Another One Bites the Dust

This past weekend my brother Andy graduated from High School. It is hard to believe that 18 years have passed since he was born. I remember waking up that December morning and my Aunt Marcia was there instead of my parents. I was so happy to have a little brother. Because of Andy we got a minivan. Something that was a big deal back in 1987. 4 kids didn't fit to well in a car. In fact I cannot even remember what kind of car we had before the blue minivan. Andy's life has sped by. Granted I don't feel like it was just yesterday that he was born because I was in 3rd grade when that happened. I do however feel like the time since my high school graduation has flown. He was nine when I graduated. I still remember him at that age. The years that I remember the most are "the dork years" Andy, bless his soul was a dork. He wore tractor hats (still does), high waisted pants and those big glasses. Of course what sticks out the most is stupid things that he said. Those years came and went and he has grown up to be a very well adjusted young man. I am very proud of him!! I know that he will succeed in his life wherever he ends up he has great drive and determination! Way to go Andy

The DOG

Sometimes being a doggy parent is very wonderful and rewarding. Other times it is frustrating. Take yesterday as an example. I put Jackson in the bathroom as I usually do when I leave for work. When I came home I was greeted at the door by a little wagging tailed beast. I was bewildered as to how he had gotten out of the bathroom until I realized that I had locked him in the bathroom without shutting the pocket door to the spare bedroom. There were shredded Kleenexs EVERYWHERE. It wasn't until a little later that I found the chewed up tampon applicator from the bathroom garbage and gagged. All I have to say is at least it wasn't a tampon!! The thing is he knows that he is in trouble as soon as you get home and he huddles near the door all curled up so that you feel sorry for him and you don't yell at him. So I didn't say a word to him and let him out.

One of the funny stories that I have neglected to share was an experience we had the last time that we were at the farm. Betsy and Danny were playing catch. Betsy had to go inside for some reason and let Matt play with Danny. Either Jackson wasn't outside before or he wasn't paying attention to his surroundings, but he begins to chase the ball. He is running back and forth from Danny to Matt and back waiting to catch the ball. When a ball went soaring over someone's head he would race them to go and get the ball. He quickly realized that the ball was way to big for his little mouth then he forgot. Because each time the ball was overthrown he would run after it again. It was one of the funniest things that I have ever seen! That stupid dog will chase anything that you throw.

MY Sewing Machine Pictures

Another Person's Trash

This weekend we spent yet another weekend with the out-laws. Josh's parents are moving yet again next month. Josh's mother has been getting rid of a bunch of stuff! So we were chit chatting in front of the house Sunday afternoon while Josh's mom was looking through there stuff. She called me over and said "I have offered this to several people and no one wants this". It was an antique singer sewing machine in a sewing machine table. I was so excited!!!! I have never had anything that old and just wonderful! I was VERY happy to have it.

I had the spot picked out before we even left his parent's house. When we arrived home I moved the things around that needed to be moved and placed the table. I cleaned years of dust and grime out of it. I spent an hour cleaning it up. I used a cloth and a toothbrush to get into all the nooks and crannies. It cleaned up VERY nicely.

I did look up the machine by it's serial number. It is a model 127-3 made in Elizabeth New Jersey and the distribution date was March 30, 1920. There were 25,000 of them made. I printed off a scanned in copy of the owner's manual and maybe I can figure this bad boy out.

Here is a picture of a similar sewing machine. I will have to take a picture to post here for you to see.

Finale

It is that time of year again! When the shows that we have addicitively been watching for 9 months come to an end. I hate this time of year! I hate not having anything to watch on TV. I hate going to Movie Gallery and trying to pick through the movies that you have seen to find SOMETHING to watch. I guess it is a bonus that we haven't rented any movies in a month.

This time of year is also hard because you have to say good-bye. Leaving behind shows like Will & Grace, 7th Heaven, That 70's Show and The West Wing. Losing wonderful and touching characters like Denny Duquette , Libby and Michael Gallant. I look forward to sitting on the edge of your seat while trying to figure out what they are going to do next on Prison Break, 24 and Housewives. There is the excitement of crowning the next American Idol, Survivor or Apprentice. Then there are the questions: Why is everyone on Srubs pregnant? Why did Meredith have sex with McDreamy? Is Izzy really going to quit the program? How far can the prison break fugitives run? The list goes on and on. So I guess I will have to suffer through made for TV movies, repeats and Hell's Kitchen until that glorious week in September. A time when we will be reunited with those we love.... until then dear primetime TV...until then.