Colorful Experiment

Aussie now has purple hair. At least he did at the time his school picture was taken in November. With  his big blue eyes , he is pretty unique and special.  It is hard to believe he and his brother and sister are already teenagers and in the eighth grade.

It seems like yesterday that I traveled to Nashville to help out a short time when they were first born.  In case you haven't guessed, triplets are a lot of work the first few years, and especially the first six months or so. They hardly ever slept at the same time, but they seemed to be hungry at the same time, or was that all the time?

Being triplets is very interesting. You are never alone. I need to talk to them about it again...what they think of being triplets. Of course, they don't  know any other way. They wouldn't be able to compare themselves easily  with other boys and girls who are not multiples.

Aussie is multi talented. He is a pro at the Rubik's cube and related puzzles.  He also has taken Chinese since he was 4. Keep up the good work, Aussie. Here's to a wonderful 2016 and eighth grade. Work hard and show us what you've got.

School Picture

The triplets are now eighth graders...still home schooled, but they continue to attend  a cooperative on Fridays.

They had their school pictures taken in November, while I was busy with Christmas. So I've been dilatory in getting them on the blog. I did publish Mason's picture on January 6. And now I have Ashley's photo. Yes, her hair is tipped in blue. It's a very pretty blue, isn't it? I think she is lovely and she is very likable.

Speaking of likable, Ben Carson has a high likability score...the highest of all the candidates. I'm gearing up here to watch the Republican debate tomorrow night and I'm still a fan of Ben Carson. I'm praying that people are able to learn more about him and begin to trust that he can handle the job well. 

State of the Union

Caleb and his little brother Oliver enjoyed their ride on the Georgetown  Loop in Colorado.

I really like his reflection in the window. It makes for an even more interesting picture.

Speaking of interesting...or not. I am writing this while our president speaks. No, I'm not giving him my whole attention. He is presumably telling us the State of the Union.  Well I really don't need him to tell me. It is much easier to look around and see the state of our union. We've almost made his loop now and not only are we not better off than we were eight years ago...things are much, much worse. We are losing jobs, inflation is killing us. Instead of being united, we are being divided into groups, blacks against whites, female and against male, rich against poor, citizens against illegals, Christians against non-Christians , tall against short, young against old...on and on it goes. As things have disintegrated, he has grabbed more and more power. His office of executive has become more of a dictatorship.   

When polls are taken, where do they find so many people who think he has done a good job? Are there that many who are completely brainwashed? I know the media is socialist and they are taught that in schools, but are brains no longer working? Do they not know we are on the brink of bankruptcy?

OK, now for the good news. I'm anxious to hear from the lady governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley. She will be delivering the Republican Address to the Nation.

By the way, I am so glad I'm not Paul Ryan right now, having to sit behind Obama in view of the camera and listen.

It is now over. Paul Ryan did a great job. But best yet was Nikki Haley. Since I do not sit by the TV 12 hours a day, I had not had the pleasure of hearing her. I hope all of you did see her tonight. If you did not, you would be well off to find her speech online. I can really see her as president some day.

Party Time

Yes, there is a Christmas tree in the picture. Yes, I know it is January. Yes, I know you've had enough Christmas for this year.  However, I needed a layout for tonight. I didn't make a new one today. Actually, I spent much of the day on the computer and I even tried to watch a movie on TV.

Since I spent  quite a bit of time emailing with some of these girls today, I thought it appropriate to post a layout of us with a picture that was taken December 28 at Maggianos, an Italian restaurant  that we visit occasionally.  Because three of our members moved to Texas, we have only 6 living in Ohio at present. Even with the small number, we are having trouble getting together these days. Our families are demanding much of our time...of course we are quite happy that they 'need' us. We couldn't find a date in December before Christmas to get together, so we had to do it after the 25th. Even then, Robin couldn't make it.   So here we are, LouAnn, Sali, Jane, Phyllis and Paulette.

For those of you who might not know, ORU stands for Opinions R Us.  Yes, we are a fun loving, opinionated bunch. 

Now about the movie. Recently a friend lent us his collection of Star Wars movies, so that I could see the ones I've missed over the years, which is ALL of them. Well, I did go to the first one, but slept through it.  I hate to admit it, but I've watched episode numbers 1 and 2 now and have fallen asleep in both of them. When they all start fighting, I can't keep up. I don't always even know who the good guys and bad guys are.  I fell in love with Anakin in the first movie. Then tonight I fell out of love with him as an adult. Guess I'm not going to make a great fan...but I really want my small  grand-children to know that I've seen those movies and can appreciate their light sabers.

Cell Phone Etiquette

Cell phones are wonderful. They keep us in contact with many people who are important in our lives and businesses. However, they can also be a nuisance. Why, just a couple of weeks ago, while we were in the middle of a communion service at church, a lady's cell phone rang. She exited her pew and climbed over someone's wheel chair and back to the row behind her where her wheel chair was waiting with her phone still ringing . She answered it out loud (yes, she did) and proceeded to explain that she was in church and that the paint was in the living room, or some such message. Then before going back to her seat, she apologized profusely to everyone there. See there was a nice lady who didn't know cell phone rules and she was very embarrassed because of that. 

There are several rules about cell phone use that make cell phone use socially acceptable.

1. Don't answer your cell phone in church or at movies. Turn off the ringer. I'm sure there may be other times and places as well; perhaps when you are proposing, for example.

2. If, for some reason, you need to answer a phone call while you are in conversation with others, ask that they call you back later.

3. Keep a distance from people when you are calling/talking. And keep your voice down.

One day I was in a local store and a 'customer' was sitting in a rocker and carrying on a LONG conversation, where she was giving lots of advice. She was so loud that when I got to the other side of the store, I could still hear her 'brow beating' the person on the other end of the phone. YIKES.

4. Don't lose yourself in a phone call conversation and forget what you are doing...It's as bad as driving drunk...at least it can have the same consequences.

I'm sure there are more rules, but let's just start with these.

Our layout today is a picture of someone very dear to me, as a matter of fact, I live with him. He is my husband. Thank God there were no cell phones before we got married. If there had been, it would likely be that we would not be married now.  Do I have to tell you he loves his cell phone? When it rings, he is energized. It wouldn't matter what anyone else around him was doing, he is going to answer that phone!

You might want to enlarge the layout with a click and read what was going on that evening at Boston Market.

On the Offense

Oliver was on the offense December 12 with a sword in both hands. I'm not sure they are both obvious. The wooden one in his left hand is not quite as spectacular as the newer light saber in his right hand.

Star Wars did it again. Everyone was buzzing about it. I had never seen one of them. Oh yes, family members had. I even went to the first one, but slept through it.

This year, our life group decided to spend a night at the movie. Some wanted to see Star Wars and others wanted to see Bridge of Spies.  I love spy movies and since I felt I should see Star Wars adventures in order, I went with the spy group, while Ron went to Star Wars.  When we gathered for dinner afterward, we had a lot to talk about.

Since that day, I have seen the first one...now this is strange...I didn't know they were not made in order, so the one I saw was not really the first one, but chronologically it was. It was the one where  Anakin Skywalker was a little boy. I fell in love with that little fellow! But now I'm not very interested in seeing the next show, because I've been told that darling little one grows up and fathers Luke Skywalker, who goes to the dark side.

I'm defending myself against that heartbreak.

Shop on Line

Before we get started, I have to admit that Ron was not interested in buying this shirt, even though he is the one looking at the computer.  I am the one whose eye it caught and I am the one who thinks it is perfect.  This shirt it for sale online and I would really like to buy it, but I don't want to wear it myself. I think it is just the shirt for Ron. I wish he were as enthusiastic about it as I am. Oh well, it still makes a great layout...in my estimation.

In case you can't read it from the shirt...it says

"Built in the forties

Original and Unrestored

Some parts still in working order"