Female in Motion

I admit it. I have a monkey on my back, and his name is Grammar. It's become automatic, when I see a billboard, when I read a newspaper...I edit. I can't help myself. It's like I'm possessed! Poorly written websites send me into spasms. Typos, misspelled words, poor sentence structure and incorrect usage make me shudder. I keep a red pen on my desk, always ready. There is a big, wide world of bad writing out there, and my aim is to correct it. Or maybe just my corner. I don't know when it started. Reading constantly as a child may have something to do with it. When you are steadily exposed to words, over and over again...they become indelible in your brain. You can see them. You know what they are supposed to look like. Sometimes I worry that I'm driving people crazy, with my compulsion. I try not to correct others when they speak. Poorly written advertising is one thing that I always point out. These companies have editors and staff whose job it is to look over...

Monday, Monday! So filled with phone calls, stacks of mail, stacks of laundry and assorted and sundry crapola. I make my to-do lists for the week, organize a battle plan, and somehow I don't get half accomplished that I wanted to. As Karen Carpenter said, "Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down." This past week was plenty busy. I billed a whole boatload of claims, started a new book, cleaned the house, had the kids over for dinner, shopped for a church dinner and even had time for a light case of food poisoning! Seems like there is always much more to do on the list than days in which to do it. The Hubster thinks I should concentrate on what I managed to accomplish, not how many things I didn't. He's a "glass half full" kind of guy. *** The new book I'm reading is really cool. Kelly Park by Jean Stubbs. Granny Moore (The Hubster's grandmother) sent a huge box of books to me when she moved into the nursing home. We used to trade books a lot. Si...

I attended my family reunion last weekend. Actually, The Hubster, Rachel and Drew and I all traveled to Missouri to be there. It was Drew's first family reunion with us...the poor baby! My parents grew up in a tiny town in the heart of north central Missouri. Hale is idyllic: a throwback to a simpler, more gentle era. This rural community is surrounded by farms lush with green pastures and hearty livestock. The rolling hillside hides this little jewel. It is protected from the cold, outside world. We all gathered in Chillicothe, the nearest large city. Large is a relative term: Chillicothe's population is 9,000. They do have a Best Western, so we stay there. My mom's family tries to meet every other year. Twenty-nine people showed up this time. It wasn't the whole family, just part of this motley crew! On Friday evening, after arriving in town, we attended a cookout at my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Barry's house in Chillicothe. While feasting on burgers, brats and hot dog...

Last Wednesday, I had lunch with my girlfriends. It's been a long time since the last time, and that's way too long for my liking. Having lunch with your girlfriends is like a combo of the five 'o clock news and a therapy session. Except you get to eat, too! We always nosh at the same spot. Green Door restaurant in Ark City. Great Mexican food and it's quick enough for lunch time. There's just something about catching up on every one's lives over a meal. We laugh, we cry, we eat tacos! I met "the girls" when we all worked together at First Intermark Corp. Jacque is the got-it-all-together girl. She's smart and funny, too. Deanne is the heart and soul of the group, always willing to share in her experiences. Dionne is the beauty, so sweet and thoughtful. I'm the nut. We talk about the usual stuff: kids, jobs, church stuff and yes, husbands! We celebrate the highs, and console each other through the low points. When we met, all our kids were litt...