn't like us, or a country that wants our help. This can not be handled by a 73 year old. It doesn't matter what your feeling towards the issues are. It doesn't matter how much experience you have, it doesn't matter how long you have been in government. You can't handle it if your 73.

I know. I'm closer to 73 then 47. I worked in a job for 25 years that thought God gave you 2 of everything so you could use 2 at the same time. You were required to plug a hearing device into one ear so you could talk to a customer while you were typing an order in your computer with your left hand, filling out forms with the other and listening in on a meeting going on around you with the other ear. At 35 this was not particularly difficult but closer and closer to retirement age I heard myself say more then once, "I'm busy, I only have 2 hands" I just couldn't do it now.

Now that I am retired, I was born to be retired, I find that I not only can't overlap, doing 2 things at the same time I can't do 2 things in the same day. Saturday I was doing dishes and decided the window over the sink needed washing. I could no longer see the neighbors building. If you have been in my house you understand how bad that is cause you can not only see my neighbors building, you can touch it. Of course I had to wait until Sunday to tackle washing the window. Remember I had already cooked and did dishes on Saturday. Yesterday was laundry day. Even though it takes the washing machine a minimum of 30 minutes to go through the cycle I had to rest between wash and rinse. Tonight I have a meeting so there goes any thought of running the vacuum. This is what retirement means. Of course you can go to the movies, out for dinner with friends and head to a casino in the same day but that's different. I don't know why, it just is.

There is an age restriction on how old you have to be to become president, but there really should be a limit on being too old to run our country. Senior citizens need time to write things down. We need to look up words because we forget so easily. We need to check on our own families names let alone dignitaries of other countries. But most of all we need to know why we walked into that room, or went into that country before we go there. We don't look good scratching our head and turning around and walking out with nothing. Let younger, more (I can't think of the word I want to use here, oh well) do the hard things. I'm too busy trying to remember why I am writing this anyway.

TEENAGERS AND THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY

The other day my nephew posed a question on facebook "What is the matter with teenager's brains?" He has a teenager. I didn't think it necessary to ask what was the problem. I'm sure any parent of a teen has come across it no matter what took place. I just pointed out that over the last couple of years it has been published by the medical population that the brain is not completely developed until after the teenage years are over. The section left undone is the part that helps with reasoning and common sense. That little fact has answered a billion "Why would you do that?" or "What were you thinking?" inquiries from mystified parents.

Now what does this have to do with the insurance industry you ask? Well we all know that this industry has been screwed up for years and it has only gotten worse but it is really hard to live without it. President Obama has set one of his priorities to revamp the health care industry in this country. It is a very difficult and complex undertaking but it has to be done. Too many citizens have no insurance and avoid care because they can't afford it. We have all heard or experienced the nightmares. This week I have come across one of the solutions to this problem. An easy solution.

President Obama, just have someone go to each and every insurance company and check the age of their employees. They must hire nothing but teenagers because there is no common sense or reasoning being used there, especially in the claims department.

Why would you authorize payment of $1,200.00 for anesthesia for cataract surgery on 12/16 for the right eye with no questions asked, no hesitation and on 2/03 refuse $350.00 only paying $37.50 for the left eye. Same surgeon, same clinic, different anesthesiologist. They claim the second was out of net-work. Like we think to ask is that guy in network as we are laying on a table getting a needle poked in your arm. No common sense used here. Now we have wasted so many hundreds of $$$ paying all of these unnecessary people to investigate and check into and send out incorrect bills and sign stupid contract when all they had to do was use a little common sense. Must be teens working there.

I asked the gal, the fourth person I talked to this a.m, why would you pay $1,200.00 versus $350.00 for the same 2 minute procedure. Of course her reply had something to do with contracts signed etc.,etc again making no common sense, so I asked why sign those contracts when so much money could be saved. Again no common sense answer. We now have been sent to the resolution center and in 10 business days I will get the verdict. Again all it would have taken was a little common sense.

President Obama, fire the teens and get them jobs at McDonalds and Burger King.

COMMUNICATIONS MADE EASY

29 years ago I started working for Illinois Bell Telephone Co. as a business service rep. taking orders for business customers in the south suburbs. We placed orders for telephone lines and phones. The choices were few. Phones in different colors were just coming into fashion and trim lines were the going thing, but black rotary was the most popular and cheapest. You could choose between touch tone and dial. Businesses had the option of having key phones, a set that had buttons, hold keys and were able to handle more then one line( more then one phone number). If you had more then one phone in your house or business you paid for it and the phone company had to know about it or it was considered an illegal phone. And when you disconnected, the phone company came and got those phones because even though you paid a monthly fee they still owned the equipment.

You called someone and if they were not there or the line was busy you called back because there was no voice mail, no answering machines to leave a message. I had a friend who lived in a rural part of Indiana on a farm and was trying for day to reach a neighbor about a mile away. After many many tries he called the operator to check to see if the line was working or was their trouble on the line. He was told by the operator that "the neighbor wasn't that far away and maybe he should just get in his car and take a ride over there."

Now in the year 2009, the communication arena is enormous with a new option popping up before you had a chance to figure out how to use the last one. We started out with the call waiting, call forwarding, 3rd # calling. Then there were voice mail and answering machines. Once the PC took over you stopped calling and started e-mailing. Letters became obsolete and now we can order groceries, clothes, dates, pay bills, anything you need is at your finger tips.
That was not enough, along came a better way to communicate with friends, family, co-workers and even people you don't even know. Along came Myspace, blogs, facebook and now tweeter. All to make it easier to keep in touch.

My reason for going over all of this is it has become apparent to me and many like me that with all of these communication devices available to us we have been so busy communicating we have forgotten all about manners.
I cannot tell you how many calls, e-mails, invites I have sent in the last year that have been completely ignored. No one knows or cares about RSVP.
I started getting frustrated about this when I was working on the Obama campaign. I spent hours and hours daily calling volunteers, leaving messages about our canvassing trips to Indiana. Out of 100 calls maybe 2 would call back. I know people are busy but these were volunteers not cold cases. I would schedule a driver to take 4 or 5 people to South Bend, confirm with them and come that a.m. we would be left standing on the corner with no ride and they never answered their phones. I set up a phone bank in someones home, with 20 volunteers saying they would be able to be there. Several even called to verify the time that same day. Come evening, 1 person showed up. The hostess had provided food, dessert and drinks and not one person called to say they could not make it. One e-mail after another has been sent to members of groups about upcoming meetings or dinners with a please RSVP and the same 3 or 4 folks show up with no response from others.

So where this is all going is just to say, maybe the world is becoming smaller and things are getting better but we are just so busy inviting strangers to join our facebook and posting digital pictures, we're tweeting tweeter or tweetering tweets to celebrities so they can get 40,000 tweeets, or looking for a match on Harmony.com we have lost track of the one simple thing called basic manners. Have you heard of it? Is it something you taught your children? Is it something you would like to experience once in a while? I would.
Be polite, it may make the world a little happier. It would at least make me happier. Breathe and be considerate.

THE FAMILY BIRTHDAY PARTY

After 21 years of celebrating 8 grandkids birthdays the party becomes routine. Except for the 2 youngest there are no longer hats and balloons at these parties, actually there are no presents either. They don't want clothes you pick out and the toys, all electronics, are too expensive so cash is the way to go.

The party becomes an excuse to get together with your busy family, eat a good dinner and make a fuss over the birthday girl or boy. Pass out the cards which instantly get tossed aside and the cash goes in the pocket.

Yesterday had 2 honorees. Amanda turned 18 on the 26th and Kevin turned 14 on the 29th. So for the last 14 years they have shared a party. Last year after the traditional Happy Birthday Song, Kevin blew out all the candles causing Amanda to squeal "It's My Birthday Too. " This year she perched on the edge of her seat and at the perfect moment as the last note hit the wrong key (most are not singers in this family) she let out one big blow and all the candles were out leaving a bewildered look on Kevin's face and pure delight on Amanda's. Miss Amanda has learned living with 4 brothers you sit in wait, forget nothing and pay back when least expected. That's my girl.

The thought then comes to mind, how important is it to be recognized on your birthday as the one and only honoree? I have never had to share my day with anyone I know. Of course there are many people in the world born on June 10th but in my circle, it's only me. I like it that way. It is only me. What about the twins. Anthony and Nick never knew anything but sharing their day with each other and then when Andrew came along, the youngest grandkid from a different family, one day after the twins it was only practical to combine all 3 with one big dinner, one big cake but Happy Birthday to Anthony, Nick and Andrew. What's that all about? No special day? Or is it the actual day that counts? Not the party day? We all have a right to feel special at least one day a year. Maybe it is up to our loved ones to make sure we get that day, or maybe it is totally up to us. If we can't make ourself feel special no one else can. If you share your day with another, make up a special day in your own mind to be special. no one but you has to know. Maybe.

EASY LIKE SUNDAY MORNING

Sunday morning has always been my favorite time of the week. Of course now that I am retired most of my mornings can be spent like Sunday watching the Today show, Oprah and the View but something is different.

The Sunday routine slightly changes over the years, like taking the dog out in the freezing snow before coffee or doing the crossword on the computer instead of the newspaper but the basics are still the same. Hot coffee, staying in pjs until noon or after, watching Meet the Press and Chris Matthews and waiting patiently for the winter Bears games and summer Sox first pitch. All routine, all quiet and relaxing. Until last Sunday!!!



It started out like a normal Sunday as described above. I was sitting at the kitchen table, watching the start of Meet the Press. David Gregory is ok but I still miss Tim Russert. Baby chewing on a toy next to me. Norman Rockwell we are not. All of a sudden Baby jumps up, starts howling, barking and running around like a crazed animal. As I looked up, heading toward us from the front room was this huge bird. I was told later it was just a regular sparrow. but coming at you in your own house it looked like an eagle. The dog is out of her mind!!!! I grab her leash while ducking the bird and try to catch her so she doesn't have a heart attack. Once I had her on the leash and I have now lost track of where the eagle has landed, do I call 911. No I will call the great hunters upstairs. Someone please come and get Baby before she loses her mind and someone please come and get this unwanted guest out of my house. The troops head south.



Matthew grabs Baby and heads upstairs and Steve the bird catcher tracks the bird. Of all places to land is in my bathroom. My pride and joy beautiful bathroom. With broom and towel in hand, Steve the bird catcher closes the door behind him and the eagle and now the fun begins.

Just picture a movie with Steve Martin locked in a room with 2 or 3 huge wild tigers. OK now you got it. Crash, bang, squawk, squeal, and that was just Steve. Kim and I standing on the outside of the door, brave as we are, we are lol. The bird would not land. A flying bird could not be caught. Finally success. Wrapped in a towel the little sparrow was escorted out the front door.



When quiet came across the land I headed in to clean up the mess. Nothing broken but everything was knocked over and boy when a bird gets trapped with no place to go they really go and go and go. I was scrubbing and scrubbing and scrubbing. What a mess!!!



Now you ask yourselves "How did a bird get in her house". Some of you know about the hole in my living room ceiling and some of you don't. The ones who don't may never know. It's just too old a story. Anyway it had to have made it's way from someplace under the eaves or whatever those things are called and headed to the hole in my ceiling. Needless to say the hole is covered so they can't get in my house, I would never be able to sleep again, until the hole in the side of the building is fixed so they can't get in the building.



The memory of last Sunday's wild life escapades makes this Sunday's springtime snowstorm a Hallmark setting. Not. I hate snow.

And thanks to Steve the Bird Catcher and his crew upstairs, they are always there during my Change of Life moments. Whatever they are.

Life with Baby

At my age, that title should never cross my mind again, but let me introduce you to the newest member of my family. Baby is a 3 year old Cairn Terrier, adopted from a rescue foster home in Jan.

Whatever made me do it. I have no idea. The day after Grant Park, I sat here saying now what? Get a dog! Get a dog! kept seeping into my head but I always came up with the excuse that because I don't drive it would be hard to have a dog. How would I get her to the vet, the groomer? Bus drivers frown on animals on their bus. When the subject was voiced out loud the support I got gave me no excuses anymore. Then Andrew, my youngest, was asked what he wanted from Santa and he said in that voice that little boys know how to use to get what they want "I wish he would just bring my dog back"

Ok on the web I go. Took the test to see what was the best breed for me, started visiting shelters, searching, searching, searching and one night there was Baby. It just had to be. "No one puts BABY in the corner" If you checked out my profile, you see Dirty Dancing is one of my favorite movies and to top things off it said she was from Las Vegas, my favorite city. After a few bumps in the road, filling out an application, having a home visit (I did not know what scrutiny you have to be under to adopt a dog. She had to check the space of the yard to make sure the dog had enough running room. Please! she is just a little dog) she called 2 days later to say Baby was coming here to live. Another change of life.

I tell her on a daily basis she is lucky she is soooo cute or else she would be back in the shelter.

When my kids were little and even my grandkids grew up to know don't mess with her until she has had that first cup of coffee. Baby does not understand life threatening moments. By 7:30 am if she is not out of her cage and in the back yard there is he-- to pay. Forget your coffee. I have been seen by neighbors flying down the street in pink and red flowered flannel pjs and a white furry robe chasing her screaming like my pjs are on fire. Forget your vanity. And forget it is the last 3 minutes of the saddest movie you have ever seen. Is he going to die or is he going to make it. THE DAM_ DOG HAS TO GO OUT NOW!!!

We have had a trainer here because she has issues. Beware if you walk in the house and come right at her to pet her, your shoes and socks may get wet. Remeber to warn all visitors to ignore her and she will ignore you. It's called submissive something or other bla, bla, bla. That cost me good bucks. She now has some kind of virus(I think she ate something off the ground but the vet called it a virus and she now is taking 2 pills twice a day. That cost me big bucks.

As I said it is a good thing she is sooooooooooo cute.

In her defense, she does sit and listen to me whine, she makes no comments about my singing and she is forcing me to at least walk 4 blocks a day. She loves to be out.

SOOOOOOOOOOO CUTE

Why I Started This

At my age anything titled Change of Life would be about menopause, hot flashes, bitchiness and extra pounds, but that is not what the last two plus years of my life have been all about. It turned out to be the most exciting, rewarding and lesson learning time I could ever have experienced. I have often thought about it and regret that I did not keep a journal of that time because it will never come again. I have stories to tell, feelings to think about and share with others and personal moments to be shared but I don't plan on boring everyone with that as much as I want to move forward. I want to share feelings and thoughts with friends and family on going so I won't regret again not sharing the best times of my life.

Of course I will go back 2 years and tell you that my life began to change the day I walked into the Obama volunteer office on Adams and told Jamie "I'm here to help" Politics was so far from my life. I didn't know who a pundit was or how a caucus could change the whole campaign outlook, I didn't even know what a caucus was. Our grassroots effort won this election for President Obama and I was part of that so I would like to share some of those stories. But I will go forward also, sometimes not making much sense and sometimes making sense only to myself but I hope it will keep your attention and make you smile and maybe even laugh out loud.