A Lovely Winter Walk

Today is the Epilepsy Association's annual Winter Walk, and we will be leaving at 7:30 a.m. to get to Strongsville for this event. 

Today Mark, Dani, Ella and Drew are one of two featured families at the walk.  A few days ago, a letter from Danielle appeared as an invitation for the Winter Walk, and I thought I'd share it with you.  I apologize that the fond goes larger and smaller, etc.  This thing has a mind of its own sometimes. 

Epilepsy was a condition that had no meaning in our family until December 2, 2004. On that day we witnessed what would be the start of a long, hard, and scary journey. Our daughter Ella, who was 6 months old at the time, had her first seizure. This single moment changed our lives forever. This once foreign condition became something all too familiar to our entire family.

Our sweet Ella is now 10 years old. Over the years she has had thousands of seizures which lead her to endure multiple ambulance rides, hospital stays, medical tests and procedures, and blood draws. For the last 10 years we have tried everything to make Ella's seizures stop: multiple cocktails of medicines, the Ketogenic Diet, and surgical options. Epilepsy is a frustrating conduction because after everything Ella has endured we still don't have a definite cause of her epilepsy and her seizures continue to be uncontrolled.

 Ella suffers from several different types of seizures: grand mal, partial complex, and absence seizures. Her seizures have been as short as 1-3 seconds and have gone as long as 90 minutes.  Ella began her life developing as a normal child, now, unfortunately, after so many seizures and years of them being uncontrolled, she has developmental delays and permanent changes to her brain. As a result, she will always need our care.

Despite all she has been through, Ella remains a happy, loving young girl. When times get tough, we all try to remind ourselves of her strength and we are thankful for every day she is a part of our lives.

 We need to continue to raise awareness and funds to assist those who live with this challenging condition. Seizure disorders affect thousands of people and it does not discriminate against age, sex, or race-it can affect anyone at any time.

We are so proud to be one of the 2015 Winter Walk Featured Families; and we are walking on Saturday, January 31 for our daughter, Ella, and other who are living with epilepsy. We hope you'll join our family and help us fight to raise awareness and funds for this condition. Our hope is that one day there will be a cure and kids will be able to live a life without the fear of having a seizure.

We look forward to seeing you at the 10th Annual Winter Walk!

Sincerely,

The Tarle Family

Let me note that the other day I saw a small article in the Beacon Journal.  The category that medical marijuana used to occupy made it difficult to get funding for research.  Thankfully, due to the outpouring of letters and communication from families whose children have uncontrolled seizures made the government take another look at it and medical marijuana was moved to a category that will allow for much more exploration.  Believe me when I say that this could be a blessing for Ella!!!

Have a great day, everyone.

Karen

  

The Mansion

There was a horrific fire in Annapolis, MD a couple of weeks ago.  The fire destroyed a beautiful home called "the castle" by neighbors, and the worst is that the fire also took the lives of six people -- the owners and their four grandchildren.

The house was the last one on an outcropping of land and was on the water.  The husband did well for himself in the IT area and the home was worth millions..

A couple of years ago someone they knew was trying to set up a class reunion.  The wife volunteered the house.  The woman found herself taking a lot of interior pictures while she was there and she shared them with the media.  I happened upon them yesterday.  First, photos of a four-alarm fire and then photos of an amazing architectural design.

Apparently, the dry Christmas tree ignited due to an electrical problem and trapped the family upstairs.  The grandchildren were all between the ages of eight and six and probably had been having the time of their lives on this visit.

Life can turn on a dime it says in a song, and isn't that the truth?  We just never know what could be around the corner.  And yet we need to have a rock upon which we build our lives or nothing makes any sense.

What makes the most sense to me is my faith.  It is the one constant; the one element of my life that remains the same.  God does not change but pours out His love for us constantly.  He showers us with His love.  It is just what we need, as balm or salve, as a lift and an encouragement, as the soul's sustenance.

Well, got to go.  I have to play/sing for the 9:00 a.m. mass this morning and my car is on top of the hill awaiting some cleaning off.  And I need a cup of tea to get going too.

Take care, and have a good one. 

Karen

Dream On

Just when there was quite a long period of time when I didn't remember my dreams, I had a real night of it a few days ago.  Woke up remembering a couple of them very vividly.

The first dream is that I was trying to complete some kind of degree and had a certain number of courses to complete.  In previous semesters, apparently I chose to ditch a couple of the classes and never attended.  Is this starting to sound like the old "college dream"?  So now it was time to see what was left by doing an inventory of what I had taken and what I had not taken.  When they brought over the results, the classes that I'd ditched were carried on a large wooden contraption, kind of like a tray.  And on the tray was the obvious evidence that I had blown off the classes altogether.

I was afraid to learn how much I had to finish for the degree.  But the trays were brought over and that bothered me.  I had this sense of failure and cluelessness -- and this overwhelming feeling of why in the world had I blown off the classes?

So, yes, it was the old college dream again, only this time it was much more intense and pressing.  I've been working on a project for the last few months and have made some progress.  It's a book.  And it's about angels.  Pray that I get on track to work on it and finish it.  It is important for me to do this -- because for one thing I know God wants me to.  Since coming up with a title and a plot, angels have been showing up everywhere.  In an issue of The Liguorian dedicated to angels.  In the intentions book at the chapel at church.  All kinds of references to angels.  One week when I went to the chapel, I grabbed the first book on the shelf sitting out front on a short stack.  What was it about?  Angels.

As part of the research I've been doing, I found out that St. Thomas Aquinas is considered to be one of the foremost experts on angels.  His work, Summa Theologica, has a 75-article section on angels where he has cited material from a diverse list of sources. 

From parts of that work that I found on the net, he makes the claim that:

• Angels cannot change man's will, but can a human's imagination and senses to make a point.
• Inferior (lesser) angels can never enlighten superior angels, but they do communicate with one another.
• All angels are subject to God, their creator.
• Men are guarded by angels.  Each person has a guardian angel, usually one of the inferior angels.
• Angels do not grieve, for all that happens is under God's care.
• Dionysius categorized nine divisions of angels -- cherubim, seraphim, thrones, dominions, angels, archangels, and I can't remember the other three.

My second dream does not have much consequence, but it was also very vivid.  I had been out and about with some people and when I got home realized that I had about a 12-inch nose hair growing out of one nostril and it was white.  I plucked it out.  The thing was enormous, and I was mad at my friends for not telling me about it and subjecting me to ridicule.  Although no one said a thing. 

Wonder what on earth that means?  Freudians -- cease and desist!

So that's it for today.  Stay warm.  We've just got February to get through and things will get better!!  And thank God that New York/ New Jersey were spared the worst of the blizzard.

Karen

Blame it on Curves

Went to Curves yesterday morning and came home...and that was it apparently.  As far as the blog is concerned anyhow.

I was in a creative bent and spent the time when I should have been writing on learning more about making cards.  There's more to creating a card than one would think.  Usually, I get ideas from the pictures in the Stampin' Up catalog and then go from there, but I'm trying to think of my own ideas. 

So today is Saturday and I'm off to Curves again.  The rule is eight visits per month at the minimum, and that is doable, unless you have terrible weather and the flu like I had in December and early January.  So now it's time to get busy and make up for it.

The women who go to Curves definitely have more energy and are more agile than a lot of women their age.  A new lady came yesterday and Mike, the owner, was teaching her how to use the circuit equipment.  She moved slowly and somewhat tentatively.  I'm going to try and pay attention to how she does if I see her regularly, and enjoy the progress that she makes.  Being agile and having flexibility means fewer energy and fewer falls.  It means having strength to do household tasks with much more ease.  It means staving off the winter blahs and blues that often overtake us at this time of year.

One of my friends, my neighborhood walking buddy, walks all around her house for a period of time each day.  At least she used to until her husband started staying home all day long.  He used to go to a daughter's house and spend the day, but for some reason he quit that regimen.  But she would get her exercise whether or not she went to Curves or somewhere else.  It made her feel better.  And she has some steps at her house that she used for part of her exercising as well. 

Walking is really the more perfect exercise.  It doesn't load up the joints with a lot of pressure, and it is a natural movement.  In fact, I saw an article that said that walking provided just as much benefit as jogging or running.  A brisk walk is an excellent way to get some exercise.  I am excited for the warmer weather so we can get back on the canal pathway.  It's a neat place to find peace and quiet and nature along with your walk.

So that's about it for today.  I'm keeping up with the news on TV but lately I realize that it starts bothering me.  It's not good to bury one's head in the sand, but on the other hand getting addicted to a 24-hour news cycle is not healthy.  I try to keep it to no more than about an hour a day.  That's enough.  Plus, when I log into the computer to start my blog or check emails during the day, the foxnews.com website is my default.  So that also keeps me up on the latest goings-on.

Take care -- have a great Saturday.  Today is the Pinewood Derby races for my grandson, Drew, and his dad.  The car has licks of fire on it and looks pretty tough.  It weights 4.7 ounces, and the limit is 5 ounces so it should move decently well down the track.  It's a great day for a race!!

Karen

The Fake War

For quite some time now, we've been hearing about the "war on women."  I just don't see it.  So, this day's posting is going to be about how we don't have a war on women and how the terminology is a political ploy used to "gin up" the women's base.  Or in other words, use women for someone's political gain.

Why is that bothersome?  It is bothersome on a number of different levels.

• One area where there has allegedly been a "war on women" is in the workplace.  I can attest to the fact that a male working in a job was paid more than a female doing the same job.  It happened to me back in the 1980s, in fact.  To some degree the situation still exists but things are much better than they used to be.  I'm not sure how it developed; it might even go back to WWII when the women took the men's places in the workplace so the men could go fight.  At any rate, I'd hardly call that a war, would you?  It is an inequality in some cases but certainly not a war.
• When politicians declare a war on something, watch out.  The words are chosen carefully to elicit a response and there are plenty of women who fell for the bait.  This so-called war is in part supposed to be about a women's right to choose.  They have that choice, unfortunately, and can choose to end a baby's life through abortion.  And no one talks about or seems to care what sorts of ills that brings to the woman who makes that choice.  Women have easy access to a number of different pills for birth control and the cost is rather small even without insurance.  Women receive benefits to get a mammogram each year on insurance policies, and cancer screening.  They receive benefits to get reconstruction after breast cancer.  Women's health buildings separate from the rest of a hospital are much more common today.  I can't honestly say I've seen a men's hospital or wing.
• Whereas women often stayed home to take care of the children and the house in the 1950s, women make up a large portion of the workforce these days.  In fact, a number of women have opted to go back to the 1950s model and have found that in many instances, they can save money by staying home, especially if there are small children involved. 

Women have this marvelous gift; we can bear children.  Take a group of elderly people and bring a child into the group and watch what happens.  It's like turning on a light in a dark room.  Children are the best comedians there are.  No day goes by without something to laugh about with a child nearby.  Their innocence is such a great contrast to today's world, and rather than enjoying what they bring, too often children are marketable for products/toys/services.

The real war that is being waged is that women have allowed themselves to be duped into thinking that they can do whatever they want without facing the consequences.  There are consequences for both men and women but women seem to be fighting for their chance to swing the pendulum towards them.  Right now, I'm thinking about the female college students who choose to get into binge drinking.  I'm thinking about the use of language.  I'm thinking about the lack of modesty.  I'm thinking about the lack of respect towards their own bodies and those of others -- and the "it's all about me" attitude that is so prevalent these days. 

A war on women or are women actually at war with themselves?   As my boss at work always said, there is a big difference between men and women and the physical differences are just the start.  In the Christian life, we can find a way to live an abundant life, a fulfilled life, a joyful life.  It is not an empty, confrontational, antagonistic, me-me-me, demanding, defensive and worthless existence.  It follows the priorities set by God -- God, family, friends, work.  Femininity is embraced and not for spike heels, fragrances, a myriad of skin products, and the latest clothing trends. 

If a person spends a lot of their time waiting for someone to offend them, look at the time they have wasted on sharing a little joy in the world?

Today I will be joyful!!  I thank God for my children and grandchildren. 

I wish for you a day of joy too.

Karen

Cat Saves Baby

A news story from Obninsk, Russia told of a 12-week old boy who was left at the bottom of a stairwell in below freezing temperatures.  A stray cat who lives in a box at the apartment complex  cuddled with the child and kept him warm, and had also started loudly meowing which got the attention of some of the apartment dwellers.  The cat was normally very quiet, so one of the residents started to worry that Masha had gotten hurt and went out to check on the cat.

She found Masha and the baby and called authorities.  The baby was left with a bag containing some food and diapers but would probably not have made it through the night without the warmth that the cat provided.

Masha had grown attached to the baby and when the ambulance came, the cat followed the child to the ambulance and tried to get in.

Now Masha is a celebrity in Russia and who knows -- may get a forever home because of it.  I hope so.  No cats belong living outside.  Domesticated cats can survive but it is a cruel and lonely life.  Over the course of time, they often become ill due to exposure and a lowered immune system.  They also get frostbite just as we do and the areas most likely to be affected are their tails and their paws.

The baby is doing well.  Authorities are looking for the parents, but it would seem as though they didn't want the child.  And that's pathetic.

You have a child and a cat that were more or less throw-a-ways and they somehow found each other.  It is an amazing story of kindness and hope.  Even people who don't like cats would have a hard time not finding a soft spot in their heart for Masha. 

I pray that the little boy is well cared for and loved by someone -- and I wish the same for Masha.

Hope you are doing well, and getting along this winter.  I'm trying to look on the bright side.  It's almost the end of January.  Then we have February and usually by March we are starting to warm up a little bit.  This morning I'm safe in the house working on the blog and looking outside at the accumulated snow.  We're going to have to clean up out there; I left my car in the garage last night and thought that the snow wasn't starting until around 7:00.  It must have started a little bit earlier so that by the time I woke up, we had a good coating on the driveway already.

The temperature is 30 but there is some wind today.  So bundle up.

Back to the chairs -- the one seat-less chair is still sitting there awaiting some TLC.  It is possible that today might be the day I get something done on it.  But who knows?   I don't like half-finished projects but at the same time I do want to do this right.  As they often say, timing is everything.

Oh -- one other thing.  My son spilled some Super Glue on the formica in their kitchen.  Do you know what removes it?  Nail polish remover.  Interesting.  So put that in your "hints from Heloise" list.

Karen

Tweets

The dumb thing called tweeting has come of age, I suppose you could say.  People are just tweeting about everything to everyone.  Thing is, just like every other posting you could create, a tweet lasts forever and is "out there" for all to see.  It's hard to withdraw words on a page.

The impulse to just lash out and write something down is hard to resist apparently, but for safety's sake and all kinds of other considerations, do resist.  Save tweeting, if you must tweet, for the inane things that go back and forth like, "There's a nice sale at Sears."

I don't tweet.  I don't have a twitter account, and at this stage of the game, don't expect to ever request one.  My facebook page is simply like a book marker in my life.  It connects me with people I like and enjoy and reminds me of birthdays to refresh connections with others.  There are no status updates for me on facebook.  It just sits there, full of postings from other people, some of which don't reflect the views of the facebook page holder. 

For me twitter is just a waste of time.  I'd rather empty wastebaskets.

And speaking of work around the house, I made a decision some time ago to recover the dining room chairs.  The fabric from around 13 years ago is still solid, but it just doesn't cut it with the new wall paint and the carpeting that we should be getting this spring.  So we began -- got the first chair and removed the seat.  Easy.  Then we started removing the staples that hold the cloth to the seat.  Oh my goodness.  The chair company from Berlin, Ohio, went the extra mile and probably put about 15 staples per SIDE of the seat.  Plus a couple of extra at the corners.  The staples were put in with an electric or some other type of stapler that is of the commercial variety, not like our handheld model.  So they are really in there and hard to get out. 

We got one chair seat ready for recovering and now have to get down to the basics of how to fold the corners, following the old one as a sample.  I will use something truly useful -- Youtube -- and find a video that might show me what needs to be done.

And so that was two days ago.  First, we needed some Scotch Guard to make sure that the fabric repels stains to a degree.  I did that.  And now the one chair sits without a seat at all.  I hid the seat because foam is attractive to cats and they would likely claw the stuff to pieces.

So the day after the seat was removed, I'm watching the one cat, Sassy, as she moves through the dining room at a pretty good clip.  And she's heading for -- the dining room chair without a seat.  Yep, she went right through.  And then apparently did the same thing again the next day.  Another cat, Gracey, was moving even faster and about halfway through her leap realized that there wasn't anything there.  So far, no humans have made the same mistake.

So maybe today or tomorrow we can get to the job at hand -- finish ONE of the chairs.  Then move to the next.  I thought this was going to be a one-day job, folks.  ONE DAY.

So if you relate to this posting -- and I hope you do -- no need to tweet anyone about it.  We can just keep this to ourselves.

Karen

Korea

I was writing this in the morning, and then realized that it was time to get to church.  Peg and I were to play for the 9:00 a.m. Mass.  So I meant to come home and active this and kind of forgot.  Sorry.


We visited with my sister yesterday and took her out for lunch at Bob Evans.  She really enjoyed herself and then gave us stuff that totally loaded up the car for the trip home.  She's cleaning out her house from the ground up and getting rid of a lot of things.

So I have items to spread out among the family or give to the Salvation Army as I choose.

During our conversation yesterday, she reminded me about Don Heubel, a friend of hers from high school.  Since my sister was 14 when I was born, I got to know some of her friends if they happened to come over.  One of those visitors was Don, and when I was about two and a half, he started coming over to visit with me on the front steps.

He would ask me a lot of questions -- I can remember that much -- and then he would laugh like crazy.  I loved the attention and was rather surprised at his reactions to my statements since they sounded pretty obvious to me.  My sister was always so surprised that he'd come over to see me, this little kid, when she was pretty and 16.  Funny huh?

Well, Don was adopted only he didn't know it.  One day during his senior year in high school, he happened upon some paperwork at his house that showed he was the adopted son of the parents he thought were his "real" parents.  He was very upset with them.  So upset, in fact, that he enlisted right afterwards in the Marines.  After graduation in June, he went to basic training in August, came home for one brief visit and then he was off to Korea.  He got caught up in that horrible fight in Korea in November 1950 when we lost so many men at one time. 

My sister said it was very cold in Korea when Don was killed.  She said that at 82, she still thinks about him shivering and cold and away from home.  I told her that I hoped he had a moment's time or two to think about the adoptive parents who loved him so much at home and that maybe he could forgive them and think that if he got out of that place, he'd go home and make amends.

I don't know.  We'll never know. 

After Don's death, maybe a year or so later, we went to visit his mother.  My sister took me and told me not to mention Don.  And there were pictures of him everywhere, my friend Don.  I remember the conversation as being friendly and nice, but a little tense and stilted.  I remember being uncomfortable, not knowing what to say and feeling sorry for his mother.

Don is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC.  His name is displayed at the peace statue in downtown Cleveland at the base with all of the other local men who gave their lives in Korea.

These are the stories that just get to a person.  Such a miscommunication and misunderstanding.  And what a sad outcome of it all.  God understands our hurts and He relates to our hurts because God in the person of Jesus experienced those same hurts.  There were miscommunications and misunderstandings among his disciples. 

I hope that while he was in Korea, Don came across a dedicated chaplain somewhere and found God.  And that when he was alone in the foreign country, he wasn't really ever alone.  No one is really ever alone, even though it might feel that way.

Have a great day.

Just Wandering

We watched American Idol last night and it's very early in the game.  They are still doing the city-by-city auditions.  One young man with long blonde hair wearing a red shirt stood out among the others.  He is homeless.  He is homeless by choice.  By his own words, he was a rebellious young man and chose to leave his family behind because he didn't want to listen.  So he took to the road with his guitar, a sleep mat and some sort of covering.  He goes from town to town playing and singing and people throw money into his open guitar case.  At night he sleeps outside of town on the ground.

If he makes enough money, he buys a bus ticket. Otherwise, he usually hitchhikes.  He ties all of his belongings to himself with string at night so that if someone comes along and tries to take what he has, he at least has a warning and can possibly stave off the robbery.

He misses his family and home and he says that he's planning a trip there too.  But he stays no more than 3-4 days in any place.

He did get the golden ticket to Hollywood, but I'm just not sure that with his nomadic tendencies, he'd be able to stay in a hotel, be part of a group effort, and even practice basic hygiene.  The one judge said he was pretty ripe.  He may not even be aware of it, because when people are out on the road, they get used to the smell and just don't think anything of it.  But other contestants will!!  And they will be very judgmental.

He just looks like a lost soul who could use some help.  The golden ticket might bring him recognition but it might not be the kind he wishes for.

Well, we did go to the mall and I got sheets.  They are wonderfully comfortable and not slippery either.  They were "on sale," but that didn't mean so much.  I just glad that I don't have to buy them that often. 

My neighbor likes silk pajamas and she had gift cards so she got four pairs.  She was going home to pitch her old ones and was happy as a clam.  We had a very good time and it was good to be out and about.  We walked for an hour before we shopped, so that was good too.

Today we are off to see my sister in Westlake.  It should be a good day.  The weather will be crisp but not frigid and there should be no snow. 

Hope you have a good day today.  Five months to strawberries!!

Take care, Karen

Mall Walkers

My neighbor and I are going to Belden this morning to walk inside the mall.  This weather has put a serious crimp in our exercise program -- it's time to overcome the cold and move forward!!

My neighbor got a Macy's gift card for Christmas and she wants to do a little shopping while we are there.  I think that sounds like a great idea.  We need sheets.  There should be a white sale going on that I can take advantage of and that's all good.

Thing is -- sheets aren't just sheets anymore.  It's become a very complicated process and I am almost weary of it.  A couple of weeks ago, I went online in anticipation of buying a set of sheets.  Oh, my goodness -- what a complication.

Here are a few points:

1. No, we don't have a California King bed, so scratch that.
2. We do have a double sided quilt-top mattress with a drop of about 14 inches.  So the sheets have to be able to accommodate that, and a lot of the packages don't say that they do.
3. No, we don't want flannel sheets.
4. No, we don't want slippery, hot polyester sheets.  We want COTTON.
5. No, we don't want white sheets.  That's all there were for years and years.  I can remember when the first "designer" sheets came around and it was amazing.  Sheets didn't have to be white after all.  Then underwear didn't have to be white either.  It was a new age.
6. I don't know what 300, 400, etc. means and apparently, the industry hasn't been that careful with these designations.  I've read that they don't mean that much, and to be careful not to be misled.
7. I don't know what Egyptian cotton is.  American cotton would be fine, if we could find it.
8. I don't need four pillow slips.  Also, we use regular pillows, not King size, so that means I have to shorten them too.  Yikes.
9. I don't really care if the sheets have a "name" attached to them.  Kohl's sell Jennifer Lopez sheets.  What, she personally selects them?  Oh, brother. 
10. And last, I just want some nicely made, very washable, comfortable sheets -- one fitted, one regular, two pillow cases.

Let's see how this works out.  Oh, and I forgot.  I only want to spend about $40.  Hah!!!

That's the best one of all.

Be careful out there.  A lot of the communities apparently didn't take advantage of the day when the roadways were mostly slushy ice and now all of that stuff froze solid.  There are ruts, and dangerous icy spots galore.  It is a nightmare on my son's road in Canton.  I had to put my car in just such a way that my granddaughter could get off the bus and make it to the car without getting into the thick of it.  We did okay, but boy, it's not nice.  The bus driver, Susie, was also loudly complaining.

Take care.  Karen

OSU -- Rah, Rah, Rah

Whenever I do one of my retro cheers, my granddaughter looks at me like I am nuts.  Rah-Rah-Ree -- Hit 'em in the knee.  Rah-Rah-Rass -- hit them in the um other knee.  She doesn't get some of the humor in it yet.

Rah-Rah-Rah -- Siss, Boom, Bah.  What on earth was that?  But it's funny and it goes back a LONG way -- to raccoon coats and people dressed to the nines at games and gentility and camaraderie.

OSU had all of that minus the corny cheers last night in their defeat of a formidable Oregon foe.  A Polynesian quarterback from Hawaii playing for Oregon made a valid effort and has nothing to be ashamed of.  OSU's defense simply put on a show, and their offense led by an amazing front four made holes for valiant #15 who took every chance he got to get a yard.

It was a great game, a fun one to watch.  Unlike other games watching the Bucks, I wasn't really nervous for them at all.  It was such an improbable season, losing two great quarterbacks and relying on a third, virtually untested one, they had already beaten the odds to get to the game.  I was glad for them.  The coach says they are a close-knit group and I think that showed.

So hooray for OSU -- hooray for the State of Ohio -- hooray for the end of all of the disputes on who was really the best in college football.  We know who it is and it's US.  I have a theory.  It doesn't matter which college you attended, or even if you attended college.  When OSU plays, we all went there in a sense, all of the brave souls born and raised in Ohio.  O -- H -- I -- O.

And yes, I did make it to Joanne's the other day.  It was a fairly quick trip.  I got some yarn, a picture frame, and an alphabet block printing set.  All good purchases.  I have the frame ready to go, have selected the appropriate art work, and it is ready to be put together and hung on the wall.  It should look nice, kind of fill out an empty space.

Then I made some cards for birthdays and get-wells and it was fun.  Nice colors cheer up a body in the dead of winter.  It makes up for the frozen landscape outside, and the "frozen tundra."  Did you ever wonder what that is?  When you hear those words, "I'm going out into the frozen tundra."  Well, here is your definition.  The arctic tundra is an area with clumps of native grasses and hardy plants growing on it.  It is frozen most of the year.  It crunches when you walk on it.  There are actually three types of tundra, but I think the one they are referring to (as in walking into desolation and frigid conditions) is the arctic tundra.

Lots of missed school; the kids are going nuts.  They are bored and today they got to return to their schedules.  The day for a snow day would have been today, so the kiddos could have watched their state make history.  But that's okay.  I guess they would have been happy to walk for a while in the frozen tundra. 

So have a happy day today -- and let's be glad we live in Ohio.  Want me to list a few reasons why it is good to be a Buckeye?

• Very few poisonous snakes.
• Only maybe one poisonous spider.
• No scorpions.
• Fewer microscopic creatures that invade the body (like Monsters Inside Us)
• Less mudslides.
• Plentiful water supplies.
• Plentiful rainfall.
• Good growing soil and season.
• Vast array of plants and animals.
• Great colleges and universities (Go Zips)

So that's pretty good if you ask me.  Take it easy.

Karen

Saturday for Joanne's

Today I might get to Joanne Fabrics finally.  I have a gift certificate that's been burning a hole in my pocket and I really would enjoy the break.

Yesterday was holy hour and I did make it.  My husband surprises me sometimes because he has a lot of stamina despite the COPD.  I don't know if I could do what he did, and I'm supposed to be reasonably in shape.  The chapel was so quiet and peaceful.  It was just lovely and I got a lot out of it.

Here are a few of the things I gleaned from yesterday's visit:

There was a neat poem about how the cardinal got a red breast.  The legend is that a bird tried to remove one of the thorns from the ugly crown on Jesus' head and as he pulled the thorn out, he was washed with Jesus' blood.  And this is how the cardinal became the red bird that we love so much.  I have watched cardinals for years and I can tell you some interesting things about them.  They mate for life.  They are non-combative birds and usually like feeding off the ground rather than vying for space at the feeder.  The Bluejays dominate them.  They stay together in the trees around the feeder and make a beautiful scene.  They like sunflower seeds.  They are very territorial and that's why we always have a grouping of probably not more than 10 or 12 pairs.

Another little gem I read was from a book that dealt with Reconciliation.  It said that we should welcome the chance to go to Reconciliation, not "have to but we "get" to.  And that this is a special Sacrament and one where we not only encounter the priest, but Christ in the presence of the priest.
The book went on about the nature of sin and how we have so many opportunities to say yes to God, but choose to do otherwise.  So it isn't just willfully disobeying God, doing what we know is wrong.  It is also the many chances we have to live a different kind of life and we don't.  It gave me a better picture of service to God.

So that's about it for today.  I'll head off to Curves and get a work-out in first, then stop at home and get all my coupons, etc., and go to Joanne's.  Then when I get home, I'm going to make some cards for people I know who need a little comforting. 

I hope you have a great Saturday.

Just think -- it could be Alaska.

Karen

More Cold

Another day; another opportunity to whine for a second or two.  I'm supposed to have my holy hour today and I don't want my husband to go out and clear off the driveway.  It's just too brutal and dangerous and he has COPD.  I think all of you know that we have a hilly driveway and that without getting it shoveled off, a car just can't make it up there, even a four-wheel-drive one.

I think I will call the adorer who has the 1:00 slot and the adorer who has the 3:00 p.m. slot and let them know.  He's making noise that he will listen to the weather forecaster -- oh brother.  I know what that means - he wants to get the driveway cleared off and he's just looking for a good excuse.

So let's see -- what else can I mention that might get some humor flowing this morning.  Oh, yeah!  The cat threw up on the bedroom again.  How's that for hilarious?  This time I'm getting out the trusty Hoover carpet cleaner after doing the obvious solids removal first.  And then Fred, the cat, is going to be in great humor after I put Laxatone on his paws.  Let's see how that works out.

See -- here's the routine.  He gets up and he eats.  Then he comes into the bedroom and gets on the bedside stand right next to me.  He looks outside for something interesting, like maybe a fox or a coyote.  Apparently, there aren't too many of them around so he just kind of has a dumb look on his face.  And then he starts retching and if I didn't get him off the bedside stand, he would throw up BEHIND it where there is a heating duct and lamp cords.  Yikes.  That would be a mess!

Now, don't get me wrong.  I'm really nice to Fred and I love the old guy.  He's my buddy and he sleeps by me every single night.  He purrs himself to sleep he's so happy, so you don't need to be concerned that Fred has a bad life here or something.

Still -- I'd much rather have the alarm go off playing WHBC music.

Oh, here's another thing.  The other night we got ourselves a Netflix selection.  It was a football movie called, "The Underdogs."  The movie starts out with a scene of WHBC and I'm thinking -- there's another one somewhere?  And then at the beginning, it says that the story is by Ben Suarez.  Yep, Ben Suarez from Stark County and SCI Corporation.  Then we got to see scenes from the Hoover plant, the Central Catholic stadium, St. Thomas Aquinas, and I'm not going to spoil the rest of it for you.  It wasn't a bad movie either.  The song selection was actually very good and WAY better than 100% of the selections we found from Hallmark movies and a few other assorted bombs.

So that's it for today.  Off to the kitchen to make some cream of wheat for breakfast.  With weather like this, hot cereal is a great idea!!

Well, maybe there is one other thing.  My sister got me a cookbook for Christmas.  It's a Gooseberry Patch cookbook.  What I like about it is that the recipes are easy to make and don't use exotic ingredients.  Most of the time you have the majority of ingredients in your house already and only need a couple of things.  Like one I'm going to make is sweet potatoes with a sauce on top made with crushed pineapple.  Doesn't that sound good? 

Bye for now -- smile a little when you think about Fred, okay?  And say some prayers today to help me make up for missing holy hour if that is what happens.

Karen

Quick Post

Just a quick post here to say hello and complain about the cold.

Sometimes I like to whine; it just happens.

I worked in the same department with George Prough and I know I told you about him before.  He died about three years ago from Parkinson's and put up quite a fight.  Well, yesterday we saw in the Beacon Journal that his son's wife died unexpectedly, leaving two children.  She was only 42 years old.

It is always so sobering and sad when someone so young dies.

The obituary said that she knew her Lord and Savior on a personal basis since 1982.  That's just glorious!  And at the end of the obit, there was a quote from the Bible.  Probably my favorite.

"All things work into good purpose for those who know and love the Lord."

The quote they used was just a little different but the meaning is the same.  No matter what happens in this life, we must hope and believe that there is a God who knows about it and cares.  He doesn't want us to be sad but he knows we will be.  He was sad when his friend Lazarus died.  He cried.

And then He told us that it will be all right; every tear will be wiped away; He will make all things new.

What an awesome promise!

Stay warm; be careful; wear gloves.

Karen

So -- it's Wednesday

I'm off to a slow start this week.  Yesterday we went to church to clean out the choir loft storage area.  It was a mess with discarded electronics (dated and dusty), wood pieces, and way too much sheet music!  One of our group had already spent more than three hours cleaning out the lateral file cabinet.

It looks a lot better but it would be even better yet with some carpeting and some new shelving, but that would cost money.

Today, we have two funerals, one at 10 and one at 2.  I feel sorry for the families with the weather because going to the gravesites is going to be really cold.  It would just seem to make the death even more somber.  I figured there would be no school again with the cold temperatures, but apparently almost every school in Stark County is in session today.

Did you make up any New Year's resolutions yet?  The Beacon Journal had a back page on the community section all set up for listing resolutions and all sorts of information, apparently to make the one listing feel more accountable.  That's just it.  In most cases the only one who is accountable is the person who makes the list with such examples as losing weight, eating more healthy foods, and quitting smoking.  Involving a spouse in the resolutions can cause problems because pretty soon the list holder is feeling resentment toward the spouse for the reminders and the not-so-subtle encouragements.  An argument is probably not too far behind. 

So let's see ... I didn't do any resolutions yet.  I think I should though, so maybe this Friday at my 2:00 Holy Hour, I will do some thinking about it and let God have a chance to give me some input too.  I'm sure there are many, many things that should be on the list.  However, just as a polite warning that I knew before but also saw an article about -- don't try to tackle too much, too soon.  In other words, you should resolve to do something that you actually have a chance to complete.  It should be articulated and measurable, so that at the end of 2015, you know that this resolution has been completed.  Better that than having three or four difficult resolutions and not even making a dent in any of them.

I could list a few resolution examples for you to make things move along a little faster, if you like.

1. I resolve to avoid any sports bars where Johnny Manziel is a patron, lest he make a gesture at me and I would feel the need to spill my drink on him and then be ejected.
2. I resolve not to waste one iota of sweat on whether or not the Cleveland Browns win any games in 2015-16.

Now, as for a couple of REAL resolutions:

1. I resolve to waste LESS time doing dumb things like playing Solitaire.
2. I resolve to be more of a glass full kind of person.

Okay, so maybe you've already noticed that the second resolution is hard to measure.  I mean, how can I be sure that my attitude reflects a more positive stance in life?  So that one probably shouldn't make the final cut.

You know, our loved ones would probably be better at giving us ideas for our resolutions.  They know us in a different way than we know ourselves and can be more honest than we often are.  But then, that takes us back to one of the earlier paragraphs, doesn't it?  The one where we might get a little short tempered when hearing something we don't want to hear?  Don't open that door unless you are ready, willing, and able to listen and take their suggestions to heart.

Resolutions are difficult, aren't they?  However, we need to work on improving ourselves, especially in the realm of God.  Are we the best Christian that we can be?  And we all know the answer to that one.

So good luck with your resolutions and I'll talk to you tomorrow. 

Karen

Black Ice

It wasn't until some years ago that I'd ever heard the term, "black ice."  A news person was using the expression to explain a terrible traffic accident that had occurred.  The driver of the car didn't have a chance, never saw it coming.

Just because I'd never heard black ice before doesn't mean I didn't know something about it.  Let me share a story from my days at Kent State.

I lived in Beall Hall, an eight-story dormitory on campus and was heading to my first class of the day.  The easiest way out rather than an elevator was to take seven flights of stairs all the way down and then exit the extreme side exit closest to main campus.  This door linked up to the concrete pathway that extended from the side entrance of the building to the side door and then beyond.

I had rubber boots on that day, knowing that the weather was cold, and I was dressed in warm clothing including gloves and probably a hat, though I don't remember it.  As soon as I flew out of the door, there was trouble.  The whole sidewalk was coated with ice that you could not see.  It was also dusted with a little bit of snow that looked like powdered sugar.

Known for one who has good balance, I went on about a 20 foot gyration of movement trying to regain control of myself.  It was one of those moments that you just couldn't believe was happening, and I was waiting to wake up out of my dream any second.  At the end of the "body goes this way, then that," segment of the event, gravity finally won.  I ended up in a snow drift by the side of the walkway placed like a dog, in the crawling position.  How mortifying!

The first thing I did was look around to see if someone had noticed.  Sure enough, a boy walking from one of the other dorms was staring holes through me.  He didn't say a word.  He probably still laughs to himself if he gets reminded of it.  I hope he enjoys it!

Well, I buried my pride and got up from my degraded position, gathered my books and notebooks and purse, and righted myself.  My knee was a little bloodied and stayed that way for the rest of the day.  My panty hose had the start of a run that got longer and longer as the day went by.  I felt damaged.

A few days later, it started to be funny.  These days, it's hilarious!  Never overlook the power of a sense of humor.  It can carry a person through almost anything.

So on that day of the black ice, my carefully planned morning was thrown into chaos.  Lots of things have happened since then that make that morning pale in comparison.  And yet, there was a lesson to be learned.

The bottom line is we have to realize that there are things that are just out of our control.  You know, the Serenity Prayer?

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen

Thing about it and say it -- memorize it -- at least the first part.  God's grace is enough for right now.  It doesn't work on yesterday and it can't cover tomorrow.  But today, His grace is enough.

January 2

On New Year's Eve, we watched an excellent movie that I would recommend.  It is called, "The Way," and stars Martin Sheen as a pilgrim following the "Way of St. James," a route starting in France and crossing over into Spain.

The character played by Martin Sheen is on the golf course when he receives an overseas call on his cell phone.  A policeman with a pronounced French accent informs him that his only child, his son, has been killed on the first day of his pilgrimage on "The Way," a worn route taken by pilgrims since the Middle Ages.

Sheen's son is a scholar, a sociologist, who loves to study different cultures and peoples.  He had decided before leaving on the trip that he would abandon his Ph.D. program and instead concentrate on being with people, not just studying them.

When Sheen goes to the small French town to identify his son and claim his body, he is alone with the enormity of it. 

Then he makes a momentous decision; he will walk the trail called Camino de Santiago to Galicia, the site of a famous and beautiful Romanesque cathedral where the remains and relics of the apostle, James the Great, are interred.

Soon you feel like one of the pilgrims yourself as you watch the movie.  An unlikely band of travelers forms and you get to know why they are making their pilgrimage.  There are as many reasons as people, but some people definitely make the trip for selfish reasons, others for reasons so profound that they can scarcely iterate them.

The backdrop for this movie is the gorgeous countryside, bucolic fields with sheep, and here and there an amazing sculpture designating another milestone along the way.  It takes about a month to make the trip.  There are a number of different routes to take, but the one that the band of four chooses takes them through Pamplona, the city where they have the running of the bulls.

I don't know anyone that can't get something out of this movie.  Getting a good look inside the cathedral is worth it. 

It was out in theaters some months ago, and I found the movie for $5 at Ollie's.  We're going to lend it out to family members and friends.

Well, it's January 2 today and the OSU clan is celebrating.  That was quite a win last night; sloppy but good.  I stayed up for the whole thing and will surely pay for it later today when the adrenalin runs out.  Might be a good day for a Keurig cup of coffee!!

Have a wonderful day, readers, and Happy New Year!!