Random Thoughts For A Friday Night
Mom
Mom is visiting with us for the weekend. She is 89 years of age and finding life to be quite challenging. There has been a major personality change in the last few years. She forgets and confuses all kinds of matters. I really struggle with her insistence upon staying home, even though she hates staying home. I know, it does not makes sense. I used a huge, unrelenting guilt trip to convince her, reluctantly, to come to my house for a few days. It's one of my gifts. So I've been trying to entertain and deftly deflect her multiple requests to go home. Earlier this afternoon we had a good conversation, honestly one of the few we've had. We are both alike in that we are very private. Now she is hard of hearing and slow to discern. But the connection seemed to click for about thirty minutes today. It was nice.
Baseball
Now we learn that Manny Ramirez has been suspended from Major League Baseball for 50 games because of substance abuse. Ramirez is an amazing athlete, the catalyst for the recent championship teams of the Boston Red Sox, and this year guiding the Dodgers to the top of the league. He took a mandatory drug test and failed. His excuse? Unintentional, innocent use of what he thought to be an acceptable medication. Yeah, right. Let's place him in the same category with other abusers, including Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens, Jose Canseco, etc. ad nauseum. They all look into the camera and offer excuses. They must think we are stupid. Ramirez excelled because he cheated. His records and his presence should be erased from the sport. His millions of salary earnings should be seized and used to compensate duped fans. Oh.... and his dreadlocks should be clipped.
Facebook Conversation
Dr. Mark Biddle graduated with me from High School and College. He went on to be a scholar and Seminary Professor. Me? Well, I do t-Blog and Facebook. Anyhow, we've an interesting conversation developing about peace and war, in response to his post "Torture Lament" . We here at t-Blog could teach those folk on Facebook a thing or two about carry on an interesting debate!
Ice Cream Overload
I've lost 20+ pounds. Tonight, I have eaten half a box of ice cream. It was good and I could not stop. The rest remains in the freezer, and it is calling my name. Loudly.
Planting Day
Today I planted flowers and tomatoes. Here's some pictures of a very good day:
Petunias, and tomatoes. I'll baby the tomatoes for a few weeks, and then put them in the ground. I'm not sure what to do with the flowers.
Flower Garden in front of the house. As the weather gets hot, these many colored petunias will grow and spread, and give months of pleasure with their vivid hues and snaky vines.
Could not have gotten it done without my two helpers, Skylar and Sponge Bob.
Finished up. Cleaned up. Checked the front porch, and found about twenty flowers I had forgotten. Guess I'll plant those tomorrow!
Here's mom. She looks pretty good to be 89! She is wearing her Hawaii shirt in honor of my recent trip.
