Appreciation

We made it through Christmas and New Year's Eve is seldom celebrated (awake) at this house.  I'm usually awake but about 50 years past kissing myself in the mirror...I might send a few texts at midnight and a few wishes to friends on Face Book but that's the extent.  I'm never quite sure if I'm happy for all the great things that happened in the past year or thrilled that it's over.... probably a little of both.  I always like to think that I've learned new things and grown (in more ways than out) as a person in the past 365 days.  In that respect, I'm happy but still a tad disappointed that not everyone was as fortunate as I was (am.)  With age comes a great respect for appreciation.   I've decided that being appreciated is almost better than being loved, respected or successful.  All of those things are measured differently by each of us but appreciation can be given and received by every single person regardless of age, income or education. It's pretty much a global virtue that many never articulate or reciprocate.... pretty sad actually! Maybe that's what my New Year's resolution will be.  I try valiantly to never make promises I can't keep so resolutions are generally few and far between.  This year, I will be more appreciative of what I have, who I have in my life and the ability I have to pay it forward.... (no money involved in this resolution.... That I can afford !)

So, as I hopefully move ahead and continue to wake up at least for the next 3 mornings......In 2016, I will appreciate more, let people know that I do, take less for granted and hope that those whom I love, will follow my example.

Week in Review!

For someone who doesn't have a job, I seem to have trouble eeking out some blog time each day. Not that the world couldn't live without my musings but it gives me time to contemplate world views and home views and practice my keyboarding skills... (which if I were to go blind, would be tragic.)

Also, for someone who has been  ready for Christmas for a month, I seem to still have endless little things to complete.  After Bailee's letter to Santa, this elf was scrambling but successfully rounded up some wants.  I've enjoyed a few Christmas lunches and some of Julia, Alli and Gabby's sporting events. I really enjoy them and I have hopes that Bailee and Jett will enjoy sports as much as I do.  I won't let the fact that Bailee's only 2 on her report card was in gym......As Jeff would say, "I don't believe that being great hop and skipper is a qualification for college."   I will still go and watch whomever might be playing...... until I can no longer make it up the bleachers...

We're in the throws of an illness with Aunt Wendy and hoping that today's surgery is successful. Fingers crossed and a few messages to the big guy (or gal) upstairs.... (No Bailee, not Papa!)  Many of us have scratchy throats and coughing jags but we'll make it through the holidays.  This crazy weather has our bodies (and minds) confused. Fifty today, 60 tomorrow and predicting 70 for Christmas Eve.  I hope Santa has sleigh runners that will transform into pontoons and tires.... It will be quite a journey for him in 2 days!

Baby Jett is still heads up and interfering with his Mom's breathing apparatus. She's got it figured out for now and we're hoping he does some tumbling exercises in the next few weeks.  If not, he may get the zipper exit...we'll see.  This is the week of the jicama fruit but we had no idea what the hell that was so we opted for celery.  It's about the same length 16 3/4" that a week 32 baby should be... So we're "stalking" him instead.  It will soon be shower time and another fun celebration.

That's about it for today..I'm never sure when I'll get back here but soon...Christmas Eve and Christmas morning will suck here as all the crew will be with other family...:-( but by 1:00 p.m. the house should be full and the presents disappearing from under the tree. I'll adapt but under protest!

The Talk

"It's always time for "The Talk"!  That's what the gals say on the afternoon talk show. With kids, The talk is usually about the birds and bees.  After last night with Bailee, I realized The Talk was of larger proportions. It all began when she decided she'd better get busy and get her letter written to Santa.  After all, there were only nine days left till Christmas, yesterday's mail had "gone", and really he needed to have it before Christmas Eve...... (WAY before Christmas eve if there was a prayer for him to even locate ( I mean construct) half of these requests.
First, we talked about not just asking for things (toys, etc.)  She mentioned she'd like some snow, she's a cold weather girl!  She wanted him to bring something nice for her cousin Jett.. (That warmed my heart) and she wanted her Mom to not be so grumpy and "distressed!"  I explained that Santa could only do so much and wasn't a miracle worker. (Ha - she has a bit of my sense of humor so she got that.)  I said there are some things that Santa can't do that we have to ask the guy "up there" (pointing up) to help us with. She said, "OH YOU MEAN PAPA?!"  ...............................I guess our "TALK" needs to be less about the Birds and the Bees and more about The big G!  That might be a whole lot tougher then the sex talk.  I'm pretty much a hypocritical Christian.  I have faithfully said my prayers since I was able to advance from "Now I Lay me Down to Sleep" to "Our Father Who Art in Heaven"....60+ years.  Way too many times, he hasn't been a very good listener....but I keep asking.  We're not church goers!  We try to be believers! It's a lot to ask. So, teaching it is even harder... Kind of like a Common Core lesson.. Most of it makes no sense but we're hoping we'll learn a little something......someday....even if it isn't the way we're used to learning. Hard to teach something though when your whole heart isn't into the lesson.  (Poor teachers) :-(  We made a little progress and the talk went well.... but soon turned back to , "The Letter!"

Bailee settled in to actually pen her requests and this was the finished product!  Needless to say, Sandy Claus weeded out the unnecessary, sorted out the bizarre and once again showed her unending appreciation to the folks at Amazon.  For those who might need a bit of interpretation:
1. A 4 wheeler....not
2. A mustache garden   .....WTF...she'd like them growing so she would have a "fresh, new one every day") Told her to wait till she was 60 and she'd be good to go!
3. Minecraft Legos ...check
4. Minecraft Storymode for PS3....check
5. Zombie Apocolypse Survival Kit ....it exists and Amazon had it...WTF
6. All the Star Wars movies.....Grandma already had and just needs to re-wrap in Santa paper......check
7. Unicorn Apocolypse Survival Kit......NFW
8. Ghost           "                   "         "........now we've hit, bizare!
9. Prank Master Kit......not
10. Something for my cousin Jett.....♥almost re-thought the 4 wheeler but regained my composure and sanity.
11. A CSI briefcase......Guess what? I have Great Grandpa Hewitt's and that will be a treat to gift...
12. Beginner Spy Kit
13. Master Spy Kit..... I questioned beginner and master.... "I'm a quick learner!!"
14. Mason Jars.....didn't think mustache garden could be trumped...I was wrong. " I want to fart in each jar, put the top on and open them in front of people I don't really like!" WTF
15. Snow for Christmas... I wholeheartedly concurred!!!!!!!!!
16. A tracking device...."to keep an eye on the girl that always hits me" :-(
17. (my fav)  A lifetime supply of CLONE.. (mens).... translation is cologne and she much prefers men's to women's! I'm not really sure what to think of that.  It could go in the direction of Heidi Fliess............................or Caitlyn Jenner...I think I'll just get her a bottle of "Let it go!"

8 days a week...

I'm no Beatle but I'm almost wishing there were 8 days a week!  It's actually been 8 days since I relaxed enough to blog.
Another successful, fun Hatfield Christmas on Saturday.  Thanks to family members for pitching in for goodies, Lee for cooking 25 rib eyes to perfection, Jeff for hauling in chairs and Grandma Iva for the foundation and traditions. Oh yes, and thanks to Tylenol for all your help as well!  Just to hear the little girls giggle and big kids step up to play our silly games made every plate worth washing and each crumb worth picking off the floor...!!!
Also, another week in the books and in the belly for baby Jett.. We're down to single digit weeks heading through week 31.  He's thinking he might want to walk out rather than plunge head first but Mom (and the midwife) have some thoughts on that one. We'll see how the next few weeks progress.  I know they'll fly by (at least for the ones not carrying around a Jett) with Christmas next week, the shower soon after and then....February.... Mother Nature has been giving her gift of good weather..Let's hope it holds for the ride around Cayuga Lake to meet our new little Jett.
Holiday lunches and dinners are keeping me busy but I love seeing all these gals. I am so blessed to have so many wonderful groups of gals to share stories, pictures and memories with.. ( I know... I ended a sentence with a preposition...............deal about it for now!)
Just to catch you all up.. Wendy is back in the hospital with a foot infection. (MICU at University) Hopefully she'll get the antibiotics flowing and some breathing issues tended to as well.  Our nephew Brian is having a do-over on foot surgery today. Almost a year ago he had it originally repaired...Let's hope the second time's a charm!!!!
Now you have the  "rest of the story."  I'll try to get back here in a more timely fashion.... We haven't even touched on politics lately.....but I guess we have another 11 months to debate....Oh yes, that's tonight too!!!

Too soon?

Yep, I start shopping in early September for birthdays and Christmas.  I take my helpings of  "Are you freakin' crazy?" with a grain of salt.  (taste better that way)   You know I'm a list maker and here's my early why list!

I shop early because:

I have listened intently all year long for little hints of what EACH and every one of my recipients might like.

I can google and search and price each idea and generally purchase for the best price...(even with holiday sales)

I am not one who likes to be rushed...for anything...ever!

I like to save my holiday time for enjoying my friends and family...not shopping.

Holidays actually come and go pretty quickly... I'd rather be ready and not go than to go and not be ready....you all know that!

This year I have a shower to plan for too and all good things take time!

It actually saves me money....I'm not getting gifts at the last minute with money I don't have.

Proof positive, I have 5 free days (with nothing planned) out of the next 18.

FYI... Shower is under control and I only lack a couple of big projects to be completed. The abrupt closing of the Lake Side Grill put a hitch in my "get-a-long" but because I planned early, we were able to switch lanes without a total meltdown................................or burn down (which crossed my mind)  The arrival of Jett's flight is still on time!   It's never too soon!!!

Dads

http://www.littlethings.com/dad-daughter-touching-note-v6/?utm_source=bam&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=inspiring

Once again...copy and paste. A wonderful, eye-opening story:-)

Dad stories always make me smile... especially Dads and their daughters. As we're nearing the 9th anniversary of Christmas Eve and the morning my Dad left, these stories bring me back to 55 years ago just like it was yesterday.  My Dad and I had our Sunday morning rides.  Sometimes we'd hit a fire department's pancake breakfast but usually just touring the countryside looking at his farmers' crops or some new construction.  It was our time! Occasionally we'd bring home some fresh veggies or eggs from a farm or maybe even a kitten or two.  Mom always loved those homecomings ;-)
We always had that special something between a Dad and his daughter.  In later years we realized that that special something wasn't perfect enough for us to work together although I gave it that old college try.  We decided our car rides that had morphed into breakfasts were a much better fit.  Those are my best memories and still solidly in tact!

I so wish my Bailee could have that.  Let me take a few minutes to whine to my loyal blog followers.
Bailee's Dad has never praised her for her exceptional report cards, never been to a parent conference, never been to a soccer game, dance recital or Christmas program. Seldom, possibly once, called to wish her a Happy Birthday, never given her a birthday card and seldom...if ever, a gift. every other year he has her for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning and since she can remember, she's never awakened to a Christmas tree at his house.  Last Christmas, she was given a candy cane Christmas morning. Many times he has forgotten her on holidays (which we all think is a blessing) and never calls between visits.  Last year, he got her her own bed. Before that, it was the couch or his bed that seldom even had sheets.  Now let that all sink in and understand that the COURT says she must go there every other week-end.  The morning she is to go, is generally filled with tears, hiding and an occasional run around the yard.  How would you like those for memories?

I don't tell this story to make you feel sorry for us but to give everybody a little insight into what's really important in life.  Time is what's important!  Spend it wisely....it's free!  My heart aches as once again this Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, Bailee will go to bed without the cookies left for Santa and the anticipation of presents and a tree.  NO child should dread the times with their Dad:-(

The Heroes

Sixteen people are senselessly dead today. Another mass shooting in the state of California this time.  The "new normal"....I certainly hope not.  From our vantage point, it's surreal.  It plays out on our televisions and computers like a bad episode of Law and Order.  An episode that you want to turn off but something makes you stay glued to the TV for every tidbit of information that might bring some sense to this horrific scene.

For the past several years, our law enforcement has gotten a bad rap for the actions of a few.  Itchy trigger fingers, racial biased, inexperience and stereotypical behavior have all been blamed for the shootings of unarmed "suspects."  Let's walk a mile (or a block) in their shoes.  When did the good guys start being known as the bad guys.  Human error is part of existing...whether you're a teacher, a doctor or a law enforcement officer.  Quite bluntly, SHIT HAPPENS! A perfect society we are not!

This latest massacre will continue to fuel the gun issue, the mental health issue, the immigration issue and most assuredly, the terrorist issue.  In all of the blame game, we seldom hear of all the good things, the brave, selfless things, that every single law enforcement officer does daily. 

If we take nothing good away from yesterday's terror, let's remember the words of this one officer who was leading a group of folks to safety

https://www.facebook.com/ksltv/videos/10154033376753676/ (you may have to copy and paste.)

This is what he said:  "Relax, just try and relax. I'll take a bullet before you do, that's for damn sure!!!!"

Those are the words and actions of 99.9% of our nation's law enforcement officers... Let that be what we take away from this!