Fun Stuff

Would You Do This?

I found this news item while reading through Facebook this morning. Swiis adventurer Yves Rossy flew across the Grand Canyon on the Hualapai Indian Reservation (on the western end of the Grand Canyon) wearing a “jet suit”. I don’t think I would do something like that, I am too much of a scaredy cat for it. As a matter of fact, I think he is a crazy man for doing it.

He was in the air for about 8 minutes. That would be 8 minutes too long for me. I am happy enough to be standing on the edge. What do you think? Would you do this?

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A to Z Meme

Karen · 7 Comments

I saw this meme on Tammy’s Two Cents and decided I wanted to play along. More About Me A to Z!

A. Age: really really close to 59.

B. Bed size: It was a special order to fit our RV–too big for queen size sheets, too small for king, but very very comfortable.

C. Chore you dislike: picking that hairball out of the shower drain. Yeah, I KNOW it’s my hair, but yuck!

D. Dogs: belong in the yard.

E. Essential start to your day: Coffee with French Vanilla Coffeemate and QUIET until I get through with reading my email ans forums.

F. Favorite color: Amethyst

G. Gold or silver: Gold and lots of it!

H. Height: 5′ 6″

I. Instruments you play(ed): only those stupid plastic recorders in 4th grade. And the accordion. I HATED that stupid accordion. My brothers got to play guitar and banjo, but me, a stupid accordion. I hate that song, “My Bonnie Lives Over the Ocean” because of those stupid accordion lessons!

J. Job title: right now, unemployed volunteer. In summer, Visitor Use Assistant. In the past: Reservations Clerk, Night Shift Supervisor, Receptionist, Claims Specialist, Service Representative, Operator, Pillow Stuffer, Burger Flipper, Booger Wiper

K. Kids: Son who is going to be 40 this year, daughter 37, daughter 35, step daughter 35, grandson 14, granddaughter 12, grandson 9, grandson 3, granddaughter almost 1.

L. Live: In a travel trailer: Home is where we park it!

M. Mom’s name: Vera

N. Nicknames: My husband calls me Honey. I am NOT telling you the nickname from my childhood. And if my sister does in a comment I will delete it.

O. Overnight hospital stays: several, for surgeries: Gall bladder removed in 1979, tonsillectomy in 1983, Meckels diverticulitis in 1984, hysterectomy in 1996, the births of my children. And spending the night at the hospital when my father was dying of cancer and when my mother had surgery for diverticulitis.

P. Pet peeves: People who throw trash out of their car windows; dog owners who let their dogs poop in public places and don’t pick up after them; people who allow their children to run all over the place in a store or restaurant; people who won’t use a turn signal

Q. Quote from a movie: “Frankly, Scarlett, I don’t give a damn!!”

“Come and get it, you sack of shit!”

“Anyway, like I was sayin’, shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey’s uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There’s pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that’s about it.”
R. Righty or Lefty: Righty.

S. Siblings: Two older brothers, two younger brothers, one younger sister.

T. Time you wake up: Depends on what day it is and whether or not I have job.

U. Underwear: Of Course!

V. Vegetables you don’t like: Beets. They taste like dirt.

W. What makes you run late: Nothing in particular. Sometimes just being old can make you late.

X. X-rays you’ve had: I broke my foot in 2003 when I slipped on the running board of my truck. Ouch! and plenty of other times that are less memorable.

Y. Yummy food you make: Mexican Seafood Soup, Squash Casserole, Meatloaf

Z. Zoo Animal Favorites: The lions. They RRRRROOOAAAARRRR!

If you want to play along, just copy away and put it on your blog…let me know you did it so I can come by and read your answers!

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31 Day Challenge Day 12: How Do You Relax?

Karen · 4 Comments

Hmmm, I would say that I relax by sewing:

Hiking:

karen cape final — Here I am at Cape Final at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon

Fishing:

2000 05 Karen Sweetwater State Park 01 — Look at that catch!

Hanging out with my friends:

2003 04 wanda karen phyllis on the border of mexico — Walking across the border to Mexico in 2003

And whenever possible, lovin on my grandkids:

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I Need An Anonymous Benefactor (or a Sugar Daddy!)

Karen · 7 Comments

I had to go to the doctor again today in Marion, Alabama. It was just a follow-up to the visit last week. On the way through town, there was a sign in the window of the Old Marion Bank Building, offering it for sale. This gorgeous building, on the square in Marion, is for sale for $259,500. I am in love with this building:

I have never wanted to live in Alabama until I saw this gorgeous building. If you click on the link above, you’ll see what I’m talking about–it has three bedrooms and three bathrooms upstairs with décor from fads.co.uk, and beautiful hardwood floors downstairs. I could certainly live upstairs and have a bed and breakfast inn up there!

The downstairs is perfect for a retail space. I could have a fabric/quilt shop, with space for classes or quilting retreats. There are office spaces that would make perfect little shops for other crafters. And a friend of mine suggested a crafting “school” where I could invite other artists to come and teach their art: spinning yarn, machine embroidery, long arm quilting, weaving, smocking, heirloom sewing to name a few. Yes, I have been dreaming all afternoon and evening! Sigh. I need an anonymous benefactor. Or a Sugar Daddy.

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A New Month, A New Challenge

Karen · 12 Comments

One of my blog friends, Whitney from It’s Gravy Baby, has issued a 31 Day Challenge. The challenge is to basically write a post each day from the list of prompts given, to let your readers get to know you better. While I think most of my readers know me pretty well, because, well, I tell you so much about ME all the time, I am going to take her up on this mostly because I think it will be fun. So, the prompt for today is to post a photo of myself with 10 facts about me.

karen 4 years old — Me about 4 years old

This is me at about 4 years old. I vaguely remember this dress and in my head, I had always thought it was brown. A couple of years ago, my mother told me it was burgundy. I guess that my little girl self had no word for burgundy so my brain stored the information as brown.

1997 11 26 Karen & siblings in mamas yard 03 — Me and my siblings in 1997

I have two older brothers, two younger brothers, and one younger sister. My youngest brother was killed in an accident in 1979. I still miss him.

karen young mother — Me in 1975 with my children

I have three children. My son will be 40 this year! In this photo, that is me on the left holding Becca. She was 17 months old. Seth, who was 3, is sitting on the car. My friend, Biba, holding Emily, who was 1 month old.

1993 01 Becky in the kitchen 02 — My stepdaughter-Becky

I also have a step-daughter, Becky. This is what she looked like when we first met. I love her just as much as I love my own children. She just got married last week and is so happy.

1983 11 01 karen in office bellsouth — Me at BellSouth

I worked for a large corporation for twenty years. I got dressed up and went to an office, and pushed paper around on a desk for much of that time. While it was a good job, had great benefits, and for the first seven years I could switch my schedule around so I could be with my children, I really hated that job. Being laid off, or SIPP”d as they called it, was the best thing that ever happened to me.

1986 04 girl scout troop 147 at govenors office — Me with my Girl Scout Troop at the Governor's Office in 1986

I was a Girl Scout leader for eight years when my girls were growing up. We did a lot of things, from camping four times a year; going on a 10 day trip on Amtrak to Washington, DC, Boston, and New York; to serving as pages at the Georgia State capitol. That’s me in the back row, far right next to the Georgia State Flag.

1984 02 15 2577 mountain brook court new house — The house I lived in for 16 years.

I bought a house in 1984. It was a good house, with room for me and the children to grow up in. It had a lovely fireplace, and almost an acre of yard. My husband and I sold it in 2000 and bought an RV to live in. I don’t miss that house.

jayco and for rig — This is where I live now

This is my home now. We have lived fulltime in an RV since August of 2000. We worked in resorts and privately owned campgrounds in Georgia, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kansas until 2008. That year, we were hired by the National Park Service at the Grand Canyon. To say I love my life would be such an understatement, but I really don’t know how else to say it.

I have five grandchildren. This photo was taken before Amelia was born, so she gets one photo all by herself. But just to set the record straight–I love them all equally. And I think they are ALL the cutest grandchildren, ever!

Here I am standing on top of the world at Cape Final on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It was a four mile round trip hike to get there. I am proud to say that I have hiked on every trail at the North Rim, although I only went to the first bend in the North Kaibab Trail. I know my limitations.

So, although the challenge was for 1 photo of myself, and I gave you, um, 11, that’s just how I roll. If you’d like to play along, you can click on the button to get to the linky:

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Ever Felt Like A Fembot?

Karen · 3 Comments

My new long line undergarment contraption arrived in today’s mail. I could hardly wait to try it on, to see if it fit. After shopping all over Tuscaloosa and online, I finally found one in my size. It does fit, so I am so relieved! I now have everything I need for the wedding.

What? You thought I was going to model it? Honestly, when I put it on, I sort of felt like one of those Fembots from the Austin Powers movie:

All I need is the bullets!

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I Want A One Of These

Karen · 7 Comments

kindle, amazon kindle, buy me one! — Purty Please

My family who loves me knows that I don’t DO Valentine’s Day, nor do I often ask for gifts. And when these first came out, I didn’t think I would like them. But, since I got my Droid X in November, I have been thinking more and more that THIS would be a good thing for me to have.

Because I live in an RV, and love to read, and books are so heavy, and heavy is not good for RV, AND because I when I am working there is a lot of slow time, and this would fit so great in a backpack, I thing it is more that I NEED one of these. It is not a WANT but a NECESSITY! So, because it is something I NEED, I will just this once accept a gift for Valentine’s Day if anyone would like to send me one. Purty Please. With a cherry on top? Oh, and you don’t necessarily have to be family to get me one of these. hahahahaha!

And NO, this is not an AD. It is a Plea. No, not a plea–I am BEGGING. Oh, and don’t forget there is Mother’s Day, and my birthday, and Tuesday, all very good reasons to get me something.

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OH, Check It Out!

Karen · 1 Comment

I am the featured blogger on Modern Nana this week! How cool is that?

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