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AAAAAAAAAATHERE ARE ANTS IN THE KITCHEN!!!!!
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Aug 23, 2006 4:20 pm
Mood: annoyed,
585 Views
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I am so upset. I keep an extremely clean kitchen and am shocked to find ants coming in around a window sill and scampering around on a counter.
A visitor today remarked that it is "just that time of year". I never knew there was an ant season!
There is no food on the counter so what are they coming for.
Also, I have always been amazed at the way animals, birds and insects appear to communicate. If I put out bird food, within minutes the feeders are swamped.
I've watched a bee locate a pollen rich stand of clover and once returning to the hive, coming back with an army of workers.
So, here is my question to those of you who know about this kind of thing: If I am standing at the kitchen counter killing the little buggers as fast as I can, a veritable massacre, but a few get away....why don't they warn the ones back in the ant hill and the invasion stop???
I just don't understand!!!
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18
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YOU ARE THE ONE.......
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Aug 23, 2006 1:59 pm
Mood: pleased,
374 Views
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Catching my eye..................................
Engaging my mind..............................
Capturing my imagination...................
Earning my trust........................
Accepting me as I am.................
Adding excitement to my life......
How could I do anything but love you?????????????
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5
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IT'S BEEN A LONG, LONG TIME...
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Aug 17, 2006 4:06 am
Mood: contemplative,
363 Views
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...since I've had even a few minutes to sit on the porch with you and relax. Three weeks yesterday actually.
Most of you know little about me so allow me a moment to catch you up...
I am the mother of two delightful daughters, Lynette and Leslie, who each have three sons.
The oldest grandson is Rob, 20, who returned from Iraq last month and is now working at BOOKS-A-MILLION and going back to college. Next is Nic,16, who got his driver's license in January. He, with his grandfather's (my ex) help, has rebuilt an old car and is able to drive to high school and to work at Pantura's Pizzas. Dillon is the last of Lynette's boys. He is 11, in the fifth grade and an avid soccer player and sports fan. This is remarkable as Dillon was born with a spinal problem (I can't spell the name lol) that required surgery at 3 months and doctors were uncertain that he would ever walk.
Andrew is Leslie's oldest son, age 10, a fourth grader with a condition called Asberger's which is a very mild form of autisim. Andrew is highly intelligent and it is fascinating to talk to him because he has such a unique outlook on life.
He has twin brothers; Cameron,who is a comedian and a snuggly teddy bear kind of guy and Reese, the charmer extraordinaire. These two will be six next month and are in the first grade.
I am a residential trainer working for an agency called Handicapped Adult Training Services, or HATS for short. I live in a home leased by the agency and usually spend the hours of 3pm to 8:30 am there working with three mentally challenged ladies ages 41, 59, and 82. The purpose of my work is to help these ladies cope with and function in a world they do not understand. I teach social skills, housekeeping, cooking, personal care...everything they can learn to do to be as independent as possible.
From 8:30am till 3pm they go to a sheltered workshop where they do piecework under contract with various businesses. Right now they are folding and gluing cardboard boxes. They are very proud of their ability to do useful work and LOVE paydays!
I said earlier that I USUALLY work those hours. Unfortunately, Miss Dora, (the 82 year old) fell on Tuesday, the first of August and broke her wrist. So the two of us have been home together since then and when my timesheet went in on Tuesday the 15th I had worked 185 hours for that 2 week period. (I don't get paid for my sleeptime or course, even tho I am on call).
I get off 2 weekends each month from Friday at 8:30am till Sunday at 8pm. At that time a lady comes in from Nashville to relieve me and I spend the weekend at one of my daughters' homes or a motel.
Life at my house is never dull. An example: Miss Dora has improved a lot and we have been making short trips away from the house to run an errand or two. She is rather frail aside from the broken wrist and the fall had increased her unsteady gait so we have been making those outings short and sweet. On this past Monday afternoon I had all three ladies in the car with me and we were on the way to pick up prescriptions and planned to eat out. This is one of their favorite things to do and they have never considered it part of their training although it is one of the most important lessons they have. Anyway, we had driven down the 1/4 mile driveway and probably half again that distance when I heard that thllump thllump sound I recognised as a flat. I pulled across the road and into the end of a neighbor's driveway. This is the country and the drive is quite wide so there was plenty of room for another car to pass me and go into the drive.
Taking a deep breath, I checked to see if I had indeed paid my auto club dues and had my card with me. I put the windows down so there was a bit of a breeze blowing through the car. We had been lucky to wind up in a spot in the shade. Telling the ladies what I was going to do, I hiked up this very long driveway to ask to use their telephone to call for help. There were no obstructions so that anyone in the house could easily see me trudging along and the car behind me. I could see a woman moving around inside the house through the glassed in porch. But by the time I reached the door she had disappeared from view and refused to come to the door. I knocked several times, then realizing the futility of trying further I walked back to the car. Once again I explained to the ladies what I had to do. With much trepidation I left them in the car and proceeded to walk back the way we had come. I stopped at 5 homes and 5 times either no one was home or they refused to answer the door. I didn't see anyone at these other homes but did see cars in the drives, garage doors open, tv's on. It was disheartening to say the least. So I wound up going all the way back to my house and calling for someone to come change the tire, then next door to tell my closest neighbor (she is also a HATS trainer with 3 gentlemen as charges) what was going on and borrowed her car to go back for the ladies. As I pulled up beside them a Sherrif's Deputy pulled up. He never admitted it, but I am sure one of the people who had ignored my knocking had called to report my "strange" behavior. Sgt. Weatherford was a true gentleman and offered to change the tire for me. I explained that I had already called for help but he insisted, so while I drove the ladies back to sit with the neighbor he took care of the situation. Of course, I had to walk back to where I had left my car. Being a "dumb blonde" lol, I couldn't figure out how to drive two cars back home. Sgt. Weatherford had the tire on and was cleaning his hands when I got back. I thanked him profusely and am writing a letter to his superiors to praise him for going above and beyond.
Then I went back to the neighbor's house, picked up the ladies and continued our trip to Kroger and Taco Bell. Just another work day.
My friends and I have laughed heartily at the situation after the fact, though I can assure you that I wasn't laughing at the time. I have to wonder what sort of threat a plump, 64 year old lady on foot would pose to anyone. And if I was going to do some harm at the first house where I KNOW someone was home, why would I have parked my car at the end of the very long driveway and walked to the house? Oh!of course, that way I could get a good running start for my get away!!!
Yes, it is kind of comical looking back...but in another way it is so sad. Sad, that the world we live in has become such a frightening place neighbors are afraid to offer even a telephone call to aid someone in distress.
I run into people on an almost daily basis who treat the ladies and myself poorly because of their perception of mental retardation. I smile in spite of it and because I smile the ladies are comforted and smile as well. I explain that people only act that way because of their lack of knowledge and their own fears. Ignorance can be found in some surprising places. I can't allow myself the release of "telling anyone off" as it would only serve to upset the individuals I work with and that would defeat the purpose of my being there.
But occasionally, when I am alone, I tell people exactly what I think of them. Just yesterday I left Miss Dora with the aforementioned neighbor for an hour to run to the grocery store. We had taken the books in for auditing earlier in the day and picked up our bi-weekly grocery check. Recently the state reduced our grocery allotment by $100.00 a month so I have been running a pretty tight kitchen and we were literally out of anything to make a meal. When I told Miss Dora what I was doing she said "I thought you bought groceries already." I explained that I had three weeks ago but if I didn't go again we would be sharing a can of saurkraut and 2 onions for dinner. With that she willingly went to Mary's and I hit Walmart.
First I bought the ladies' necessities, shampoo, toothpaste, that sort of thing. At the check out each lady's portion must be rung up seperately as I have to keep records of their money, so there were 3 small orders.
After taking that out to the car, I returned to purchase our household supplies; toilet tissue, detergent, cleaning supplies. Through the check out again with a heaping buggy load, and into the trunk of the car.
Finally, back for at least two weeks of groceries, as I have no idea how long it will be before I can get away long enough to shop again.
I had managed to get everything into one buggy although it was stacked precariously high. Once it was rung up and bagged and reloaded I wound up with two buggies to maneuver back to the car. As I am trying to manage this without losing a cart or running over someone, two members of Walmart upper management ( I only knew this because I had seen and overheard them going through the store earlier) walked directly in front of me, each of them pushing a cart containing their briefcase and a couple of manilla folders. Then with the mentality of baboons they stopped right in the doorway totally blocking it. It took all my strength to stop my convoy from running them down. As I am pulling one cart back and stopping the other with my body the elder of the two looks at me and says "Oh". That's it! Just "Oh".
Then they pull their carts forward enough to allow me to pass. As I did I looked him in the eye and said, "What ever happened to the basic tenet of Walmart, that every employee was there to assist customers? Aren't you wonderful examples to be in positions of management? And even if you weren't employees of this store, as gentlemen, I would have thought you would have shown more consideration and class. Guess you have demonstrated exactly what you are made of, haven't you!"
And for the third time in just over an hour I went to my car, unloaded the last of my purchases and drove home.
I have to remind myself that there is a sort of balance in the world. For each of the frightened, or rude or difficult people I contend with, there is another Sgt. Weatherford, or Mary or smiling store clerk to give me reason to believe life is worth the living. Once again, peace floods my soul.
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4
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WHAT A PARTY.....
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Aug 10, 2006 7:00 am
Mood: ecstatic,
393 Views
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I looked up from the paperwork I was filing to see my daughter Lynette coming in with a gorgeous arrangement of purple Iris and white Carnations. How well my children know me!
Then back to the car she went and came in with the biggest cheesecake I have ever seen, covered with fresh blueberries and strawberries.
Shortly her sister, Leslie, arrived with loads of yummy food and soda. Her boys Andrew, Cameron and Reese danced around her waving an envelope that they demanded I open immediately. Inside was a gift certificate to my favorite spa. Yessssss!
Minutes later Rob (my grandson who recently arrived home from Iraq) drove up with his brother Dillon and a guitar.
Our circle was almost complete. I admit I was disappointed that Nic wasn't there...aren't I the greedy one? But he had made plans with his girlfriend before he realized it was my birthday. And who am I to stand in the way of young love...or any age love for that matter. lol
It was a "rocking" night. Lots of music, dancing, hugs, kisses, everyone was having a great time.
But I confess I was missing Nic, who is a natural born comedian and a must have at any family get together.
The ladies I work with; Dora, Betty and Ellen were having the time of their lives. They adore my grandsons and love being part of these events, laughing loudly at all the jokes tho they have little if any idea what they are all about.
I was settling Dora into a comfortable chair (Dora recently fell and broke her wrist while at the sheltered workshop they attend during the day)and getting her dinner set up so she could manage it with her "good" hand when someone slipped up behind me and gave me a big bear hug. NIC had arrived and the whole party stepped up a notch in hilarity and noise!
The darling boy had cut short his date and come to join us.
It was a delightful party....just wish you could all have joined us...but maybe next year!!!!!
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9
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Love Has Many Faces And Many Ways.....
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Aug 5, 2006 6:13 am
Mood: curious,
409 Views
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of being in the world.
When you say "I love you" to someone, what exactly are you trying to convey?
And when someone says to you "I love you" what do you perceive that to mean?
This may seem like a silly question, we all know what love is don't we?
But think about it a few moments and see if it is as easy to describe as you first thought.
Do you, like Leeann Rimes, find that "Nothing 'Bout Love Makes Sense"?
yes,for those of you who also read the magazine, this is also shown there. i am very interested in everyone's thoughts on this.
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6
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For Jonathon...
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Aug 3, 2006 10:36 am
Mood: loved,
362 Views
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You laughingly said I should write you a long love letter and I teased you with references to like and lust. Words of love are not easily come by and it takes time and courage to set them free.
Now, after many revealing exchanges between us I am moved to write this "preamble" to love. I hope it satisfies for the moment and entices you to stay this journey of a thousand and one dreams to a climactic conclusion.
Do I love you? Hmmmm...
I love the way you soared into my life on silver wings gleaming brilliantly in the sun against an azure sky.
I love your intense soul searching eyes that gazed deeply into mine and found your heart reflected there.
I love the warmth of your voice that soothes my restless spirit.
I love the rich infectious chuckle when you are amused.
I love your fluent use of language...expressive, daring...as well as your thoughtful silences that are equally eloquent.
I love the way you possess both strength and gentleness giving me protection; a soft place to fall.
I love your attentiveness...making me feel cherished. adored...at the same time allowing me space to breathe in my own rhythym.
I love the way you boldly dropped the protective shield from your heart and welcomed me to enter.
Now place me in the vault of your heart and hold me close...for love is strong and unyielding. It burns with a blazing flame, igniting a ring of fire. A deluge cannot quench love. Raging rivers cannot wash it away.
Let your proclamation over me be LOVE...and I will surrender...a prisoner of your passion.
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3
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Your Words.....
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Jul 30, 2006 9:12 am
Mood: earthy,
358 Views
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touch my mind, my heart, my soul...
but no one can live by words alone.
Come, go with me. We'll walk hand in hand down dusty country lanes beneath green lacy branches;
The fragrance of honeysuckle, jasmine and pines swirling around us.
Just ahead the sound of rushing water beckons us.
Yes, go with me down in the valley where the doves call and the lilacs bloom.
We'll lie there in a field of clover and weave our dreams in love's secret room.
Then rise together and becoming one, make the dreams realities.
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3
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I'm Falling....
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Jul 22, 2006 8:02 pm
Mood: infatuated,
400 Views
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One last song tonight.
I'm falling, I'm falling, I'm falling
Thru a sky full of diamonds.
I feel your presence as real as the air that I breathe.
I'm calling, I'm calling, I'm calling
Out to your heart.
'Cause your love is all that I will ever need.
I know about Destiny,
And I know you were meant for me.
I'll walk whatever path it takes
To bring me to you.
'Cause I'm falling, I'm falling, I'm falling
Thru a sky full of diamonds.
I feel your presence as real as the air that I breathe.
I'm calling, I'm calling, I'm calling
Out to your heart.
'Cause your love is all that I will ever need.
Darling, this I will promise you,
My love will always be true.
And if you love me
I will never stray.
"Cause I'm falling, I'm falling.....
2005 cr Linda B.
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3
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Hey There Boy.....
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Jul 22, 2006 7:52 pm
Mood: flirtatious,
349 Views
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Another song lyric that has new meaning for me!
Hey there boy, I see that look in your eyes, I know your game.
Hey there boy, don't you realize I feel the same?
So make your move, just take it slow for a while and we'll see,
If this magic moment is all that it seems to be.
From a glance, somehow deep inside I knew
That my world would never be complete without you
So why pretend, come into my arms tonight.
Be my guy, make my world come out right.
Take my hand, and let me walk into paradise.
Hear that band,let's share one slow sweet dance in the night.
Under the stars, whatever will be, will be.
But the way it looks now, you're gonna be with me.
Yes, the way it looks now, you're gonna be with me.
Hey there, Boy!!!!!!
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0
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I Saw Love...
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Jul 22, 2006 7:44 pm
Mood: beautiful,
346 Views
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Please indulge me as I bring this over from the articles in the magazine. I wrote it last year and had it on my mind tonight.Wish I could sing it for you but that isn't possible here at SFF...Yet!
I saw love yesterday and it made me smile,
As a mother kissed away the tears of her child.
And I wondered if the time would ever come
When I'd know love like that from someone.
But I was standing on the outside, looking in.
I saw love yesterday and it made me dream,
Of the way love is shown in little things,
With a look that simply says I'm proud of you
And I love the cute things you say and do.
But I was standing on the outside, looking in.
I saw love yesterday and it made me cry
As a husband gently touched the cheek of his wife
To push a wayward curl back off her face.
Then he pulled her close and they walked away.
But I was standing on the outside, looking in.
Oh the world thinks I'm strong
They just don't know
How my face is pressed up against life's window
And I'm standing on the outside, looking in.
Then I saw love today and it made me weak.
My hands are trembling, I can hardly speak.
'Cause I looked at you and recognised
Warm and tender love glowing in your eyes.
Oh the world thinks I'm strong
They just don't know
But somehow you found me
There at life's window
And your sweet love, it gently took me in.
2005 CR Linda B.
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