It's been one of THOSE weeks

Need I say more?

Saltine crackers and juice?

I was stunned and appalled when I read the story about a South Carolina school district that is proposing serving a pack of saltine crackers and a box of juice to children whose parents have not paid their school lunch bills. How cold and heartless is that? Can you imagine the ridicule these children will be subjected to? What kind of people are running this place? I simply cannot fathom what kind of mind would come up with something as totally asinine as this. Turn the slackers in to the a collection agency or the credit bureau. Hell, file a civil suit. But don't punish the children for the sins of the parents.
According to the school district website they "are serious about providing an educational program of excellence. We are serious about preparing our students so that they will flourish in whatever they choose to do after they leave us. Simply put, we want our graduates- your children- to be wildly successful." They want children to flourish and be successful yet they are willing to hold them up to ridicule by their peers for something they can do nothing about?
These heartless cretins should hang their heads in shame.

Mom will KILL me...

but I just had to post these pictures of the Dynamic Duo that were taken about 40 years ago.
They are just the best EVER!!! That's me with them in the first one. Sure wish I looked like that now!

A few of my favorite things...

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...nah, not THAT kind of favorite thing.

These are just a few things that I like. I don't expect anyone to agree/disagree with me. This is just me!

Bands:
Current band - Green Day (American Idiot was awesome)
Classic rock - The Eagles (of course)
Solo gigs - Don Henley (of course, again)
Newer Country - Garth Brooks
Classic Country - Johnny Cash
60's and beyond - The Beatles (greatest rock band of ALL time)

Songs:
Current band - Green Day - Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Classic rock - The Eagles - Hotel California
Solo gigs - Don Henley - Heart of the Matter
Newer Country - Garth Brooks - What She's Doing Now
Classic Country - Johnny Cash - I Still Miss Someone
60's and beyond - The Beatles - In My Life

Food:
Mexican - Chicken Fajitas (Yum)
Italian - Baked Spaghetti
Chinese - Sesame Chicken
"American" - Cheeseburgers
My son's homemade chicken quesadillas

Restaurants:
Mexican - Chicken Fajitas (Yum) - Monterrey Mexican Restauante
Italian - Baked Spaghetti - Olive Tree
Chinese - Sesame Chicken - Lieu's Chinese Bistro
"American" - Cheeseburgers - McDonald's (yes, I know I'm a freak!)
McAlister's Deli - Bacon spud (AWESOME)

Colors - purple and red

Beverages - Coffee and Diet Sprite

Clothes - Jeans all the way, baby! I'm not much of a dress up kind of gal. I like to be comfortable and, as those who know me well will attest, I've never been a slave to fashion.

Books - Don't care much for biographies and such. I prefer works of fiction.

Authors:
John Grisham - The Runaway Jury
James Patterson - Kiss the Girls
Stephen King - The Dark Tower Series (love them all but if I had to pick a favorite, I guess it would be The Gunslinger)
Stephen White - Private Practices
Anne Rice - Interview with the Vampire
David Baldacci - Simple Truth
Dean Koontz - Intensity
John Sandford - Rules of Prey

Flowers:

Roses - all colors
Snapdragons
Purple Iris
Fuchsia

Activities:

Spending time with my kids
Blog surfing
Listening to music
Reading

Yes, yes, I know I have such a FULL life - full of what...we won't discuss! But, you know, it is the simple things in life that mean so much. I may not have much financially but I am rich in other ways.

Sixties Music

I've been listening to some 60's music today. I had forgotten how much I loved some of those old songs. They bring back so many wonderful memories. The Beatles, The Byrds, The Turtles, The Dave Clark 5, Gerry and the Pacemakers. Good stuff. Oh, I still love The Eagles but there were some great songs in the 60's. Ah, memories. A simpler time when all I had to worry about was what I was going to wear on a date. There were no bills, no job hassles. If I could go back in time, I would go back to that time in my life.

Learn to be still

I've been very introspective the past couple of days. Maybe it was because I finally had the opportunity to talk to my "lost love" or it may be because my oldest son turned 35 today (Happy Birthday, Dan-o). I've been thinking a lot about where my life is going and where I've been. Let's face it, the years are winding down and my time on this planet will someday come to an end. I'd like to do something with my life that will be remembered. Some kind of legacy that could be handed down to future generations. I really don't see that happening but it would be nice to think I'd left my mark on this world. I look at myself now and see a grey-haired, dumpy old lady who doesn't recognize the face she sees in the mirror. Where did that young girl go? Why must she remain trapped inside this aging vessel? She wants so desperately to get out.

This "soul searching" led me to think of a song by The Eagles (of course). They seem to have written a song that fits most every stage of my life. This one is "Learn To Be Still" - maybe someday I'll "learn to be still" and find my place in this world before it's too late.

Learn To Be Still (Don Henley/Stan Lynch)
It’s just another day in paradise
As you stumble to your bed
You’d give anything to silence
Those voices ringing in your head
You thought you could find happiness
Just over that green hill
You thought you would be satisfied
But you never will-
Learn to be still

We are like sheep without a shepherd
We don’t know how to be alone
So we wander ’round this desert
And wind up following the wrong gods home
But the flock cries out for another
And they keep answering that bell
And one more starry-eyed messiah
Meets a violent farewell-
Learn to be still
Learn to be still

Now the flowers in your garden
They don’t smell, so sweet
Maybe you’ve forgotten
The heaven lying at your feet

There are so many contradictions
In all these messages we send
(we keep asking)
How do I get out of here?
Where do I fit in?
Though the world is torn and shaken
Even if your heart is breakin’
It’s waiting for you to awaken
And someday you will-
Learn to be still
Learn to be still

You just keep on runnin’
Keep on runnin’

Did you ever have one of those days...

when something finally went right?

If you've read my post about lost love (I know there's someone out there who has...helllloooo) you'll know that I had been searching for him for some time. Well, Saturday of last week he got in touch with me through Classmates.com (ya gotta love those folks!). Anyway, he came up from Florida and we went out to dinner last night (he's divorced..I'm not the kind to go out with a married man!!!). We talked a lot about what we've been doing for the past 38 years (he's led a very exciting life. I, on the other hand, have not!!!) and why we broke up all those years ago. All in all, it was a wonderful evening. He brought me roses (see below)! Good things do still happen!

Okay, this is weird.

It just gets weirder and weirder. A guy has been sent to prison for fathering a child with his 16-year-old daughter. He says he didn't think she was his daughter because she didn't look like his other children. WHAT????? I've heard some dumb things in my time but this takes the cake. Okay, let me get this straight. You've had this child in your home since she was born and have raised her like a daughter. But you think, "Hey, she doesn't favor my other children so I'll just have sex with her even though she's still just a child." WHAT????? That has to be the stupidest thing EVER! Fifteen years isn't long enough for this rube.
Okay, Einstein, out of the gene pool, you're polluting it!