"YOU'LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT" or CURE CANCER

In order to "kill some time" while Bentley was receiving his transformation, Hubby and I went to Academy. Browsing throughout the store, we came across a couple of interesting products offered with charity in mind. Breast Cancer Awareness products aren't anything new, but we were amazed that weapons were being used in the battle against Breast Cancer.

So all you manly-men get on down to your local "Lock and Load" store and purchase a crossbow and pistol. You get to hone your caveman skills, while fighting the horrible cancer that takes too many lives each and every day.

PUTTING ON THE DOG: BENTLEY'S MAKEOVER

BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES OF BENTLEY'S MAKEOVER









We decided that our little Bentley needed a good grooming by professionals, so off we went this afternoon. Since Bentley's lineage is questionable, we went with the best guess that Bentley's major breed is Schnauzer. As you can see the before and after pictures above, I think our handsome little guy looks remarkable. The groomer said he was a trooper and stood still for the whole process.

We were tickled pink with the results and kept laughing all the way home whenever we looked at the magnificent transformation.

Tough week for us and we needed this break from reality. Isn't amazing how pets heal us without even trying to be anything but themselves?

Oh, I almost forgot that Bentley smells delicious, too.

NIBS, BLADDERS AND WELLS: WRITTEN HISTORY

These were some of the instruments used in my education (okay, not pictures of my actual equipment, but I'm using poetic license, here.)

In seventh grade we all had to take handwriting as a class. For this class we were required to buy and bring certain pens. We could have the pens with the bladders and our teacher would provide the ink at the back of the class to refill them or we could bring the pens with the replaceable cartridges

Mrs. Hax (dear, sweet woman who didn't live up to her name) instructed us to the precise starting points, the direction of the swoops and sweeps and finally the ending point for EACH letter. Sometimes I would try to make the letters without following the taught method and when I received my paper back, then there would be large, bold red marks correcting my paper. How she knew that I hadn't followed instructions baffled me, but somehow she could tell when I would take a shortcut.

Liquid ink pens with their nibs fascinated me and I grew to love writing with them, even at that young age. Pens were not to be shared, as each writer's pressure was different and thus nibs could be ruined.

My childhood didn't have a lot of stability and this part of my life made me feel in control, creative and responsible.

Funny how such a simple instrument could help me in such a fragile time of my life.

BULLY IN THE NEWS: VISD'S LACK OF LEADERSHIP

Even though school is out we find ourselves in the middle of another couple of sticky situations in Victoria Independent School District.

There is a principal assigned to two sweet country schools in the district. These two schools have been known to have fine, caring adults who worked together for the good of the children. When this all changed was when a certain principal was assigned to those out of the way schools. Because these schools were off the beaten path, I suppose, the principal decided that she could continue with her bullying of adults and students. Suffering under this principal came to a head and a teacher pressed charges against this principal. After a court decision of "not guilty" this principal was reinstated.

Multiple teachers were so outraged that they put their employment on the line when they created, signed and presented a letter to the local School Board. In small towns, willingness to stand behind your convictions is a risky move. Let's hope that these teachers are treated fairly, since the School Board moved to keep the principal on the disputed campus.

Who are the winners in this whole scenario? Well, it sure won't be those brave teachers or the children on the campus, because the six-hundred gorilla in the living room(read "bully" here) has been exposed, examined and given her same campus for the next year. Thought it was uncomfortable for those under her direction before, well now she knows that she has already won a lawsuit, so what's her motivation for her to change?

LIFE'S PUNCHES: KNOCKS MY BREATH OUT

At this moment my family is in the middle of a battle. In this battle there will be no winners, just heartbreak, anger, feelings of isolation, humiliation, despair and broken dreams. We will get through this battle and come out on the other side, but no one will be the same at the end.

By my age, I have had dreams of easy days and restful nights. Those dreams are not to be mine. Maybe in time, my hope will return. We'll see, won't we?

FLUID PLANS: GOING WITH THE FLOW

Over twenty-six years ago, this sign represented hope for our young family. My husband had decided that his addictions to drugs and alcohol had taken too much away from us, so he came to this place to find sobriety and sanity. Through many days of struggle, soul searching and commitment, the bumpy road to recovery was traveled by my husband. Relationships affected by addiction are fragile and must be reinforced by therapy for both of us. Throughout the years following addiction treatment, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings provided guidelines for healthy living.

During this weekend, we drove the same wavy, twisty journey to Starlite, so that we could attend an alumni weekend. We were surrounded by hundreds of sober-living people who had a great time eating, visiting, playing games, admiring each other's families and listening to speeches from invited guests.

Orginally, Hubby was to speak at one and then the time was changed to two and finally three o'clock was the assigned time. Doesn't sound like a big deal, does it? Each time the schedule changed, my hubby greeted the new time with, "Okay, that works for me, no problem." He didn't let the changes bother him, which helped him adjust his attitude quite quickly. Others might let postponments irritate, but not someone who appreciated all that a sober life had given him. You have to admire someone who knows that another life could have been his, if he hadn't choosen sobriety. Acceptance of changes kept my husband cool, while others around him fretted and itched with impatience.

While waiting for the speakers, music was played and Papa held his Grandlove so that they could dance. They danced like no one was watching. They danced under the hot, summer sky. They danced in joy and appreciation for all that is right in the world. They celebrated sobriety and sweetness. Capturing this moment and holding it in our hearts is what matters to us the most.

All the activities were conducted outside and for those not in our area, it is SUMMER here, already. Large, well placed, ice tubs held bottled water and sno-cones did their best to cool our insides; while the sheltering oak trees cast cool, lacy shadows. Each soft, brave breeze was greeted with a sigh of relief from us.

Our Grandlove was precious as usual. He entertained himself by exploring the blades of grass that tickled his bare legs; attempting to eat elusive ice chips from his great-grandmother's hand; and flirting with all the pretty ladies in the audience. He actually was more patient than others in our family who seemed to think that continually announcing, "I'm Hot!" would make the day cooler. Finally, late in the afternoon, I strapped the little guy in his stroller, found the shadiest spot and rocked him to sleep. What a precious little guy.

Driving home (boy was that a long drive) gave us time to appreciate how far we have come. During my husband's treatment, I would drive up on Friday nights and on Sundays I would drive home with our little girl passed out in the backseat. Now, we had our curly-headed Grandlove in the backseat and his mom next to him, love just keeps growing with us.

We are a sober family, who appreciates the past in order to value the present.

UNBELIEVABLE: EASY-BREEZY MONEY

While I was skimming the classified section yesterday, curiosity pulled me to ads for job opportunities. Since I am qualified to work at the college here, I checked out the possibilities under their heading.

It was then that I found the perfect job offering, it didn't require physical exertion that would impact my fragile back; extreme hot weather wouldn't affect my health; dressy, professional clothes weren't required; and preparations for my position would be minimal. Pay wasn't that great, but with all the "perks" who was I to question my good fortune for this discovery of my next employment.

With all these upsides to the job, there is one teeny-tiny problem: In spite of all the positive sides of the job, I don't think I am cut out for the offering. Posing for the art students in the nude wouldn't work very well, because how would the students ever be able to draw when they were either laughing or closing their eyes in horror of what was in front of them?

On another level, who would actually sit in front of a room of strangers naked as the day they were born? So many scars; so much extra skin stretched over hills of years of ice cream; parts that are dimpled that should be smooth; parts that droop that used to perk; and the possibility that a former student would be passed out on the floor after seeing his former teacher in all her naked glory. I will not be responsible for creating nightmares and retching from the horrible site set before the art students.

So, unless I stand at the door with a sign that reads, "If you don't want to see this body nude, please deposit cash here" I guess this art department position isn't in my future.