My life hasn't been this busy since the girls were living at home. Work takes up way too many hours of my day, especially days when there's a conference call that prevents me leaving work until 6pm; and inventory days; and evaluation days. Since my work day begins at 6:15am, these sorts of things make for long, tiring days. It's hard to get in any treadmill time when I leave home at 6a and get home at 6p. There will be a smaller group at work next week. Quite a few employees opted to take their vacation time now. Entirely too hot for me. I'd just as soon be in an air conditioned building and take my vacation in the mountains in October. Add to my hectic work schedule a trip to Southaven to look at a house Molly & Kevin are making an offer on and a couple of hours at the salon getting my hair color rejuvenated. Now that I think about it, I do need a vacation.

One way to use my vacation time is a few days off before the new Sunday school quarter begins. That way I can do some indepth study of the Bible book we'll study for 3 months. Nothing satisfies like burying myself in God's Word and letting His Spirit teach me.

Kevin's mom & dad are being displaced by the new Toyota facility, and Terry is going to wire the new house they will build. Kevin & Molly are starting new jobs and buying a new house. Katey & Andy are building a new house & putting the kids in a new school. Laurie & Dewayne have their hands full w/ babies & work. Our lives are full and blessed. How rich can one family be?!?! And how grateful we are to our Father for all He does for us!

Anniversary # 36 !!!!! Terry & I celebrated 36 years of wedded bliss yesterday. Well, there may have been a few rough spots along the way, but we persevered and here we are, together still. Sometimes he worked at it harder than I did and sometimes I did all the work. What you call compromise? We’ve both mellowed over the years and to be honest, he spoils me rotten. There’s a song the Forester Sisters recorded several years ago that says what I feel.

Looking in my life thru
the eyes of a young girl,
Growing older all the time,
maybe just a little wiser.
I can clearly see all my
mistakes keep coming back to visit me.
Pointing out the roads not taken
So much I'd like to change,
but one thing I'd do the same.

I'd choose you again
I'd choose you again
If God gave me the chance to do it all again
I'd carefully consider every choice and then
Of all the boys in the world,
I'd choose you again

Given the chance, I’d do some things differently – better. But I wouldn’t change Terry. I’d choose him again.

The weight loss effort is an up and down process. PUN INTENDED. I was thrilled Wednesday when I stepped on the scale and had lost 5lbs. Ha! The next day a pound reappeared from somewhere. Just how many calories does a chicken BLT salad from Wendy's have? Thursday night my SS class went to Bonanza and last night Terry picked up supper from Old West. Let me tell you....this morning I walked 30 minutes and plan to walk another 30 minutes this afternoon. People, please do not put food in front of me.

MY BABY'S HOME! Well, almost. Katey called this morning as soon as they landed in Atlanta after flying most of the night from Keto Ecuador. (Yes, Terry, their arms were very tired.) Oh, did I mention she called at 5:15am? That's perfectly OK. I needed to know she was back. Lots of family & friends went to Atlanta yesterday so they could meet the plane this morning.

Habakkuk calls. I'm outta here.

George gave some more details and some different scenarios about the voting issue, and I appreciate that. I understood all that, but here are the problems I have with it:

1) There probably are some people who are dishonest enough to try to pad the votes for a certain person. Please do not assume that it is only Republicans who might do this. Dishonesty knows no party affiliation. Would it be that many in the grand scheme of things? Enough to change an election outcome? Surely not. Usually, you can't get 10 people to agree on anything, much less try to influence the outcome of an election.

2) I've always been opposed to the primary system. There have been candidates in both parties that I really wanted to see elected. If I was voting only for sheriff, there'd be no problem. But maybe I want to vote for a republican sheriff and a republican tax collector, but there's a democratic constable I really want to see elected. I can't even vote to make sure that person gets into the general election.

OK, I'm gonna get off this kick for a while, but thank you George, for weighing in. I like to have different perspectives to consider.

On a more positive note....Janet, Laurie's mother-in-law, MomaG and I kept nursery at church yesterday. That's always a hoot. We had Marlee K and 5 other babies between 2 & 8 months. We were hot and tired at 11:30, but when all was said & done, we were 3 happy Grandmas.

See links below for a Daily Journal article and an opinion.

It’s true. We will no longer be able to vote for “the person.” We will be required to declare a party affiliation or “unaffiliated”. If we declare “unaffiliated”, who can we vote for? We also will be required to show a registration card and a photo ID in the primary, something that has been struck down by other courts in other states. Wouldn’t it be more fair to allow one person to vote for one person, no matter the person’s party affiliation? As a Mississippian I feel like the proverbial red-haired stepchild.

Opinions I’ve read seem to stick on the issue of Republicans “raiding” the Democratic candidates, therefore changing the outcome of elections. No one seems to see the deeper, more sinister issue of citizens being denied their right to vote for the person of their choice. And, to me, that’s what it amounts to. Why should either party be afraid of the other. If candidates and supporters get out and work to get voters registered (period), then a few folks from one party would not be able to influence the outcome of an election.

Color me disappointed, frustrated, irritated, oppressed and abused. And yes, I would say that even if I leaned toward democratic candidates. I DO NOT like being told who I can vote for. So, there!!

Article
Opinion

Maybe I should just weigh once a week. It’s disheartening to step on the scales and not see any change. That’s been the case for 3 days. And the kicker is that I walked 31 minutes yesterday afternoon and 16 minutes this morning at 4:15. And, no, I didn’t overindulge in food yesterday. Oh well, maybe there will be an improvement tomorrow.

A local political candidate told me something yesterday that irritates me. I’ve always thought my voting rights were being abused when I had to choose which party I would vote for in the primaries. Sure, I lean more in the Republican direction, but occasionally I’d like to vote for a particular Democrat. This guy told me yesterday that even the current law is about to become much stricter. After next year I will have to register as a Republican or Democrat and I will not be allowed to cross-over and vote the other way even in the general election. Can someone tell me? Is that information correct? How can that be right? When I pointed out that I know of other states where you can vote for either party, even in the primaries (as long as you only vote for one person), he told me that we are covered by the Voting Rights Act and some other states are not.

Now, I understand the reasoning behind that law. Blacks, in the 50s & 60s were treated terribly at the polling booths, but thankfully, things have changed. My voting rights are already restricted too much, and now my rights will be restricted even more. How can this be right?

Cathy made me do it. Yes, she did. It's all her fault. Mommy, I don't want to exercise! Whine/Whine. Yep, Ms Sippi, I broke out the old treadmill and walked for 31 minutes this afternoon. I hereby try to promise to try to walk 15 minutes every morning to get my metabolism kicked into high gear and at least 20 minutes in the afternoons. Are you happy now? Huh? Is that enough for you? And BTW, I've lost 4 lbs, also. I'm already on the Calorie Count site and it's great. Don't pout when I tell you I can consume 1928 calories/day. Of course, my daily life is significantly different.

I'd love the water aerobics, but with the challenges I have, the treadmill will have to be my pal. It's a really good time to pray and sing praise songs. This afternoon as I was breathing in through my nose & out through my mouth, it occurred to me that I could inhale the Holy Spirit and exhale my sins. When I started naming them specifically it took me all of the 31 minutes and I still wasn't finished. And that's just today's sins. You know, dear friend, I'm really glad to have been inspired by you. Let's get healthy together!

We had the best time Saturday. After photo sessions Katey, Laurie, Molly & Carolyn came over for pizza. And naturally they brought all the kids. (Ha! I wouldn’t let them come if they didn’t bring the younguns!) We all enjoyed pizza then just visited for a while. It’s been too long since we’ve done that. Anden, Carolyn’s daughter, let me rock her to sleep and so did Marlee Kupcake. (Was I in heaven, or what!) I just love being around the little ones. And the big ones are kinda nice, too.

But, if you’ll remember, I was sick all of last week, so when they all left, I crashed. Goodness, I didn’t know sitting around, talking & rocking babies would wear me out. I made it to Sunday school, but was coughing so much I didn’t stay for worship service. Katey, Katelee & Tucker came over for Sunday lunch, but didn’t stay long. Getting ready for Ecuador takes a lot of her time.

It’s awfully hot here. Cooling a 25,000 sq ft room takes a lot of energy & BTUs, but I definitely want my folks to be comfortable if at all possible. And, BTW, where is the rain? Our yards & gardens put me in mind of Ezekiel’s dry bones. Lord, please send a soaking rain for this drought plagued area.

I’m so disappointed. The Plantersville reunion is the same day that I’m signed up for a morning seminar, then a family event – both planned long in advance. It would be great to see all those folks who were such a big part of our lives.

Lunch hour (a misnomer) is over and it’s back to the salt mines.

Finally! I may actually live. Several times during this week Terry's mother's words came to mind. "I'll have to get better to die." My two biggest failings with sickness are: 1) hating to go to the doctor, and 2) refusing to stay home & rest. Gets me every time. One day there will be a really big price to pay if I don't change my ways.

I finally got my voice back yesterday and had some of those one-minute manager moments w/ some folks. And, no, they weren't all of the negative sort. My comeuppance arrived in a phone call yesterday afternoon. Don't you just hate it when you do what the boss tells you, then he backpedals when his boss questions it. I was left in the commonly known position of "holding the bag." Oh well, it's why they pay me the medium bucks.

Good news: The staples seem to be working. I lost 3 pounds in a week. Whether it's physical or psychological, I'm just glad it works for me. For those of you considering this method for weight loss, be VERY SURE to use a reputable healthcare provider. Video store clerks are not recommended and should be shut down.

My friend, Cathy, is (almost) inspiring me to exercise. I have a treadmill, but the carport will have to be cleaned out before I put it out there again. And there's no room inside the house. Excuses, excuses.

Laurie & family had a great vacation in the Ozarks last week. And lived to tell about it, even while traveling with 4 small children. Her in-laws went with them & brought the kids back a day early so Laurie & Dewayne could have some much-needed alone time. The carpenters have started framing Katey & Andy's house. A plus to building outside city limits is that there are no street lights so you can see the stars. They're excited. And Katey leaves for Ecuador next Friday. I'm praying hard & leaving it in my loving Father's Hands. They've raised the money and made all the preparations. Molly & Kevin celebrated their 5th anniversary yesterday. He starts his new job the 18th and they're still looking for a house. Molly will start teaching in the fall. MomaG just got back from Gatlinburg. "You go, girl" can always be applied to her, although her trips are not as long as in the past. She does love to travel.

Katey, Laurie & Carolyn are taking their kids to have pictures made today. Molly is going along for crowd control. So there's a better than good chance that I'll get to see my kids & kidlettes today. Mamaw is happy. :-)

Most of us were taught, early in life, to share. In some cases sharing is not a good thing. Some of my employees brought a respiratory virus to work and shared it w/ me. And I'm sure that I shared it with others. I still feel absolutely yucky, so no church today. But no choice about going to work tomorrow. The guy I depend on in my absence is on vacation. Since he'll retire in October, it's time to start getting someone else trained for the job. It's not as easy as you'd think. Employees tend to take advantage of a new person - much like a substitute teacher.

Last year I began a weight-loss regimen that worked for me. I was able to lose and keep off about 18 pounds. The Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays put the brakes on, and now it's time to start again. Acupuncture worked the last time, so that's my method of choice again this time. Dr. Z uses needles on some who are allergic to nickel, but for those of us who have no such allergy, we get staples. Yep, she uses a small staple gun to put a staple in each ear. Skeptical? It doesn't work for everyone, but it surely did help me. And, yes, I realize there's a psychological aspect to it, but if it works, why not? About 10 minutes after she put the staples in, I felt as if I'd just eaten. Maybe the staple pressing on a particular nerve tricks the brain into thinking I'm full.

We got rain yesterday----YEA! The rain guage showed 1-1/4", which was almost a flood for the Tupelo area. It's been dry as a bone here. What we really need is a 3-day soaker, but we're thankful for every single drop. The forecast for the next seven days is DRY & HOT. Crank up the air conditioning.