March 15th

March 15 is a significant day of the year for my family. As some of you already know, I was born March 15 1962 in the thriving metropolis of Jal, New Mexico, at approximately two in the afternoon. Rumor has it that my brother was sick with the mumps, or some imaginary sickness on that same day! I was born to Denton and Wanda Bush, the youngest of four children, and by all indications, an accident. So if you do the math, I will be 47 this year. Cough. Cough. Where's my cane?

Several decades down the road, March 15 became another day of celebration in our family. My nephew, Jared (my oldest sister Marilyn's youngest son) married Glenda in Trinidad, Colorado. She has been a welcome and much loved addition to our ever expanding family. So, another March 15 celebration to add to the calendar.

Last but certainly not least, is THE main reason for March 15 celebrations in the Bush family. My parents were married March 15, 1947 in Hope, Arkansas. Therefore, I was their 15th wedding anniversary present, born on the 15th. If you're into numerology, calculate that one. This year would have been their 62 wedding anniversay, which is almost a lifetime.

This is my first birthday without my mom, and for my dad, the first anniversary without his wife. I'm having a hard time coming to grips with the fact that tomorrow morning, as I have every year, I won't get to talk to both of my parents and wish them a happy anniversary, and them wish me a happy birthday. I think that is one of the hardest things when you lose a loved one, especially a parent: the firsts. First Thanksgiving, first Christmas, and now for me, the first birthday.

Growing Older?

"We did not change as we grew older; we just became more clearly ourselves.
---Lynn Hall

I really like this quote. I think it sums up the fact that I am getting older quite well. I will have a birthday in 12 days, my 47th to be exact...three years away from the big Five-Oh! God help me!

But I like who I have become in my forties. In your twenties, I think you are struggling to find who you want to be. You're faced with choice after choice. In your thirties, you realize that you are officially an adult, and if you don't have your game going on by now, when the heck will you? I struggled a lot in my thirties.

My forties have been my entry into clear thinking. I am more myself now than I really ever have been. I have seen a lot of things traveling with Nicol; a lot of places, a lot of different people, a lot of different ways of living. When I was "immersed" in the church, mostly my entire life, I was so one-dimensional, and so judgemental of people. Small-minded in a small town. Now I feel round, and whole...like all of the rough edges have been knocked off, and I can accept people for who they are. No pretenses, no applications to fill out! Live and let live! I like it! It's a huge weight to carry on your shoulders, always having to be on guard, always having to judge the other person's motives or lifestyle.

So I guess what I am saying by starting off my blog with this quote, is that I haven't really "changed", I've just allowed myself to become myself! I think it also helps to be with someone you really love and care about. It helps you to accept the wonderful person that you are (and I don't say that in conceit!!!!).

Salud!

10 Things You Should Know About Obama's Budget Plan...

10 things you should know about Obama's budget plan (but probably don't)

The plan:

Makes a $634 billion down payment on fixing health care that will go a long way toward paying for a more efficient, more affordable health care system that covers every single American.

Reduces taxes for 95% of working Americans. And if your family makes less than $250,000, your taxes won't go up one dime.

Invests more than $100 billion in clean energy technology, creating millions of green jobs that can never be outsourced.

Brings our troops home from Iraq on a firm timetable, finally bringing the war to a close—and freeing up almost ten billion dollars a month for domestic priorities.

Reverses growing income inequality. The plan lets the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans expire and focuses on strengthening the middle class.

Closes multi-billion-dollar tax loopholes for big oil companies.

Increases grants to help families pay for college—the largest increase ever.

Halves the deficit by 2013. President Obama inherited a legacy of huge deficits and an economy in shambles, but his plan brings the deficit under control as soon as the economy begins to recover.

Dramatically increases funding for the SEC and the CFTC—the agencies that police Wall Street.

Tells it straight. For years, budgets have used accounting tricks to hide the real costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Bush tax cuts, and too many other programs. Obama's budget gets rid of the smokescreens and lays out what America's priorities are, what they cost, and how we're going to pay for them. This is the change we voted for.

P.S. Turns out there are way more than 10 amazing things in Obama's budget:

Stops unnecessary government subsidies to big banks, health insurance companies and big agribusinesses.

Expands access to early childhood education and improves schools by investing in programs that make sure every child has a qualified, strong teacher.

Negotiates for better prescription drug prices using Medicaid's tremendous bargaining power.

Expands access to family planning for low-income women.

Caps the pollution that causes global warming, and makes polluters pay to support clean energy innovation.

Red, Red Wine

So, we're at Nicol's mom's house, watching Calendar Girls. Nicol is having a glass of red wine, and BAM! Before you know it the wine is spilled on the carpet. What's worse: the carpet is WHITE.

Great.

She blotted it out, best as she could, but that stain was not going away without a HUGE fight. She gave up, and decided that this morning she would rent a carpet machine. To me that is a hassle...driving to the store...filling out the paperwork...paying money...dragging the machine into the house, etc., etc.

So I typed "what takes wine stains out of carpet" into the internet search bar, and took a chance that there would be some recipe for a home remedy, and VIOLA! The writer suggested dish soap and hydrogen peroxide, and she assured me that the stain would disappear almost immediately. What the heck. I mixed it up, Nicol still insisting that she is going for the machine. I sprayed the mixture on the stain, and sure enough, it disappeared almost immediately. The carpet looks brand new!

She assures that it works on any stain in carpet or clothing. I thought I'd share it with you.

http://www.stratsplace.com/patty_wine_stain.html

What a Big Diff!

This picture of the "hubcap store" was taken last year, in May.




This picture of the "hubcap store" was taken two weeks ago.

What a difference a few months can make!