One of those S Curve days

   ( S-Cure:  traces the cyclical movement upwards and downwards in a graph. So named for its shape as the letter "s" Relates to growth and decline in the natural increase.  ~~ One of Meg's AP Human Geography Vocabulary Words~ Always trying to educate you dear ones LB)

Do you ever feel like your life is a replay of a Three Stooges movie? Welcome to my Friday.  I can't say it was a horrible day as after over a week of headache/migraines I finally kicked them.  And then I went to Publix.

     The first Friday of every month my kids have an incredibly long day.  After going to school all day they head to a different mega-church in our area for the monthly Youth Quake Live show.  While they are served Pizza for dinner before the show it is only two slices and they don't get those until 6pm.  So I make sure they have a sub or something like that on the way.  That means a trip to Publix.  So I got Meg from school and we headed to Publix.  Everything went fine, even found some great BOGO deals for the weekend.  Then I had to check out. 

     I felt like I was following a Three Stooges script verbatim.  We had gotten a fountain drink with our sub and enjoyed it around the store.  It was in the seat of our cart as we were loading our groceries onto the belt.  I guarantee I couldn't repeat what happened next if I tried.  Somehow by simply taking out the sub, also in the cart seat, I managed to rip the lid off the drink which then performed a 180* flip and land bottom side up exactly where it was first situated.  Amazingly I didn't spill a drop of soda on ANY of my groceries or me!!  Pretty impressive don't you think.

   Once we got the floor cleaned up and my groceries all bagged I reached into my purse to pay only to discover that my wallet was missing; I left it in my computer bag the previous evening.  That's ok Publix takes checks and once you are in the system they don't need your driver's license... oops that policy's been changed.  So here I am with a medium sized grocery order that includes ice cream and the subs for the kids' dinner unable to pay.  Did I mention I was shopping at the store by Meg's school and not my house!! 
** If you were keeping track that's three strikes and in less than 5minutes :0(  The poor check-out girls who has been so sweet to this point suggested that they would store my groceries in the back until I could return later with payment~sure I have time for that TODAY.  Thank fully the store manager (who cleaned up my mess) took pity on me and said I could call her from home with my license information.

  My day ended on a glorious high-note!  I received my first pot-belly historical collectible that I won on eBay.  AND as if I planned it as further proof for Thursday's post A Peek Into My Royal Roots... it arrived via Royal Mail.

My first Royal Pot Belly

A peek into my Royal Roots

    In case you haven't heard I am royal... obviously since I am Lady Bren.  It isn't as if I woke up one and declared myself royalty... well actually that is what I did but don't tell anyone.  It wasn't until my stroke that I truly embraced my royalty completely.  Notice though I haven't claimed to be a Queen or Grand Duchess just a simple Lady, the wife of a Knight, though to be modern I have decided to keep my own name.

    I am proud to say that I am a second generation American.  My Grandfather (that's what we called him) came over from England around 1910.  He actually snuck in through Canada so I won't find him in any immigration registrar.  The story goes that he wouldn't become an American citizen just in case the two countries ever went to war.  You have to kind of love that tenacity I guess.  My grandfather was a composer and wound up being a Captain in the Salvation Army.  While my childhood memories are very limited I fondly remember Fish and Chips with vinegar,  Real Tea Parties, Beef and Kidney Pies and his bragging on English Strawberries.  Hanging in the basement where I grew up is a framed piece of glass with a quote "The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire".  It is the only thing from my Dad that's still left I hope to someday own. 

     In 1977 my Dad, a Pan Am employee, received 4 First Class tickets and we went to London.  This was back when air travel was still a luxury and you dressed as such.  We had never flown anywhere before and I thought that every time you flew you ate dinner upstairs with roses and chocolates.  For one week we explored castles, museums and the streets of London.  I came home an official anglophile.  Thank heavens we were regulars at the Library so the research department didn't mind getting me all the books I could devour on the subject.

     Queen Elizabeth I is truly my hero.  After her is another great woman, Queen Victoria.  They are two of the people I choose for the 5 people I would invite for dinner.

     My bookshelf is full of books both fiction and non-fiction.  Margaret Howard and Philippa Gregory are among my favorite authors.  So you can imagine my delight when today I received an email from my dear friend Amy Bruno at Passages to the Past that I had won one of her many glorious historical fiction giveaways!!  So I am going to be checking my mailbox with baited breath for my copy of In a Treacherous Court

  

The Chair Stands Alone

 
Remember the nursery song... The Farmer in the Dell; at the end the cheese stood alone.  Well in my Post Stroke World the Shower Chair Stands Alone.

     There's a lot of paraphernalia that goes along with stroke recovery.  I came home with a walker, shower chair, adapters for silverware, and plans for upgrading to a cane, never mind the multiple medications. We were supposed to install hand rails in the shower but somehow that never happened.  In the last six months just about everything has disappeared from my world.  Except the shower chair... and I don't think it will follow the rest of the trappings into the attic anytime soon.
     The reprieve the chair is receiving isn't due to my recovery or inability to stand in the shower.  It plain and simple has to do with the fact it has become a sort of luxury item.  Seriously!! After working out in the yard on some of the hottest days taking a nice long shower now is more relaxing.  A teenager not to be named has been known to enjoy the chair's benefits after long runs or extreme work-outs.  Who knew this once necessary item was now bringing joy and happiness to others.
    The funny thing is I see them in stores now.  I never really noticed them before.  Because we really had no say in what type we were getting as third parties arranged all that for us I had no clue as to the varieties available.I've also noticed these puppies pop up at garage sales and thrift stores often.  Considering what they go for new paying $15 for a shower chair and a bottle of disinfectant is well worth it.
    So for those of you who like me don't have a garden tub to relax in I definitely suggest purchasing yourself a shower chair... better to buy one because you want it rather than needing it don't you think!
This is the one we have.  You can purchase them without a back but why would you????

Sunday August 28th

I had a hard time calling today Serenity Sunday as usual.  Thursday we headed to the beach to see how Irene was kicking things up.  The waves were rolling in on top of each other.  It was almost as if they were competing to get to shore.  Often the waves weren't even parallel with each other; crashing at angles producing magnificent views. I am just amazed how this incredible force of nature was presenting this beautiful water show less than 48 hours before causing horrific damage further North.  I shot over 150 pics just of the waves.... I've selected my faves for you.

Sometimes God calms the storms and sometimes He just holds us tight.

As if turning 50 isn’t hard enough

   Turning 50 is considered a huge milestone in our society.  It usually means parties with an “Over the Hill” theme including black balloons and gag gifts of canes and such.  So imagine your birthday being announced on NPR in reference to being someone’s Dad ~ OUCH!!

  Six years ago when I started having to drive my kids to school at 6:30 in the morning the only thing I proclaimed allowed on the radio is NPR.  It is way too early for top 40 or any other music choice they may have, never mind they’re usually sleeping.  Every morning at 7am NPR announces someone’s birthday.  Usually they share a bit of the person’s fame before their name.  Today Billy Ray Cyrus turns 50.  You would think that their lead in would have been the crooner of Achy Breaky Heart Billy Ray Cyrus turns 50 today.  NOPE.  Billy Ray’s own accomplishments weren’t even mentioned.   So how was his birthday announced?

Miley’s Dad Billy Ray turns 50 today.

Ouch you can’t tell me that didn’t sting just a little bit. 

   As proud of I am of my kids’ accomplishments if there is one day I don’t want to be known as Em’s, Patrick’s or Meg’s mom it is my birthday; especially on my 50^th birthday.  I don’t know, perhaps things are different in show business.  After all he was responsible for getting her the role of Hannah Montana.  Without question I am sure he is very proud of the success she has achieved.  So maybe this is a proud moment for him.  Me~ I’d be more than a little crabby!

     Or maybe it is just me and my personal self-centeredness.   Let me make this clear.  My birthday is my birthday.  I don’t want any of my kids getting married on it.  I’d prefer not to have any grandbabies born on my day.  When planning our wedding I even made sure we weren’t saying I do anywhere near my day.  With all of this being said you’d think I’d be someone who has big celebrations and such.  Nope.  The day is usually uneventful with a nice dinner and a specialty cake from Publix.  It is just my family of 5 who celebrate, actually 4 now that Em’s at school :0(   Now that I am Royal I guess I could pass a Proclamation and declare it a holiday…. Hmmm I do have a couple of weeks left to do that.