Let The Second Half Commence!

First--thank you for your encouragement...an old high school friend of mine told me tonight to just look up and praise God. How right he is!

Well today marked a few first--Cody's first day of his second semester of his 11th year in high school. Niki's first day of NOT going to high school. And, of course, Alex's first day back at his little school I affectionately like to call 'get down to the kitchen NOW!'. You know, I do believe it's time for school pictures:

Math this year is on the computer--Fifth Grade Math whips me:

Aww Alex, you poor guy--you shouldn't even HAVE to go to school!

But.......if you're going to go, might as well feign joy!

On a side note:

This little guy in these photos, my Alex the Baby, got new shoes this weekend. Seems he shot out of his size 4 shoes he started summer with and is now a perfect...........SIZE 9???!!!

One half size less than his 17 year old brother and his daddy. He's shot up so much in the past few months that all his jeans we bought for Fall are now pedal pushers. Which is fine, keeps in line with the whole 'homeschool' look and all. But size 9? I REFUSE to give him a piggy back ride across the 'long bridge' to Africa at the zoo. He should be hauling ME back and forth. Well maybe not, he's grown so quickly his little legs look like flamingo legs, they're so skinny. Might break 'em....sigh. Okay I'll give him a haul, but I will NOT do the boing boing boing across the bridge game anymore!

The Cake That Makes The World Go Round--Again!

Okay John said he was getting kind of sick of waiting a week between posts. Can't have that....so while I'm still in my contemplation mode, I'm going to post anyway. And what better way to post and update all y'all whether you want 'em or not, pictures! Yes that's right, it's photo album time.


Yesterday was Cody's birthday...my middle boy is 17. And stayed up all night the night before playing Halo with a friend. First day of school was today (poor Cody), so here's what last night's birthday celebration looked like (note 'the cake'):

Too excited, I know. He didn't even eat a piece, he blew out the candles and limped upstairs to bed. If I'd known, I might have not killed myself getting the stinkin cake that makes the world go round done! Here's a shot of Niki joining in on the festivities (she had a migraine):Be jealous of that, will ya?! Yeah. That's right. We know about fun and we know how to use it. Okay, John and I did, we had fun at Cody's party.

This is Niki's boyfriend--her birthday isn't until October and he already gave her the early birthday gift....a pink helmet to match his blue one. How cute is that--we're too excited about our little girl zooming down the highway on the back of a motorcycle, can not even tell you. He is a nice guy, though, I can't say he's not. Yet.

Here's Cody (Niki was evading my camera) first day of school. Niki wasn't hyped up at the thought of going in for an extra semester, but she did it, she got through it, and I'm more than proud of her. I couldn't have been easy walking through those doors today knowing all her friends were gone.

Here's Alex's first day--not gonna lie, it was a long first day. We'll get our groove going, though, it's just tough with a new curriculum and all.

Cody's camera arrived today (his one day late birthday present) I took a picture of the camera in the used bag, so next year it'll be a blurred memory, he'll think I got it purchased on time:

And this is what I feel like this evening after a whirlwind of birthday, in-laws visiting, first day of school, and releasing a new digi kit (you knew there'd be one of me):

I'm Cooled Off, I'm Reminiscing and Lovin My Friends Silly!

Edit: Thanks, Dawn, I hyper-linked and collaged so much last night I plum forgot to uppp the awards so you can grab 'em! Here ya go:

Okay okay I've soo enjoyed the heat-related sympathy. So much so (blogger friends are better than snickerdoodles & coffee) that I hate to fess up: when Alex and I arrived home from our museum field trip, the air was fixed. So truth be told, it was only overnight and up until 10 am that I was home 'melting'. Wimp. I know, I know.

The museum was such fun. The pics on the grid down there are mostly from the American Indian part, but some of what we got to go see was part of the Glore Psychiatric museum. We saw a lot of funky contraptions there, even a morgue (see pic with a chagrinned Alex, lol). It was definitely sobering, thinking about what these patients lived all those years. I recall driving down that stretch of road and looking over at that big building, we called it the insane assylum. And as a kid and a teenager, it didn't matter to my life. If I could turn time back a bit (alright, a lot) I'd have said prayers for the people behind those barred windows, not cracked jokes with my friends.

If you look closely (I think you can click and enlarge this) you'll see a bear in the picture. I remember seeing t his as a child--it brought back fun memories! And cracks me up if you look at pic with Alex and the bear--I think he'd better run before that bear bites his behind! This trip was more than interesting to Alex and myself--we got the opportunity to SEE the artifacts, and even feel some of them.

After the museum, went to Taco John's for a late lunch and so I could get a taco burger! I always had the taco burger and beans when I was growing up. Sitting there eating our food, a group of boys came into the restaurant to eat--wearing black football jerseys that said "Savages" on it. Oh, you know it! Those football boys were from Savannah and it was Friday. Pretty sure there was a game goin' down in old Joe Town! I don't remember our football team looking so young. Hmmm...guess they're letting them in school earlier, idk. That's me on the far right, my big sister, Jamee, bent down on the front row, left (note Savages on our tops).

Alex knows me so well...pleading "Please don't talk to them, Mom". Visions of me saying "Heyyy! Where's the game? You know, I lived in Savannah too! I was a football cheerleader, believe it or not!" Then they drop jaws and stare...they pick up their trays, move to the other side of the room and begin howling with laughter at the crazy 'old lady'!

So as I silently reminisced high school days, the old black & gold, the amazing freedom, that whole simplistic yet complex life, having a mid-life moment, guess what song came on the overhead system? Oh yeah, Don't You Forget About Me-Simple Minds. It was too much, I think my eyes were tearing up. I picked up my cell and called my high school friend, Tracy (seen below from last October). She still lives in Savannah and works in St. Joe. I described to her my surreal experience and waited for her to say "No Way!". She said "okayyy...so?" I guess never being away, you don't get the nostalgia everytime you go somewhere you used to, see things you used to, idk. Kelly was teaching class, else I'd have called her. She totally gets this, even though she lives in St. Joseph too. Niki, below, might think this photo is posted because she looks just so adorable in her red/white. While looks smashing, it's the little orange/pink box on the corner I'm focused on. That's right, I got my Dunkin Donuts. I was going to save my big surprise until next week, but okay okay, here goes: tonight when I was at the grocery store, lo and behold: sitting on the shelf right next to the Folgers, blah blah blah coffee....dum da da dahhhh! That's right, the rumors are fact! Hy-Vee will be carrying MY special coffee from now on--this time I really DID tear up. You can't imagine what this will do for my day--I have to limit it to only ONE pot per day (it's pricier than Folgers or Max House) but at about 2 o'clock when I need to feel the DD love, I never need to go without again. This is BIG!

As Prince would say: Not Done!

I'm far behind awards, and I've been giving it thought. I have two to hand off today and I love every single person on my list. Yet at the same time, it would completely wreak havoc on the credibility of the award if every blogger did that, I know, I know. So.....I want to give the I Heart Your Blog Award (thanks again, Misty Dawn) to these very special bloggers:

*My Three Wisemans (Shana)--she is the epitome of courage and strength!
*It's Cat's Life (Cat) --I heart her, I hope she keeps this new blog going!
*Coffee Mom (Kathleen)--She's funny, Here's Proof!
*Skimbaco (Katja) --Talented and beautiful--yet I still like her. Go figure!
*And Miles To Go...(Bridget)--But then, who DOESN'T heart her blog? Really?!

Now, Miss Bridget also saw fit to include me in a brand new one, which I'm quite stoked about! It's the You Make Me Smile Award. I'm thinking that if anything, this girl makes me smile (btw, Bridget, I did make it to the grocery store today--be ready for my results).

*Bubba's Sis (B/S)--Quickly become like a favorite blankie to me!

*USO Girl (D..)--She's the blankie's best friend--and I'd like to steal her away!

*Girl Gone Wild (GiGi) --My blog bff, and shoulda been my neighbor!

*And Island Life (Local Girl)--Whirlwind of a life, entertains me always!

*Coming To A Nursery Near You (Dawn)--I swear she's married to Leif Garrett!

And.....the fun doesn't end with this, no no no! I've got another round of Nice Matters coming up early next week. I just didn't want to be ribbed too hard so I didn't dare post that today. I know there are bajillions of talented bloggers, funnier bloggers, more interesting bloggers, and it humbles me (for real) that you amazing souls have rested here at JameeForever, and not only that, that you like me as much as I like you (ALL of you). xoxoxo

Wordless Wednesday: Senior Year Today--Is This Possible?

Ruth M

This morning my pastor (and friend) touched on friendships. He reminisced about a boy in school nobody talked to because he was different....not that my pastor/friend didn't want to talk to him....but because when you're a teenager, friends occupy your time, and it just slips by.

I stopped hearing what he said briefly, my mind flooded with memories. Memories of that one untouchable girl. Ruth M, the girl with nothing, the girl who smelled, that showered at school because there was no running water in her home, whose teeth were never clean, the front one chipped. I used to talk to her, for awhile, and just casually...no plans to hang out were ever considered, much less verbalized.

I try and recall when I stopped talking to her and when I began to view her with disdain. I can't pinpoint the year.

Disdain. I didn't understand her. Nobody did. She was different. Why didn't she just wash, shave, wear clean clothes that FIT? I honestly didn't know those simple things were beyond her reach--I don't know if any of us in my circle of friends understood what that entailed. Poverty was something on television, kids starving in Africa. In our early years as parents, John and I struggled, stretching our shampoo to the last drop, cutting dryer sheets in half. Before I was responsible for a family myslef, I would just drive over to Dad's drugstore, buzz in on my way home from school and grab what I needed. And if it was a Friday, grab some perfume, maybe beg a few bucks off Dad, then off to get ready to see my friends or boyfriend. It was that simplistic.

So, in the teenaged, self-indulged, incredibly insensitive-at-times life I lived, it was Ruth's fault that she was different. So she didn't deserve to have the attention of our small town's self-elected elite. And I wouldn't be able to rescue her from hateful words lobbed her way every day--why should I when she WOULDN'T help herself? I knew she was poor, I never got it, though, that that meant she wouldn't go out with friends, she wouldn't go home and jump into a bath, put on afun Madonna-inspired skirt and meet her boyfriend for dinner.

As our school years dragged along, her circumstances didn't change but she did. Suddenly she was harddened....in fact, she could be down right mean from time to time. Angry. I recall pondering this turn of events my senior year. It kind of justified the treatment she got.

I knew better than most what she felt, just different venue, different reasons. For survival's sake, I wasn't about to empathize with Ruth, lest I bring it to my locker. Honestly I think back and I know by the time my senior year rolled around, I was far too broken to help her. But I very much wish I had. Despite it.

I think after hearing today's sermon I will email Ruth. We had our 20th reunion in October (hence the pictures)...she emailed the organizer, who was our class Type A. Ruth told her what her life was now, how she looked forward to seeing everyone. I saw on that public bulletin what she wrote, I waited to see what Type A would say. And waited. Waited.....Should have just written her myself...so I can't completely opt out of blame here. But the risk! Taking over and writing a response to a letter not directed to me would be.....rude. And maybe when I got to the reunion, others wouldn't approve.

Ruth M wasn't at our 20th reunion. I will probably find a woman defeated like I sometimes feel myself...but with just enough hope left in her that there are people who care. That God is faithful, he won't let us break completely.

I know this isn't a very upbeat entry--my latest haven't been. I'll try and do better this week--maybe it's the time of year, idk. I wanted to post my side by side comparison of Alan Colmes and the Wizard Of Oz flying monkey--helloooo!--they're twins, only the monkey has a cute little vest and hat. But....John saw what I was about to do and stopped me because it was mean. Me? I'm still giggling! xo

June 5 Update: Brief email and pictures of have been sent.