Okay, this has been a very wierd past week.  Let me preface this by reminding y’all, I’m not technically inclined.  I can do basics, that’s it.  But these days no tippy toeing into the cool water for me, I’m cliff diving.  I went from dial-up to satellite, survived a computer crash, and now I’m working on a new laptop with all new programs.  I got it early this afternoon, express mail cause I was like a chocoholic after the candy store closed, and that isn’t a pretty sight for anyone.  I took it from the UPS guy so fast I think he got a cardboard burn.  I’ll be working with my editor soon, and thought I might need to learn the new word, download my files, etc.  And guess what, I’ll survive.   My daughter, on the other hand, may have a headache.  I fired it up at my house, while she was on the phone.  I’m telling her what the prompts are saying, she’s telling me what to click, “Take a deep breath, Mom” she says.  I’m downloading and clicking and it sounds like the rumba, backing out of screens, taking more deep breaths, feeling the cliff dive rush.  I did find out my adrenaline works fine, my daughter is an angel, I need to take more herbs, my editor is patient, my friends are amazing, Edie emails a great hug, there’s no place like home, and I’m not in Kansas anymore.

Gotta love it!  When I get caught up in change, at some point it’s best to quit fighting and just go with it.  That’s when I take a deep breath, and realize the sky didn’t fall, and ask myself what’s the worse that can happen?  I didn’t lose my stories on the crash, I got a new laptop out of it, I needed to update my word, and I took care of all those annoying glitches at the same time.   Smooth sailing from now on, eh? 

Care to share a few of your ”what the heck just happened” days with me?  I’d really love to hear them about now.   And hugs to those that might have a story to share.  Trust me, I know how you feel. 

   

I wanted to do a celebration blog about a very special woman I know.  Her name is Dorothy, and she’s exactly what I want to be when I grow up.  Dorothy was 94, and passed away a couple of weeks ago. 

She’s all my favorite characters rolled into one.  She wore life loud and proud, and didn’t want to miss one single moment of it.  My dear friend, Vickie, lost a mom and everyone around her lost an inspiration.  I have suffered great loss too, and know how difficult the road is to travel.  But when the pain settles, and quiet comes I smile in the remembering.   And Dorothy left some great memories behind for her family to savor.

Dorothy used to hit the road and follow Elvis inpersonators.  We always smiled, cause when Vickie and I were worn out from a full week, Dorothy’s was just beginning!  I never saw her attend those shows, but I can see them in my heart and mind.  She’d be wearing a big smile, and tapping her toe.  She always had a hug and a smile for you.  I never saw her playing old, I saw a vibrant spirit.  She was my friend, and it’s how I always remember her.  We were in a Bunko club together, and she loved camping too.

Dorothy passed away at home, with her family close by. It’s how she would’ve wanted it. I asked Vickie if it was okay to share this little story I’m going to share, and she loved the idea.  A day or so prior to Dorothy’s passing, the family could see her slipping away and knew the time was near.  She’d had her eyes closed for quite a while, and they talked to her.  Once, Vickie’s sister asked Dorothy if she was ready to go, and that it was okay if she needed to. 

Dorothy’s eyes snapped open, and see asked, “Where we going?” Now, that’s the spirit I’m talking about.  She lingered a while longer, then decided to go Home.  That was Dorothy, and we love and will miss her greatly.

So, Dorothy thank you for all the great memories, and thank you for giving us all a glimpse of how life is to be lived. And no more Elivis impersonators for you, you can see the real deal now!

Okay, I’m really excited about this satellite thing.  I’m one of the few writers I know that still have dinosaur dial-up.  And, it’s not my fault.  Truly.  My area is rural, and we live in this holler I guess you’d call it.  No cell phone reception at my house, nadda.  You have to drive down the road a piece to pick it up.  There is DSL down the road, on either side of us, and all I can think is those lucky people.  My daughter lives in a small neighboring town, and has DSL, no problem.  But us, no way.  I’ve been waiting over two years for this miracle.  And no, Ma BellSouth hasn’t put up a dang pole in our area for this particular service.  So, I’m going satellite.  My miracle will happen Thursday, so I’ll be sure and check in with y’all.

As it is now, I can paint my toe nails, read a chapter, take a small snooze, just waiting for webpages to appear.  And, I’m so not lying here.  My daughter just spent a few days with us, and tried to pay a bill online.  It took so long she shut-down, preferring to pay it when she got home, and asked me how I stood it.  I said, I haven’t a clue.  Enough is enough.  So, Ma Bell can just forget about me as an online customer, if they ever choose to service this area. I’m taking the waves a different route!

I’m curious, am I truly the only dinosaur left, and what road to do you surf the net? And is it as great as I think it’ll be?  I can’t imagine seeing my mail at a glance throughout the day, having phone access, being able to zip through my favorite blogs, and write mine. I’m thinking of the glorious time I’ll be saving too.  Now, what should take approximately 40 minutes has taken half days before.  Not a way to get serious work done.  So, I shall be more efficient, and productive with my new system.  YAY!

Okay, my sweet dear friend, Edie Ramer, tagged me and the other Magical ladies last week.   Since I was working furiously on a submission to my editor, I’m  just now getting around to it.  So, without further ado here’s eight random facts about me.  And no snoozing allowed while reading.  I never said I was interesting, but Edie seems to think I might have something to offer. 

1.  I first laid eyes on my hubby when I was dangling upside down from a tree limb.  I was in grade school.

2.  I had braces on my teeth throughout my high school experience–and no I was never Queen of anything. 

3.  I love to water ski, but had to give it up because of a neck injury. Bummer.

4. I love my Jeep Liberty, and it’s blue like the Ocean.

5.  Edie knows how to translate anything teckie for me, and I totally get it.  Miracle alert! 

6. I thought I was having megga hot flashes last week, and found out it was a low-grade fever! 

7. Today is my 34th wedding anniversary.

8.  I had a crush on Elvis Presley when I was four years old.  My family and I were in a cafe, and a song of his was playing on the juke box.  Rather loudly I said, “Elvis, you make me so nervous!” Except nervous came out Noivis! Where I got that word is anyone’s guess.  See, I was a writer waiting to happen.

To read other interesting facts about those tagged, go to my friend links and I’m sure most of them have been zapped.  Edie and friends have been busy!