I Only Hollered When I Had To

 The Orange Rhino blog talks of a young mother that set a goal to go holler free for one year. That is 365 days of hard earned goals, but blessings unmeasured. I look up to any woman that works to better herself.




Did I holler, scream or shout at my children? Yes, some. I don’t do it now. Is that because the stimuli stepped out or my anger has been allocated? Maybe they just grew up, quit making messes, and pushing my hot buttons. Who knows?

My mom hollered and so does one of my daughters. I probably did, too. I try not to now. The result of being hollered at is low self esteem, unsure actions and lack of confidence. Ultimately, we all suffer.  Walk away, count to ten or step outside to blow-up the experts say.  

Think: "I can't do this, but I'm doing it anyways."  The longer we can go between eruptions, the better we become and it feels so good. We can succeed.

Spending Time with Siblings

Some people pack gum, cash, goodies but I pack a camera.  It really comes in handy when all the siblings are together, which doesn't happen very often.  Snapping a moment in time to enjoy years later.  The posterity likes to reminisce about the good ole days, asking, "What year was that?' or "How old were they?"  "Who is the oldest?" 

We are actually lined up according to age starting with Sandy, Jim, me, Paula and Julie.  Nile passed away in 2000.  I'm happy to say we all get along great and hope to always.  Love you all, family. 

Leap of Faith

We are thinking of down-sizing or other sizing in the near future.  Maybe not quite this small or temporary.  It certainly would make life alot simpler.  Okay, this is really considered homeless, but always a possibility.   Utilities would be nonexistant saving at least $300 per month. 

Shared bathrooms might be a bit uncomfortable.  Allan's snoring would be the least of my worries.  This means I had better get busy dejunking or having that yard sale I have talked about for the past year.  Sprucing up the homestead would be moved to the top of the list. 

We better get busy NOW while the market is good!!

Hot & Hankerin' for a Hawaiian Ice

It is seldom you don't wait in a line at Lani's Hawaiian shaved ice stand.  This place is busier than the furniture store it sits in the parking lot of.  No fewer than three other snow shacks are within a mile, which are deader than dead most days.  But, at Lani's the line is often thirty people long. 

We rush in to get one if there is no waiting.  The prices are unbelievable too, for the size you get. 

Going Skull Crazy

I went school shopping with my granddaughter a few weeks ago.  Obviously not much time is spent in the Junior section any more.  It seemed skulls were chasing me around as she tried on some cute jeans. 

I snapped some pictures to see if any of them looked like someone I may have known before.  Funny thing, they all resembled the same person. Maybe a relative of the store owner.  From perfume bottles to polo's to memo pads.  What is with them?  I personally think a sun, smile or something else would be better. 

The Keys Were on the Counter

Locked myself out of the house a few weeks ago.  Yup, after stopping to get ready for work after being at the gym, which is usually a race against time, I locked and shut the front door.  It didnt take long to realize the car was locked and keys not in my hand. 

Checking all the spots we leave house keys proved fruitless.  I laughed just a week earlier about Audrey, my neice, doing the same thing.  We showed her where to find the keys, but there were none to be found this day. 

Then I spotted the upstairs bedroom window open.  I yelled to Audrey and Ken to help me, since they didn't respond to the doorbell.  Soon they came to my rescue. 

The keys were retrieved, house locked, car started, and a call into work that I would be late.  Miraculously, I was only four minutes late.  Yeah! to Audrey for being home with the window open and a fast commute. 

Sun Screen Sneaks on the Scene

Funny thing happened on the way to the beach, we all had sunscreen sprayed on us.  I hauled out my old fashioned, pink bottle of sunscreen to use and was the only one to slather the white cream on.  It sat on the table and snuck into Zach's picture. 

Then followed me out to the water where it got it's share of attention, smack dab in almost every photo.  Looks like a third playmate in the mud castle photo, doesn't it.  Noah appears to be talking right to the prominent pillar of pink or trying to bury it up to the neck in the sand.  Who knows, but it seems to have taken on a life of its own.