Places I'm thinking of

So I am trying to brainstorm some ideas for my paper and having a difficult time... but I am going to come up with what I can.

My grandparents farm
Eiffel Tower
New York City
Grand Ole Opry
The Mansion at Elfindale
Bedrock City
Mount Rushmore
The Bahamas
The Colony Hotel - South Beach Miami, FL
Kansas City, MO
Silver Dollar City
Clearwater, FL

It is amazing with how many places we have in this world and this is all I can think of but I seem to be drawing a blank. I believe I have a couple really good bets with a couple of these locations, so I am going to explore my resources and see what ideas I can come up with. I was wondering, does this blog count as my nightly blog? I think it will, or should. After all, Ms. A did say we could blog about our assignments, course, or anything else we chose. It's probably a good thing because I am not sure that I could come up with a second blog tonight. My mind is floating else where. I'm finding it very difficult to focus this evening. It is so quiet because I have my papa tucked into bed and my kids went home with daddy for the night. Not sure what to do with myself with so much quietness. Wait - yes I do - HOMEWORK! But I don't want to. How is it that this becomes such a battle? Well, I guess this is one assignment down - too many more to count to go.

July 14, 2013

I sit here in my Papa's house, in the living room to be exact. I look all around me at the visuals in the room. Sitting here facing the south wall which has a double window centralized on the wall. The blinds are closed for the evening and the curtains are held back with matching tie-backs. They are white in color with a scalloped edge. Hanging from the wooden valance over the windows are 4 wind chimes and a snowman that our oldest daughter made for Grandma at Christmas time. Sitting on top of the valance are bells; in upwards of 25. Grandma loved bells, and her collection of many of them still sit where they always have been. On the same wall are other various items which include 2 decorative plates and a wooden Nebraska sign. On the south-west corner of the room sits an old grandfathers clock that I don't think has worked for the last 15 years. Looking to my left is the west wall hosting a window and the front door of the house. The window treatment matches those of the south wall. The door is an off-white metal door. It's a large contrast from the dark brown paneled walls that surround the room. The valance above the west window is occupied by more wind chimes and bells. There is a clock that has 12 different birds on it but no longer plays the sound of the birds. The wall behind me is home of the spare bedroom door and a collection of pictures that is approximately 5 foot by 6 foot. The frames are of many different shapes and sizes but all of them are an off-white color. There are pictures of my grandparents, their siblings, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. I still enjoy enjoy this collection, although some of the pictures are quite aged. Such as my senior frame that is now 19 years old! The east wall has a large "archway" that leads into the dining room. There is a weather rock that my dad made more than 25 years ago that still hangs on one side of the trim. Adjacent from it on the other trim hangs a bell along with a wooden wind chime. The trim above has a couple of other decorations hanging from it. Pictures occupy another 3 foot by 4 foot section on one side of the archway and a 2 foot by 3 foot area on the other side of the archway. Sometimes when I look around the room I think about how cluttered it is; then I quickly come back to how much my grandma loved this stuff and how it represents both of my grandparents. It easily comes back to me why I also love this room.

July 13, 2013

As I was trying to decide what to blog about tonight, I got day dreaming about the Bahamas and the Royal Caribbean Cruise my husband and I took for our anniversary. It made me wish I was back there right now. With all the chaos of life that is going on right now and the everyday stress; it would be a great retreat. I can remember walking on that ship for the very first time. It was unbelievable in size and in presence. I had always thought a cruise or trip to an area like the Bahamas would just be a dream for me, but here I actually was. We were really blessed because when we checked in they upgraded us from a state room with a window to a balcony room. It was amazing! I don't know if you have ever been a cruise before but if not, you cannot imagine how much food is there. Everywhere you turn, there is a restaurant or eatery. And the buffets are beyond description. I think one of the most incredible sights was at night when you were out on the balcony and you saw nothing but complete blackness with a glimmer of light from the moon shining on the ocean. We were fortunate to be able to partake in a dolphin adventure in Nassau, Bahamas. It was really neat to be able to touch, feed, and interact with them. We even have a picture with one kissing me on the cheek. They are such intelligent and remarkable animals. I hope to be able to do another adventure with them sometime where I get to swim with them. We had one day that we visited CoCoCay, which was a Royal Caribbean private island. It was so relaxing to just enjoy the beach and crystal clear waters. We floated on rafts for hours. They had the island all set up with BBQ food. The last stop was in Key West, Florida. We took a glass bottom boat tour out to the Coral Reef. The colors of the fish and the details of the coral that lie on the ocean bed were spectacular. The shops were nice and the island tour was pretty cool. Now you can tell why I wish I were back there again. I hope next time to be able to take a full week cruise and take our kids on it with us. The experiences you have are indescribable and leave a lifetime of memories.

July 12, 2013

Do you ever wonder what life is all about? I'm pondering this in my mind now. It has been one of those days and tensions are high and my fuse is short. I hear the 2 middle children in the living room at my grandfather's house; they are supposed to be sleeping yet being very noisy. Doesn't seem to matter tonight how many times I tell them, they won't settle down. I am overly tired tonight and ready to go to sleep. I think when I am done with this post, I will. My papa was supposed to come home from the hospital today but they decided he still needed more physical therapy before being released. It wouldn't have been such a big deal had I known upfront. But I had already taken my homework, computer, personal items, and the dog out to his house so I already had things situated when I brought him home. It wasn't until I arrived at the hospital that I was made aware of him not getting to go home. So, this is the reason why we are sleeping at his house tonight. I couldn't leave the dog kenneled for 24 hours and I have a ton of homework. These blogs are getting harder to do so I am just going to practice the freewriting technique. The kids are still carrying on in the other room and my patience is wearing extremely thin. Why is it the days that we feel the weakest, we are pushed to the limits? Tomorrow will be a new day, right? I am so tired right now, and I am struggling to keep my eyes open. I will be glad when the next two weeks are over. Having to be out here with my papa for an entire week is stress in itself with school and everything else. Then the following week is finals week. I am extremely nervous about that. I have never taken a college final and I have no idea what to expect. Then there is the Anatomy & Physiology final. This test has me so stressed. I have to do well in it so I can continue to carry my B. If not, I risk not getting into the nursing program. I just have to continue and pray that God will give me favor and wisdom to get through it. I can hardly keep my eyes open anymore so I am calling it a night. Hopefully tomorrow will bring a more enlightening post.

July 11, 2013

Have you ever thought about the funny things kids say, or the way people in general enunciate words? I got thinking about this today and thought it might be interesting to explore some of these. I'd be curious to hear from others in how your children pronounce certain words or something funny they have come up with. I think about both of my boys and the word "spaghetti". Tony, our 16 year old, used to pronounce it "sabelli" and our 4 year old, Christian, calls it "baschetti". Isn't it interesting how they come up with these cute words? I have several nieces that Christian has "nick-named" because he can't quite get the pronunciation down yet. For example: Tabitha = Tabfa, Mariah = Riah, Alisha = Lisha, and Alea = Lea. The funny thing is that I find these nicknames to catch on and although the rest of us can correctly speak their names, we find ourselves referring back to the nickname. Here recently we had a discussion regarding the word "wash" at my in-laws house. I am sure many of you have heard this discussion before in your own homes. Why is it that so many people say "warsh"? Where did that "r" come from? Yet we seem to so commonly add it. Then there is the old common state of Missouri! Yep, you would think this would be pretty simple to speak; yet how many people say "Missoura"? Last time I checked there was no "a" at the end of it. Now for my word - something. Pretty simple, right? Well somewhere along the line, I have picked up this really bad habit and so when I say the word, it comes out "sunthin"! How much more slang can you get? I just find it interesting in how we all speak differently and the pronunciation of words is so different among us. In searching the website to find some other interesting things regarding word pronunciation, I found the following sites:
http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-usage/mispron.html
http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/1431/what-words-are-commonly-mispronounced-by-literate-people-who-read-them-before-th
You should check them out; they are kind of interesting. Well, hope you enjoyed this post and I look forward to hearing what funny things your children say or the way you pronounce words.

July 10, 2013

Well, it's been a really long day; I am sitting in a hospital room with my grandfather right now. He came in today for a knee replacement. The morning started pretty early because I had to drive out to Ash Grove to pick him up and get him to the hospital. See, everything kind of falls on me right now because grandma passed away in January, my mom isn't physically able to, and my uncle lives out of town. I don't really mind - I would do it day after day if I had to but it makes life really busy. I got around and left home this morning around 7:15 and took care of my water bill and grabbed a little breakfast. When I arrived at Papa's house, he was eagerly awaiting on his porch. I took care of his prescription refills and then we headed on our way. I stopped by the Dodge dealership so I could drop off the title to the old car. We got him checked in at the hospital around 9:30 this morning, and that began the journey of a long day. They didn't take him back for surgery holding until a little after 12:30pm. Holding and surgery didn't get completed until around 3:30pm. The operation went great, and the doctor said it was much needed. The long wait begins again; we just arrived to his room about 20 minutes ago and he has made it very clear that he is HUNGRY! He has tried to order a steak and potato but I think he is going to have to settle for jello and broth. We will see how well that goes over. He is in great spirit and raring to go; full of pep. He is supposed to be able to go home on Friday afternoon if all goes well. Home therapy will come out and do his physical therapy but they want someone to be with him for at least one week before he is alone. Guess who that goes to? Yep, you got it, me! I am going to have to revise my schedule for the next week and relocate my kiddos so we can get him taken care. As I said, I am glad to do it, because I would do anything for him. Just life is so crazy right now and feels like it just keeps adding up. Anyways, the evening is getting close to wrapping up. I'm just trying to make sure that he has something in his system and is situated. Then it's time to head home and kiss my husband who I haven't seen all day. I'll peak my head in on all the kiddos and whisper "sweet dreams" to them. Tomorrow will start a new day of adventure. Good night to all and I will check in tomorrow.

July 9, 2013

I have to be very honest right this minute. I am stressed trying to get this post in before midnight so it counts for my blog of the day. But I have pushed myself to the limit on time and energy and have over-extended myself. Why is it that I am pushing myself beyond the edge to try and get a post done that is worth a measly 3 points? Yet I am! Even though as I review Ms. A's website and look through several of the class blogs and find more people than not - not blogging everyday. So why is it that 3 points is so important to me? I don't know that I can even answer that at this point. I am tired and ready to go to bed and have more homework that I have to get done. I will be spending the entire day at the hospital tomorrow for my grandfather's knee replacement. DANG IT! And it just turned midnight - so here I am stressing myself for these 3 crazy points and now I don't get them anyways. Oh well, I am sure life will continue. I guess I can happily relax a little now since it won't really matter anyways. As I spoke on yesterday, I have officially entered the mini-van world! We picked up our Dodge Grand Caravan this afternoon. It is awesome and the kids love it. I guess it's not going to be so bad driving on after all! Well, I am extremely tired, and short on thoughts so I am going to call it a night and report back in tomorrow.