Friday night with my dad, here in a bit.  Gathering up my chargers, my Kindle, my snacks, coffee, and my courage.  My fear is that I'll break down and cry in front of him.  Praying I don't do that.  Praying he doesn't fall on my watch.  That's actually my biggest fear of all.  It will be okay, I'm sure.

Lots of plans listed on my adenda for the weekend. Two or three different things going on Saturday, including some pumpkin carving with my two-year-old grandson!  I can't wait to see him and get my hugs and kisses quota!  Then, on to Tulsa for some new and exciting adventures.  Sounds mysterious, huh?  Hoping that goes well.  Keep your fingers crossed and prayers said.  Will report more on that later, maybe?

Most excited about my Sunday adventures though!  I will make my first stop in Stillwater to see Morgy and drop off her huge suitcase of handmade jewelry.  She forgot and left it here when she came home for Fall Break a few weeks ago.  It was fun going through it and borrowing a new and different necklace on a daily basis. 

Must go feed the horses and Miss Kitty, then, head to my dad's! 

Note to self:  MUST go look for some nice, warm, flannel jammies this weekend.  It's getting cold outside! 

Have a great weekend, friends. 

Ahhh....rainy Saturdays, now that's my kind of day.  On one hand, I want to just stay home, do some baking, curl up, and read a good book.  What I REALLY should be doing is grading papers, recording those grades, doing laundry, and packing for my fall break trip.  However, I'm also tempted to drive to T-town and visit with some old and new friends and have some fun!  With a threat of heavy thunderstorms and possible tornadoes on the horizon, my common sense tells me to stay home and do those boring teacher chores.  It's no fun making grown-up decisions!  What to do, what to do?

The OU/Texas game is going on today.  That event always brings back horrible memories, just like it was yesterday.  One of my new favorite quotes regarding this time in my life is, "Better to hurt me with the truth, than fool me with a lie."  Truth.  A very hard concept to understand for some people.  Why?  Just tell the truth and get it over with.  A much better option for all parties involved.

Going to take a shower, rather late in the day, then, decide what to do on this lovely, lazy, rainy Saturday.  I'm leaning toward a road trip to T-town....

"Life is too short to wear white socks."
I've always loved crazy, colorful socks, pretty much all of my life.  My friends have often growled at me when they've asked me what I wanted for Christmas.  My reply is always, "Socks!"  I love socks.  Well, let me clarify, I love socks during the winter time.  I love flip flops or, better yet, bare feet, the rest of the time, weather permitting.  However, my collection grew quite large and I decided to purge a large portion of my sock drawer just this past summer.  Now, I'm missing my cool socks.  It's getting a little nippy outside and I am almost without cute socks.  I'm down to a few pair of (ugh) white, no-show socks that I wear w/my gym shoes, for those wonderful walks with Mr. Treadmill, three or four times a week.  What was I thinking?!?!?  Purgers remorse, I guess. 

Same thing happened with my flannel jammies.  This past summer, I decided that my old, comfy flannel jammies were just a little TOO worn, and a wee bit holey.  Telling myself I really did need to buy some better p.j.s, I reluctantly threw away my only two pair of flannel jammies.  Now, I'm REALLY having regrets.  Guess what?  I can't find any flannel p.j.s anywhere!!!  Yikes!  What will I do?  It's already getting chilly!!  I miss my flannels.  :(

My perfect Heaven.

White, sandy beaches.  Blue skies.  Sea shells.  Grass huts.  Turquoise colored water.  Hammocks.  Cruise ship rocking me to sleep.  Island music playing in the background.  Palm tree shade.  Salty breezes.  Parasailing.  Endless grilled shrimp, lobster, fresh pineapple, and chocolate covered strawberries. Tiki torches. The scent of coconut.  The soothing sounds and spray of a waterfall nearby.  No alarm clock.  No schedule.  No paperwork.  Sleep.  Sweet, sound sleep.

Take me away.

I can dream, right?

It's the little things in life that make me happy.  The things we often take for granted, are the things we miss the most when we lose them. 

I had several "little things" awarded or afforded me during the last few days.  First of all, my old phone finally gave up the ghost this past Tuesday.  I had ordered a new one the previous Tuesday, but, still hadn't received it in the mail, exactly one week later.   When it finally failed me for the very last time, I was lost.  I had three people trying to contact me and awaiting a return text. 

Most importantly, my daughter needed a key piece of information from me.  A key piece, being HER username for HER bank account.  Yes, I've given it to her numerous times, however, she can't seem to keep track of it or memorize it.  She is attending a major university, with a double major, in pre-vet science and agricultural education.  So, apparently, she's pretty smart, but, can't remember her username.  Go figure.  Gotta love her, my twenty-year-old baby girl.  She survived.  I stressed.

Secondly, a client was trying to contact me to ask a question about appointments scheduled for he and his wife THAT DAY.  I couldn't answer him.  They survived.  I stressed. 

The third person did not have an immediate need, thank goodness.  Person number three survived.  I stressed, somewhat, just because, I like to return my texts as soon as possible.

After giving massages to my client and his wife, I high-tailed it to my nearest cell phone carrier's store-front, hoping to get a loaner phone to hold me over until my new phone arrived in the mail.  I was told they "don't do loaner phones", but, they had a "cheap" ($29.99) little phone that would hold me over until I received my "real" phone in the mail.  He had also just told me I would probably receive my phone in the next day or two.  I explained that I REALLY needed a phone as my daughter lives about 150 miles away and has heart issues.  Furthermore, my dad is very ill, and my step-mom needs to be able to reach me, however, I really hate to spend $29.99 +tax, when my phone will most likely arrive within the next day or two.  The clerk decided to look at my old phone, I think, hoping to be able to fix it long enough to hold me over until I received my "real" phone.  When he examined it, he discovered my SIM card had died.  He grabbed one of the little $29.99 phones and put a new SIM card in it, transferred my contacts, and told me to keep the phone after my new one arrived and that way, I'd have one if I ever have similar problems with my phone again.   I said, "Okay, so how much do I owe you?" (not really wanting to buy it, but, figuring I had no real choice).  He said, "Nothing, it's yours."  I said, "No, I need it, I'll pay for it."  He said, "No, really, it's okay, just keep it, then, you'll always have a back up."  Now, this just made me want to cry.  This man did NOT have to do this, but, he did.  What a nice gesture to a worried mom of a college-age daughter, with serious health issues, and the daughter of a very loved man, who is battling a brain tumor.  What a sweet, sweet guy.  Thank you, Lord, for sending angels to me when I need them most.  It's the little things that matter most, and help the most.  Two days later, on Thursday, I received my "real" phone in the mail.

On Friday, I received another box in the mail, containing two, beautiful Navajo (maybe?) baskets, sent from New Mexico, by a friend.  I love anything Southwestern-ish.  LOVE.  They have that yummy basket smell.  I know, I have lots of weird scents that I love.  Baskets, leather boots, saddles, etc., new car smell, gasoline, cow or horse poop (I know, really weird, huh?), hay, rain, asphalt, creosote(sp?), burning brush, horses, fresh-cut grass, old books, fresh Crayola brand crayons, and men's Polo.  Ay, caramba!!!  Do I love that scent!!!  Okay, I got WAY off topic there, didn't I?  Two small, but lovely little baskets.  It's the little things.

Saturday, the friend who sent me the baskets arrived in town, took me out to eat, and ran into Wal-Mart to buy windshield wipers.  When we got back to my house, said friend commenced to putting the windsheild wipers on MY truck!!  I thought the wipers were for my friend's truck!!  No, they were for mine.  A small, but, very much appreciated gesture of thoughtfulness.  I never, ever said ANYTHING about needing new wipers.  Never.  It's the little things that make me happy.

Today, I went to church with my sweet, sweet grandson.  He is now 27 months old, and still loves to hug and give his GeeGee kisses.  I cherish each moment he wants to sit in my lap and scribble on the church pamphlets.  He couldn't be any cuter, smarter, or better well-behaved.  Yes, the little things ALWAYS tug at my heartstrings.

I stayed with my dad again last night, while my step-mom went to the local football game to watch her grandson play.  He got up about 7:45 p.m. and sat in the livingroom with me.  I found some programs about Alaska on the television, and he seemed to enjoy them.  He always loved talking about his visits to Alaska and Canada, in the past.  This is the first time I've seen him really watch the t.v., since he's been sick.  He tried to talk about it several times, but, the words didn't always come out just right.  One time, I think he did try to say, he'd like to do try what they were doing(on t.v.).  We were watching a program about men and women who dive under the ice in Alaska, and look for gold.  Pretty interesting.  Every now and then, a phrase or a whole sentence would come out completely perfect.  One of those sentences went like this: 

Dad:  "You look like a couple of people I know."
Me:  "I'm your daughter, Linda Lee."

What I WISH I'd said:  "Who do I look like?"  or "Who are the people that I look like?"

What I'm thinking is that he thinks I look like my mom and me.  At least that's what I'm telling myself.   My mom has been gone for twenty-six years this coming November.  I SO want to ask my dad if he'll tell her I love her and miss her, if he gets to Heaven before I do.  Is that terrible??  Is that crazy??  A lot of people tell me that I look like my mom.  I don't see it.  She was beautiful; she had dark eyes, dark brown hair, small, petite, very classic, Annette Funicello look-alike.  Beautiful.  I've always had blonde hair (that is slowly, but, surely, getting darker), blue eyes, fair skin.  I've always thought I look like my dad, who always had blonde hair, blue eyes, as well. 

He also asked me where I lived.  I told him I live here, across town from him.  He said, "Oh, that's good."  There's been a few times when he did remember me, that he thought I still lived down by McAlester, which is about three hours away.  He wanted to know if I had any trouble finding my way up here.  I told him, "No, I found it okay, no problems." 

I have a million other questions I wish I would've asked before now.  Why didn't I?  Why?  I'll never know now. 

So many things I wish I had done, said, or asked of both of my parents.  So many things I would like to have known and written down.  Gone.  Forever.  A piece of wisdom.  A recipe.  One more story about my childhood, her childhood, his childhood.  Oh, we talked about these things, just not near enough.  I would love to have known more.  Why didn't I write everything down?  Oh, the things we take for granted.  Time.  We take time for granted.  It is gone before you know it.   

Loving this weather. Almost fall, but, also feels like early spring. The best of both worlds. I love sweater weather. The only thing better is a couple of snow days, spent snuggled up in my favorite sweats and a cup of hot cocoa or better yet, some yummy cappaccino, watching an old movie or reading a good book!!! Why is it that a 70 or 80 degree day can make one feel so healthy, happy, and alive? Just breathing in that crisp, fresh air makes me feel better, no matter what else is going on in my busy, crazy life.

I was able to see Jakob last night and this afternoon again!! He brought me a couple of pieces of chocolate cake last night...my favorite! I still have one piece left; may have to eat it here in a bit. :) I had a doctor's appointment today, (I have an ooey-ouchy) so I swung by their house and played with him for a few minutes. I didn't stay long as it was almost time for his nap. I think my doctor ordered chocolate cake, medicine, and sleep, so tootle-loo!! :)

What a day! It was definitely a Monday. A crazy Monday. Ready for fall break. That's all. Just ready for a break already.

Little Mr. Jakob. Man, how I love this little guy. My first and only grandbaby, so far. He makes my heart just melt, every time I see him. I got to see him both yesterday and today! We went to church together this morning. He's such a good, sweet, loving little boy. How I miss him living right next door to me. He's grown so much in the few short months, since they moved thirty miles away. I wish I could see him every day.

Okay, it's a new day. Chin up, get busy, and get something accomplished today. My list is long, and it's already 9:00 a.m. Time is wasting. Second day of a three day weekend, already here. I plan to get as much as possible done today, and enjoy my third day of this weekend relaxing, reading, and sipping on some sweet iced tea and eating a chunk of watermelon. Let's see if that happens!! :)