GOSH, WHO IS THAT?

I don't really remember who this little girl was.

I do recollect a kinda bratty kid who lived in Highland Park - she was the youngest by far in your typical dysfunctional American family - and was pretty smart. Unfortunately, she also knew it.

I do remember having the long hair - and my mom complaining about it. I didn't like brushing it, and she ended up washing it about once a week. It wasn't until I had my own daughters that I realized how thick and unmanageable my own hair was.


And it's funny now to think that girls HAD to wear dresses to school. EVERY SINGLE DAY. It wasn't until high school that we could wear pants. NOT jeans, but what they called "nice" pants.

I got bumped up a grade or two in elementary school, simply because they didn't know what to do with a kid who started kindergarten and already knew how to read. I honestly don't think I was that bright, but I was extremely logical, and I could figure out reasonable answers fairly easily.

So - I'm not really certain how this little girl turned a 60 year old woman, who plays with horses and dogs and is owned by a cat. She's a grandmother (the coolest calling in the world), writes wildly and tries to manage several people in her life.

But she's okay about it.

A LONG LONG TIME AGO....

At one time I was a child.

Our church is having a social evening in a couple of weeks, and we were asked to contribute photos of our young selves to be posted and allow people to guess who was who (or is it whom is whom?).

And this is actually a photo I sorta like.

I'm  not the cute chubby baby who just looks like a baby.

But I'm not yet the awkward adolescent.

And I think it actually looks like me... just a bit.

BASKETBALL BLUNDERS

At 5 p.m. this evening, we were informed about the team's first basketball practice at 7 p.m.... tonight.

At the end of practice, around 8:25 p.m., we were informed about the first game.... this Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

I'm hoping this is not an indication of how the season is going to roll.

It was nice watching all these 10 year old boys (and one girl) run drills, and play a short game.

And it was extremely difficult to keep myself from picking up a loose ball and begin shooting - I'm getting weak enough that I only embarrass myself.

Let's see what happens Saturday afternoon.

FARMER JOHN RIDES AGAIN

I installed a new car battery tonight into a John Deere tractor.

Okay, I bought a new battery for my neighbor's tractor, so I could prepare the field for our 6th (7th?) Annual Youth Mud Football game. And then my neighbor's son, Tom, ended up doing most of the installation for me.

Then I attached this huge metal frame with curved prongs to the tractor for the plowing.

Well, Tom backed the tractor up... and connected it... and his mom ended up driving it around so I could inflate the... okay, so Tom could inflate the tires.

But then I drove it over to our field, and plowed until it was too dark to see.

And THAT part I did ALL BY MYSELF.

Tomorrow, the mud creation BEGINS!

(with the help of a well, six water hoses, a sprinkler, and a LOT of patience on my part as I move the water for the next seven days to create the muddiest, messiest field ever)