Sunday, May 12, 2013

Weekend Rewind



A very special weekend for me.
It's Graduation Day!

After seven long years in college and the last three going continuously, daughter #1 graduated from pharmacy school Saturday!  Five tickets were issued to each student-daughter was able to get one extra from another student.  Hub, daughter #2. both grandmothers, her godmother, and I left early Saturday.  Getting a motel was out of the question-not only pharmacy school graduation, but also law students graduation also.  Tickets arrived on Thursday....




No tears yet.....

Daughters were ready to leave by 7:00 am... All smiles even though it was a rainy morning.




#2 daughter has to always check picture after taking...

Dad wanted a quick picture..


Daughters left and then we left shortly after.

.The campus is set in the foothills of Virginia.  A very small town-which just recently got a Wal-Mart!  Hey, what better place for a pharmacy school.



A little mist was still hanging around but the reception area was all set up.


I was still holding it together.  I took my seat -very crowded seat-the one where one touches the other person's elbow-but I was okay.  The bagpipes started...the processional began...



I glanced at hub and a tear was rolling down his check....which made me cry...I missed daughter entering...only caught the back of her
she is the one with the blue showing-

We listened to the introductions...and to Virginia's Secretary of Health and Human Resources, William Hazel, MD-Commencement Address.  He told all the candidates how they needed to make an impact in the medical field and to always treat patients with respect and above all to be nice to their patients for one never knows what kind of news their patient has just received. His speech ended with all the graduates standing and giving thanks to all who helped them on this journey of theirs.  I must say, I enjoyed his commencement address-not too long but to the point.

Now the moment we had all been waiting for...the Hooding of Candidates and Awarding of Degrees...

So glad a professional photographer was able to capture all of the ceremony.  I wasn't able to capture her when she was receiving her diploma.

After the awarding of degrees, they all took the pharmacist's oath.

I did capture the recessional--
A smile of accomplishment.

Pictures were taken with friends-friends who studied, ate, cried, and laughed together.






A close neighbor who would constantly make sure her door was completely closed and locked.
So glad she had a watchful neighbor like him!

A few pictures with family....





Picture with Godmother

Memories of this journey she will always have.
 




We arrived home just in time for a little reception hub and I were giving her.
 A book for people to write their wishes for Amanda.

Table pieces were pill bottles filled with skittles.

A day filled with such joy.



What more could a mother want for Mother's Day....
I have it all right here!

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

wednesday hodgepodge










1. When the children of today grow up, what do you think they'll say about this period in time? What do you most hope they remember?

I am afraid of what children of today think. Anxiously waiting to read responses of others!



2. National Teacher's Day is celebrated in the US of A on the first Tuesday in May, this year May 7th...share how a particular teacher positively impacted you. 

A teacher that impacted me was my World History teacher, and he also taught Driver's Ed.  I remember just talking with him about his favorite type of music.  He was strict but fair.  His classroom was organized and he didn't tolerate any nonsense.  Years later, I taught English across the hall from him.  There was a few times, when I caught myself listening to him lecture and thinking how many times he had to call a student down-this wouldn't have happened in my day.  

3. What's a dish your mama made, that if set in front of you today would whisk you right back to childhood?                                                                         

Brown sugar pies!

4. Mother May I was a game we played when I was growing up...no pieces, parts, or plugs required. What games from childhood do you remember loving that were also pieces, parts, and plug-free?

Playing kick-the can underneath the street light or playing red light, green light.

5. Besides your own mother, tell us about a woman who influenced you as a child?

My precious grandmother (on my father's side).  She was rather large and I use to laugh hearing my grandfather ask her if a tow truck was needed to get her out of a vehicle.  My grandmother was a devoted Christian woman.  My oldest daughter has had 2 open heart surgeries, and my grandmother would cry and pray with me over the phone.  I remember the second heart surgery daughter had-we were in Boston-the surgeon came in and said the surgery was needed or daughter would die within one year, but there was a 90% chance she would die on the operating table.  I had to call my grandmother-and she prayed with me on the phone and I cried.  She was something special-who influenced me more than my mother.  

6. Mamma Mia! What's the best play or musical you've ever seen? 

It has been so long since I have attended a play or musical-can't remember.

7. What are three smells that make you feel nostalgic?

country ham baking at Christmas, garden dirt, and burning leaves--all of these make me remember my childhood

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
A busy weekend is ahead!

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Weekend Rewind




Weekend Rewind


I learned a lesson this weekend.

We have a Sam's Club just a few minutes away from home so after work on Friday I decided to go and stock up on some things.  I had made my list and was ready to go.  My list was very short and I told hub it would not take me long.  We planned on grabbing a bite to eat afterwards.  Daughter #2 said she wanted to go and get a couple of things.  Shockingly, Sam's wasn't crowded.  I put my items in the buggy and I just went to look at a printer and Holy Cow-I couldn't see Hub!  He was pushing the buggy cart but what had happened.  The cart was piled high.  ahem--was the look daughter #2 gave me.  What turned into a couple of items-turned into $500.00 worth of stuff!!  Now hub is a softy when it comes to the girls and I knew what he was thinking.  Yes, #2 daughter would be leaving in two weeks to attend graduate school so just bite your lip she was just stocking up.  Stocking up--she practically stocked up for an entire year--that was what I was thinking.  I know in a couple of weeks I will look back and say-ahem --daughter sure did use her brains tonight!  Lesson learned-when #2 daughter says a couple of things-she will purchase them-not me-no more volunteering to buy a couple of things. 

Weather.....Woes.....
I usually don;t write about the weather but our crazy weather is getting to me.  Another cold weekend in my neck of the woods.  Today it is raining and temp barely 50-this is unusual around her.  Usually we have temps in the mid-70's by now.  The long range forecast is rain and cool until Thursday-ugh!  Bring me the sunshine.

Graduation...
Daughter #1 is beside herself.  She will graduate Saturday from pharmacy school!! I am very proud of her-a long road, and she has seen it through.  Seven long years of college is behind her with no breaks.  However, she can only invite 5 people to the graduation ceremony--so we are giving her a little reception later that evening.

Testing.....
Our state testing begins tomorrow--What a way to begin a week, right?

My post has been more like-my thoughts this weekend and not what I actually did.  I am blaming this on the weather--this stinky, cold, rainy weather!!!

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Wednesday hodgepodge








1.  This week's Hodgepodge is Volume 123.  What's something you've done recently that was as easy as 1-2-3? 

Absolutely-NOTHING!

2.  The Wednesday Hodgepodge also happens to fall on the first day of May ...what is something you may do this month? 

Not the slightest idea-right now my May calendar is full!


3. The Englishman Horace Walpole is credited as saying, "The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think"  How do you see it?

Boy-this one is a brain exercise!
If one uses the heart, this person is very emotional.  If one uses the mind, this person uses logic and reasoning.  Best to use both, wouldn't you agree?

4.  May is National Hamburger Month...how often do you eat a burger? What are your must-haves when it comes to burgers?  I assume you vegetarians won't be celebrating so tell us what you'd like instead? 

Not very often-hub may grill out hamburgers once in a while or I may occasionally order one. When hub grills, I must have all of the 'fixins'-lettuce, tomato, mustard, A1 sauce, and chili on my toasted bun.  When ordering one I love the black and bean burgers with an order of sweet potato fries.

5. Pansies, petunias, geraniums, impatiens...of the four mentioned, which is your favorite in a patio pot? Will there be pots on your patio this spring? (Or whenever spring comes to your part of the globe?) Who does the gardening at your house?

Hub and I both do the gardening-but mostly it is me.  Hub just begins the gardening.  There will be flower pots on the front porch and back patio.  Probably will have impatiens and geraniums.

6. When did you last (literally or figuratively) shout "Mayday, Mayday!"

Two weeks ago-while unloading furniture we had purchased for #2 daughter!

7.  Say farewell to your April in ten words or less. 

Bye, Bye, cool, rain showers-Hello flowers and green grass!
'
8.  Insert your own random thought here. 
Enjoy the rest of the week!

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Weekend Rewind




Here lately I haven't felt like doing much writing.

April has been C-R-A-Z-Y!!! 

Just this month I have had to meet with visitors observing our school for accreditation, complete paperwork required for special education students/meet with parents, had parent teacher conference night, attend workshops-this was just school duties.  I have also been apartment hunting for daughter #2 and work on graduation 'stuff' with daughter #1 and kept grandson for a few nights.  I am tired this month!  Thankfully, the weather hasn't been too warm to enjoy-a reason I have been able to complete the paperwork-oh I forgot to mention completing our dreaded TAXES!!

We did find daughter an apartment last week-:)



This will be her home for three years.  Moving in three weeks-so I have rented an U-haul-to move in one day.  I did hear this was also the weekend of college graduations-so.. I expect heavy traffic and many headaches on this move.

Another project is still a work in progress-our building we have purchased to re-model.  Hub and I plan on opening up a coffee shop in July.  Yes, we are doing some of the labor ourselves to help with expenses.  Hub is more excited than me at the moment.  I as still trying to get through the end of another school year.  I hate the end of a school year-too much happening and I feel like I can't keep up.

This is the outside-but we have put a deck on the front and the side of the building.



If you look closely, you can see wood on the walls-yep a change we made.  It is coming along.

Grandson enjoyed his trip to Chuck E Cheese yesterday.


Daughter#1  is all smiles, too!  Is this because she will be graduating from pharmacy school in two weeks!  I also know what she is thinking...hum....

It has been pouring the rain for a few days now.  I am the kind of person who can't handle the rain very much--I need my sunshine.  Yesterday grandson put sunglasses on and says...


"Here Mamow put these on and see if the sun will come out."  only through the eyes of a child...

Have a good week and Enjoy Life...






Friday, April 26, 2013

Wednesday hodgepodge




1. April showers bring May flowers...what have you been showered with this month?

Paperwork!!!!


2. What is the nature of compassion?  Is it learned or innate?  Can compassion belearned?  If you're a parent is this something you've purposely sought to instill in your children, and if so how?

Compassion is something I have tried to instill in my daughters, and I do believe I have succeeded in this area.

3. Do you prefer to watch romantic comedy or romantic drama...or are you rolling your eyes saying bring on the action flicks?


I prefer action flicks.  Very few times, do I like romance movies maybe it is because I know hub will never be that romantic!


4.  It's April which means baseball season is officially upon us here in the US of A. Humphrey Bogart is quoted as saying "A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz." Agree or Disagree?

Agree -Gotta have a hot dog at a baseball game!

5. What's something in your community or city that needs fixing or improving?

Our playground-just wishing for more play equipment for the little ones.

6. Share a song you enjoy that mentions flowers or a specific flower in its title.
'Tiptoe through the Tulips'-because of the tulips growing around the tree right now plus I keep telling grandson-don't step on the tulips as he runs around playing.

7. April 22nd is Earth Day...do you believe there's life on other planets?  That wasn't the question you were expecting was it? 

No even though I feel like I may be on another planet right now.


8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Woo Hoo!! found #2 daughter an apartment in Roanoke on Thursday-since her classes (Doctorate of Physical Therapy) do begin on June 3rd.  

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Our  November Hodgepodges always include a question related to gratitude. What is one small thing you're grateful for today?  My heal...