Aging

Visit Sunday Scribblings for poems, stories, or personal narratives from other writers. This week's topic is aging.

I stare in the mirror

and I'm not too afraid,

though I do see lines

that will never fade.

Those lines have been earned

in more ways than one,

from heartache and tears,

to smiles and fun.

Aging shows in my eyes,

the windows to the soul,

Behind them the memories

which have taken their toll.

The body is different,

stiffer, heavier, and easily sore,

And the mind less quick,

I'm forgetful more.

But aging brings wisdom,

on which much can be based,

knowledge and experience

that cannot be replaced.

Aging is a process that

happens over time,

and acceptance of the inevitable

is a feeling most sublime.

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Testing Week at School

Where I teach in Texas, we are at the end of a grading period which means nine weeks' tests were this week. My twins (7th grade) also had a field trip - yes, a field trip during testing week (whose bright idea was that?), which caused some of their tests to be post-poned.

So, as it turns out, my daughter has to take 5 - five - FIVE! - tests in one day - tomorrow! Her language arts teacher, on a whim, decided to post-pone her test. They're designated a certain day to give tests by subject. She can't just change the test day. But she did. And she missed the science test Thursday due to the science field trip today, so she will have to take that on Friday. And her PE teacher is giving them a test on their tennis unit and health issues. Last, social studies is giving her TWO tests, a nine weeks' test and a chapter test, on the last day of the grading period. It boggles my mind!

It's almost midnight, and my twins finally went to bed. We were slowed down after school by the torrential rain, had errands to run, piano lessons, and dinner - then it was on to crazy-busy review sheets and studying. If they're asleep soon, maybe they'll get 7 hours. It's not enough, in my opinion. Me? I don't know when I will wind down enough to sleep. Could be 30 minutes, could be two hours. I never know. Needless to say, I will be tired tomorrow, but thankful that testing week is over for nine weeks.

Thankful Thursday

I have been considering starting a gratitude journal. I believe it will benefit me to focus on what I am grateful for each day. Nothing fancy. Just a few minutes a day, and a short reflection on things for which I am grateful on that particular day, some obvious, some obscure, some general, some specific. So I will start here, for today.

After weeks of dischord around the house, I'm thankful we are finally getting back to something resembling peace.

I am also grateful for the flowers my husband sent me at work today just to let me know he was thinking of me. He has NEVER done that before.

I'm blessed to be able to attend Bible study without fear of retribution or persection.

And I'm mostly grateful for my 12 year old twins, the lights of my earthly life.

You can visit other Thankful Thursday posts by clicking here.

And don't miss my giveaway one post down.

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Windex Outdoor All-in-One Window Cleaner

WINNER! Queen-sized Funny Bone!

We've already had some spring weather here, so when my Windex Outdoor All-in-One Cleaning Tool arrived, I whipped it right out of the package and said, "There's no time like the present!" My son, age 12, had the tool put together in less than a minute.




I NEVER clean the outside of the windows. It's just too hard... or so I thought. With this cool tool from Windex, there are just three, simple steps.





1. Wet the pad on the end of the tool and the window with water from your garden hose.


2. Rub the pad on the window. The tool reaches to 11 feet.


3. Rinse with water from the hose.. No need to dry the window. Windex leaves a streak-free shine! One pad cleans up to twenty windows, and refill pads are available.





How easy is that? And, I'm pleased with the results!





Would you like a chance to win one of these Windex Outdoor Starter Kits? It's easy, and there are several ways to earn entries. Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Contest ends March 29th at 11:59 PM. You must leave a way for me to reach you, either via email or blog.


1. Leave a comment on this post.


2. Subscribe to my blog. Tell me which feed reader you use.


3. Follow my blog.


4. Blog about this contest on your blog and leave your link.





This post was written for Family Review Network as part of a program by SC Johnson, who also supplied the product for review and give away.

The Ultimate Blog Party

5 Minutes for Mom sponsors the Ultimate Blog Party, a week-long event where you can link up and meet other bloggers as well as get a chance to win some fabulous prizes! Head on over to the the link-up post and take a look. While you're there, leave a comment on the main post to win some goodies. Then visit as many people as you can and make new friends. And don't forget to grab a button while you're there! Have fun!


Since you're here, come on in, and tell me your name. I promise to remember, even though I call myself Forgetfulone. I'm a full-time teacher, mom to twins, step-mom to 3, grandmother by default. I enjoy reading, walking, the Internet, scrapbooking, and meeting new bloggers! Browse my blog if you have a chance, or come back later. Maybe I'll have some coffee, tea, and brownies ready by then. I'd love to see you again!

Here are some of the great prizes I'd love to win!
Aromatherapy book and a sampler of therapeutic essential oils.
Scrapbook photo box
A pair of ChicBud Earphones with Swarovski Crystals
$50 gift certificate to Target Stores
$30 gift certificate to Christian Book Distributors
$25 Gift Certificate to Close To My Heart
$30 Stampin’ Up Prize pack
$25 gift certificate to Office Max
$20 Gift Card to Kohl’s

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Our Little Vegas Trip

I finally had a chance to edit some of the photos we took on our short trip to Las Vegas.

We stayed at the New York, New York Hotel.

We had a great view from our room, not that we spent much time there.


I tried to get a good picture of the Lion Habitat at MGM, but the thick glass made it difficult.


The Freemont Street Experience was impressive. We actually saw two of them while we were downtown.

My step-son got married on St. Patrick's Day at Caesar's Palace. The weather couldn't have been more beautiful. Here's the bride and groom and then a picture of Dave and me.

The Bellagio fountains were beatiful, as always.

We were only there Monday through Wednesday, but it was enough. I'm so glad to be home!

A Taste of Austin

We got back from our weekend to Austin. Here's a short picture story of our trip.

First up was the zip line.


We all enjoyed swinging from tree to tree like monkeys!
Next are pictures of Mount Bonnell at the bottom, then the top.



And a nice, relaxing hot tub!

And of course, the Capitol of our Great State of Texas.

And our state flower along the highway, the bluebonnet.

We had a great trip!

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Say it Forward #3

Say it Forward - Carnival of Loyal Commenters is a new weekly meme where bloggers recognize their loyal commenters by featuring them. It is hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom, and they have some great suggestions on how you can feature your loyal commenter. Then, you link up at 5 Minutes for Mom so other people can read about your featured commenter and you can visit other posts, hopefully making some new friends along the way. They explain it a whole lot better than I do!

This week, I want to recognize one of my loyal commenters Tamy, at 3 Sides of Crazy. I don't remember how we met... maybe through Pay it Forward book giveaways at Overwhelmed with Joy, but most of my readers know her. She leaves positive, uplifting comments, and she always responds when I leave a comment on her blog. She'll also shares lots of delicious recipes! Check out her blog! This is for you, Tamy!

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Friday Fill-in

1. When I look to the left, I see a table full of my junk and a brick fireplace.

2. My son's is the room that has the best view in my home.

3. Let it work out.

4. Dirty Deeds done dirt cheap! (AC/DC fans will recognize that!)

5. Voting is a responsibility that all qualified citizens must share.

6. If you have any advice feel free give it. I'm might be ignored, but give it anyway!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to driving to Austin, tomorrow my plans include taking the kids on the Cypress Canopy Zipline Tour, and Sunday, I want to see the capital, drive home, and pack for Vegas.

Please join us here for more Friday Fill-in!

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Wordless Wednesday

I'm so happy I could cry, Mom. You brought me to see the Jonsas Brothers!

Wow! What an awesome feeling!

My Brush with Crime

I had a brush with crime this weekend, but actually, you could really call it a minor scrape. Thank goodness I was neither victim or criminal.



While I was in the checkout line at the local Kroger, I sent my husband to take some vitamins back to the shelf (we'd both picked up the same thing). As he was on his way, he heard a woman say, "He's got my purse!" The would-be thief was running down the main aisle toward the You-Scan lines, and a couple of men stopped him. Two of them had him in a bear hug, and the lady got her purse back. My husband saw all this happen while I'm oblivious at the check out until the sacker said, "I think they just got a purse thief." So, naturally, I'm looking all around to make sure my husband is okay, which of course, he was.



They took the alleged purse-snatcher over by the customer service center. No one was holding onto him anymore. I guess they trusted him not to run. Big mistake. The store employees were supposed to stay with him while another called the police. But they were basically ignoring him. I was in the check out right by the door. He casually walked toward the door, and I said, "He's making a run for it." Sure enough, he walked through the door and ran all the way across the massive parking lot toward a neighborhood. One of the slightly round Kroger employees attempted a chase, but he didn't get him. He got away - but not with the goods.

Lesson - If you use one of those hand-held baskets, do not put your purse inside it. That's how he got it.

This was so surreal. You don't really realize what's happening until it's over. A friend of mine was in another part of the store, and I didn't even know she was there until we got to talking about this.

I could describe him to a TEE. Height, general weight, build, hair color, skin complexion, clothing, and tattoos on both arms. He was so young, maybe 18-20 years old. I guess it's a sign of the times. Ladies, be careful!

Camera Critters

Ibu and Socks snuggled up in one bed during a cold snap. So cute! These are my mom's garage kitties. She adopted them when their owners wouldn't take care of them anymore.

It's Just My Opinion

Run for Your Life by James Patterson

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love Alex Cross so much that I didn't want to like Michael Bennett. But I did! I also like that it is set in NYC instead of DC; nice change of pace.

Lots of action and suspense, twists and turns, and many surprises await the reader! The only part that was completely implausible was the ending - the part with the plane - not to give any plot elements away. Otherwise, I thought it was a great book!

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View all my reviews.

Mamarazzi's Favorite Things Swap

I was so happy to receive my box of goodies from Chris at Chris' Corner yesterday!

I received the cutest, sweetest items:

Mary Engelbrett stickers (Pretty!)

Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs (YUM!)

Vera Bradley notecards (cute!)

Willow Tree Ornament - Holy Family (I love Christmas)

Handmade, matching bracelet and earrings (How sweet!)

Recipe booklets (I can soooo use these)

Southern Living catalog (so fun to look through!)

Spiral journal (cute and useful!)

Notepad (cute and useful!)

Square mug with hot cocoa, biscotti, and jelly bellies (pretty mug, and YUM!)

And a CD of Chris' favorite songs (how thoughtful!)

What a happy day! Better than Christmas!

Here's a pic of what I sent her:

(Lindt milk/dark chocolate combo, journal, magnetic memo pad, pink pen, The Kite Runner [best book I read last year], Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy lavendar and vanilla foam bath, Spring-colored jar candle [PartyLite - only the best], and a book mark.) I hope she likes it all!

I will definitely take part in another of Mamarazzi's Favorite Things Swaps in the future! Here's the link to see who participated and what everyone received.

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Rant About a "Pro" Bogger's Post

Long post - not what I intended to post today, but I had to. Thanks for reading.

I clicked on a link from the 5 Minutes for Mom Wednesday Wrap Up, and to my surprise, I find a post that really irritates me. This was from a pro-blogger with lots of fans, but whose blog I read for the first time today.

The gist of the post is that it is unethical to promote your blog by whatever marketing methods work for you personally. That mom bloggers are changing and are willing to do whatever it takes, including sacrifice content and ethics in her opinion, in order to promote themselves. The blogger believes she is different, perhaps better, for keeping writing as her focus. Ahem.

I usually don’t touch controversy with a ten foot pole, but this post I reference really got to me, and I’m going to rant.

Excuse me? “ Shameless self-promotion, product integration, and sponsor-hunting” she proclaims as unacceptable?

That’s the pot calling the kettle black! (No, that's not a racist remark!) Perhaps I should say that people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

There are ads for professional conferences on her blog, ones which she probably gets paid for. Is she not self-promoting? There are posts linking to other sites on which she writes. There are ads for magazines (for which she is paid to write), newspapers (for which she is paid to write), and other blogs (for which she is paid to write). And she is disgusted by the women who promote themselves by leaving their business cards at the grocery store and the doctor’s office? She advertises products such as Swiffer, probably on a paid basis. I’m certainly not condoning that, but I’m not against it, either. To each her own.

And she scoffed at the mention of a review blog, as if, why would anyone want to write product reviews or host contests! I enjoy getting new products and writing about them, and no one pays me to do so.

Apparently, the author of the blog I reference is a decent writer. People pay her to write. Why should she care if someone is hunting for a sponsor to give her a new car or if people are placing paid ads on their site? Why should she be concerned if someone else is less focused on content than she claims to be? And why worry if other bloggers are paid to attend blogger conferences?

There’s also a rant in her blog about Twitter moms who Tweet all day for shameless promotion. Guess what? She tweets, too. What makes hers different?

She has a large readership, and is invited to speak at the Mom-blogging conferences, but it still sounds like plain old jealousy and a holier-than-thou attitude to me. No, I won’t link to her. I’d be happy to tell you personally which blog rubbed me the wrong way, but I don’t want to post it here and make someone mad. But I did need to get on my soapbox. And now I'm getting off.

In the blogosphere, I think everyone can do whatever they want. It is your blog or my blog, no one else’s blog, and these pro-bloggers don’t need to discourage those that want to try methods they deem less worthy than their own. As I said, To Each Her Own!

My daughter's clarinet ensemble

Friday, my daughter's clarinet ensemble performed. Here it is!

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Wordless Wednesday

My father-in-law just celebrated his 80th birthday! I spent hours creating a digital slideshow from photos as old at 1900 (ancestors). I had to restore many of the photos before creating the slideshow, but I do love that kind of thing! This photo is only some of the decadence on display.

Visit more Wordless Wednesday!

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