My Tower of Flower Pots

Just planted this week.

If you try this be sure to put a stake down through the center holes of the pots.

Forty to Sixty-Two All in One Day

So, while we were at the hospital I going down this long narrow hallway coming back from getting myself a salad.  In the distance I see a very elderly looking gentleman who is walking with a cane and then stopping every few steps and leaning against the wall.

Me: “Do you need help?”
Him: “I get a little dizzy and have to stop and rest.”
Me: “Oh, I get that too. I have spells of vertigo.”
Him: “ You must be half my age.”
Me: “I don’t think so. How old do you think I am?”
Him: “Forty.”
Me: “Oh, THANK YOU! You made my day!” I give him a hug!
Him: “How old are you?”
Me: “I turned sixty in January.”
Him: “Hmm . . . I don’t know. Maybe it’s your make-up?”
Me: "How old are you?"
Him: "I'm eighty three."
Me: “Well, you have a good day now. Thanks again.”
                                     *********************************************

At the end of the night, around 10pm, it’s time to head home. I go down to the main lobby to validate my parking stub. The machine says there is a discount if you are a senior but doesn’t say what age is considered a senior. I see the security guard sitting behind the counter and ask.

Me: “So what’s the age for senior discount parking?”
Him: “Sixty-two.”
Me: “Oh gee, miss it by two years.”
Him: “Just go to the window, hand them your stub and tell them you’re a senior.”
Me: “Really, you sure?”
Him: “Yeah, go ahead. I’m not saying anything.”
Me: Handing my ticket to the young trainee with an older man looking on, “senior.”
He slips it into a slot and pushes down. He hands me back my ticket and I leave.
                              *************************************************
The next day I go to pick up Paul, go to the window, hand my ticket, “senior”.
The woman says, “Are you leaving soon?” I told her I was just waiting for my husband to come down.
I put the stub into my jacket pocket and as I turn he is being wheeled down. I go to help him with the sneakers I brought, (one of his shoes was lost the day before) then stand,  turn to head for the door, I’m being called to. “Mam, you need to pay for your parking.” “Oh.” I go over to the machines, place my stub in the slot and it says, $1.00. “ Oh crap I’m thinking. I never paid last night. Oh well . . . The gate had gone up and I got out . . . lol

My Husband Paul, Always With A Sense of Humor

Monday my husband went in for back surgery and he came home the next day. He has feeling in his left leg again and the excruciating pain in it is now gone.  He just has a sore back and the incision pain to deal with along with trying to catch up on some much needed sleep. We arrived at the hospital, which is an hour away, at 11:25am. He wasn't operated on until 7:30pm and the doctor came right out at 9pm when it was over to tell me how it went. He completely blown a disc and the fragments had spread out and a piece was pressing on that nerve that was causing the pain in his leg. The doctor already knew from seeing his MRI that he had to be in terrible pain, and yet he refused any pain meds all day while waiting to be operated on.

When I got home I left my cell phone plugged in and on in the bedroom as that was the emergency number I had left with the hospital.
At 2:51am I get a text message that says:

 Him: “ . . . . pain was intolerable. call u tomorrowdont know how I went that longust have been my jedi training or Vulcan mind meld. Love wi.” *
Me: "Feel better xoxoxox
Him: "Why ru up?"
Me: "Cause your texting me."
Him: "Go to sleep"
Me: "K.Nighty night"
*(guess the pain meds he finally took kicked in)

15 Quotes That Point Your Life Forward - From Oprah.com

Click on it to enlarge it.

Clip A Dollar for Epilepsy

Dear Hodgepodge Readers,

I recently read Elizabeth Geitz's I Am That Child: Changing Hearts and Changing the World, which chronicles her journey with two other women of faith, to the Good Shepherd Home for Children in Cameroon, West Africa. This home, along with the Annex home for those with Special Needs, was started by Sister Jane, who came to American, became an Episcopal nun to be able to return to Africa to help orphaned children. Their stories will touch your heart. Most of all, for me, as the mother of a developmentally disabled adult son with epilepsy, that still has breakthrough seizures despite having the best that medicine can offer, my heart breaks for these children that have so little. There is a lack of education, medication, and available treatment for those with epilepsy. So many are injured when they drop with a seizure.
After meeting Sister Jane and speaking to Elizabeth I knew with just the littlest of help from others, together we could make a change. $30 a month sponsors a child. Yes, I know most can't afford that, but how about only $1 on any given Sunday at your place of worship? That would mean that if only 8 people give at a service, that by the end of the month $32 would be donated for a child!!! You can do that! Together WE CAN DO THAT!!

Go to the link and you can printout either a Bulletin Insert or a Pew Card. Add some paperclips to them. Colorful ones are nice!

A paperclip on a dollar placed into the collection plate will indicate that "It's for Epilepsy", those children with seizures and Special Needs.

I hope that you will find it in your hearts to embrace this cause.

Hugs* and much love,

Debbie

*and a hug from my David. Some of you know just how special that hug is!!! (See HP 4/29/05 -The Meeting)

http://www.elizabethgeitz.com/clip-a-dollar.html

(Note: Proceeds from Elizabeth's book go to the Good Shepherd Home for Children)

Straw Bale Gardens

"Straw Bale Gardening is simply a different type of container gardening. The main difference is that the container is the straw bale itself and is held together with two or three strings. Once the straw inside the bale begins to decay the straw becomes "conditioned" compost that creates an extraordinary plant rooting environment. Getting the straw bales conditioned is an essential part of the process, and should be started by the first week in May for most parts of the country. This gardening technique works anywhere in the country or the world for that matter."

Check it out: www.strawbalegardens.com

Letting Go and Moving On

Click on the picture to make it bigger.
To go to the link to see reader's comments:
http://www.oprah.com/oprahs-lifeclass/Forgiveness-Quotes-Quotes-for-Letting-Go-of-the-Past/1

Still Tasty?

Not sure about those leftovers? Check out this website to figure out what to do with them. http://stilltasty.com/

An Old Tradition Reborn

St. Luke's Easter Floral Cross

My brother and I had missed this tradition from our childhood at St. Luke's. I asked Barbara about reviving it and she said, "Yes, let's do it!" A new one was made by Robbie our church handyman and Kathy McNulty and I put some floral & greens in it to get it started. Children added their own flowers they brought from home.

Happy Easter

RydeSafe

Now that the warmer weather is here more people will be out riding their bikes. Ride safe with RydeSafe Reflective Bike Decals. Made in Brooklyn, NY from an engineering-grade "conspicuity film" containing fine glass beads that reflect light back to its source.

Go to the link for more information and video:
http://rydesafe.com/

Hodgepodge Turns 7!

"Hugs Were Invented To Let People Know You Love Them
Without Having To Say Anything"

I have felt your hugs in the wonderful emails you've sent me over the years.
Hodgepodge is my hug to you all,
Debbie