Sunday, August 21, 2011

Sweet Sunday


A true day of rest, so necessary to body and soul
Time spent in fellowship and worship
A simple meal taken in leisure at home
Pleasant reading, quiet music, simple knitting
Call out to step away from the rush and bustle,
trying to catch up on all the tasks left undone,
and just rest and be in the moment
This moment, full of joy and contentment
Three cats and a new pillow are waiting
For me to join them


Saturday, August 06, 2011

Repost #2

I don’t talk much about my husband Chris, other than peripherally as a companion on my adventures or fall-man for my hormonal rants. He really is a Prince among men- he is the bucket man when my canoe is leaking, my own combination of court jester, unwitting sidekick, & personal cheerleader. He is God’s idea of the perfect compliment to my taciturn personality- outgoing, accepting, willing to jump into new situations- in many ways, still young-at-heart, though his body is beginning to disagree. Although I am a very independent person, who treasures privacy & solitary pursuits, my world would be incomplete with out Chris in it- he is the Yang to my Yin. Yin Yang

This being said, I want you to know he has been a big…whiney…baby! I had my medical overhaul last year- hysterectomy, physical therapy, gum surgery, & 3 root canals; I spent hours, week after week, in various medical/dental facilities, taking care of what needed to be done. This is going to be Chris’ year; in the past two weeks, he has been to the eye doctor, the dentist, & his new primary care physician. I made the appointments (he won’t do it himself- he “forgets”- which is why he hasn’t seen a dentist in 3 years), handed him the list of times & addresses, & said “Be there.” You would have thought I’d served him with an audit notice- “Why do I need to go to (insert name of whichever office)? My (eyes, teeth, back/shoulder) don’t hurt that badly!” Being a sympathetic, compassionate wife, I told him to suck it up & quit whining. Tongue Out 2




First was the eye doctor. Eighteen months ago, Chris’ arms finally got too short for him to be able to read the newspaper, so I sent him off to the eye doctor for the first time since he was in high school. Two hours & $265 later, he was the proud owner of two pairs of reading glasses- one for work & one for home. Last month, while wandering around Santa Fe, Chris lost one pair of glasses, so I made an appointment to get them replaced at a different place then last time. The new doctor examined him, tested for glaucoma, & said, “You don’t need a prescription.” Chris was a little flummoxed- he can’t read without his glasses. The doctor walked out of the office, returned with a pair of glasses, & told Chris to try them on; they were perfect, just like his other pair. The doctor then told him that they were the magnifying glasses you can buy at most discount stores, next to the sunglasses. They cost maybe $12.00 a pair! The doctor told him these would be fine for a number of years, until the highest magnification won’t work for him anymore. I’m equally thrilled & ticked off- if he loses another pair, it won’t cost much to replace them; on the other hand, what I paid 2 years ago, he could have had eighteen pairs of glasses! Eyeglasses 3




Last week was the dentist. Chris has had something rather smelly going on in his mouth since December, which needed to be addressed, & I wanted him to get an estimate on repairing his front teeth. The top four are all badly chipped along the bottom edges; they have been repaired a couple of times, but are broken again. It is to the point that Chris will barely open his mouth or smile, which is completely out of his nature. Since he has been to the dentist in three years, I was expecting major work or repairs, since all his molars are baby teeth & will eventually wear out. Surprise! He had no cavities, & doesn’t need root canals or deep cleaning- the smelly thing was a hygiene problem. Bad news is- the front teeth repair is considered a “cosmetic procedure” by our insurance, so the out of pocket is going to be- gulp- around $3200. He came home growling about learning to live with “looking like a hillbilly”, which I promptly stopped. I’m not vain about much, but I will spend whatever money is needed on my teeth; therefore, I’m not about to let my husband walk around feeling embarrassed by his appearance. I told him we might have to do it over a couple years- two this year & two next- but his teeth will be repaired! Teeth




Today, he is off to the new primary physician. He has been complaining of elbow & shoulder pain for months, but instead of seeing a doctor, he’s just been eating bottles of ibuprofen. I finally had enough last week, after he grabbed his arm & grimaced with pain ten times in one evening- I made the appointment & told him to be there early to fill out paperwork. He went out of the house this morning, grumbling about having to leave work early & fight traffic, blah, blah, blah- my comment was, “Would you like a little cheese with that whine?” My Prince was not amused. Cheese

Friday, July 29, 2011

Repost #1

Looking to get my Bloggy-Mojo back, after spending entirely too much time playing games on FB (blush), so here is a very early entry when I started blogging 5 long years ago!

“101 Things About Lil’ Old Me”
  1. I arrived in this world April 1963
  2. I was born in Austin, Texas
  3. My family are long-time Texans; Dad’s family arrived in 1840, Mother’s in 1665
  4. My older brother & I are the first generation to be raised outside of Texas
  5. My parents divorced when I was a year old
  6. Yes, it did effect my relationships with men
  7. Mother & I moved to California in 1965
  8. Dad & my brother moved to New Mexico
  9. I would like to visit Austin, since I have no memory of it
  10. The name I answer to is not meg
  11. meg is an acronym of my legal name
  12. I like my natural name- I just like the anonymity better
  13. I have 3 brothers & 2 sisters
  14. I’m the second oldest
  15. But everyone treats me like the oldest
  16. I was always a serious child
  17. My dad said I was born an old lady
  18. I’ve gotten younger as the years go by
  19. I have Chris to thank for that
  20. I’m really a shy person
  21. People laugh at me when I say that
  22. I’ve been known to talk the hind leg off a donkey
  23. But only around people I know
  24. I have a dry sense of humor
  25. I can also be very sarcastic
  26. I don’t think this is always a good thing
  27. But it is how I’m wired
  28. I grew up in Berkeley, with my mom, step-dad & 3 younger siblings
  29. No, we were not hippies
  30. I do remember the student riots & smell of tear gas
  31. We were rather well-to-do
  32. We children weren’t aware of this
  33. I was the only one of my siblings to go to public school
  34. My step-dad & I didn’t get along when I was growing up
  35. When I was 16, I moved to Kansas to live with my Dad & brother
  36. It was a good thing- I didn’t know my Dad very well
  37. I met my first husband 3 months after I moved to Kansas
  38. Yes- I’ve been married twice
  39. I met both my husbands in the same year- Chris in Feb & the other in Dec
  40. I got married when I was 19
  41. It wasn’t a bad marriage, just not a good one
  42. We had 2 children- Robb & Jessica
  43. My first husband is a nice man, but not the right one for me
  44. I was divorced a week before I turned 25
  45. I married Chris 4 months & 10 days later
  46. It was the biggest risk I’ve ever taken
  47. It was the best decision I ever made
  48. We lived with my mother-in-law for the first 18 months of our marriage
  49. Fortunately, I love my mother-in-law
  50. I raised my daughter & my ex-husband raised Robb
  51. It was the most difficult choice I ever made
  52. I still second guess myself about that decision
  53. Ultimately, I think it was the right one- Robb is a terrific man
  54. It took me 2 years to get pregnant with Sam
  55. I had a lot of problems during that pregnancy
  56. I gave birth- naturally- to a 10lb 1oz, 23 inch long baby
  57. We wanted another child, but the doctor didn’t think it would be a good idea
  58. I didn’t think it was such a good idea either
  59. I love my children, but sometimes I think I should have stuck to cats
  60. I have naturally curly hair
  61. It’s short, dark brown & liberally sprinkled w/white
  62. I made peace with my hair a long time ago
  63. I’m the shortest one in my family
  64. I’m the only fat one in my family
  65. I’m also the only one in my family without high cholesterol
  66. I love to dance
  67. I’m a pretty good dancer
  68. I love to sing
  69. I’m pretty good at that, too
  70. I studied French in grade school
  71. I studied Spanish in high school & college
  72. While I can understand a little French & Spanish, I speak only English
  73. This is one of my biggest regrets
  74. I have a math brain- I think in numbers & patterns
  75. My husband & daughter don’t understand this- they think I’m weird
  76. My sons do understand this- they think I’m cool
  77. I am intelligent & educated, but I don’t consider myself an intellectual
  78. I graduated with a 3.89 GPA
  79. I got A’s & B’s without too much effort
  80. I have a photographic memory
  81. But the lens is getting cloudy
  82. I enjoy learning
  83. I would like to finish a Bachelor’s degree, but I can wait
  84. I’ve always had an active imagination
  85. I entertain myself while walking with daydreams, mostly about winning the Lotto
  86. Since I rarely remember to play, I can only daydream
  87. My favorite color is green, but I rarely wear it
  88. My style is rather static- skirts, slacks, loose tops & flats
  89. My daughter thinks I look frumpy
  90. She’s probably right, but I like being comfortable
  91. I need to lose weight
  92. My ankles pop & crack every time I walk
  93. I have osteoarthritis
  94. I mostly ignore it, but it’s getting harder
  95. I really want to travel
  96. I am a born-again Christian
  97. I have been since I was 21
  98. I was raised in a family of atheists/agnostics
  99. My grandmother taught me about God

100. I’m the black sheep of the family

101. That’s okay with me

Monday, May 30, 2011

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Spring 2011, Part One

Just to show that not everything in accounting is serious business

Our boss' office on April Fool's Day


Months of searching & dithering...

My Mother-of-the-Groom Dress

Easter/Passover/Birthday/Mother's Day Dinner in Berkeley

Grand M and Malia Mei

Rehearsal Day came in with pouring rain (remnants of the May tornadoes)...

that is a 6-inch deep "lake" on Siesta Beach


...and ended looking like Paradise



Friday, February 04, 2011

A year ago today...

...we met for the first time.
It was just an ordinary day, cool and overcast, filled with the usual activities, and ending with another in a long line of interviews~ who knew that love was coming into my life.
I can't say I was won over by stunning good looks~ first impressions said "modest, plain, and dated". After a few minutes getting to know each other, I was able to see beyond the outward appearances into a heart full of welcome, comfort, peace, and friendship.
As I drove away, I knew that we were meant to be together.
A year has passed; I have seen God's grace become manifest, convoluted and treacherous paths made smooth, promises made and fulfilled, dreams and hopes made reality. We are together each day, morning and evening, and I am humbly grateful for the unexpected delight and friendship I have found.
I have found my House of Belonging

Monday, January 10, 2011

Oh, all right *sigh*

Have to give in~ it is Winter.
I am a fan of Winter in theory~ home nesting, snowy landscapes, hot buttered rum all sound wonderful.
In reality? Not so much.
I can never seem to keep warm~ which is surprising, given my ample layer of natural insulation.
It's been well over 2 weeks since I've seen sunshine~ partly because I've been going in extra early to cover vacationing co-workers (yes, that is plural~ whoever approved that should be boiled in oil), but mostly because we've had thick tule (ground) fog & overcast skies.
While we don't often see snow here in the Central Valley, the temperatures get quite nippy~ particularly at 5:30 am, when I'm out walking when I'd much rather be snuggled in bed with the cats.
This morning, it was 27 degrees; thanks to some dimwit who still has their sprinklers on summer timer, I did a passable impression of Scott Hamilton gliding down the sidewalk when I hit a patch of black ice. No injuries, thank goodness~ just a few jarred joints from the energetic windmills I did to keep upright.
One positive aspect of the season~ I can indulge my inner "homebody" without anyone expecting me to be going and doing in the bad weather; when the guys get cabin fever, I can send them off and have the house to myself. Reading, knitting, blog browsing, napping~ all the things that comfort to an overworked spirit.
But I am still counting the days until Spring.

Monday, January 03, 2011

Home Keeping Mission Statement


My goal for today, prompted by a visit to Home Sanctuary (click here, or see the sidebar), was to focus on what I want to accomplish with my homecaring tasks; it's a work in progress, but I'm pleased with how it is coming along.

“To treat my home like the precious Gift that it is

To take care of the little things right away, instead of putting them off until later (which rarely comes)

To make each room an organized, tidy, and peaceful space to truly live in by completing one "small thing" each day.

To clear out items which are no longer useful, and establish a "place" for everything in my home.

To apply gratitude, simplicity, order, harmony, beauty, and joy to each aspect of my life

To set aside the ideas of perfection, and enjoy the Blessing that is my Home”


Saturday, January 01, 2011

Prayer for a New Year



Lord,

There are many uncertainties in our world but what matters most will never change. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

We believe You are with us, for us, and surrounding us with Your love. So do not fear, for I am with you... I will strengthen you and help you. Isaiah 41:10

No matter what happens, You will guide us and fulfill Your purposes for us. He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

Even in hard times we can be confident that we will have victory through you. In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37

We trust you will take care of us and bless us in more ways than we can imagine.
God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

We give each moment and every day to You. Most of all, we give ourselves too.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 5:10
Amen.

--by Holley Gerth