Worry is like a rocking chair......

Lord knows I've had a lot of reasons to be worried lately. And I know worrying isn't a good thing. For one, it causes my ulcer to flare up, and that's unpleasant. And secondly, it causes loss of sleep, which makes me cranky (and then no one wants to be around me). But no matter how hard I've tried, I have been totally unable to stop worrying. Until today, that is.

A dear (and incredibly wise) friend of mine----hi Bob!---offered some words of wisdom today. He told me that worry is like a rocking chair.....you move a lot, but you don't go anywhere. When I sat and thought about that, it was like a freight train hit me and I realized just how profound that statement is.

So from now on, when I start to worry, I'm just going to picture myself in a rocking chair and hopefully that will do the trick. :)

Fun at the Science Center....

Depressed by yet another afternoon of rainstorms, we decided to head to the Carnegie Science Center. They have a really cool exhibit on robots. You can see, from the photo to the left, they have the original R2D2 on display. They also had the original C3PO, too. It was pretty cool. They had a robot that could play basketball, and I only saw it miss the basket once. Isaak got to play air hockey with another robot. It whooped his butt 2-0. :)

We also visited the miniature train exhibit, which Connor would have stayed at for the rest of his life if we'd let him. If you've never seen it, I highly recommend it. And pay close attention to all the details. They have little figures playing ball, swinging on swings and even working in the rail yard. It's quite a treat to see.

New adventures.....

The last two weeks have been crazy, to say the least. I started a new part-time job with St. Thomas Church in-the-Fields as an office secretary/treasurer. It meant I had to resign as the volunteer treasurer at my own church, Bakerstown Alliance, but with our work situation, I needed to make that choice. I trust my friends at Bakerstown understand that and hope they know this was not an easy decision for me. I love them all and am glad I was able to serve them in that capacity for the last 3 years.

I also have been hired for a part-time music job with Valencia Presbyterian Church. I am most looking forward to this, because I have always believed my musical abilities were given to me by God, and I love to use them to praise Him. This will be a good opportunity to do that very thing.

It's going to be a rough road ahead getting adjusted to these new things, but it is a road I am looking forward to traveling down.

Raising the white flag

That's it. I officially surrender. I admit it's futile and I just can't drive myself crazy anymore.

Zorro, aka outside (feral) kitty, did not show up for his neutering appointment today. Can't say I'm shocked. The last three times I've tried this, he's gone missing for days. You'd think I'd have learned by now, but the stubborn animal lover in me just plodded on.

I hadn't seen him for 3 days, and finally he strolled into the yard last night. But the bugger ran from me, which he doesn't usually do. In desperation, I tried to grab him. All that got me was bitten. Thankfully, I was wearing a thick sweatshirt, so he didn't break the skin.

I tried to call Animal Friends to report I was not coming, but apparently, there isn't a real, live person anywhere down there on Sunday that you can reach by phone. So I left a message. I figure sooner or later, they'll call me when I don't show up.

But this is it. I can't do it anymore. I am driving myself crazy trying to help this cat. I will feed him and care for him as best I can. But that's it. I admit defeat in all other areas.

The famous disappearing cat.....

Well, if Zorro is ever looking for a new career, he has a great future as a disappearing artist.

Tomorrow, I have him scheduled to be neutered, compliments of Animal Friends. It's a great thing, because with our financial situation, we couldn't afford to do it on our own. But wouldn't you know that I haven't seen the darn cat for 3 days! Now, this isn't the first time the frisky feline has dropped off the face of the earth for a few days. I seem to recall two other times he's disappeared for this long, and coincidentally, both of those times involved trips to the vet. Hmmmm......I'm starting to sense a pattern here.

I hope for his sake he shows up today, or I'm going to have a lot of explaining to do to Animal Friends. They may not wish to make me this offer again if I can't seem to deliver the animal in question.

Meet Magic......

No, this is not Zorro, our outdoor kitty. This, believe it or not, is the neighbor's cat, aptly named Black Magic. He is liking the fact that I put kitty food out for Zorro every day, and I find myself chasing him away a lot.

Magic is old and he's cranky. And he's a little off upstairs, if you know what I mean. He'll run right to you, meowing and rubbing against your leg for attention. But the minute you pet him, he hisses and swipes at you with his paws. Like I said, he's a little loco.

He also is one of the reasons I may bring Zorro inside once he's neutered this weekend. Magic is forever fighting with Zorro, and they do quite a bit of damage to each other. It's crazy. Too bad I can't give them time outs like I do with my 3 year old, but something tells me, that just wouldn't work. :)

Cheep, cheep.....

We have some new little friends living on our back porch in a wind chime. On the left, you can see the chimes. Note the littel hole in the center. For a few years now, birds have used it for a home. But this is the first time I can recall seeing little baby birds in the nest. On the right is a picture of one of them. That is actually its beak you see right in the center of the opening. I couldn't get any close with the camera with mama bird flying around me. She was not happy I was disturbing her babies and I wanted to be careful not to leave my scent on them for fear she'd then abandon them. As best as I can tell, there are 5 babies in the nest! They really are something to see. They never stop peeping, demanding food all day long. Poor mama bird must be exhausted!

Not easily broken.....

Last month, when we rented and watched Faith Like Potatoes, we saw a preview for a movie called Not Easily Broken. The preview piqued my interest and last night, when I was at Giant Eagle looking for movies, I saw they had it in. So I rented it and brought it home.

The movie is based on a book by pastor T.D. Jakes, and is about all the things that can stress a marriage when God is not a part of it. In the opening scenes, the pastor who is marrying the couple in the movie places a string of beads around them that has three loops. One loop goes around each of them, and the third one, the pastor explains, is for God. He told them as long as God was a part of their relationship, it would not easily be broken.

I don't want to give too much away, because if you haven't seen the movie, I highly recommend doing so. It is rated PG-13 for sexual references and undertone, but even those scenes are done very tastefully, in my opinion. A lot of people can be turned off by movies with a "religious undertone," and if you are one of those people, I implore to you give this movie a try before you prejudge it based on religious content. The message is wonderful and the overall lesson of it is invaluable to anyone who is in a marriage or thinking of getting married.

For more information on the movie, you can visit the website at: http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/noteasilybroken/

Hello Mr. Policeman!

Yesterday, on my way to take Connor to my mom's for the weekend, we had the unfortunate experience of nearly being hit head-on by an older man who was driving southbound in the northbound lanes. It was actually a lot worse than just that, as he also was casually driving on the median strip for awhile, too. It was clear by the expression on his face he was disoriented. As I was in the process of calling 911 on my cell phone, I noticed a police car pulled off the road up ahead. It's always risky to pull alongside a cop when he's parked like that. The most important reason is they aren't expecting it and they sometimes panic.

Once I stopped and rolled down my window, I told him what was going on. He radioed for another car to track down the guy in the truck. In the meantime, we were asked to wait there with him. While we were waiting, my 3 year old was having quite the conversation with the policeman. I suspect it's probably the nicest conversation that cop had all day. Ever since my son had a cop visit his preschool, he's been fascinated with them. He asked question after question until the policeman finally informed us another officer had gotten the old man in the truck off the road and we were free to go. He told us thanks for stopping to let him know, and Connor replied "you're welcome, Mr. Officer. You drive safe now!" It was priceless. :)

In....or out?

That is the question I have been continually asking myself for the last two weeks.

On the 19th, Animal Friends is going to neuter Zorro (aka--outdoor kitty) for us. They've been great about helping us help him since our economic situation isn't the greatest right now. In less than 2 weeks, he has his big operation.

I'm torn as to what to do with him once we can bring him home. Do I put him back outside, and let him do his thing? Or do I try to bring him in the house with my other cat? As a feral cat, he very well might climb the walls (literally) if I try to force him indoors. While he has grown trusting of me and lets me pet him, I can't say the same for other members of my family. And I'm pretty sure a screeching 3 year old will really set his nerves ablaze. He has managed to do pretty well for himself living outside for a year now. The only time I truly worried was when it was bitter cold outside. But even then, he seemed to have a warm place to go, because he never slept in the cat box we made him and he didn't freeze to death, either. I know from my experiences with my other cat, Gabe, that bringing a cat inside once they've lived outside can be hard. The cat is miserable and you often are, too, because they will beg to go out all the time. And in the case of Gabe, he often sneaks out when we're not paying attention, which causes a whole other host of problems.

So what do you all think? Should I let him go back to his outdoor wonderland, or bring him inside?

Adventures in closet-land.....

On July 4th, I made it my mission to liberate my poor hall closet from the mess that had invaded it. I figured it would be my closet's own little Independence Day celebration.

I didn't think to take photos of the closet before I organized it. But even if I had, I'd probably have been too embarassed to post them for everyone to see. Let's just say it was a hazard to your well being to even think of opening the door of the thing for fear a tower of debris would collapse onto you.

It took me nearly 3 hours, but dare I say it, the thing is finally neat and organized. I put most of Connor's things in bins and labeled them so we knew what was what. The rest of the stuff was folded and neatly placed on shelves.

I now have a bet with my husband on how long the closet will actually stay this way. In the past, anytime I've cleaned it, it's lasted about 2 weeks before it's been a disaster zone again. However, before, I've never gone to such lengths to put things in containers, etc. So maybe this will make a difference.

Day at the museum.....

It was another boring, rainy day yesterday, and we were all tired of being in the house. So, we decided to head to Carnegie Museum for the afternoon. The museum offers discounts for children with disabilities, so we were all able to get in for $1 a piece. It was great. We got a chance to see the dinosaurs (which scared Connor), and the stuffed buffalo Connor just had to pose next to with me. We also got to see the horse exhibit, and I took one photo (at the top) before I was instructed that I wasn't allowed to take pictures in there. Party poopers. I can't see why they care. But oh well. We had fun regardless.

Just a housewife.....

Someone asked me yesterday how I came up with the title of my blog. I explained that I have gotten many, many comments in the last 4 years since I quit my full-time job to stay at home and raise my son about being "just a stay at home mom." While I've been home, I've been freelancing as a writer. But that doesn't count, because, you know, I'm not working full time in a "real" job somewhere (or so I've been told).


I was looking up stuff on google awhile ago just for grins and giggles, and came across the lyrics for a song about being a housewife. I found it so hysterical (and accurate) that I wanted to post them here. I have no idea who wrote them, as no author was credited. But here they are, just the same. Enjoy! I know I found them a riot!

All I am is just a housewife Nothing special, nothing great What I do is kinda boring If you'd rather, it can wait All I am is someone's mother All I am is someone's wife All of which seems unimportant All it is is

Just my life

Do the laundry, wash the dishes Take the dog out, clean the house Shop for groceries, look for specials God it sounds so, Mickey Mouse Drop the kids off, pick the shirts up Try to lose weight, try again Keep the troops fed, pick their things up Lose your patience, count to ten

(2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9..104..5..6..7..8..9..)

All I am is just a housewife Just a housewife, nothing great What I do is "out of fashion" What I feel is out of date All I am is someone's mother Right away I'm not too bright What I do is unfulfulling So the T.V. talk-shows tell me every night I don't mean to complain at all But they make you feel like you're two feet tall When you're just a wife(Just a housewife) All they see are the pots and pans And the Pepsi cans of a person's life(My life) You're a "whiz" if you go to work But you're just a jerk if you say you won't(Just a housewife) People say that they think it's fine If the choice is mine But you know they don't What I do, what I choose to do May be dumb to you But it's not to me Is it dumb that they need me there? Is it dumb to care? Cause I do, you see

And I mean, Did ya ever think, Really stop and think What a job it was-Doing all the things That a housewife does? I'm afraid it's unimpressive(All I am is someone's mother nothing special) What I do is (What I do is) Unexciting(Kinda dull) Take the kids here, Take the kids there("Mommy..."I don't mean to complain at all(All I am is...All I am is...)Busy, busy...(Everyday All I am is...) Like my mother...(All I am is...) Just a housewife
All I am is just a housewife Nothing special, nothing great What I do is kinda boring If you'd rather, it can wait All I am is someone's mother All I am is someone's wife All of which seems unimportant

All it is is Just my life

Fundraiser for a good cause.....

Saturday, July 11, 2009. The Hard Rock Cafe! The Blues Junkies will lead off an evening of thrilling entertainment. Show starts promptly at 9:30. Immediately following the Blues Junkies will be Jumpin Jack Flash (Rolling Stones Tribute Band). There will be a special appearance by Mick Taylor (Rolling Stones '69 - '74, Jack Bruce, Bob Dylan and more)$10 cover with partial proceeds benefiting the "Wesley Spectrum Creative Arts Music Program"The address for all you mapquest junkies is: 230 W. Station Square Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15219, phone: 412-481-ROCK

Gordon and the cup

My friend Gordon (the lucky guy) got a chance to see, touch and get his picture taken with the infamous Stanley Cup yesterday.


Gordon is the senior writer for Slippery Rock University's PR department, and SRU has many marketing contracts in place with Fox Sports Network, which broadcasts all the Pens games. They held a special event yesterday for their business friends, and Gordon was there.


Apparently, there was a Mario Lemieux sighting as well.