Cool 90's

Okay, I'm not talking about the decade. I'm dancing & chortling with joy because the heat wave is done! Finito! Yahoo...my birds were back this morning at 6am to drink deliciously from the feeders. The dachshund was jumping acrobatically from the bed to the crate to the bench to her way too cute prairie dog beg. And, praise God, my Delta breezes were back last night. The paper today has headlined the death and destruction to our county and it's agriculture due to this horrendous heat wave. It's been devasting. The wine grapes have decreased in number. The quality, however, has not been affected. Phew, I will now be able to sip a '06 Zin or Syrah with confidence.

As I perused the paper, I did notice that our little town is really gearing up to celebrate its centennial. I enjoy history very much and reading about local history and hearing about it from those who lived it is so much fun. One of my most favorite people of this tiny burb tells the history of our town with a sense of humor, detail, and style, that is hysterical. If you know my oldest who has become a Lonestar State citizen, ask him to relate "Vera" stories. With her German accent, no nonsense approach, and ready recall, Vera would entertain us for hours. I can't wait to verify the paper's version with Vera's eyewitness account.

I am choosing to be happy today, even though my Delta red-winged black birds are now endangered, so says the paper. I am choosing to chortle with joy, in spite of the fact the teenager is pressing every button possible and being as surly and sullen and badgering mean as possible. I am choosing to be happy because it's in the 90's and my pups are happy, my birds are happy, and I get to ring a silly little bell in front of a red kettle today for the Salvation Army's "Christmas in July". So....Throw it at me, teenager and The Mister, and the paper, I choose happy. Love and Kisses all!

Hot, Hot, Hot!

It's 112 degrees in the shade of my patio cover. The pool is a balmy 87 degrees, and the cloud cover is not letting my precious delta breezes into the vineyards and strawberry fields. Our little corner of the NorCal valley is on fire. We have had a bonafide heat wave with temps 100 degrees or above for over a week. Normally, every night, no matter how hot it was during the day, the breezes come from the west delta cooling our homes, our pups, and our orchards. No such luck. My puppies and my kitty are dazed and lethargic. I am sucking water and trying to stay positive. I am grateful for the A/C and grateful for cool automobiles. I am grateful that the humidity is fairly low even with the cloud cover. My hummers are frantic. They buzz my feeders in pairs, quickly sip and sip again and then off to the shade of palm trees. I know the weather is due to take a break into the high 90s next week. I am not only grateful for that bit of news but really glad. It's a little too much right now for a flippin' 53 year old watermom.

Hot, Hot, Hot!

It's 112 degrees in the shade of my patio cover. The pool is a balmy 87 degrees, and the cloud cover is not letting my precious delta breezes into the vineyards and strawberry fields. Our little corner of the NorCal valley is on fire. We have had a bonafide heat wave with temps 100 degrees or above for over a week. Normally, every night, no matter how hot it was during the day, the breezes come from the west delta cooling our homes, our pups, and our orchards. No such luck. My puppies and my kitty are dazed and lethargic. I am sucking water and trying to stay positive. I am grateful for the A/C and grateful for cool automobiles. I am grateful that the humidity is fairly low even with the cloud cover. My hummers are frantic. They buzz my feeders in pairs, quickly sip and sip again and then off to the shade of palm trees. I know the weather is due to take a break into the high 90s next week. I am not only grateful for that bit of news but really glad. It's a little too much right now for a flippin' 53 year old watermom.

Good Morning!

Oh my goodness, this has to be my favorite time of the day. I have been sitting on my patio for the last half an hour enjoying the quiet cool morning in anticipation of a brand new day packed with a plethora of promises. How's that last phrase for alitteration? It's a fabulous time of day for me. My waterpolo player was off to practice at 6 am, and the Mister, too, beat feet for the Butcher Shoppe, a local deli, for Bible study at 6 am. The dogs are quietly occupying the couch, and it is literally cooler on the patio than indoors. The sun is rising up over the peaks of the neighbor's roof, and the morning sounds tell me it's another warm day full of busyness, chores, and discoveries.

The trainer is coming to perfect my pitiful pool aerobics. (You know I love alitteration.) Yeah, my water noodle and me, the German Shorthair jumping off the side of the pool, and me kicking and resisting the water. It's a picture, believe me. My beloved Honda is off to see Keith at the "fix whatever is wrong with your car mystery spot" for it's maintenance. I am totally relieved that the annoying yellow light that screams at me, "Mtce Req'd" will finally go off. I have some chores and yes, a little afternoon pool time with my friends. I love the summer, time off from school, lots of chores, taking care of my home, and being thankful.

I hope all of you have a superb summer day.

Customer Care Service

Ugh! Remind me again why do we need cell phones? I know the teenager needs his much like a binky or blanky. Well, his Motorola Razor which was a replacement phone, broke. Yep, the #2 & #4 just did not want to work. Now mind you this replaced the Razor whose battery kept popping out with no warning. That Razor replaced the one he accidentally dropped into a small puddle at the pool. Since we just received the new Razor on the 10th, I thought I could take it to the local Cingular store and exchange it. Afterall, we've been Cingular customers for over 2 years. Oh, silly me, that's impossible because the Razors are insurance replacements and not really Cingular phones. (Huh?) Okay fine, send me another one through the insurance and please adjust my monthly bill because I will be without a fully functioning phone until next Wednesday.
No, we cannot, because your phone was somewhat functioning. Please understand, I have had to wait many days for phones through the insurance. No we cannot adjust your bill at all.

I should stop now and inform all of the bloggesphere readers that in a former life I worked for the phone company when they gave customer service. I was actually a customer service rep and business office supervisor and manager. I promptly asked my "customer care representative", Timothy Morse, if I could speak with his supervisor. Now you must understand, the very first human I communicated with was Yelle. Don't ask me how to pronounce it, because she neglected to introduce herself. I introduced myself, but not Yelle. She told me that the phone couldn't be replaced and she would call the"customer care service". Timothy, in all of his wisdom, failed to provide me with a supervisor. Timothy Morse hung up on me. Now you can insult me verbally. You can even tell me I'm a cartoon. You can walk away from me, but do not ever think about hanging up on me.My blood pressure does funny things such as raise astronomically, my voice lowers 2 octaves, I speak in very big words very slowly and deliberately. I promptly asked Yelle to dial the customer care service again for me and connect me to a "customer care" supervisor. Unfortunately for Yelle, she chose to ignore me. The customer whom she was helping right next to me informed Yelle, that she would wait while she dialed for me. Yelle then was forced to acknowledge my presence and informed me she would get her manager. She left her station and disappeared behind the 2 way mirrored employees only dooors which we all know is where the wizard is located. At that point I whipped out my red pen, turned over my Razor packaging receipt and documented word for word, time in and time out, the conversations I had and with whom and what they said. Yelle reappeared refreshed and rehydrated, and sent me away to another counter to wait for the manager. Oh, not cool.......After a 9 minute wait,yes, I am documenting, Matthew, assistant manager, large in stature and large in girth went toe to toe with the 5'2" madder than a wet hornet flippin' water mom in the middle of the Cingular store. After assuring him through several questions that I was who I said I was, Matt also told me there was no adjustment in my bill and no phone to be exchanged. I used as many large and difficult words as I could muster with my blood pressure shooting through my veins and out the orbs of my ears. Matt clearly understood as I distinctly and deliberately shared with him why my bill should be adjusted. It was, and he gave me a receipt so I would be reassured. He also had to explain to me and to the customers in the store, that they really did not need Lockline wireless insurance for $3.99 per line per month with a $50 deductible. We could return the said phone to Motorola free and it might take 2 - 3 days to receive a new phone. But, yes, replacing the phone with the manufacture is free. Uh, Matt, large in stature and girth, that's how long it takes to get a new phone from Lockline. And, Matt, they are an agent of Cingular because they are selling Cingular products which they are buying from Cingular, sending in Cingular boxes with Cingular instructions, etc., etc. Free, Matt, Free! Explain it to the rest of the duped please and let them know Cingular does not truly believe in "Customer Care." And, Matt, large in stature and large in girth, get a grip, and use some deodarant. After all, I'm just a flippin' 53 year old watermom. Thanks very much, Matt, for the $9.99 credit. That's just peachy.

I'm going to get a glass of wine and pet the dog. I'll be my own customer care service.

Dachshunds

I think everyone in the world needs a miniature long nosed ear slapping dachshund. They are guaranteed to make you laugh every day, and sometimes twice in the same day. Mine, Ms. Deep South Dallas, or Dallas or Dallee for short, is a born comic. At 8 years old we have to keep a close eye on her because she has a cervical disc that has prolapsed. This keeps her from being the total acrobat that she sometimes is. The dog can fly magically with little dino legs stretched out straight in front of her from couch to chair to carpet to down the hall and around the corner.

Yesterday was a dog park adventure and gopher chase that landed Ms. Dallas body deep in a gopher hole with only a little dachshund butt emerging from said hole. Once she was fished out of the hole, in protest of course, the Mister had to clean out her mouth and teeth because they were full of grass bits, weeds, and of course the obligatory mud. She was a happy dog. Life is good and dogs always make life better. I love you Dal. Live long and prosper.

I love SPAM...

There are many things that make me laugh at loud, and one of them is SPAM titles. You know I empty my Bulk mail regularly, unlike, my teenager who lets his Bulk mailbox fill up with more than 5,000 unread messages. Today I had to laugh out loud at "Thomas B." who sent me bulk mail entitled, "I'll show you how I practically rob banks..." I'm laughing because I begin wondering, is there really a practical way to rob banks? Do you almost rob banks and then get caught? Will Thomas B. teach me how to deceive the bank and have them give me more money than is in my account? Wow, Thomas B. you're on to something. Let's get this on CNN.

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!

In case you haven't heard, my oldest's band, the one and only Darth Vato, was named the "The Best Live Band in Fort Worth"! Yep, their fans voted, me too, and they won! Good for you, DV. Now be good boys, eat your veggies, do some exercise, don't drink too much, (uh, yeah...right), wash your hands before you eat your Reeses, and for heaven's sakes, stop leaving crumbs all over your bass player! He looks so silly.

Darth Vato Rocks the Lone Star State.....! Yep, they're awesome.

My hummers

Norcal in the Cencal is in the midst of July, which means perfect weather. It's hot and clear. Unfortunately, the state's on fire with wildfires everywhere. The skies have reflected the burning hills south of our little burb and to the east of us. But...this morning, oh my goodness! It is absolutely gorgeous. My backyard hummingbird feeders are full because I made "birdie soup" for them. They are flocking, literally, 2 & 3 at a time to eat this morning before the heat of the day. I love their whirring sound and outrageous chatter at my pups as they wander around the patio. It makes me smile everytime I see them. I am so lucky to be able to sip a 6 am cup of coffee and watch their antics. It makes the rest of the day, water aerobics, cleaning, job search, teenage surliness, laundry, etc., so much more tolerable. God bless my hummers and their insatiable appetite for red sugar water from a Wal Mart feeder. God is good.

In the world of missle launches by the North Koreans, the death of Enron chief Ken Lay, a space shuttle launch, and Barry Bonds's trainer going to jail instead of telling what he knows to the Grand Jury,..... my local newspaper headlines about MySpace. Yep, we had actual arrests because of teenage threats and subsequent assaults. The pictures of the "girl" were posted on another young person's MySpace site, and well, you know how it goes with young people. Somehow that young lady was someone elses's girlfriend, and that young man took offense. AND....because everyone is so very clever on MySpace it took just minutes for the offended boyfriend and his best friends to arrive at the home of the original poster and beat the snot out of him. Ummm......the MySpace posts continued as teenagers all over Lodi & Stockton posted bulletins in support of the young men who were arrested for assault within minutes of the arrest, "'i cant believe ur locked uP!! its crazy!!!'" Ummmmm......MySpace, it's not reality people, "lol". "wtf", you all are operating way below your designated teenaged brain cells. I am so sorry to insult you, but, you do not assualt others because they post a picture of your girlfriend. Sheesh! Drama, MySpace has perpetuated it to a level that the finite testostrone/estrogen/"sohott"/"way2sxy"/ teenage brain and self control cannot handle.

Yeah, I know I'm just a flippin' 53 water mom who just fell off the baby boomer turnip truck a bazillion years ago. I have no experience with personal teenage angst or how volatile teenage "love" and territorial young men and women can be, because I'm a flippin' dinasour. Sheesh! The young police officer reporting to the newspaper very seriously said, "Parents really need to monitor their teenager's MySpace activity." Yeah, right, way to go Red Ranger, you're not even 30 yet and you don't have teens in your home who make it a point to burrow as far underground in the teen world as they can. Computers can be shut down, hidden, put in the open, but unless we as parents are literally with them physically 24/7, we unfortunately cannot shut down the threats, the posturing, etc. We talk, we lecture, we bargain, we shop, we buy, we take them to church and youth group, we pray and pray some more, we love them unconditionally, we support every flippin' activity they're in, we make sure they have snacks, stereos, iPods, cells, cars, iTrips, shoes, gas money, sushi money, need I say more, but it's not possible to sit with them 24/7. In spite of the amount of time, we cannot stop their "im img". It's an age and generation that took a quantum leap in all that we have had any experience with. Believe me, I am running as quickly as I can to keep up as a mom. The Mister has shut down. My sympathy is mixed. It's a crazy world for these young people and so very different than even 10 years ago. They're are stretched and assaulted with messages to be the best, the brightest, the richest, the baddest, the sexiest, the hottest, the most thug like, the pimpest, the most drunk, the most passed out, the most sexual promiscuous, etc., etc., For the parents, wow, what can we do to "monitor their MySpace use?" I don't know. The radical answer is to remove the internet from your home. Ummm...have you ever apologized to a bank or business because you don't have the internet? It's really sad. They look at you with scorn and pity. Besides, a member of my extended family took the internet out of their home because of their daughter. Guess what? Her cell bill was delivered in a box the following month. Yep, 9,874 text messages were delivered in a box because no envelop know to man would hold the cell bill. So if you can't MySpace, tesxt. Oh yeah, her cousin, my youngest, received several MySpace messages from her during this time. Bless these young parents's hearts, they're only in their early 40's. Sorry for the rantings....it follows on the heels of my youngest's return to Cali after a super visit with the big bro. He arrives home, sleeps, recoups, goes to waterpolo practice and continues his subsequent computer/MySpace/IM addiction with a 3 hour binge last night. Believe me my logical and adult requests to him to get some rest, go to bed early, and leave the computer alone, were met with rolling eyes, and dismissal. Parenting is difficult at best, and being a dinosaur, makes it even worse. Ummm....Officer Chinn, give me some real tools to "monitor" my teen's MySpace useage. Thanks for the rant space.

The 4th and a few Shingles

It's the 4th of July! Our little corner of the world is celebrating. The Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast is the morning staple for local festivities. All day long there will be activities, food, milk carton boat races, kids fun, wine tasting, and microbrew tasting at our local lake. It should be lots of fun!

The Mister is working today and hopefully he won't get any grumpy customers. They tend to be the ones he remembers in detail and he loves to give an account of their every minute of his interaction with them. You know 30 years in law enforcement and he was very discreet about what he shared. Retired and working part-time, and he suddenly has become the detail oriented and memory king when it comes to icky experiences. They are always colorful, detailed, dotted with hyperbole, and annecdotal in nature. But, he's talking, and sharing about new things other than 2nd amendment issues. Note to self: Pay attention, smile, be positive and encouraging, laugh at his humor, and for heaven's sake, flippinwatermom, stop telling him he's a light weight when it comes to customer service and retail sales.

Extra 4th of July note: I have broken out in shingles, yet again. Don't feel sorry for me. I know the drill, medication, lysine, ointment, and prayer. There's a few stumbling blocks though. The pharmacy that takes our insurance is closed today. It'll be a few days before I get the medication, but fortunately, I still have some ointment. Why am I continuing to break out? Wel....I broke out in the same nerve ending band area in May. I guess I am having a few issues that I'm not resolving. Oh bother! I am a flippin stress freak! The very first breakout I ever had was 2 weeks before my wedding. Sheesh....for 30 years now, I am still breaking out. It's a pain, literally, and bothersome. Keep smiling and pray for a short duration of the rash. Oh, yeah, I'm not going to the pancake breakfast. I am opting for the bbq with the Mister later this evening at our neighbors and I'm hoping that the pain, burning, icky pattern will be on the decline. I cut my morning walk short. Note to self: Keep a POSITIVE ATTITUDE! and....STOP WHINING!

Shadows

It has been quite some time since I blogged. There's no large excuse, not even the perfunctory, "I haven't had time." The truth is, I am in conflict. What do I blog about? The truth, the positive, the good, the icky, or is it better to just not and carry on. I opted for the latter.

My very small minute corner of the world has entered summer. The vineyards are fat with baby grapes and lots of foilage. The cherries and my beloved strawberries were a bust this year, and my farmer friends are dipping into their crop insurance.

Graduation was all graduation was supposed to be. The teenager received his diploma or folder and wore his gold cord signifying his lifetime CSF status. Underneath his red robe, he was screaming his independence from tyranical parents and shouting about the freedom of college and life away from our small cocoon. I did not cry. I have cried a lot lately, but not because of graduation.

The big bro came home and savored little bro's accomplishments with us and we celebrated at the Lodi Beer Company. You know I have never ordered or have drunk a beer? I really don't know why except that an old boyfriend used to drink beer continually and the smell brings back a lot of very weird and icky memories. I had a cider. It was good and close to a beer. I will be ordering a beer soon.

Life continued to throw curves and I have watched the shawdows. Mama used to warn me about the shadows. I always loved them. They played tricks on you and they always were beautiful. I especially loved the morning shadows and the early evening shadows. I know now at the wise old age of flippin' 53, she in her Irish wisdom, was pleading with me to be cautious about the shadows of life. 2 days ago I sat alone in the silence of my home in my front office. It has always been the place where "the boys" go to communicate on the computer, play Playstation, hang out, spend the night, or even wrestle. I watched the shadows. The afternoon delta breezes were wreaking havoc with my river burch trees, and the plantation blinds threw vertical frames to their eclectic hip hop steps. Light danced with each gyration of its intricately delicate branches. Shadows formed and disappeared quickly and quietly on the wall underneath the toy truck. Shadows. Life's shadows. Are there secrets? Is there light in a shadow? What have you learned flippin' watermom? Do your children live in a shadow of your memory, or in the brillance of the west sun? Gee, flippin' watermom, what now? What is in your open palm? Who is running ahead of you, beside you, behind you? " I have a little shadow, who runs in and out with me; and what can be the use of him, is more that I can see." Who are they flippin' watermom, and what is the use of you? Am I the shadow, or are they? Ma, if you can hear me in heaven, uh, I could use an bit of the Irish wisdom, here. I'm not sure how to react with all of the knowledge that I have regarding all my family, the mister, the older crowned one, and the teenage shadow of my heart. This was the time of your life when you ran away, ma. I'm not sure how to react, or do I run away, too? I know I am trying very hard to acknowledge the light, the darkness, the shadows, in a realistic proactive way. Yeah, so far, it's pretty miserable. When I asked my big bro about the shadows, he didn't know all the answers either. He did know they brought truth, and he told those truths to me. I'm not sure I wanted to know them. Shadows build walls. Some of them protect your heart and some of them make it easy for you to peek into the abyss, or the future. I still love the light of the shadows. My big bro used to paint them on the walls of his home. As the days changed, as the seasons changed, the shadows changed. They never were the same. "What can be the use of them is more than I can see."

Stay in neutral, flippin watermom, and pull down the filtering blinds. Let in the light, the truth, the sweetness, and the life.