The secret to 61 years of marriage...

This weekend we had our annual family reunion for my grandmothers side of the family. One of her sisters was celebrating 60 years of marriage. Which prompted my mother to tell about the lady she met at the beauty shop the other day.

As her nails were being finished up, the next client came in and when Lila, the beautician, asked how she was, Mrs. X commented that she was wonderful. She bubbled that day before had been her 61st wedding anniversary. My mother, had to ask the lady, what the secret of 61 years of marriage was. Matter of factly Mrs. X explained she and her husband were very compatible, got married young and still had sex three times a week. In fact for an 81 year old, he was still quite good she told them. Mrs. X attributed his virility to her husbands Irish and Italian heritage, although she thought it must be the Italian side that kept him so strong.

She went on to tell about how her husband had gently woken her up that very morning, "But I want to sleep!" she said. "But I have something to show you!" he said. "But last night was our night," she sighed. "Are you kidding? I am not Superman!"

Gotta love those old folks, they are too funny. (Although none of my grandmothers sisters shared any of those kind of stories.)

The blog where I explain my absence.

Max started Preschool....

Despite the unsure look here, he had is jacket off was busy playing and barely says bye to momma.

I also placed an newspaper ad for my mom's youngest sisters fiftieth birthday. I won't show it to you, I value my life and hope she doesn't find my blog and have written proof I am the one who placed it, even if it was at my mom's instruction.

Sarge had to visit the vet again, to get his stitches looked at, slow healer that dog.

Oh and I helped a friend move, you know with that last little bit that takes forever! I hate that, but boy I was tired. I should do that every day I would be skinny minne, well if we did not eat monster burritos at lunch since we were working so hard you know.

It was also homecoming in our football crazy small town. Ever seen Friday Night Lights?
You have seen us then.

I helped paint this sign for my aunt's class reunion. And one for the other side.

This is my other aunt's float, also having a reunion, with a sign I had nothing to do with. Too bad it is a nice sign.

Zach turned 6. I made him a clone trooper cake.
I find my lack of cake decorating skills disturbing.

He got his clonetrooper helmet. Yeah Nana!

Great Grandma turned 85 and we had a big party for her. She is the one in the bonnet, my aunt (left) and mom will kill me if they think I am suggesting that they are 85.
This week has less going on, but still promises to be insanely busy.

Jane how do I get off this crazy thing....

Political Prowess

Maybe it is my age, I find some topics starting to interest me more. History has suddenly become fascinating, I have read a few history books lately, there was no teacher requiring them. I know, I am worried about my ears sprouting hair too.

Politics have suddenly taken on a new interest as well. Of course this race is making history with a woman who was a serious contender, a black nominee for president. Now we have a woman vice presidential candidate. Regardless of how you feel about any of the above people, it is an exciting time in American politics. Now I am checking my nose hair, can you see it?

There is a good reason I have never even been tempted to write a political minded entry. I don't consider myself well informed enough. I try to stay well informed and yet without being an expert in economic, foreign policy, etc it is hard to sort through all the opinions out there and make a judgment. I have a political opinion? Quick are my teeth falling out?

Which takes me on a quick tangent. One of my main complaints would be that the most media outlets seem biased one way or the other. I am sure most of us can figure out what party most reporters belong to. Now granted my journalist education took place in the late 80's and early 90's but I recall being told to be unbiased. I am guessing that isn't taught in Journalism 101 anymore. Now I am grumpy about the press. Did I just find a wrinkle?

Most often in my voting, I have tried to be informed about the candidates stance on the issues that were most important to me. I have also went with my gut, because I try to ascertain the character of the person. I haven't even remotely decided in this election. It is extra hard for me, I am registered as an Independent, don't vote the party line and in terms of my ideals can neither align myself with Democrats or Republicans. In the last presidential election I voted Libertarian because I just could not stomach voting for Bush or Kerry. I considered it a protest vote. Oh good, I did the immature thing and threw my vote away, that sounds young.

So what is a liberal republican or a conservative democrat like myself to do? I am not sure yet, but it has been an interesting year so far.

** Update, Maybe I'll become a Republicrat.

The old grey mare, ain't what she used to be.

I have mentioned in the past that I am a bit of a tomboy.  I've been this way as long as I can remember. 

 

I don't really know when it started but I don't recall ever being girly.  My mom made us wear dresses to church and all, but from candid pictures it would appear that I was adept at getting mussed up.  While my younger sister would spend lots of time on her hair, even in grade school. 

 

Perhaps because of those tendencies, my hair was generally cut short.  I remember wanting to be a rodeo clown really badly and going through a phase where I had different colored bandanas tied to my belt loops on my cut off shorts.  I have pictures where I looked like a boy in a girls outfit, short hair going every direction.  (I will post if I can find it.)

 

In my adult life I have probably gone some pretty extended periods of time wearing no makeup, wearing mostly just men's clothing and really not caring about my looks the way most girls do. I'd finally let my hair grow long, but it was in a barrette, clip or ponytail most of the time. I'd bet a few people were probably surprised I liked boys. (No offence Q and S, but I did try to stay away from the 10 Lesbian Hair Styles I read about at a friends house, she had it as a style guide.)

 

In the last few years I have tried to be better, I quit wearing t-shirts all the time and opt for something sort of women's tee from old navy or target.  I have the habit of buying the same style in several colors.  I have colored my hair and tried for more fashionable hair styles.  Only some of my pants and shoes are from the men's department.

 

Last week I purchased an eye shadow kit and have even worn it to work, so I could ask the ladies in the office if I did it right.  I was afraid I was going to look like Mimi from Drew Carey since it had green shadow in it. Normally I stick to skin tones like pink and taupe.

 

Lately I have quit coloring my hair at the recommendation of my stylist because since I don't wear hats often enough and I was going lighter than my natural color the color would sun fade and turn all funky. I went short to cut off all the old color. Then I got the bright idea to see how much snow was on top of old smoky.  More than I would like at 33 for sure, I would estimate to be 20% grey.  I have been polling my coworkers on whether or not I should go back to coloring, mixed opinions.  Some days it is not too noticeable if my hair curls nicely.  (You girls with naturally curly hair know what I am talking about.)  Right now a bad hair day is  one hundred times worse because it always seems like the grey is showing more.  Oddly enough, those are also my fattest days as well, I think I visually gain 50 pounds.

 

In the last 6 weeks based on random comments from strangers I don't know what to think. 

 

• One lady asked me if I was in college.  She was sitting right next to my grey hair.  (Yes, she made my day.)

 

• One very young server at Sonic called me sir, until I faced him, then he apologized profusely.

 

• Yesterday the nurse at the doctor's office didn't ask me when my last menstrual period was, she queried, "do you still get them?"

 

Where did I put that box of hair dye?