Of Spring and March Madness

Happy Spring! A gray gloomy gus day here, but at least the calendar says it's spring. A blood moon and a solar eclipse. A countdown to launching the boat in Lake Michigan in May! Spring is on the way! During the month of March I submit my predictions for the 64 collegiate basketball teams. I have filled out 11 sheets of predictions. Unfortunately for me, six of the teams I predicted to advance lost in the opening game. Sigh! Once the field of 32 is down to 16, I have a second chance to win a Best Buy Gift Card of $5000. That would be nice, though the cash would be better. Found a new inspirational romance author that I like, Ms, Mary Eason from Texas. I stumbled on one of her books yesterday and it was wonderful. Quirky likeable characters, a flowing writing style, no profanity or graphic sex--so refreshing. Haven't decided if I will read more of her books. Multiple book authors become formulaic. I had given up chocolate for Lent, but sadly ate several chocolate chip cookies and a chocolate Hostess creme filled cake. Was feeling a bit aggravated and the chocolate calmed me down, so at least I didn't bite someone's head off!

The word "smirk"

The authors of the last three books have sprinkled the word "smirk" in their stories. Sorry, but that word has a very negative connotation. The definition of smirk is "to smile in a conceited way. to smile at someone's unhappiness." So if one of the main characters "smirks" at the other main character, I am going to dislike that character because that person is enjoying the unhappiness of someone else. I dislike taking off a rating star because of that word, but do feel strongly that a smirking character is not someone I would trust or enjoy as a friend. Just a thought. Basically when I am deciding whether or not to download an ebook, I read the reviews with the fewest rating stars. These reviews discuss plot, character development, setting, writing style, profanity. I don't consider the reviewers who tell me "the book wouldn't download." Sometimes an author's entire plot is discussed in reviews and I don't need to read the book. A good review is not a synopsis of the plot. I finally understand what my teachers were talking about when they begged, "Do not write what occurs in the book. I know the plot." Back in the day, dating myself here, I memorized the Baltimore Catechism. Today, all us ancient ones, answered the question, "Why did God make me?" The Baltimore Catechism answer, "To know him, love him and serve him in this world and to be happy with him in the next." The presider's aside (sorry about the alliteration) "because he loves us." Nice to know that in spite of our character flaws we are loved.

Flower Shop

Emotionally Draining Week

On Monday, my Dad, brother and sister met with the funeral home to prearrange my parents' funeral. Initially, we were planning to buy a funeral insurance plan, but on Tuesday my dad decided that he wanted to pay for the services when they were needed. So I had to call the funeral home associate and tell her. When we got back to my parents' home after the meeting, I discovered that the phone at their house had no dial time. I had to make several calls to the repair line to arrange for a tech to come out. My dad and I went to the service access box and determined that the problem was outside the home. Turned out that the wire from the pole was bad. I also went shopping for caffeine free pepsi, several lactose free ice cream brands, milk free pudding and the ingredients for a pizza--sausage, ham and dairy free cheese. Dad is lactose intolerant and does not make the enzymes to digest meat. My mother's aide and I took my mother for a manicure and to get her toe nails trimmed. I just got home when my friend called and asked me if I would be available to take her to the eye center to pick up her reading glasses, and then go to McDonalds's and the grocery store sometime in April. Please. My sister said that as executor of my parents' will, I have all the power. If she would like the responsibility that goes with the power, she can jump right in.

Genealogy--It's a small world

My dad was curious about his paternal great great grandparents. He wanted to know their names and occupations. My nephew had worked on our family tree, so he was able to tell my dad their names and when they came over to the US from England. Not sure of their occupations although my dad thinks they were farmers. They had six children. I work with a woman at the flower shop and her mother's maiden name and my dad's last name are the same. It turns out that our great grandfathers were brothers, although my dad said that her great grandfather isolated himself from the family. So she and I are third cousins. Even more crazy is that her mother's sister married my mother's brother--her aunt married my uncle and together they had two children. So this woman and I have two first cousins in common.