The Weatherman is Really the One in Charge of my Life

Kept a fire going 24/7 in the fireplace/"heatilator" to minimize the need to use the propane-fired heater to warm up this old house. (Several 4 day periods. My rule is that I keep the fire going as long as the wind chill is below 25ish!)

AND

Helped Elaine and Fred put salt on the sidewalks and entrance to the school parking lot the morning we had freezing rain between the hours of 7 and 8:00 a.m. and handed students from their cars to the less slick parts on the sidewalk

AND

Corralled 550 students inside ALL day, EVERY day for weeks it seemed because it was too cold or too wet for outdoor recess

AND

Scrambled back into the mom-mobile at the gas pump to keep my cheeks from freezing in the 30 mile an hour 10 degree wind chill while I filled up

AND

Took a walk with my sister on a 70 muggy degree evening

AND

Was rudely awakened by our storm radio at 2:00 a.m. with a tornado watch, advisory

AND

Was again rudely awakened by severe thunderstorm at 4:00 a.m. (same night)

AND

Hung out and flipped through middle-of-the-night TV weirdness while I watched the little weather maps up in the corner change colors until the storm passed. This activity is usually reserved for other times of the year. (None of my good storm tracker weather buddy friends who I see plenty of in the fall and spring at the local stations were on the air for this one. Not sure who the poor meteorologist was who had to put on a tie and jump in front of the TV camera at 2 a.m. of Christmas week for-crying-out-loud to explain the flashing red and green line running the length of Oklahoma, southwest to northeast!)

Yes, this is all in the month of December in Oklahoma!

Yesterday, my girls came home after their vacation away with their dad and the three of us ended up washing all three dogs in the back yard. (Because I had swept and mopped the entire house, doggoneit, and they weren't coming back in until their smelliness was gone!) and we pair off, you know. (Alli:Spyro, Cori:Splash, Shari:Spirit) The water from the hose was still icy, but the weather was mild so that when Spirit shook all 100 pounds of her long-blond-haired Shepherd/Retriever self at me, the resulting soapy shower wasn't too unpleasant.

Today the temps were in the 60's and maybe low 70's with no wind (Gasp!) so it was suddenly roof repair day in Piedmont. Since that incredible hail storm on Nov. 5 (see post) little roofing company signs have been appearing in yards all over town, usually in drifts of one roofing company, then another. Which indicates, I guess, to all interested parties, that this property has been claimed. Don't bother knockin'. So, today, with the kind of weather that roofers dream of, roofing crews and truck loads of shingles appeared bright and early all over town, and hammers were heard ringing in the beautiful balmy air. We watched the crew replacing our across the street neighbor's roof all day today. And we spent about an hour ourselves with our probable roofing company rep talking shingles, insurance processes, time lines, deductibles, and so on. Maybe his little sign will claim us soon. The old girl sure could use a new roof, that's for sure!

Better go check with my weather (life coach, quality of life consultant) man, to see what direction we should go for tomorrow.

Pasadena 2004: Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens

Garden of Flowing Fragrance

When our whole crew (girls, grands and Gene and I) spent a day at the Huntington library and gardens in Pasadena, CA in 2004 my favorite part was the Camellia forest. The rocky, winding path was bordered by groves of tall Camellias on either side in all shades of pink. The Chinese garden was also memorable for its stillness and expertly "casual" mix of sound, scent and shape.

One of my favorite girl pictures was taken in the Huntington rose garden, faces lit with the October sunshine. At the time, it was surprising to me how many different varieties of rose scent there were.



Any garden visits or memories you would like to share?

Favorite Garden: The Getty Center, LA

I stumbled on a fun website (OK fun to garden lover types like me) at I Love Gardens. From that web site I went to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and took a virtual tour!

That started me thinking about some of my favorite gardens I've visited. My favorite is the garden at The Getty Center Los Angeles. We've visited a few times and we do manage to spend some time with their art collections while we're there, but usually I just want to wander around outside. The architecture is surprising, elevating, inspiring. I fill up on texture and sound and height and rhythm of the buildings. There is a balcony on the ocean side that I usually drag someone to if we're there at sunset. The first time we visited was shortly after the garden was planted, and I enjoyed seeing the changes as the years progressed. The Getty was my favorite place to get away from the routines of our desert life. It's worth the time to do an image search on the Getty Center LA on your favorite search engine. There are pages and pages of beautiful photos.

Another favorite was Descanso gardens in Pasadena...

Rule of Love

Here's my Christmas love song to Cori, Alli and Gene, and all my sweet loved ones.
Come by some time and I'll sing it for you!


Rule of Love Shari Zimmerman December 25, 2008

1.How can something so familiar seem so strange?
The colors of my view from here have somehow sweetly changed.
Because I woke to find you here with me,
The sun and sky can’t possibly compete
With the warmth of your sighs and the light
In your eyes when you look at me
In this brand new daylight.

2.We could take a trip around the world today
Explore the streets and learn to speak the native way.
Or we could hide inside our cozy nest
The secret is we’ve found the best right here
Inside these walls, in this room, just as long as I’m with you
The only world I need is right inside your arms.

Chorus
Everything that’s anything, anything that’s happening
Is subject to the rule of love
Governed by the knowledge of the truth
That I adore you!

3.If we close our eyes and we go back to sleep
I’ll dream of you and you of me, it’s guaranteed.
But I’m afraid that there’s a kiss I’d miss
A look or smile I can’t resist will be
Lost to me if I’m asleep
Who needs rest when we can keep each other company?
We’ll stay wide awake!

Bridge
The truth is I adore you
Can’t recall my life before you
Had the pow’r to hold or free me.
Either way I’m happy to be
Subject to the rule of love…

Praying for the Blessings of Christmas for You and Your Family

AND it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold,an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
"And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

"Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."

And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

"Lotsa Helping Hands"

An NPR story recently reported on a web site for folks to help each other organize helping each other. The site is www.lotsahelpinghands.com. If my neighbor, or one of the ladies at church, or a teacher at my school is sick, injured, hospitalized or grieving I can easily organize meals, rides to doctors, play dates for kids, etc. and add an occasional update for anyone concerned about her health or well being. I've been involved in providing meals a few times this year, and it's always kind of clumsy, and time consuming for somebody to make the calls or e-mails. And then call again or e-mail to confirm, make changes, discuss menu's... well, you get the idea. This web site will be such a lifesaver next time we have the need. But, besides reporting a cool tool, the reporter asked the web site designer if he thought that doing all this electronically instead of in person was somehow too impersonal. He emphatically said how strongly he believes electronic tools give folks the ability to be MORE personal. I totally agree!

Here are some examples:
1.I was deeply moved while reading a heart-rending story about Army Staff Sgt Robert Henline recovering from disfiguring wounds after his third tour in Iraq. And then I read the comments that were posted on-line after the story and found it even more moving that complete strangers so eloquently expressed their gratitude, sorrow, prayers and hopes for the Sgt. and his family. And they knew that others shared their emotions by reading other comments.

2. I've been to 8 or more funerals in the last two years, and I really like the tool that lets you leave messages for the family at the funeral home web page. It was special to me when the messages were about someone I loved, and it is great to be able to leave messages, especially when you can see what others have written. It greatly diminishes the tendency to say nothing because you don't know what to say.

3. I get a message from Caring Bridge in my work in-box almost weekly, because I've asked to be included in the updates written by the aunt of one of my 4th graders being treated for leukemia in a local hospital. She posts pictures and adds weekly updates concerning his progress, needs and treatment plans. I usually leave a message, just to remind Cody I'm still paying attention and I still care.

4. And then, there's Twitter, and blogging! I had no idea the crazy, interesting, weird and wonderful things my family thinks until they started putting them in print on blogs. I've learned more about some family members (including my twin for cryin'outloud!) in the last few months than in the last few years. And I LOVE it!! And to hear my friends and family voices on Twitter a couple of times a day. That's cool. Especially when they're so far away.

5. Even my sixty something dad has his own facebook canyoubelieveit? He knows more about the current daily lives of his Bethany classmates from way back when, I mean WAAAYYYY BAAAACK WHEEENnn, than I do about my neighbors down the street.

6. AND then when I get on the web cam to talk to Felicity in Cali...

Yes. I'll stop. I'm way more personally connected to people I love than I ever was, and that's just how I like it. So, ahem, maybe I'll get off the computer now to go actually have a live conversation with my husband for a while! Yes. In person. He's sitting in the recliner patiently waiting. Otherwise, he'll just have to read my blog.

Overheard at the Movie Theater

Young boy: Grandpa, can YOU hold up your middle finger?
Grandpa: No son.
Young boy: Can ANYONE hold up their middle finger?

Look at Frosty Go!

Fridays at my school begin with "Wildcat WakeUp". This weekly celebration usually includes some awards and recognition for students who do cool stuff. Two 5th grade students (different ones each week) MC the whole thing and I just kind of stand in the background and whisper "Now say, please be seated!" or coach them to try it again, a little louder this time, so everyone catches what they're saying. The crowd and the microphone can be pretty intimidating to students. We pledge allegiance, recite the school creed and then spend a moment of silence. My prayer during that moment is always the same; gratitude for another week as a school family. Then I look up at Mr. L and he and his piano lead us into the national anthem. Listening to 550 kids singing the Star Spangled Banner enthusiastically is my weekly goosebump moment.


This week Mr. H named Santa and Frosty as the "PE Students on the Ball", so they arrived, with elves of course, to pick up their honorary PESOTB pencil! The screaming was deafening!

I've always been kind of restless career-wise. Maybe it's age, but I'm liking the simple routines of my elementary school. If hugs were trade-able, I'd be a wealthy woman. So, on the days when everyone (kids, parents, teachers, me)is cranky and nothing is going right, at least the hugs are worth showing up for.

Keepin' it Warm and Yawny

This is how I'm keeping warm in Piedmont,OK where the current temp is 15:

Currently I am wearing two pairs of socks, jeans on top of sweats and a flannel shirt.

My after school pick-up-line attire, however, included ski bibs, down parka, knitted cap, knitted scarf, some very warm mittens Doreen gave me out of pity a couple of years ago, and, of course, my trusty radio which I use to call students out from the relatively warm cafeteria to their waiting cars in the long line that usually stretches clear to Subway. That's pretty far down Piedmont Road. The trick is to keep my face covered, yet glasses unfogged, and to press the radio button down with my thick mittens. Unfortunately, Debbie can't hear me on her radio in the cafeteria where all the kids are if I leave the scarf across my mouth and face.

Shari:"Shenfma."
Debbie:"Could you repeat that?"
Shari:"Shenefema!"
Debbie:"Um. Did you say Shawna?"
Shari: Sigh. Remove scarf from face exposing chapped lips to raw 5 degree wind. "I said Charlie." Wrap scarf around face again. Pause as glasses fog, then clear. Re-adjust radio mitten.
Shari: "Camerfly"
Debbie: Sigh. "Didn't catch that."
... and REPEAT


Anyway, back to this moment...
My fuzzy blanket covers my legs, stretched out on the couch. The lap top on top of that adds heat.

The fireplace behind me is making enough heat to keep this room pretty toasty, although the trip out to the back porch for more wood is shocking!

I made Chicken and Dumplings ("Chicken and Goo Balls" to Cori and Alli).

I'm attempting to set a record for most electricity used in one evening by running the dish washer AND washer AND dryer AND television AND a couple of computers, AND all the overhead lights in this room simultaneously. I think I'm winning. Surely the ambient heat from all that must help keep the house warmer.

I may have to yawn soon.

Yes, I believe my brain temperature may rise high enough that I'll be reflexively drawn to yawn in order to force cool air into my system.

Discovery Channel News reports the most unromantic theory I've ever seen about yawning! The report says, "If your head is overheated, there's a good chance you'll yawn soon, according to a new study that found the primary purpose of yawning is to control brain temperature."

"Brains are like computers," Andrew Gallup, a researcher in the Department of Biology at Binghamton University who led the study, told Discovery News. "They operate most efficiently when cool." So, to stop yawning, breathe through your nose and apply a cool, moist towel to your forehead.

Now, doesn't that just about sound like a man? I've been anxiously awaiting the solution to the mystery of yawning for some time, Andrew!. Seriously! But I expected something a little more exotic than my brain is hot. How about, yawning is the inescapable natural signal that you should leave this boring meeting and go to Starbucks. Or, catalyst for the inborn instinct to flee from a room where excited males are yelling at unrecognizable men in tight pants with zero fashion sense and less manners who keep inexplicably getting knocked down right there in front of their mothers and everybody on nationwide TV for crying out loud. Tisk. Yawn. Leave the room.

Well, Alli gave up and took a book to her warm bed with three or four blankets thrown on. Guess I might try that.

Ice Cream Social

Alli drives her little black Vdub Beetle to my school every Friday afternoon and checks in with her cousin, Mrs. D, 5th grade teacher. Then they both break into my office after the secretaries are gone and I'm wandering around so that they can wait for me and generally cause mayhem and destruction. Today they at least warned me that they may or may not have licked the brownie that was so carefully wrapped in a napkin on my desk, delivered to me personally by one of my third grade friends.

If I dawdle too long I am scolded by the two word text, "ice cream?"

Today Mrs. D's Mr. D joined us too, since he drove a bus this afternoon, much to the delight of Piedmont's young girls. The four of us drove north on Piedmont Rd. about a mile to Java Dave's for our regular Friday ice cream treat. (Do all Java Dave's serve ice cream? Or is it just another typical Piedmont combo store like the drycleaners/florist/tux rental/nail salon that's right next to the tag agency, down the street from the feed store/cafe/gift shop/Daylight Donuts? Yes, I'm serious.)

I get the fat-free/no-sugar-added vanilla scoop in a plastic cup handed to me without even having to order it. Then, when the others have their orders we park at a table inside by the big screen TV, or the steps outside, depending on the weather. The conversation is light and enjoyable. Once we have completed our Friday ice cream in Piedmont at Java Dave's ritual, it's officially the weekend. Who wouldn't smile at that?

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy birthday to the best mom ever! 66 is the new 33!!

It's My Birthday!

It's our first snowy day this year. It's way too cold and way too windy outside, and the first layer of snow is making a desperate attempt to cling to something.. anything...before the wind sends it screaming back up into the night.

That homey description reminded me that it's my birthday! I started this blog one year ago today, in similar weather. When it's yucky outside, blog! Which tells you why I blog frequently, since the weather is frequently yucky in Oklahoma, in an amazing variety of ways.

So, it's been a fun first blogging year. Thanks to all both of you (Plus Mom. Hi Mom) who have been faithful to read and comment on a whole year's worth of important stuff I thought of. Love you all.

Contest Winner Announced

Yes, faithful reader, (and my sister)Cari Ogden, (and Yahoo.com follower, apparently!) had the correct answer, in record time, winning the coveted Wonder-Spud award. The picture in the previous post shows Lebanese farmer, Khalil Semhat showing off his nearly 25 pound potatoe. He said he wasn't TRYING to grow the world's biggest potatoe, it just happened. Gosh, I wish I was that lucky at gardening! Seriously! Cari wins a pan of my celebrated garlic, cheesy mashed taters.

And in the Honorable Mention category, Stephen Metz-Lago,(and my brother!) responding from Portland Oregon, wins the Mr. Potatoe Head award for most laughs out loud by nieces as provoked by Uncle's crazy answers. Thank you for your creative contributions. You can look for your award in the mail...umm...as soon as I find a Mr. Potatoe Head.

Who is this man? And what is he doing?

Sorry, Wrong Number

At this moment I have two teenagers in my living room busy tying one of those two layer fuzzy blankets. They are linked by web cam to two other teenagers playing video games in their dorm at Shepherd AFB. So everybody is going about their separate business at each location and occasionally someone starts up a conversation with the other location. They are also instant messaging each other, by the way.

This is how I remember things for those of you whose memories don't go back so far:
1. The phone sat on a flat surface, or the cool new ones could be hung on a wall. You could get about 1 foot from the phone because that's how long the coiled cord was, unless you got one of those new cool long cords, then you had amazing freedom of movement. Since there was generally only one phone in the house, and it was conveniently located in a central location, if your little brother got to the phone first he could announce that "it's your boyfriend" to everyone, which was the signal for all interested parties to make a point to listen to your conversation. If you had a long cord you could actually pick up the phone and string your cord into another room or closet to close the door and talk "privately" unless of course someone sneaky picked up the other line to listen, if you had another line.
2. If your dad needed to make a call you had to get off the phone. If your sister needed to make a call, too bad. If somebody important tried all evening to get your parents on the phone, they would get a busy signal, for hours. Then you were probably in trouble the next day.
3. It took about 15 seconds to dial a number, if you were fast at it. If you were in a hurry it seemed that the dial took an eternity to return to it's original position between numbers.
4. If your car broke down you better hope you were in walking distance to a pay phone. You could dial 0 for the operator who would first call the house to ask someone if they would accept a collect call from Shari. Hopefully someone besides your little brother would pick up.

I'm not making this up!

I don't think much about how it used to be, since I love the technology too. And I don't generally feel out of touch. Even in Piedmont we have high speed internet! But if you had picked up my cute little blond self in 1968 and teleported me to 2008, I would have been one disoriented little girl! Even in 1978 I did a lot of wondering what all the rest of my high school friends were doing. But then, we just related on a completely different plane. Or didn't, since the phone was always busy.

Seriously, the relational differences are staggering. I know the rest of you have all this worked out already. Just a moment for reflection. That's all. If you've made it this far into today's post you get points for patience. Just smile and nod.