TOO OLD for Sweepstakes?

     I entered (rather, TRIED to enter) a sweepstakes this evening.  One of those that ask for your age and has a list of years.  I tried posting 1946 and it didn't want it.  It only went to 1947---the oldest one can be is 65 to enter.  Discrimination.  So, folks, I lied.  Yes, I lied.  I put down I was born in 1949, which is what came up when I tried to be honest and say 1946. And the program was happy.  So we are both happy.  That's modern life--just trying to make an honest sweepstakes living. Only thing that can make me happier is actually winning.
     I came across one this evening for 4 nights in Banff  National Park, Canada!  That one has to have my name on it since that is where Kate, Betsy and I are headed this August.  Now, though, I guess it's Kate and I are headed that way OR Betsy and I are headed that way since it will be for me and one guest.  Sure hope Betsy isn't the one left out since SHE is the one that has always wanted to go there.  Sorry, Betsy, but we'll send pictures and updates.

Flashback!   MT. Hood and Columbia River between Portland and Vancouver.  My soon to be new home!  Not the mountain or river, but a cozy house in Vancouver. 

     I am in the thick of my ADD challenge---financial matters.  I can relate to people who have ADD problems.  Trying to figure out money matters for me is like having a bunch of mice running all over the house.  I know they are there and need to be caught, organized and caged, but try to catch them!  And I mean a bunch, not just one or two.  Trying to do taxes for the store, inventory, personal taxes, paying bills, figuring things between Lou and me is so overwhelming I simply don't do it. (sigh)  Is that what ADD is? (sigh)  There are so many good programs on TV, so many sweepstakes to enter, so many thoughts to think about, so many posts to blog, so many good snacks to consume, so many.....there is no time to do finances. (sigh) 

     I did get my printer to work.  After spending a half hour with Chuck on the phone, he suggested that perhaps I need a new ink cartridge.  Whatta you know!  I bought and inserted a new black ink cartridge and one wouldn't even know there was ever a problem.  Chuck is SO smart.  Another reason I can't get finances done.  Actually I can't blame that on Chuck being so smart, but rather that I needed to go to the store and buy a black ink cartridge, bring it home AND install it.  AND check to see if that made the printer work.  (You don't think I need to be concerned about ADHD with all that running to the store, etc, do you?) 

   Tomorrow is another day.  Tomorrow I will catch some mice that are running all over my house and table and purse and mind.  Tomorrow I will concentrate and get financial matters stablized.  I will.  Unless there are more sweepstakes to enter and TV to watch and black ink cartridges to buy and install and see if that makes the printer work.   

    This has been a good "need to catch some mice" day in the life of Grandma G.

"The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty." (Proverbs 21:5)

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING

     Spring showed up today covered in rain clouds, though no rain.  It is now 10PM.  There is the rumble of thunder outside with the onset of the first thunder storm of the year..  The sound is quite relaxing.   
     I had a good morning. After a 20 minute mile on the treadmill, a hot shower and a new pair of  light weight tan pants I was ready to face the world.  I did the needed important task of sending out the proper master CD of  "Oh, the Places I've Been".



Rich at ryproductions

  On Tuesday 2 weeks ago on my way to Milwaukee I took a short detour to a recording studio to get my new CD produced.  My studio friend here in Park Falls had run off two different master CDs--one for "Places" and one for "Grandma G's Bag of Surprises".  I had carefully put the "Places" CD in the computer bag so it was ready to go the morning I had to also pack suitcases and load the car.  I had a great drive down until I came to wet dirt roads and got stuck after bypassing where I was to end up. (But that is for another time and story.)  Once successfully where I needed to be I took out the master CD and......discovered it was the WRONG one.  OOPS.  I did have one for him to listen to so I could let him know what adjustments needed to be done. 
     So today I sent out the proper one.  I am eager to get this project done and available for people to buy.  There are folks here in Park Falls that have expressed desire to know when I have a new CD.  I want a chance for them to obtain it before moving from here.  I've been trying to get this done since last fall and am excited it will finally be accomplished.
     At noon I was quite distressed as I pulled into the music store parking lot to see Wally L walking and carrying the new amp he bought while I was gone.  Wally isn't the brightest chap in town.  He has a knack for messing things up so I knew this was not going to be an easy interchange.  Sure enough, he couldn't get the "squeal" out of the amp.  His big thing is having an amp where he can plug in a microphone and guitar so he can sing along while he plays.  Those amps are hard to find.  I let him demonstrate the problem and after some discussion, wondering, looking in the catalog and expressions of dismay he finally settled on buying a different amp. He figured he could take his old small amp, plug in a mic to that one and have his gig all set up.  I was glad to see him leave happy that he had solved his amp problem at least for now. 
     I spent an hour of "studio" time---time practicing news songs.  That is always relaxing and restoring to me.  There are four pieces I hope to do at my last piano recital. 
     I was excited this evening to see that a new season of "The Little Couple" is back on.  Jen is a not quite 3 feet tall baby doctor. It is the story of their life and recent efforts to have a baby by a surrogate mom.

   Flashback.....snow, red barns and windmills.....
Lou and I always liked to see who could spot a windmill first whenever we drove around Wisconsin

               snow fields and farm land








Coming SOON......a revised presentation of moving activities and goals!! 

This has been a good first day of spring in the life of Grandma G.

"Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you." (Psalm 116:7)

Happy B-Day, Burt!

     Today is Burt's 41st B-day.  He is a man of many talents and can handle several things at the same time.  I don't know how he does it.  When he was born I asked the nurse how he looks.  She said he was "all hands".  I thought she meant he had big hands.


     A favorite story of mine concerning Burt was when we brought Angie home from the hospital--Burt was 15 months old.
I sat down with Angie on my lap and uncovered her so big brother could see her.  She had a lot of black hair.  Burt stared at her for a long time, started to shiver with excitement, squealed "woof, woof"... and bit her.

Wisconsin Schmidt men--Cory, Josh,Devin, Al, Burt, Chuck, Lou,  Logan, Eddy, Tyler

Burt's Family.....Burt, Jen, Tyler, Logan, Devin, Cory, Josh

     Burt had the privilege of being a foreign exchange student in Shepparton, Australia when he was 16-17 years old--24 years ago.  Three years ago I had the privilege of visiting his exchange family there.  (Today I don't think I would have the courage to send a 16 year old off by himself half way across the world.)

     Today we had a record high of 78 degrees.  I have NO complaints.  I am hoping I will NEVER see another Wisconsin winter.  It is such a relief to be free of snow and cold.  I am grateful God sent us a mild winter and early spring.  I am like a lizard, getting active in the warmth (not heat) and shutting down in the cold.

    I was pleasantly surprised this morning with a phone call from my brother John.  He is my ONE devoted fan who reads this Blog daily.  With him signing up on Google Friend Connect he DOUBLED my  following!  Thanks, John! ( And thanks, Chuck, for completing the other half!)  We talked for quite awhile. He enjoys hearing family news he doesn't hear otherwise.  And in my mind I can hear Susie laughing at some of the goings on and humorous pictures.     

 John and Susie, Indianapolis Christmas 2011

     This afternoon a customer came in the store to buy guitar strings.  He commented, "So you are closing the store."  I said yes, that I am moving to the Portland area.  He said that is a good place, that it is a great music center--a lot of good music comes from there. 

     I did talk to (and sing to) the B-day Boy this evening.  "Happy B-day, Burt!  I love you and am proud of you!"

   This has been a good Burt's B-day in the life of Grandma G.

"A wise son brings joy to his father (and to his mother)."  (Proverbs 10:1)    

Count Down Time!

    In the BIG PICTURE it is time for me to outline time lines!  I am in the midst of many projects, many issues, many decisions, many feelings.  Late mid-life crisis?  I am a little fearful of making and seeing my goals come to pass.  Fear of making wrong decisions?  Probably.  Uncertainty of WHO I am?  Probably.  Overwhelmed at the tasks to be done?  FOR SURE.

     Today was a very warm, beautiful early spring day.  It was so warm this afternoon I needed to wait until evening for a walk.  Highly unusual. 

     For our church service we had a Christian Seder meal.  I found it inspiring, educational, and tasty!

      I "wiled away" most of the afternoon watching TV.  It started off innocently enough with an entertaining true story of a high school girls' basketball team and coach.  It ended up being caught up in "Untold Stories of the ER".  The programs are good.  It just that by evening I have a Boob Tube hang over and nothing significant accomplished.

     I typed a "spring concert/ this is my last year teaching" letter to my students and parents.  I couldn't print it, though, since my printer isn't printing.  I shut down the computer and will try in the morning.  I do dislike technology malfunctions.  I'd much rather be out flying in an airplane.
                                                                                                               

 IN PRECIOUS MEMORY........

My foster dad, Jim Sperry, died on Thursday, March 9, 2012.  He was 93. 

I had a great visit with him and Susie, my foster sister, in late December.  Visiting with them in Indianapolis was a yearly event for the past several years.

On this last visit I took these pictures of their family crest; also of the Abagaile doll and book that that Jim's mom created and sold in Nashville, IN during the Depression. 














"Rest in peace, dear Foster Dad."

This has been a good Sunday in the life of Grandma G.

"All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
 (Psalm 139:16)

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Can you find the leprechaun?

This has been a refreshing St. Patty's Day.  I drove 45 miles to a nearby town for a ladies' meeting.  The weather was unusual.  The temperature was already in the 70's in the morning.  With snow still on the ground and the sun shining brightly the warmth caused a low mist along the road.

The ladies' meeting was good and lasted until close to 2PM.  Being hungry I stopped at Burger King for a sandwich.  I was treated to free french fries and St Paddy's special sauce--GREEN.  I know it was colored ketchup, but the look was a bit gross.  Tasted good! 

Later at home I went for a 30 minute walk.  Saw the first robin and then second and third.  Sorry, no camera. (Did you know that Wisconsin robins spend their winters in Washington state?  Smart)  With the temperature in the 70's this was probably a record high day.  "Normal" temp would be around 20 degrees.

This evening our missions board, pastors and visiting missionaries had a dinner at a local restaurant.   Oh, yah, I was there since I am on the missions board.  Didn't want to randomly tell you about something I wasn't involved in.

I finished the day by watching a 2 part movie titled Real Women.  It was a combination of the times around the civil war and  settling Texas.  One of the main characters was named Georgia.  She was a feisty gal.  It was strange to keep hearing my name.  The movie was more violent than I am comfortable with, but I can understand the psychology of it.

The truth of the day is that I was really tired all day---don't know why and don't like it.  Perhaps it is a "hangover" from vacation.  Hopefully tomorrow will be energized.  Still was a good day.

This has been a good ST. Patty's Day in the life of Grandma G.

"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease." (Genesis 8:22)