Numbers

Everyone strives to be number one, but to achieve the status of the best, doesn't always mean you are the winner with the highest number.

The winner of a basketball or football game or soccer match has the highest score. The winner of a golf match is the lowest score.

In school, you want to achieve 100 rather than 75.

With your health the highest number isn't always the best, and sometimes the lowest number is just as bad.

Can't we all just be normal? How easy would that be to achieve?

Small Town

I was born in a small town
and I live in a small town
probably die in a small town
oh, those small communities

Those are some of the lyrics to one of my favorite John Mellencamp songs!

Sometimes small town communities can be a good thing, sometimes it is more drama than one can bare. Yesterday, in Crothersville, it was a good thing. Two gentlemen from a utility came to our small town Town Hall to inquire about an address and gentleman who they had an appointment with.

They had been to Mr. X's address, but he was not home. The utility workers had been to our Town Hall in the past and obtained information on addresses and individuals and wanted to try us again to see if we could help them.

The homeowner in question is usually in one of two places. If he's not home, he's at a local establishment visiting with his friends. When the utility workers told us they needed inside Mr. X's home to make repairs and he wasn't answering the door, they asked if we knew where he might be. "Sure do" I said. I called the local VFW Post and asked the manager if Mr. X was there (like he always is!) To my surprise, he wasn't! I couldn't believe it!

A friend of his was going out of town to a flea market and he decided to tag along. Mr. X had a brother who was at the VFW and he was going to call another brother who would meet the utility workers at Mr. X's residence.

Problem solved...only in a small town...almost...

Twenty minutes later the utility workers show back up telling us the brother never showed and wondered if we could make another phone call to him to see what was happening. Calling the VFW manager again and asking the brother to call the other brother and have the utility worker go back to Mr. X's residence and wait again.

I guess something wasn't working correctly because a few minutes later the utility worker comes back telling us no one ever showed up and he was wondering if I could reschedule Mr. X's appointment!

I called the manager again and ask what time Mr. X usually shows up at the VFW.
We determined sometime between noon and 2:00 pm would be a good time to reschedule Mr. X's appointment.

After this was all over I wondered if we were in Indianapolis, Louisville, Chicago, or any other larger city, these utility workers and Mr. X wouldn't have been so lucky to have their appointment rescheduled.

Sometimes small town's can be a good thing...

Well, I was born in a small town
and I can breathe in a small town
gonna die in a small town
ah, that's probably where they'll bury me.

Always On My Mind

Today, August 16, 1977, 34 years ago...What were you doing? I was 17 and babysitting my younger brother, Larry, as both my parents were working. During the afternoon I was washing the dishes for the day when my friend pulled in the driveway. As she was getting out of the car to tell me the sad news, I heard it on the radio...Elvis Presley was dead!

WHAT? How could that be? Of course back then we didn't have cable TV in Uniontown, Indiana, HLN, Fox News, Nancy Grace, Vinnie Politan, or Jane Velez Mitchell. We just had local news and the radio.

Elvis was and will always be the King and we will continue play is music and smile when we hear his voice.

I had the chance to go see in in the summer of '77, but declined the free ticket and thought I'd see him the next time he was in Indianapolis or Louisville. Little did I realize that concert was his last one he'd ever do!

Pictures and Adventures!

Our family home away from home for the week while we were on vacation...



This year our family grew by four people. My BFF's Shelley and Perry, along with Perry's nephews, Coty and Alex, joined us for a week of fun and relaxation. And that's exactly what we did!

Here's a couple pictures of inside our cabin in the Smokies at Hidden Mountain Resorts...





I never got my camera out of the bag until the day we left, so I didn't capture all of our good times, I was too busy relaxing in our private pool...and cooking!!! :D We had everything, including the kitchen sink! From grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and sausage, mini meatloaf (A1 is the best!), tater tot casserole, goulash, cheesy and twice baked potatoes, chicken wraps, and that was just the supper meals!

I was in my element for the week...setting up menus, and creating delicious meals and desserts for my 'guests' and watching them enjoy eating and coming back for seconds!

Sadly, the week came to an end, but not before we solved all the problems of the world and made some memories that will last a lifetime!





Until we meet again...Good bye Tennessee...

Another Year Older

This morning at 7:09 a.m. Patrick was another year older. Seventeen years! Where has the time gone? I thought it was just a few months ago I brought this bundle of joy home...



This next picture is of Patrick at about 5 months old. He is wearing the same outfit his dad wore and had his picture taken about 35 years earlier...



His smile still melts my heart...





Lighting the candles, all 17 of 'em, making a wish and blowing them out...



No matter how many birthdays Patrick has, he'll always be my baby...

Uh Maze Ing

Isn't it strange how just a few hours down the road can make a huge difference in your life? Old friends, new friends, family...sometimes I think I will never go back too reality. Maybe I won't!

Read this:

Ear Swan Forth Erode

It says, "Here's one for the road"

Another...

I'm Issues Home Hutch

It says, "I miss you so much"

And lastly...

Tanks Ford Deem Emmma Reese

"Thanks for the memories"

...and I say, "In just a few days we've created memories that will last a life time!"

I Know She's Smiling Saying, "Don't Worry About Me"

Some days are harder than others. Some days I laugh, some days I smile, then some days I cry. Every time I hear this song I shed a tear, but then I see her million dollar smile, feel her touch, and hear her say, "Don't worry 'bout me."



Why did she have to go
So young I just don't know why
Things happen half the time
Without reason without rhyme
Lovely, sweet young woman
Daughter, wife and mother
Makes no sense to me
I just have to believe

She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels
By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees
And she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting
And I know she's smiling saying
Don't worry 'bout me

Loved ones she left behind
Just trying to survive
And understand the why
Feeling so lost inside
Anger shot straight at God
Then asking for His love
Empty with disbelief
Just hoping that maybe

She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels
By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees
And she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting
And I know she's smiling saying
Don't worry 'bout me

It's hard to say goodbye
Her picture in my mind
Will always be of times I'll cherish
And I won't cry 'cause

She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels
By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees
And she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting
And I know she's smiling saying
Don't worry 'bout me
Don't worry 'bout me
Don`t worry 'bout me

PepsiCo Funding Crap!

Today when I get home and open my mailbox I find a brochure from Seymour High School. They are informing me and many others in Jackson County that they are accepting out of district enrollment applications for grades 9-12!!!! If your goal is to be the BEST, join the Best! (insert laughter here!) In small, bold print at the bottom it says funding for the preparation and mailing of this brochure is generously provided by PepsiCo.

To keep you updated, YOU wasted alot of money on this crap PepsiCo!

Opening the brochure I find courses students can choose at SHS, C4 classes, pictures of a classroom, soccer, football, baseball, golf, basketball, tennis, a swimming pool and the weight room. On another page I see cheerleaders pictures, drama, track, volleyball wrestling, choir, band, softball, FFA and more blah, blah, blah about the technology, labs, clubs, organizations and arts clubs offered at SHS.

What is Seymour scared of?

Why send out these brochures to Jackson County residents?

Who came up with this idea?

Again, what is Seymour scared of?

I believe Crothersville is moving forward and moving quickly. Has someone in the Seymour school systems been taking notes of our progression? New technology is coming to CHS.

Crothersville Community Schools 1:1 initiative has made the national spotlight in the Scholastic School Administrator Magazine. The school will also be featured in the Back to School print addition. This is a HUGE recognition for CHS. Crothersville is one of only 10 schools in the nation to receive the best in tech recognition. Everyone should be proud of Crothersville!

Here's a couple links I'd like to share:

http://blogs.scholastic.com/bestintechtoday/2011/07/kuno-11-android-drew-markel.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMpDN7-oBaA&feature=related

Also, new CISCO phone install is almost completed. All staff and teachers will have access to their own personal voicemail. Also with the addition of a PRI data line the corporation has unlimited long distance calling. This technology compliments the technology that is already in place at CHS.

Yup, Crothersville is moving up in the world!

To answer my own question from early..."Yes, Seymour I guess you are scared!"

Signed: Proud parent of a Crothersville Junior Senior High School Student!

Final Liftoff

Today NASA launched the Atlantis space shuttle for the final time.



After 33 years and 135 missions this will mark the end of the space shuttle adventures when Atlantis lands on July 20, 2011. Someone has decided it is too expensive to continue with the shuttle program.

After a few delays this morning, I watched as the shuttle blasted off from the launch pad in Florida. As the shuttle turned in the sky and made its way into the clouds, I heard the ground crew instruct the astronauts to "go with throttle up"

I cringe when I hear those words.

In January 1986, as teacher Christa McAuliffe and six others made their way into space, the crew at Kennedy Space Center instructed the Challenger space shuttle to "go with throttle up" then the shuttle exploded.

Then there was silence.

What a terrible feeling I still remember 25 years later. Today's mission however, seemed to go off without any problems. They will docking at the space station, unloading supplies, then headed back to earth at the end of the week.

Going to outer space and back has fulfilled many dreams. Maybe Mars isn't out of the question!

Justice?

My favorite picture of a little girl I never knew,
but yet I knew everything about her.

Caylee Marie Anthony.



Today, July 5, 2011, Caylee's mother, Casey Marie Anthony was found not guilty on all counts of murdering her 2-year old daughter in Florida.

Sadly, I think the devil was victorious today.