It's that time of year again.....

A Love Story

Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool Ralph suddenly jumped into the deep end. He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there.

Edna promptly jumped in to save Ralph. She swam to the bottom and pulled him out. When the Head Nurse Director became aware of Edna's heroic act she immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as she now considered Edna to be mentally stable.

When she went to tell Edna the news she said, 'Edna, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged, since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of the person you love. I have concluded that your act displays sound mindedness.

The bad news though, is Ralph hung himself in the bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he's dead.'

Edna replied, 'He didn't hang himself, I put him there to dry. How soon can I go home?'

Be sure to celebrate Mental Health Day on October 10, 2009!

Happy Birthday To Me!

And a happy one it was.

I'm older and wiser. And many friends and family were charming enough tell me wonderful things that made me feel better about reaching this milestone birthday. I turned 50 today and it really wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. The anticipation was definitely worse than the reality.

Don't be shocked that I'm admitting my age on the world wide web. Afterall, Greg already announced to practically everyone in our address book exactly how old this old gal is --and encouraged them to send me birthday greetings. Thank you, everyone who sent kind and gentle (and even some profound) words my way.

Following is an e-mail I sent to a friend who asked me how it was -- as she is anticipating her 50th birthday later in the year and is wondering what she and her husband can do to prepare for it:

It's glorious, Friend. Really....when the time comes, just embrace it. I have and it's not as hard as I thought. Oh...and suggest that your husband send an e-mail out announcing to the world that you're now older than dirt. Really. It's all uphill from there.

All kidding aside, it's been a great day. And I'm happy to report that the anticipation was worse than the reality. For months now, I've been whispering, "I'm turning 50 this year." Just to see how it sounded. Today I've proclaimed it proudly at least 5 or 6 times. And no one fainted (or even looked the least bit surprised). Honestly, I wouldn't mind a little touch of surprise from a few of my admirers. Oh yeah...Greg already told them. I have no more secrets. I've embraced humility too.

Okay...truly - now all kidding aside.....We're going to a fun concert in a couple hours -- Riders in the Sky . They are the singing voices on Toy Story 2 (if you can remember back that far -- if you have REASON to remember back that far.) They are a quartet of singing cowboys, comedians and who knows what else they will bring to tickle our funny bones. I figure welcoming in the next 50 years with laughter is the only way to do this thing gracefully.

Thank you for the birthday greetings.

~ Becki

P.S. Make sure your husband has our e-mail address flagged to get your entering-the-2nd-half-of-the-century birthday announcement. But just in case I miss it, Happy 50th, Dear! Isn't it great to be in such good company?

Whiiiiiii!!!!!

In recent discussions about what to do with our new family room, someone suggested we get a big plasma TV and a Wii. At first I balked, but after watching this video, I'm inclined to consider it

Be sure your volume is on.

It Could Be Worse...

Construction has begun on our family room this week and we are so excited to be moving forward. Good things are ahead. In the meantime, I'm posting something Greg wrote tonight that pretty much sums up the week.



This is a true story. Only the yelling has been changed to protect the not-so-innocent....

On June 7th when we got 8 inches of rain, I thought, "It could be worse..."

When the water started seeping into our family room, I thought, "It could be worse..."

When the insurance company said we weren't covered, I thought, "It could be worse..."

When the FEMA said we made too much to receive a government handout, I thought, "It could definitely be worse..."

When the SBA said we made too much for a really low interest loan, I thought, "It could be worse..."

When the SBA said the money was disbursed electronically, I thought, "It could be worse..."

When the automatic deposit wasn't made for the loan, I thought, "It could be worse..."

When they said the check was in the mail for the loan, I thought, "It could be worse..."

When the building contractor said they could start right away, but they needed money down, I thought, "It could be worse..."

When the studs were exposed we saw water damage that necessitated re-drywalling more than we had originally anticipated, I thought, "It could be worse..."

When the paneling was pulled off we learned we didn't have insulation, I thought, "It could be worse..."

When they pulled out the bathroom sink, I learned we had a leak that then required a plumber for a couple of hours, I thought, "It could be worse..."

When they fixed the plumbing and as I sealed the walls with masonry sealer, I thought, "It surely won't get worse..."

When they finished fixing our gutter and pointing it away from the house, I thought, "It could be worse..."

When a monster storm came through last night and dropped a huge hundred pound limb on the fence and wires, I thought, "It could have been worse..."

When they pulled off what was supposed to be insulation, and discovered the remnants of termites, I knew it would get worse....

When the termite guy came through he said, "Yes you had termites, and while they aren't in the walls now, we need to treat by drilling holes all around your house and poisoning the colony". He went on to give us a lesson in entomology as he explained (in a jovial way we had trouble appreciating) that termites live in cool comfort underground in the heat of the summer, but will make their way back come fall, I thought, "It could be worse...."

When the contractors left and we decided to order Chinese because we felt like not cooking, I thought, "Well, maybe the worst was over." The weather had turned beautiful, the food was great, and our deck was comfortable (thank goodness as it was the only place we could all sit)....

That's when it got worse. The bluebird of happiness dive bombed the deck and I took a direct hit to the back of my neck and almost my plate of food....the bird must not have liked the Poo Poo Platter!

GRRROSSSSS!

But that's when I knew....it surely, most certainly, without a doubt....can't get worse (at least not for the moment).

How poetic, how ironic, how perfectly appropriate for the day----

I hope your day is better, but never stop thanking God for blessings and good friends that offer help, because it could get worse!

Greg

It hurts when I laugh