Friday's Fave Five

With a nod to Susanne, who hosts this particular meme....

Time to reflect on the good things.... (in no particular order)...

1. My dog, who makes me laugh at least once every day because he is so very, very comical. Yesterday's blog post was about yet another Hank Happening, and while I wasn't laughing at the time, I did laugh later. And my husband practically doubled over when I told him about the incident.

2. Button, button, who’s got the button…. Specifically, the magic “Skip” button on my satellite TV remote control that allows me to skip instantly through each commercial while I’m watching a program recorded on the DVR. I missed that button TERRIBLY during the year that we had cable instead of satellite. With cable I could fast forward through the commercials, but I couldn’t simply skip through them 1-2-3 and, in a couple of seconds, end up at the next part of the TV program.

3. A good massage therapist who finally located the area in my back that is causing a pinched nerve in my hand.

4. My husband, Tim, who loves me even when my middle-aged hormones are having a Really. Bad. Day.

5. A song entitled “Stubborn (Psalm 151).” I discovered this song (which is a few years old) only this past week and I LOVE it. When I first heard it, I thought, “Wow, this is a great illustration of the experience of coming to Christ.” But then the more I listened to it, the more I realized that it is also a perfect illustration of how we have to surrender our self will and find our faith in God anytime that we are in the midst of a difficult challenge. (I wanted to include a link to the song, but I don't seem to be able to. Bummer!)

Have a great weekend!

- Catherine

Hank, the Wonder Pup

Our dog, Hank Williams Jr. (no comma in the name) is a very comical fellow and also a very tender fellow. And also a very timid fellow. Today the timidity nearly did me in.

In our neighborhood there is an Ace Hardware, a store I'm very partial to for its eclectic mix of merchandise (like, they sell wine AND really cool leather bags AND nice down vests AND wood chips for barbecuing AND a whole bunch of other neat stuff). Anyway, I digress.

Ace Hardware welcomes well-behaved dogs to come into the store with their owners, so I take Hank with me and we make a nice walk out of it. Today I needed flood light bulbs for the recessed lighting in the kitchen. And I needed chocolate -- did I mention that our Ace also sells candy?

So, off we went to the Ace Hardware store, two blocks over and three blocks down.

Hank, as I mentioned, is very timid. He is nervous around a lot of people he doesn't know and in new situations. And he gets a little nervous when I take him into Ace, even though he's been there before. The staff love him, though, because he's very sweet and he is very gentle when he takes the proffered dog treats from their hands.

I purchased my box of six light bulbs and my candy bar (a Mounds bar today). We left the store and immediately a sharp sound rang through the air. It was just a workman filling in a nearby pothole but you might have thought we were being shot at, given Hank's reaction. He set off at a dead run, tail tucked under, with me being dragged along behind him. Thankfully I was able to keep my feet under me and my merchandise intact, but it involved a good city block of running before I was able to get him to stop.

The rest of the way home, he trotted at a very good clip -- under control, but still moving pretty fast. When we got in the house, he drank every drop in his water bowl and then, with a huge sigh, plunked down on the carpet in my office. And that's where he's been the whole time I've been writing this blog post.

Note to self: check for road repair work before taking Hank back to Ace. Unless I actually WANT another sprint behind a crazed dog, that is.

- Catherine

Random Dozen -- the Wednesday meme

1. On an average, how often do you splurge and buy something for yourself?

Hmmm…. define “splurge.” Does that indicate a certain level of spending? Or just finally buying something that I want only for myself?
Most of my splurges are either for supplies for scrapbooking and cardmaking, or for clothing. The last time I really splurged for scrapbooking was last winter when I purchased a Cricut Expression. The last time I splurged for the house was just last week when my husband and I purchased two chairs and an ottoman. In between those two splurges? One shopping “spree” for some much-needed summer clothing, but that’s about it, I think.

2 What is the last creative project you began/finished? Feel free to post a pic of it.

The last major, completed project was the reupholstering of our dining room chairs. But that wasn’t as creative as the Scripture project I made for our grown kids last year, so I think I’ll mention that one instead. Using decorative chipboard books, I “scrapbooked” each page with either a Scripture verse or an inspirational saying – things that my husband and I think are important for the kids to ponder as they go through their lives. For our one son, who still moves around a lot, I substituted a one-page 12x12 shadow box he could hang on the wall.

Here are two photographs that show parts of the 12x12 page I made for Darren:




3. OK, Goldie Locks, do you consider your house too big, too little or juuuust right?

Too small. It’s very charming, since it is a “storybook cottage” style house from the 1930s, but it is just too small for two adults, a teenage boy and a large dog. And it doesn’t have a back yard because it’s in a city neighborhood of small lots. Tim bought this house in 1999, before we were courting, so I had nothing to do with the purchase. As soon as we’re done fixing up this place (and the real estate market recovers), we’re selling and looking for something a wee bit larger, both in square footage and lot size.

4. What is your favorite outdoor chore?

Planting the summer flowers in the deck planters. I love our old, shabby deck and love to see it dressed up with color and greenery.

5. If you knew that cigarette smoking was not bad for your health but would be a weight loss tool, would you use it? Why or why not?

No, because it’s still gross. Have you ever kissed someone who smokes? It’s like kissing an ash tray. Yuk. And the smell that lingers on your clothing and in your hair is just as bad.

6. On a road trip, would you rather drive or ride?

Drive. I spend a lot of time gasping and hitting my imaginary brake when my husband is driving.

7. What do you consider a trivial pursuit?

Trivial as in: “I’m the only one who enjoys this stuff?” That would probably be family history research. I love doing it – it’s fascinating to me to see the patterns in our ancestors’ lives and to see how those patterns repeat down the generations.

8. This weekend, we downloaded the movie "Duplicity" with Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. Within 5 minutes, I was bored and annoyed, but I kept watching 5-10 minutes at a time hoping it would get better between small chores. I finally gave up and Jorge watched it alone, and then regretted wasting that time because he disliked it intensely, too. So ... how long do you watch a movie or read a book before giving up on it?

Watching a movie: I’ll give it about 3 minutes and then I’m either in or out for good. Reading a book: I give it at least 20 pages or as many as 50 pages to see if I can get into it.

9. Is there a song that you really love but are embarrassed to admit because it's not cool or it's racy or because it's by Hall and Oates?

“Gunpowder and Lead” by Miranda Lambert. (“I’m goin’ home, gonna load my shotgun, wait by the door, light a cigarette. He wants a fight? Well, now he’s got one, and he ain’t seen me crazy yet…”) Not exactly a Christian perspective toward resolving differences in a relationship….. but I understand the anger and sense of desperation expressed in the song.

10. On a scale of 1-10 (10 = extremely) how spontaneous are you?

I guess about a 6 or 7. My husband is definitely a 10, and I’m not nearly as spontaneous as he. In the end, it depends on how much work has yet to be done.

11. Are you a food and/or beverage snob?

Well, I suppose I am, now that I think about it. I’m very fussy about my morning tea – have to use filtered water and PG Tips tea imported from England. I like Starbucks coffee a lot better than, say, Folgers brand. When it comes to a glass of wine, I can’t drink the really cheap stuff or I’ll be sick to my stomach. We don’t eat processed foods – no frozen dinners, no meals out of boxes, no powdered drink mixes, etc. I prepare and cook from scratch as much as possible -- and that’s as much for health reasons as for taste, really. Yep, I guess I qualify as a “foodie” snob.

12. Who/What are you trying to control in your life?

I’m regularly trying to control my reaction to someone who seriously irritates the h-e-double-hockey-sticks out of both my husband and me (that's whole 'nother blog post). Tim is very good at letting it all go. I certainly should let it go, too, and God knows I am trying to do just that.

Incivility

I am continually appalled by our society’s general incivility.

And I’ve absolutely had it with the huge numbers of Christians who participate in that incivility on a daily basis. Please, people, while Jesus spoke forcibly and bluntly to the Pharisees, He had every right to do that – being that they were perverting His teachings and also because, well, He IS God after all.

Note that he didn’t run down anyone else. He spoke truthfully -- but without arrogance -- to even the lowest of the low, such as the tax collectors (who were master extortionists routinely preying on their fellow citizens).

As Christians, we have no business making other people – believers or non believers – feel small by our words or our attitude or our actions. And I’m not talking just about spiritual things. This would include that current hotbed of American emotion: politics. No matter which side you fall on, you give the lie to Christian humility if you are making fun or heaping scorn on people of the opposing viewpoint. Beware that arrogance because it is nothing but pride.

It is possible to make your point without being uncivil and demeaning another person (who is someone Christ died for, just as He died for you).

Okay, rant over. I ranted on incivility some months ago. It is still a very sore topic with me as I witness our culture – the Christian culture – going downhill at warp speed because of spiritual pride and arrogance.

- Catherine

The Blog from the Campsite

I wrote this one yesterday, sitting in our camper near the river:
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It’s Sunday of our weekend away and we’ve had some wild weather today. Yesterday ended up warmer than expected, and the promised storm had not come by the time we went to bed. This morning I woke around 7:30 and took the dog out for a brief walk – still rather warm-ish, but now overcast. About an hour later, the wind suddenly roared down with gale-force strength, bending the trees and nearly blowing over another camper’s tent. Following hard on the heels of the wind was a violent rainstorm, after which came the dramatic drop in temperature. The rest of the day has proved to be windy, mostly – with times of rain and times of sun, but always the wind. And it has stayed cold.

I grew up near the Jersey Shore, land of hurricanes and nor’easters; I LOVE weather drama. Snug in the camper, I enjoyed it all.

Tim went off to the hot pools for one last soak today. I begged off so that I could indulge my desire to sit and read for a while. I finished one book and then started thinking about the program I need to put together for our upcoming women’s retreat. Pulled out my Bible in order to copy down some verses, plus spent some time searching for specific references with the help of e-Sword (love that software!). The hardest part of this is formulating good discussion questions, but I know God will bring some good ones to mind before the retreat actually takes place.

It’s been great to be away and not have to think about things to do around the house. Even when I take a Sabbath Sunday at home, I end up thinking about the endless to-do list. Here in the campsite by the river, I can just ignore all that until we get home later this afternoon. I needed the break, believe me.

Update on Mom: I talked to my mother this afternoon, and she is not in pain but is still, nevertheless, “feeling crappy.” There just isn’t any other word for it: “crappy” is really it. She’s tired, and tired of being tired. She is very grateful for the absence of pain, but she seems to be growing mentally and emotionally weary of being physically exhausted so easily and so much of the time. Can’t say I blame her. My mother was always a busy bee, even after she retired from working full time. The weakness she has now is depressing.

- Catherine

Friday Fave Five

I have tried to resist trends in my blog -- simply for the sake of resisting trends and not for any other good reason (although refraining from mindless copycat work IS a good reason). But last week I took part for the first time in the Random Dozen meme that is put together over at 2nd Cup of Coffee, and in so doing, I discovered a community of nice people with interesting and intelligent things to say. I discovered, also, people who will hold you up in prayer if you need it.

And THAT, my friends, is golden.

I also discovered the reason for another trend known as "Friday Fave Five" -- wherein you publish a list of five good things from the week just past. In this day and age of being bombarded by the negative most of the time, it is a Very Good Thing -- for your own emotional health -- to regularly pause and compile a list of the positives.

So, here's mine:

1. The aforementioned discovery of a new (to me) community of people in the blog-o-sphere.

2. After a year of searching, we found the perfect chairs/bar stools for the “breakfast bar” section of our kitchen. The biggest problem to surmount was the price – I simply couldn’t bring myself to pay $200+ per chair, and all the styles that I liked were at least that much. Last night we found two that were deeply discounted on clearance and were just exactly what I’d been looking for. They swivel just a little, have nicely padded seats in a quality, neutral fabric, and the chair backs are wrought iron-style with an oval tile inlay. They were worth the wait. I’m so glad we happened upon the last that the furniture store had in stock and really, really wanted to move out of their inventory.

3. The Fall weather has arrived – I LOVE this time of year! The foliage color in the West isn’t as vibrant as it is in the East, but this is still a very beautiful time in the mountains.

4. We are going camping, just the three of us and the dog, one last weekend (leaving today). We won’t stray too far from home, heading for Lava Hot Springs about 30 minutes away. Cool weather, Fall foliage, and warm springs – can’t wait!

5. Found some creative inspiration within myself this week and am actually working up a few Christmas projects.

And... because there's always room to recount one more blessing:

6. Tim is finally recovering from his bout with the flu. We didn’t have an official diagnosis, but the symptoms and timing were completely typical for H1N1. Happily, he is making good progress now.

Have a great weekend!

- Catherine

Results of the CT scan and tests.

My mother heard from her doctor today -- the results of a CT scan and the monthly blood testing.

The cancer count climbed by another 5,000 points in the last month. The tumor on the liver is starting to impinge on what is left of the bile duct (most of her bile duct was removed surgically in 2007, when the first tumor was discovered).

There is nothing more they can do for her medically except manage the pain when it finally becomes debilitating; for that, she will rely on Hospice anyway.

In the meantime, she's on her feet, doing what housework she can get through before her strength gives out each day (the anemia is pretty serious now). Hospice is still coming only once a week.

I still don't know when I should be going.

And I truly wish there could be some way for her to skip the coming pain and just go straight home to her Father.

- Catherine

The Struggle

I wrote a nice, long blog post outlining my current woes and disasters... and then decided to scrap it because, really, it was just all about me, me, me.

And that's not where my focus should be.

Suffice it to say, then, that today I am struggling and that today I feel as though my prayers are bouncing off the ceiling... AND...that today I needed to read this particular post from Joyce's blog From This Side of the Pond. Thank you, Joyce, for finding my blog and leaving a comment so that I could find yours!

- Catherine

Randon Dozen #4 -- the Wednesday meme

Once again, questions courtesy of Lid over at 2nd Cup of Coffee If you want to play along, copy and paste the questions into your own blog (with your own answer, of course). Lid asks that we go to her blog and link ours to hers, using Mister Linky thing-y at the bottom of her own Randon Dozen post.

1. Tell me the absolute best way to watch a movie.
In a mostly deserted theater with a really huge screen. That way you get all the sensory delight of the big screen movie but no annoying talking or kicking or cell phones around you.

2. Do you ever think about your own funeral? If so, do you have specific ideas about how you would like it to be?
Funerals are for the living, and I’ll be past caring by then – so, no, I won’t be picking out clothing or hymns or anything like that. The only thing I want for sure is a headstone in a cemetery (with my full name and dates on it).

3. Are you more of a giver or a taker?
Sadly, I’m probably more of a taker. I wish it were otherwise and it’s something I struggle with regularly.

4. Vacations: planned activities and schedules, or play it by ear?
Play it by ear, baby. That’s why I like to go and stay in one place for a week while we’re on vacation – so there is enough time to see the local attractions without doing so on a schedule. Vacations are supposed to be relaxing, as far as I’m concerned – so the “if it’s Tuesday this must be Belgium” kind of vacation doesn’t much appeal to me.

5. What is one often overlooked item in your home that needs to be cleaned regularly?
We have two glider rocking chairs in the living room and I always forget to dust the underneath area where the gliding/rocking mechanism is. And I usually discover my oversight when a guest is quietly rocking away in the one of the chairs.

6. Name a cause that means a lot to you.
Compassion International. It's a Christian organization that works hard to make life on earth better for these kids and also strives to teach them about Jesus Christ (so that life after this earth is also better). You, the sponsor, get to correspond with your sponsored child, and most of the money you give goes directly to support the child.

7. Do you eat a regular old peanut butter jelly sandwich, or do you customize it? And by the way, jelly or no jelly?
I hardly ever eat pbj – it was never a favorite. When I do, it’s usually open faced on toast.

8. If we were having a conversation in person, how would I know if you were nervous?
I wouldn’t smile very much and I’d use REALLY long words.

9. Do you have an elaborate bedtime routine, or just the basics of toothbrushing and jammies?
Well, it’s more than the basics, I guess: Take herbal relaxer, brush teeth, remove makeup, smooth on moisturizer, climb into bed and read at least a page of an entertaining book, and then turn out the light.

10. Have you ever regretted something you wrote on your blog?
No, thankfully.

11. Has anyone ever told you that you look like a famous person or celebrity? Did you agree?
Fifteen (or so) years ago someone said I looked like Meryl Streep. That would be very nice because she is quite beautiful and has aged well -- but I really. don’t. think. so. Sigh.

12. If you were going to dedicate a song to a loved one or friend, what would the song be and to whom would it be dedicated?
To my husband, Tim: “Valentine” (written by Jim Brickman and sung by Martina McBride).

Don't Come

"Don't come," she says. Don't come??? You're taking pain meds and have been in pain for nearly 24 hours straight and you say, "Don't come??????"

"Are you crazy?" I wanted to say. Of course, I didn't.

She IS my mother, after all.

The Uber Planner isn't ready for me to come and stay yet. I reminded her that I wanted to get there before she's so out of it that she can't recognize me. She's pretty sure she'll be able to give me three days' notice before that point arrives (three days being the time it will take for me to drive there).

She said she's not ready for me to take her piano yet because she needs to practice Christmas music. I have no argument for that. Christmas music? I reassured her that I wasn't going to take her piano until it was all over anyway ("I'll be prying it out of your cold, dead fingers, Mom," I joked -- she laughed).

She sees her doctor on Monday and we will talk it over again after that.

Sigh.

Today is a good day for her -- she is pain-free and feels good. But yesterday was one of the worst days she's had yet. And the oral morphine made her sick on top of everything else, so they will have to find a different pain killer that she can take by mouth for now.

A few days ago she said (as I wrote in my blog entry), "With this disease, some days you die and some days you dance." She reiterated that today during our conversation.

It put me in mind of the old English carol, "Tomorrow shall be my dancing day" -- a piece we sang in our high school choir, and which is, arguably, the forerunner of the popular 1970s Jesus Movement song "Lord of the Dance."

Because after Mom dies, she WILL dance again.

As always, stay tuned.....

- Catherine

Still wondering, but getting ready to go.

Mom's not feeling too well today -- in fact, she's been in constant pain since last night. She doesn't like the pain meds, because they make her so sleepy, but it seems as though she doesn't have much choice about it today. The pain has been with her since the middle of last night, and when I spoke to her this afternoon, she'd had a couple of doses of pain med and was thinking about the next one in an hour or so. That's a sharp change from yesterday, when she was pain-free.

Tim and I had planned to go camping one last time in early October, but I think we might change our plans and go this weekend instead.

Mom said today, "I think this thing will go quickly when it happens." In other words, she won't be lingering.

And I'd better think about packing.

- Catherine

Random Dozen -- the Wednesday meme

Got this from a blog called 2nd Cup of Coffee. If you want to play along, copy and paste the questions into your own blog and then answer them for yourself!


1. Please share one middle school memory. It can be good, bad, ugly, funny. Pictures or words, I don't care, just share.

Our middle school campus had a major landscaping/design flaw in that the front lawn and main entry sidewalk would disappear under a veritable lake of water during a rainstorm. I’m talking inches deep, feet wide and yards long! I remember plenty of instances trying to get to or from the bus, walking on the heels of my shoes through the deep water that ran the entire width of the sidewalk for several feet (in the vain hope that I’d be able to keep my shoes at least somewhat dry. Ha!).

2. What's your favorite Beatles song?

If I Fell


3. If I asked you to describe your most comfortable outfit, what would it be?

Anything with a pair of jeans; I like dressing them up and dressing them down, and they’re my favorite article of clothing.

4. Would you rather host a party or be a guest?

Host. I don’t do small talk very well and usually end up feeling disoriented because I don’t have anything to do if I’m just the guest. And…. I really like to have people over for a party. I like planning it, organizing it, cooking for it, welcoming people into the house… the whole nine yards!


5. Do you think we will move completely from traditional books to digital ones, and if we do, are you OK with that?

No, I don’t think traditional books will ever go away, and I wouldn’t be okay with it if they did. I like to hold the book and have the freedom to use only my eyes (and not a scrolling bar) to move along the page. Plus there is something about having the spatial orientation of the book – you know how far you have to go, how far you’ve been, how much you would need to read to get to the end of the page, etc…. Reading electronically, to me, is a bit like proceeding blindly through something.


6. Do you learn best by reading, listening or experiencing?

Experiencing. Much to my chagrin. (I wish I could learn by listening.)


7. If you are (or when you were) single, what is the kiss of death for you concerning the opposite sex? (That is, what is one trait or behavior or habit or anything at all that immediately turns you off from considering that person a potential match for you?)

When I was single, the kiss of death was if the guy was more focused on my looks than on me as a person.

8. Snacks. Salty or sweet?

Sweet. Specifically: Chocolate. What else is there?


9. Look around you in a four foot radius. What object is around you that you didn't realize was there or forgot was there? How long has it been there?

There’s a phone book sitting on the shelf under my desk top. For months I’ve been hiking upstairs to get a phone book when I needed one, and I could have just reached under my desk and pulled it out!

10. What is your favorite Tom Cruise movie?

None. I’m not a fan of Tom Cruise’s acting.

11. You buy a bottle of shampoo and discover that you don't like what it does to your hair at all. What do you do with that full bottle?

Put it in the product graveyard underneath the bathroom sink – because MAYBE (just MAYBE) one day I will want it again…

12. Your favorite Fall comfort food?

Homemade Beef Stew.

Correction

I thought my mother was to have had a doctor's appointment today -- turns out it is next Monday.

She sounded great today on the phone -- well and strong. She IS going to get a 'cleaning lady' finally -- someone to come in every other week and run the vacuum, mop the floors, etc. Her strength just gives out too quickly these days. She daily runs the little 2-lb. cordless sweeper that I sent her so that the surface dirt is taken care of. But the 8-lb. Oreck is too much.

First time in her whole life that she's even considered having someone other than herself do the cleaning of her house.

So, even though she didn't see the doctor, she did have a visit from Hospice today; they are still coming only once a week, though. In answer to my question about frequency of visits, my mother hastened to assure me that the Hospice team is available ANYtime she needs them. But I don't need them right now, she added.

Go, Mom!

- Catherine

Shape-up Update

It's been over a week since I purchased The Moonshoes (as I affectionately call my Skechers Shape-ups Sneakers).

I added one other thing to my at-home regimen - in addition to the daily walking with Skechers: I'm doing sit-ups on a balance ball (sometimes called a Therapy Ball -- it's one of those enormous balls that you can roll around on). Now, while I do those sit-ups, I also tighten my buttocks in order to get a bit more of a workout (and also to hold my balance). An added benefit is that, because my sit-ups start at a negative angle (beyond flat), my spine gets a nice little adjustment, too. Stomach is definitely getting flatter.

So, here is what I've noticed in the last 24 hours: 1) my butt muscles are definitely feeling the effects of the sit-up workout and 2) my legs are more flexible.

I attribute #2 to The Moonshoes. Today I sat down on the floor at church and crossed my legs -- with ease! I haven't felt that flexible in YEARS, folks! Usually I have to uncross my legs almost immediately, but today I simply sat there, quite comfortable, for quite a long time. Amazing.

That's the Shape-up Update. I have to say that it's a fairly easy regimen -- daily walking and daily sit-ups -- but it does seem to be paying some pretty good dividends.

- Catherine

The Days of the Journey

I call my mother every day now. I didn't used to do that -- she never encouraged it when she was younger, feeling that girls who called their mothers every day weren't independent enough. I never understood that, but I do now. It's twofold: 1) my mother was a somewhat distant woman for most of her adult life; and 2) she lost her own mother just as she (my mom) was entering adulthood, really -- in the days when phone calls were expensive and thus were utilized only infrequently and for important messages. So, she never knew how rich it could be to talk to your mother often.

Now that my mom is ill, I call every day just to say hello and gauge how she's doing (as determined by the tone of her voice -- I wonder if she knows that yet!). We exchange small talk about what's new (not much) and I try to find something funny to say.

Yesterday she had a very good day and had gone out to lunch with an old friend. They'd laughed together for a couple of hours, and I could tell that that had done my mother quite a lot of good.

Here's what she said to me when I remarked that she sounded great over the phone: "With this disease, some days you die and some days you dance."

Yesterday she danced.

She has a doctor's appointment on Monday. Stay tuned....

- Catherine

The Energizer Bunny

My mother's email note to me this morning is as follows:

The hospice nurse was here and I'm definitely jaundiced. The liver is starting to be compromised.

We're going out with friends for dinner.


That's my mom.

- Catherine

My Left Foot, Part 2

I've been wearing my Skecher Shape-ups pretty much full time for the last few days now -- I even did my last shift at the Fair Booth in them (8+ hours). I have to say that I really like these shoes! With each step, your foot is gently flexed through the entire range of motion, and the shock absorption can't be beat. The soles of both my feet feel better, and I haven't had an acute attack of the Plantar Faciitis for several days. I did have to ice my left foot after cleaning the booth on Sunday, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been in that I could still walk on it and wasn't limping around - it just ached and needed ice.

As for the shaping up side of things, I do get a better workout in my walking -- so long as I walk as instructed in the Shape-ups' booklet (which accompanies each pair). You can feel the leg muscles working harder while you walk, and that's a good thing as far as I'm concerned.

I took note of peoples' footwear one afternoon at the Fair and I actually saw a few people wearing these kinds of sneakers, so the trend must be gathering. I've always wanted to be fashion-forward, and now, because I have old and touchy feet, it looks like I will be.

- Catherine

End of Summer

The State Fair is over for another year and, finally, our lives are returning to normal after a summer packed full of activity. I’m almost glad to be back on a regular schedule.

The grand tally of condiments that I made for our “Fish and Chips” booth is as follows: fry sauce: 18 gallons; tartar sauce: 18 gallons; cocktail sauce: 10 tubs (7 lbs each); cream cheese spread: 30+ pounds. Today is the first morning that I didn’t wake up thinking “How much do I need to make this morning?” What a relief.

I didn't take one single picture during the Fair this year -- I was too darn busy to even think about it. Sorry 'bout that!

What I’ve learned (besides how to make gallons of fry sauce) is that running a family business is a veritable minefield at times. We survived… with some unpleasant bruising but no loss of life or limb. We can do better. Tim and I learned a lot about that aspect of things this year, in addition to what we learned about the nuts and bolts operation.

A family meeting will be scheduled for this Fall so that we can talk about what to do with this year’s Fair booth proceeds.

I really like the work in the booth – I like talking to the customers and filling orders. 99.8% of the people you encounter are genuinely nice, and there is a great feeling of “hometown” values during the week of the Fair. There are all kinds of competitions and contests – photography, cake decorating, baking, garden produce, livestock (small and large), Junior rodeo, etc., etc., etc. Lots of fun all week for everyone. Plus there are the rides, the concerts, the horse races, and all the various vendors (yes, I bought a crazy looking broom, but I think it will be just the thing to clean the apricot pits from our sidewalk).

Update on my mother: the number of bad days is increasing and I am watching closely to see when I should hit the road to be there with her. The plan is for me to drive this trip (instead of flying) since the length of time I'll be staying is uncertain and I’ll need a car while I’m there.

- Catherine

My Left Foot

Oh. My. Heck. (as they say out here). I just spent $100 on a pair of sneakers. Sneakers! $100!! Not a nice pair of high-fashion leather boots but a pair of ugly black sneakers with sky-high soles.

Why would I do such a thing?

I thought you'd never ask.

I have two reasons for purchasing the Skechers Shape-ups: 1) I am hoping they help my left foot's Plantar Faciitis situation, and 2) I really do want a better workout when I'm walking since that is my main form of exercise through the winter.

I saw these in a local shoe store and, on impulse, decided to try them on. I'm not a foot expert, but they do seem to have really good shock absorption and they do seem to give my foot the kind of flexing that it needs for the Plantar Faciitis condition. Of course, that's after only one day with them. For the long term benefits for my left foot, the jury is still out.

As for the company's claims of toning muscles, etc. -- we will see.

I intend to wear them every day for at least my walks with the dog. I'll keep you posted.

- Catherine

Working at the State Fair

The Eastern Idaho State Fair has started, and the family's food concession booth is off to a good start. Tim's (extended) family has been doing this gig for more than a decade now, and it's become quite an operation. The booth started out all those years ago in a somewhat obscure corner of the fairgrounds, but it is now located on one of the main walkways very near the grandstand. Since that move (about 5 years ago), business has boomed -- helped by the fact that we offer some really good fish (fried salmon, fried cod, fried shrimp, and smoked salmon bagels).

I opened the booth yesterday for pre-fair business -- we had a surprising amount of traffic from the vendors who were setting up their own places and from the 4H families (one kid came twice during the course of the day, and each time he paid for his $8.00 meal with a $50 bill).

I got a really nice surprise today when a high school classmate showed up at our booth. Peter lives an hour away from us, and I "see" him on FB all the time, but I haven't actually seen him in person in about 10 years. So that was really fun to have a mini-reunion, talk for a few minutes and introduce him to my husband.

I'm tired as I write this and I'm afraid I'll have Restless Leg Syndrome tonight; I expect to be completely exhausted when the week is all over.

And... once it IS all over, I will start thinking about when I'm going to drive East to visit my Mom.

- Catherine