MARYLAND IN NOVEMBER

I took a month off.


REALLY took it off.



Went to Maryland and hung around with my oldest daughter and grandkids.



I slept... a LOT. I had the perfect excuse - "Hey, I'm still on Arizona time!"




I ate... a LOT. Calories don't count when you're on vacation, right?




I read... a LOT. My daughter had a bunch of books for me, and I had one from my book club that I needed to finish.




It was nice.

BEING A SUBSTITUTE PARENT

I don't mind stepping into a parental role sometimes.



My kids are grown, and sometimes you need a mom around.




When you are shopping with a crying baby and a toddler throwing a tantrum.




When you need to change a diaper and there's no place to do it.



When you are working extra hours and your kid needs to be somewhere.




I was what the Army calls a "geographical single parent" for WAY too many years to not appreciate all the many, MANY people who stepped in and helped me.




So I am happy when I can return the favor.

AIN'T EASY ANYMORE

Once of the reasons I got hooked on amazon.com was that they seemed to have EVERYthing imaginable.

Well, that, and it didn't cost anything more to have something shipped to me in the middle of nowhere right on the Mexican border.

But they seem to carry EVERYthing that you can think of.

Except when you are looking for a extra-large size V-neck tee shirt.

I use them as nightshirts - and over the years, I have simply worn them out - so I needed a couple of new ones.

HA.

Amazon.com has extra-large tee shirts - but no V-necks.

They have V-necks - but not in extra-large.

There are very sexy lingerie - low-slung men's pj bottoms - but nothing I want.

Hmm... where else can I look?!?

OKAY, NOW LET'S GET BACK UP ON THE HORSE...

I offered the challenge in my Sunday School class today that we can set new resolutions, or attempts to improve old or bad habits, anytime, not just at a New Years.

And so I issued a November Resolution (to try to get more of them involved in our class discussions).

But I realized that I have been ignoring a little alarm that I have on my iPhone that prompts me each and every evening TO WRITE IN HERE.

So here is MY new resolution.

To write. 

I do have things on my mind - I do have thoughts that need more exploration - and I would like to become better at this.

Let the Challenge BEGIN!

OKAY, TODAY IS JANUARY 1ST....

Because of course the ONLY time you can begin new resolutions IS January 1st!

I miss writing - and it's something I would like to begin again.

Let's see if my daily alarm can get me back into the habit.

I do have a long, LONG list of items that I noted as possible blog topics, so at least I have some ideas.

OLD ideas, but ideas.

Wish me luck!

GOING GRAY, GOING BLUE

About ten years ago, I was heading out to California to visit my daughter and her family.


And I mentioned to two church friends this, and, jokingly, added, "Maybe I'll dye my hair blue while I'm out there."


Sudden silence.


And the one sister, looking at me extremely seriously, "But Hope, as Mormon women, we don't dye our hair!"


I could simply not take my hair off of her hair.







Streaked, blonde, coiffed .... DYED.

SEEING RED

Last night I ended up waiting at church until quite late for a group of young women to make it back to the chapel.

And a group of us parents were chatting about various random subjects; family, visitors, jobs.


But two of the gentlemen began exchanging 'war stories' about law enforcement situations.  
And since my husband began his military career as an MP, I was listening.

And heard the following exchange:

"This black guy was like crazy on drugs, it took six men to hold him down, he was fighting so hard!"

"Oh, then they should have gotten the dogs out; we used to use German Shepherds as police dogs, and you know how they go straight for them."



"Yeah, you're right, they're especially scared of dogs for just that reason!"

(and yes, the emphasis was in their speech)

(and yes, these two dudes are white)

It made me very, very sad.