Shamrock Songs
  

 

 

Welcome to Shamrock Songs!

The wedding is fast approaching...
Gotta read these each and every day...
Sometimes I
And that's all I have to say...
Useless Knowledge
Inner workings of a Slacker's...
Just because you can....
And from the depths rise...
Sea Poup
I Really Must Insist You Leave
Hopeless Romantics
LaLaBlog
Chiquitas
Living Colors
Wren's Crazy

Check in when I have time - try to get to each one every day

Feet Touch the Ground
Phantom of Delight 
My Thoughts
Under the Circumstances
Of Mole Queens, Cove Girls, Trixie Friends and Food
My Thoughts
Carol's Thoughts 
Noone tells me how to spell my special name
Brain Dump 
Guenivere's Castle
Under Control of Tribune Corporate Mind Games
Jixemetri & Other Things
Just Slightly Left of Center
Just Another Humble Opinion
I Will Sing...  
Gleeps! I Wonder... 
A Cheesehead & Her Blog

So Anyway
Di's Dailies
Love is a Batterfiled
Spitfire
In a Mood
Following Eden
Inkspil
Swallowing Tacks
Periwinkle Haze
Suzanne.org
Just Lisa
Recycled Thoughts

The Back Porch
The Kitchen

 

Saturday, May 05, 2001

First things first. My grandmother came home from the hospital that night (early am) and is doing OK. Like I mentioned, this has happened before.

Keith and I got our marriage license, but it was a fiasco (somedays, things are just meant to go wrong). We had to get a copy of his divorce decree so we went to Butler County. We were going to do both there although we knew Armstrong County was cheaper for application. (We live in a totally different county but in a corner where 4 counties meet) Anyway, nothing I read said you HAD to have your social secuirty card---just the number. Well, the bitch at Butler told us we HAD to have it, and we should have gotten a brochure. Which would have been OK but I had called for information, none was ever sent, and no one told me this when I asked. So we drove all the way home, got Keith's (I had mine) and went to Armstrong County where the deputy said we didn't need it, only our number. Needless to say, this got us both a bit miffed. But it is done, and we have one thing out of the way.

For the first time since April 18, we didn't get any responses for the wedding. Our number is at 110 and I know of 50 for sure coming who have not responded, but there could be up to 20 more if all my work people come. I think our number will be under 200 which is OK budget wise!!!

I didnot go to the prom last night as I was supposed to due to very bad cramps and headache. For the past few months, it has been unbearable at least one day of my period, and this was it. I feel bad but I know I would have been miserable. I just laid on the couch and drank iced tea while popping ibuprofen. Today is Keith's birthday and we are going shopping for porch furniture and new athletic shoes for both of us. We also need a few things for the house, and I want to make a stop at a Barnes and Noble if possible. I need a book fix and didn't get one the other night. Dinner will be at Dingbats I think which is where we had our first date.

Deb happy to hear you are OK and that the damage doesn't seem too bad. My thoughts are with your husband and the other folks who help out. I know how important they are.

Shana, I understand what you mean about different potentials. I see that with both my high school friends and college. I choose to work in a Catholic school, and sometimes I think people see it as "she settled" for work in a Catholic school that pays only half of a public school. But I would not trade a minute. This week has taught me that, and next weekend will bring it even more to life since I have a weekend retreat with a leadership group of 12 kids.

Tina, this is late, but I think you should talk to the teacher about it. My feeling (and I don't know these people, its just a feeling I get) is that maybe she was "told" to include mothers who had not gone on field trips and not those who had. I believe this is unfair because schools need Moms who CAN do the homeroom mother thing because many cannot. Let me know how it turns out and no matter what, remember your feelings are valid because they are yours.
I know I have more to comment on, but I cannot find my list of links since the move. It must be in the one box into which I threw everything from my desk. And I need to do another one since a few have moved blogs since then, and I have added to my reading list.

Time for a shower and to make plans for today. Its a bit cooler than our past 80 degree days but that's OK cause tomorrow is zoo-day.
posted by chris on 10:49 AM | go ahead - link me!

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Friday, May 04, 2001

Life is in balance these days. Just when you hear some not-so-good news, you hear something that makes you smile. Last night, I was on the phone rambling to my mother about the wedding, and she got a "beep" for call-waiting. It was my aunt to say that my grandmother was in an ambulance on her way to the hospital due to her heart. This is not "common" but it has happened before. So far, no other word on how she is, which most likely means she was admitted to get her meds back on track.

Then, this morning, I got an email from a college friend (she was a fresh when I was a senior) and she said she is flying in from Texas for the wedding. Alone, but she wanted to see me. I have not seen Susan since her wedding which has to be about 10 years.....she is a professor at University of Texas Austin. I think she heard me scream with delight when I read the email.


posted by chris on 9:15 AM | go ahead - link me!

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Thursday, May 03, 2001

thought for today....(well, the first one anyway..) why is it that when you manage to get 'nicely dressed' for work, you also manage to get toothpaste, make-up, and finally water from a leaky bottle all over your dress. I am sitting here with a huge wet spot on the front of my dress because the plastic seal is not working on my rubbermaid bottle. but i guess a wet dress is better than being naked in a high school.
posted by chris on 8:32 AM | go ahead - link me!

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Wednesday, May 02, 2001

A continued thought of women of courage....my aunt and godmother is one of the kindest, patient and giving people I know. And she has every reason to be frustrated with life. Her son was born with spina bifida and is confined to a wheelchair. He gave her many concerns over his years growing up, and although he is an adult and married now, I know she still worries because he doesn't always think before acting. My uncle lost his job about 5 years ago due to layoffs and was out of work for at least 1.5 years and now it happened again. This time though, he is 60 years old and it won't be easy to find work in his field.
And yet, she doesn't complain to the world, she is always there for anyone who needs her, and it is apparent in her actions that she simply "just cares" about her family.


posted by chris on 1:10 PM | go ahead - link me!

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My sister-in-law, Wendy sent me a copy of her and Jeff's wedding program. The had put a little message in about each bridal party member, and I was thinking of using that idea. There is one line that always makes me think about women in my life---"she has helped me become the woman I am today, and the woman I want to be tomorrow" So, its not grammatically correct. It still makes me think of the women in my life.

or the "woman of courage" who influence me and inspire me daily. My friend M.J. inspires me every day of her life. She and Terry had a great marriage...open communication, honestly, and sharing. I know it wasn't perfect, but the respect was always so real between them. In many ways, he was the big brother I never had. He died of a inoperable brain tumor 3 years ago in April.

I still remember the day I found out. It was the 27th of December, and I had been on a blind date. I was driving home, and checked my messages from my cell phone. I knew something was wrong as soon as I heard her voice on the phone. When I called, all she could say was "Terry...brain tumor..." before she broke down and Tammy got on the phone. In disbelief I drove home.

We rallied around her, and began 4 months of hospital visits, long phone calls at midnight, and many tears. Her life became one of unbelievable strength. Terry was in the hospital from Dec 29th until mid February. Eventually, the specialists decided there was nothing more they could do.
It was inoperable, and although they used radiation, the prognosis was bleak. This type of tumor usually killed in less than one year from its beginning. And the belief was that the problem started in the fall of 97.

When Terry came home, MJ made it as ordinary as possible. We had a Welcome Home get together and a St. Patrick's Day party at her house. Terry listened and knew who we were and what was going on but he couldn't talk. That ended in January when they inserted a shunt in his head.

Every day, I watched in amazement as my friend was a wife, caretaker, mother and everthing else that goes with her world. Her courage and faith still amaze me to this day. She cried, she showed her fear, but she never once left Terry's side or was less than honest with him and her kids. The night she took him to the hospital for the last time (an infection), she woke her kids to say good-bye. Later, she told me she knew he wouldn't be coming home.

He died on April 22, and not a day goes by that I don't think of him. MJ cried, mourned, and
then began to celebrate his life with her kids. For the past 3 years she has been mother, father, daughter, and still finds time to be a friend. I admire many women for who they are and who they are becoming, but even though I don't tell her enough, I admire her everyday. I know I would and could do what I had to if it was me, but her courage and light is unfailing. And it makes me thankful to have known her and to be able to call her friend.


posted by chris on 8:30 AM | go ahead - link me!

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Its a beautiful morning here. We have had some really spring like days with temps in the 70s or so for the past few days. Makes me feel like skipping work and just sitting on my front or back porch. But, graduation is 23 days away and we have tons of work to do. (And there is that wedding thing--- I still have things to do) But, with sunshine, you feel like you can accomplish anything. Except breathing because your allergies/spring cold have hit.
posted by chris on 8:12 AM | go ahead - link me!

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Monday, April 30, 2001

So you never did get your update on the wedding. Well, I got carried away with the cleaning. And then started to unpack my books and shelve them on my 5 (yes 5) new shelving units that my sweetie built for me. The office is taking shape. Now, just have to get the phone line up there so I can hook up my computer.

But back to the wedding. Rehearsal was LOOOOOONNNNNGGGG, and I am not sure why. I have been to 3 wedding rehearsals and they were only an hour each. I am hoping mine will be a bit shorter. And then we had to decorate the hall with the table linens, centerpieces and lights. Since rehearsal was at 6 and we didn't get until 7:30, it put us way behind. We ended up eating on Friday night at 9:45. The food was OK, but Keith didn't like it. (I think he may just have been a bit grumpy by then....)

The wedding was at 3 pm so after having my friend put my hair up, I was at the church hall by 2. We dressed, and we were on our way. Everything went smoothly except:
1) we were short one bouquet of flowers
2) the ring bearer was only 2.5 and would not do anything he was asked to do....
The mass was lovely, and then we were outside for a receiving line....basically just standing around looking pretty. I didn't know we were doing one so it took a while. They took no pictures in the church, and we all loaded into firetrucks (he is a fireman) and were off for park pics. Went to 2 different places and he took photos of the whole group, the bride and groom and then the guys. I was not impressed with the photographer because although he was following the suggestions of the bride and groom, he seemed to be missing some good shots. But then again, maybe he took the groom and his parents earlier. All I know is that the groom was in more shots than the bride.

The people had been at the reception since 4 and we got there at 6. Long wait for food. So we got there, toasted, prayed and ate. Due to the photographer leaving, we had to do all the "stuff" right away, and finally dancing. Keith and I stayed until 11 pm, and then the DJ stopped so we said goodbye and left. He had to get up at 5 for work.

I really got some ideas for my wedding.....and I am happy we told people the reception would be at 5 pm instead of after the reception. This way, Keith and I and the bridal party will be there. And I don't think we are having a receiving line at the wedding....too many people and too long.....but maybe. No bubble blowing for me....they make me sneeze!!

Ok, I need to work for now. More later.


posted by chris on 8:32 AM | go ahead - link me!

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Sunday, April 29, 2001

The wedding was very nice although a long day....aren't they all? I have more to say but I am doing Sunday cleaning and unpacking boxes. I will be back with more details when I finish a few more chores.
posted by chris on 11:48 AM | go ahead - link me!

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