Thoughts from the edge.....

Every once in a while when I walk through my breezeway, I walk through a huge cobweb. It always brings to mind one of Gary Larson's creations from his The Far Side cartoons.....the one with the two spiders putting a web across the bottom of a playground slide, with one telling the other, "if we pull this off, we'll eat like kings".

I've often wondered about the size of a spider with such magnificent ambitions. Well, I won't have to wonder any longer, since I've seen him.

The other morning I sleepily stumbled into the bathroom and walked through a web.....that had not been there a mere six hours before. I was shaking my head and thinking about Gary's cartoon with a smile on my lips when I happened to gaze into my bathtub and observed a spider roughly the size of a small Buick.

Now I have been known to capture some spiders in a tissue and set them free outside but this one was a bit much for me.....and besides that, I'm sure he was witness to my bathtub incident (in which I had to slither out of the tub) and, given his size, he could have surely helped me out but didn't, so I wasn't feeling too kindly toward him. He met a watery grave and yes, I do feel sort of guilty about it but.......I just don't like spiders. I know, I know....they are beneficial but they are downright creepy and I can't help it. I feel the same way about snakes. I'm sure I'm not alone when it comes to this.

It did make me wonder just how a spider this size manages to gain entry into my home. I have come to the conclusion that he probably was born inside my home and has been eating like a king since. He has probably had his eye on the dog for quite some time but since the web was at MY eye level, its certain I was the intended prey. I have visions of my entire house enveloped in a cocoon of webbing, saving leftovers for a later date. Something tells me that he may have had the same visions.

Think it can't happen? Here's a picture taken at a State Park in Texas last year of a giant spider web created when a trail wasn't used in two weeks. I think we may need a bigger can of Raid.

I'll leave you with this tidbit that will probably haunt you as it does me. I once read that we (as in humans) are NEVER more than 3 feet away from a spider at any time. Now isn't that a comforting thought? Have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend y'all.

I'll Be Back Shortly.....

I'm so sorry for the prolonged absence but I've been working every day and its kicking my butt!
I do have a little something to say that will get you goose pimpley all over.

I lost my credit card. It had been missing for a while before I realized it wasn't in my wallet. I went online and nervously looked at my statement and was glad to see that it hadn't been used. I then called the bank and put a hold on the card for a few days and starting looking in earnest.

I looked every place that I thought it should be or could be and then I started looking at places where it could never be. My daughter came over and she helped look for it. It was very frustrating.

My friend told me that when she went to Catholic elementary school they used to sing a song to Saint Anthony when they lost things because he can help you find them. She said you don't have to be Catholic to request Saint Anthony's services. So I started talking to Saint Anthony.

I was, at that time, going through a pile of recipes on my computer desk. I was slowly retyping them into a data base and there is no way the card could be in that pile but I was looking anyway, having exhausted just about every other place. About half way through the pile, I looked skyward and whined "awww come on Saint Anthony, please help me". My dog, hearing the whiny voice, came in to see what was up. I turned sideways, away from my desk to pet her and when I turned back......the card was laying in front of me!

This is a true story. I still get goosebumps over it. So, I'm telling you right now....it does not hurt to believe in things you may not quite understand or logic may tell you otherwise. And as far as Saint Anthony....he's a welcomed guest at my house anytime because I'm always losing something.

Well, its time for me to scoot out the door and head off to work. Y'all have a wonderful day and I'll be back in a couple days. I can visit and read your blogs from work, but I can't comment.

I have learned.....

it's not a good idea to put bath oil in your bath water if you have a bad left knee and a bad right hip. Whatever visuals you're getting right now are probably pretty darn accurate. I bet none of YOU have ever slithered over and out of the tub on your belly much like a great big snake. Sigh. Necessity makes one do odd things. I can laugh about it now.

Trip down memory lane.....

Memories of Our Cruises.....

This picture is similar to the first car I owned, back in 1961. A 1957 Ford Custom, 2 dr. Sedan. My dad got it used for me and I made monthly payments to him to pay him back, plus paid for my own insurance. Price of vehicle was $600. Memories.....priceless.

I was fortunate enough to experience some of my memorable teenage years during 1958 through 1962. It was a wonderful time and although it may bring unhappy memories to some (Vietnam War era), for a lot of us, it was a time like no other. Cruising was all the thing back then. Shiny cars, no cares and great music, cruising along Woodward Avenue between our burb and the next, ..….where all the kids went, ending at the most popular local drive-in restaurant for a 5x5 (big hamburger) and a coke.

One weekend in August a bunch of years ago, some car enthusiasts got together and decided it would be fun to make “the old run”, cruising the highway again….and even do it in some vintage cars. Even though the drive-in is no longer in business, the memories hang in the air. The idea caught on. And now this event has gone from a small one, to one known world-wide. The air is filled with the music of the late 50’s through the 70’s. A lot of people dress just like we dressed back then. For about two weeks prior the event, you can see the cars from that era being driven around town, so shiny they hurt your eyes. The local radio stations have hopped on the band wagon and play all the music from those years we loved so much. At any given moment, you can turn on your radio, close your eyes and travel back in time 40 years or more. Yesterday I was behind a fine looking ’56 Chevy on the way home from work, listening to the Beach Boys.

This weekend is going to be a nice one, even though it won’t be a typically blazing hot August day. The temp should top out at a perfect 80, and the sky is the purest blue and the sun is bright and inviting. I always feel badly for the participants who often trailer their vehicles across country and then have to put up with rain, which has happened frequently. But not this year!

I don’t personally attend anymore; my knee has decided that for me. But I still enjoy the event by watching some of it on TV and listening to all those wonderful songs. I remember driving to work in my senior year, listening to the strains of “Runaround Sue” and “The Wanderer”; I hear them again and my mind travels back….to a simpler time. True, no cell phones, no computers, no video games but we often left our homes unlocked and the keys in the ignition of the family car sitting in the driveway. All of you my age know what I’m talking about. I’m glad I was blessed enough to experience it.

So, if you want, you can check out Dream Cruise and get a glimpse into the past. I often wonder exactly what today’s teen thinks of all this. Probably about the same way I used to feel when my mom talked about the “Big Band Era”, and dancing “The Charleston”.

All of You are Just Wonderful.....

Every one of you that commented on my post where my son hurt my feelings......how can I ever let you know how much I appreciated your kind words. I really mean this from the bottom of my heart. Thank you....thank you....each one of you. I really have some wonderful, caring readers.....I am so lucky! But I have to say this.....the one comment that made me giggle was Janet's. LOL. She made note that at least I'd have my parking spot back.

Go Janet!

I think her sense of humor is just as evil as mine! Thank you again....everyone. It really did help oh-so very much.

Is it Something in The Air?.....

I know what's going on with my family but it seems like a lot of us are having an exceptional amount of drama happening lately. Something in the stars? I sure don't know but will be seriously glad when it all decides to end. I am in desperate need of some peace.

I am the Queen of worriers. I worry about everything. You can get worry wreaths, worry balls, worry boxes, worry beads, worry stones, worry dolls and lord knows how many other things....but nothing seems to keep you from worrying if you're the worrying kind.

Last week my son had to show his butt and he, along with my ex really hurt my feelings. I was just nicely getting over that when my grandson left his house Friday afternoon with a friend, telling his mom he'd be back in "a couple hours". Three days later, she is a quivering, shaking mess, sitting at the police department filing a missing person report. I don't think I even have to tell you what it was doing to me. The matriarch of the family....the one who has to stand strong and be the backbone. I did all that but when I was alone, I fell apart. I was just plain scared. We were planning his little sister's birthday celebration Sunday.....he knew that. Our out-of-state relatives were leaving to go back home Monday. Yes, indeed....I was truly scared.

At 17 years old, he apparently thinks he has earned the right to come and go as he pleases without answering to anyone. He has stayed at friend's before for a couple days but he's always called. This time he didn't call. (No....he doesn't have a cell phone like 90% of the teen population) He was with a new kid in town. None of his friends knew this kid's last name or where he lived....they only knew his first name. Today was the fourth day he'd been missing. We were getting a picture ready to email to the local news media when his best friend called and said they had located him. Yes....he's fine. This new kid is wealthy I guess and he's been having a lot of fun at his house....for four days. And yes....the kid's parents were aware that he was there, as they were home and he was there by invitation. I'm sure there are phones in the house....why didn't he call home? And what happened to the old deal that parents used to do.....call the other kid's parents! Get acquainted....find out if the kid has permission to stay....What happened to that? Although I'm not blaming this on them....the blame is on my grandson. What he did is 100% wrong and unforgivable.

You think you know your kid or your grandkid....but you don't really know them like you think you do. He has put his mother and me through so much worry during this time I can't even begin to tell you. I had so many What If's going through my head........well, I'm sure you can imagine.

As soon as we found out he was alive and he was OK....then we were both instantly and gigantically pissed. I absolutely cannot believe that he was so uncaring....so inconsiderate...as to let us suffer like this. And no....there had been no argument beforehand....he just casually left.
I don't know what she's going to do about him....I think she's going to cart him down to the police station to let the officer have a little talk with him, if they will do such a thing. As for me....I am numb. I'd like to spank him hard and send him to his room with no TV or privileges for a year.....I'd like to put him in the naughty chair, send him to bed with no dessert and anything else that will get it across to him that what he did was terribly cruel and wrong. But he's too old for any of that.

That which does not kill you, will only make you stronger. Both my daughter and I ought to be champions by now. Thank God this turned out ok.....it could have gone the other way so easily.

Not gonna cry.....

My mom always said that when children are little they step on your toes and when they get bigger, they step on your heart. My son certainly has made that little statement come true many times. He has finally moved out and I should be doing the Happy Dance but he left on bad terms. He said a lot of things that hurt and it will take me some time to recover from his verbal attacks. And that's all I'm going to say about that.

I'll dig around and find my smile that ran away. I'll put it on and be back in a couple days. In the meantime, I'm visiting all of you, but not really commenting often. I'll be fine as frog hair in a few days....life is too short to dwell on things that are upsetting. I just have to stifle the urge I have of wanting to smack him right in the face as hard as I can. Oops....did I say that out loud?