WeeBlogTheWorld

Swing Sipping

2008-09-01T19:05:00.003-05:00

Everyone says "blog the way you talk if sipping coffee with a friend". I keep thinking about that, and thinking about that, and thinking about that . . . it doesn't help me get any blogging done. So this evening I decided to brew a pot of coffee and work a little harder at my little game of pretend.

It is quite nice, to sit back and sip on a cup of java in the evening like this. Luckily I don't usually have to worry about the caffeine keeping me awake at night. This time of the day there is a nice breeze at the swing where I am sitting listening for hummingbirds. They will show-off their evening waltz any moment now.

In the distance I can hear the motor of a boat racing on the lake, several motorcycles cruise in the hills, cars pass beyond the neighborhood and voices of families in their yards and people walking, jogging and enjoying the evening can be heard, too.

It is not cold out but the warmth of the mug feels good in my hands. I smile as I recall . . . this is no more ironic than the day I sat on the end of the pier at Fantasy Island in Roatan, in mid December, listening to Bing Crosby sing over the airwaves about a White Christmas while I sat in my bikini dangling my feet in the warm clear ocean water.

The light breeze and the shade play tricks on the senses making it hard to believe temps are still in the high 90's out here. A brief walk would be a quick reminder, though. It is starting to look like fall but it surely does not feel anything like it. It is Labor day, though and the last of a 3 day weekend. School kicks into gear now and new routines begin. I have looked forward to the beginning of this semester. It will be my first semester self employed while the kids are both in school. That wandering thought commands a long, savoring sip from the mug. It is exciting to think of having more of my own time to manage.

There is a huge sense of relief in the air this evening. (Well, not for everyone, but for many!) Gustav, the storm, made landfall this morning and thank God caused nowhere near the devastation everyone seemed to be prepared for. Unlike Katrina three years ago this storm accompanied many warnings and early evacuations. The officials took no chances and although this may have been an untimely expense for many, preparedness and prevention prevailed! Now that is using God-given brains!

I kick at the pebbles beneath my heels as the swing drags my feet across them. Inhaling I catch the aroma of my Cinnamon Vanilla Nut creamer with a hint of freshly cut Zoysia grass. Yummmmmmmmm! Smells like dusk on a hill country summer's eve. Grab a mug, and have a seat. Swing! Sip! Smile!

The Challenge

2008-08-18T20:53:00.005-05:00

OK, I must be blogging challenged. I got a kick out of completing my first blog, a week ago. I enjoyed picking a topic and giving a little bit of my take on it. I thought this would be simple! I thought it would be a long time before I ran out of things to blog about. Yet, my posting screen remains empty.

I've got plenty of topics to discuss. I have two amazing kids, ages 4 and 6. Who could get bored with stories about them? I designed and launched my own website within the last 8 months. I opened my own business, obtained licenses and credentials and overcame a banking nightmare from hell in the process. I gave Mr. Mom lessons, on the side, to my husband after he was laid off from his job of 17 years. Yet, my posting screen remains empty.

I live in the beautiful Texas hill-country on 5.5 natural acres full of trees and wildlife with an oasis built in the center that is called home. I read the news and keep up with current events. I have been granted a heaping dose of the gift of the fine art of b-s. I am diverse, curious and easily amused. It's almost football season! I have a beautiful Harley. I have some great friends. Yet, my posting screen remains empty.

(Right here I stopped and worked out. That seemed to help and I highly recommend it to all! As a mom of two active wee ones it is sanity maintenance! Look here to see some things I know help if you care for little ones too.)

I must be too dang picky or else I assume YOU to be! So, I suppose it is time to find out!! I have often wondered something. (Actually I have often wondered many things, but for this evening and for this post I'll stick to one of my top 10.) Why DO they call it smothered instead of drowned??? I pose this question to you. (tongue in cheek)

Is this just a southern thang? (Yes, I meant to spell thang that way.) Could it be global? Is this something with a story behind it that perhaps precedes us by many generations? Who on earth decided that when something is covered in gravy or sauce or some other tasteful topping it is, smothered??? Think of it . . . pork chops and taters smothered in gravy, broccoli smothered in cheese, enchiladas smothered in chili sauce, liver smothered in onions, biscuits smothered in butter and one of my all time favorites, cobbler smothered in ice cream! I could go on and on but that wouldn't be a good blogging move, on my part. I'd be tempted to stop for a snack and then there's no telling how long it may take me to get back to typing.

I really like this venue. I have asked several people this question in person and they look at me as if I have 3 heads or something. To think I have time to think of and utter a silly question of the such! You may be making the same facial expressions as they, but I don't see it!!!

Nary a pillow nor other smothering device in sight. No other evidence is available that survived the flood of sauces that runneth over the so-called smothered item. Obviously the food is drowned but we all ignore that and say the "s" word instead. Does anyone know why? Where DID this terminology come from? Why IS it called "smothered"?

Tenacity and the Wee-Factor

2008-08-12T11:25:00.005-05:00

I remember it as though it were yesterday. The leader of the seminar said quite clearly "If you don't have the tenacity it takes to ask your prospective customer the same question 7 different times in 7 different ways then you are in the wrong business and should gather your things and leave now, before the lesson begins". I thought to myself, "tenacity?", I need to look that word up. I heard a challenge and I was not about to leave!

It was November 1986. My college education had been the-school-of-hard-knocks. I was faced with the opportunity to build a career or be someone's secretary/assistant. Not that there is anything wrong with being an assistant, but it was not what I wanted. I was a young female in what was then a predominately male industry. I was single and I was determined to succeed on my own. Just like I did at age 13 when I saved my babysitting earnings to buy my first Schwinn 10-speed bike.

Thank goodness it was in my genes. Why didn't the leader just say "hard-headed"? That, I KNEW I was! That stand-your-ground attitude was very much instilled in me already. Digging ditches is hard work. Saving peoples' lives is hard work. The work I was choosing to do was easy, but to make it successful one had to work hard at it. I did.

Carrying that tenacious attitude with me through the years has brought me to a new career. After nearly 20 years in automotive and recreational finance, insurance and credit industries I walked away to become a full-time mom. I prefer not to call myself a stay-at-home parent because I tend to believe it takes more than a villaige to raise a child.. It takes tenacity, perseverence and it takes baby gear!

My environment change would have been a culture shock to many. I was no longer surrounded by salesmen wearing power ties, new cars, boats, RV's, doctors buying yachts and bankers to impress. Instead my house, from 4 feet above the ground on down, was empty and childproof. Instead of driving my Cadillac dealer demo, I had the cadillac of baby strollers. Play pens, car seats & booster seats, names like Cosco Juvenile, Safety 1st and InStep and an understanding of fixed wheel joggers vs swivel wheel joggers replaced my vocabulary of transmisssions, outboard motors, amortizations and ROA.

Now, instead of keeping up with the current market rates, I spend my non-mommying time researching top rated, safe baby gear that is affordable. Oh, unless the Steelers are on, in which case even the world of the Wee stops in my house!

So, tell me, what do you drive? . . . . . Or more importantly, what drives YOU?