The Oregon Tale

Today's Quote:

The Universe provides all that I need.

                       ~Louise Hay (affirmation)

     I am finally redeeming this card given to me by my friend April some years ago. I'm not using it in the sense of angrily telling someone to be quiet, I am using it as a means to express my incredulity of recent events. It should actually be, "Really, Universe? S.T.F.U.!" 


     As some of you may know, in 1979, I married my high school sweetheart and was blissfully happy for our short marriage that ended with his suicide in 1984. Well, okay, the last year wasn't so blissful as he battled with depression, but I have many fond memories of the 12 years we spent together, first as boyfriend and girlfriend, and then as husband and wife. 


     As you also may know, I have had some difficulty in obtaining regular employment, in spite of the fact that I have years of experience in both the administrative arena and the teaching field. I was doing quite of bit of praying in hopes that God, or the Universe if you prefer, would send an answer to my prayers. Then one day, I received a phone call from my former brother-in-law asking me if I would be interested in moving in with him in Oregon. He offered to support me, i.e. pay the rent and utilities, give me a car to drive, and help me find work in his neck of the woods. He also surprised me by telling me that in the 27 years since his brother's death, he had never dreamed of Mike until just recently. I found that quite odd since in life they had been very close. "What did Mike tell you?" I asked. Gene said, "He told me to 'Take care of my girl' and showed me a picture of you." I am a firm believer in the messages of dreams so I took this as a good omen. Although this was totally unexpected, it certainly was an answer to my prayers and so I began to make preparations to move to Oregon.


     At first, everything was going smoothly. Since Gene made the decision to ask me up there, his work load increased and he applied for a full time plumbing job at Harry and David's, getting several positive responses as well as being asked to bring in his I-9 information and take a drug screen. And then, there was a major snag. His ex-girlfriend kept showing up to stay over for days at a time, saying she had no place to go. Then one day, Gene came home to see an ambulance and paramedics outside his home. Kathy had to go to the hospital where they discovered she has cancer and needed immediate radiation treatment. Also, the position at Harry and David's was put on hold and the guy in Human Resources who wanted to hire Gene was laid off. Gene and I decided that even though it sounded like a good idea, the timing was not right, since as we all know, timing is everything. 

My almost roomie at a much younger age

     I was excited for the chance to have yet another new beginning, but I am happy to be staying in California, especially because once Gene and I started talking, I was having the time of my life with all my friends, old and new. I really love the life I made for myself in Rancho Cucamonga. I like my MeetUp group, my volunteer work, my walking routine, and my neighbors. I am close to my family, can dance whenever I want, and know lots of good places to eat, drink, and be merry. 


     My daughter and I are splitting up and going our separate ways from our RC apartment, but we will still be close by ~ same county and area code, but a different new beginning. So instead of moving to another state, I will be moving to Ontario, California. That is my Oregon tale.

All About Drugs

Today's Quote:

Only Users Lose Drugs

STONER JOKES

Q:      What is the most commonly word uttered in the United States?

A:      "Ear" (Here).

Q:      What is a stoner's favorite car?

A:       A Blazer.

Q.      What does a stoner study in college?

A.      Herb-an development.

Diamond Quote

Today's Quote:

Enjoy a Double Happy Day -

Happiness inside you and Happiness around you!

~ Marie Diamond



A Dollar's Worth of Hope, Please

Today's Quote: (from http://www.dailyinspiringquotes.com/dreamthree.shtml)

Make no little plans, they have no magic to stir men's blood and will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble and logical plan never dies, but long after we are gone will be a living thing.

~ Lita Bane

Well, I didn't win the last Publisher's Clearning House Sweepstakes in August, but there is another one coming around on Halloween. I am still in the running to win that contest. In the meantime, I decided to try my luck with the Lottery. I have been buying 1-2 quick picks a week for the past month or so. I started with the Super Lotto but never matched even one number. Then one day, I went to buy my Wednesday ticket on a Tuesday and was told that on that day they sold  Mega Millions so I bought one of those. Mega Millions was more promising since I got at least one number three times in a row. And then came yesterday's Quick Pick with NO numbers!

It's too bad I haven't won my millions yet. I have it all planned out what I am going to do with the money. No matter how much I win, It wil follow the 80/10/10 rule. 10% straight to savings, 10% straight to charity, and 80% for expenses. Now, as far as expenses go, I really only need a quarter million ($250,000) to pay off my student loans and other debt, buy a car (preferably hybrid or at least one that is really good on gas) and get a place to live. I'm sure I will have plenty to hand out thousands to everyone in my family and give some to my close friends who have always been there to help me.

The organizations I would most like to support are my favorite Christian radio stations, my church, PBS television station, and the environment (probably focusing on clean water because it is so essential). I also decided I should start a foundation to help all those people out there like me who do not have Dental Insurance. It will be called the Healthy Smiles Foundation and will help kids and adults who need check-ups, X-rays, fillings, and root canals. I don't really want to include orthodontics, just the basics.

Other monies would be earmarked to be invested with the help of a financial planner to ensure funding for my own senior care, accounts for each of my children, and a 529 plan for my grandson. I would not be greedy with my winnings. I like to spread the wealth and use it to help other people who need it.

Many people could benefit from my $1 winning ticket...I hope.

The Call of the Streets

Today's Quote:

Circumstances don't make a man,

They reveal him.

I've been talking to my former mother-in-law and thought I would include a poem/song that her son, my late husband, Robert Lee Campbell, Jr. and I collaborated on c. 1993.

The call of the streets

Is begging me

     Come to me

     Walk with me

     Keep me company

I'll take you wherever you want to go

With me you can me free

There are no rules, no deadlines

No responsibilities

     Come to me

     Walk with me

     Keep me company

Alone with your thoughts

You will see

I'll pass no judgments

Just let you be

     Come to me

     Walk with me

The call of the streets

Is begging me

It says I can forget there

The pain life's handed me

Walking in the middle of the road

A broken white line to lead my way

The echo of my bootsteps in my ear

The moon as bright as day

Those old hurts just never seem to go away

No matter how much I drink

The streets keep calling out to me

To walk with them and think

Trip to the Laundry-Mat

Today's Quote:

Everyone said, "Cheer up, things could be worse."

So I cheered up and sure enough, things got worse.

I thought this year was rough until I found this true poem/song written in 1998.

My car got stole, the washer's broke

And the kittens all have fleas

My babysittin' job don't pay enough

Won't someone help me please

     Oh Lord, you tell us to be humble

     I wonder if this is what you had in mind

     To be walking down the street with a stolen shopping cart

     Dirty clothes, soap and bleach, and a pocket full of dimes

So now, I'm sitting at the laundry-mat

Watching all my towels go round and round

I borrowed a pencil from a lady without any teeth

Just so I could write these lyrics down

     Oh Lord, you tell us to be humble

     I wonder if this is what you had in mind

     To avoid all the roaches in the laundry-mat

     With the mothers and their kids who whine

I'm walking down the street now with my clean clothes

Hoping nobody I know will see me

I notice people staring out their windows

Looking like they're feeling sorry for me

    

     Oh Lord, this is as humble as I want to be

     I wonder what my friends will think of me

     When they know I used to work and have a car that ran

     Went to school and got my degree

More about WyzAnt

Today's Quote:

Reality is the leading cause of STRESS.

Recently I discovered the tutoring website WyzAnt.com. I called them tutoring pimps in an earlier blog because they find people who need extra help and match them up with qualified tutors. The company initially keeps 40% of the rate charged but tutors can increase their percentage as they log in more hours. I signed up to be a tutor and they accepted me right away. I think that it will be worth the charge to not have to figure out how to find tutees on my own.

At first I was intimidated because I have been teaching elementary age students and the bulk of requests were for high schoolers in higher math and physics, or for high schoolers looking for someone to help them prepare for their SATs and other college entrance exams. I did not realize there was such a demand for that type of tutoring and think I will look into refreshing my knowledge.

Within a week, requests for tutors for elementary and middle school students began popping up. Parents wanting their child to stay ahead of the curve or wanting extra help for subjects that students are already struggling with now, at the beginning of the school year, are smart to get help with the fundamental knowledge that the rest of the term will build upon.

I am ready, willing, and able to help any elementary or middle school students who are within a 10-15 mile radius of Rancho Cucamonga but so far, what is holding me back is the fact that the parents or grandparents need to set up financial arrangements with WyzAnt first, because the tutors get paid through the service, not by the individuals requesting the service. If you are one of those parents and you are hesitating because of the hourly rate, recognize that the rate is negotiable. I already had to rethink the rate for a woman who asked about group sessions, and am now just hoping that she will agree to the change. I like to teach, I'm excited about this opportunity, and I need the money. I will keep you posted about how the first job goes.

County Logic

Today's Quote:

I'm so broke

I can't even pay attention.

In a previous blog, I mentioned how stress over lack of finances (among other things) caused a reaction that mimicked a heart attack. Because I have not worked for a long while and have no health insurance, I was taken to the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, the San Bernardino County health facility. After being reassured that my heart is fine, I was prescribed several medications. The way my meds were distributed at ARMC reminds me of the discrepancy between the number of hot dogs in a package versus the number of hot dog buns in a package. While you get 10 hot dogs, you only get 8 hot dog buns. So what happens if everyone who wants a hot dog also wants a bun? The stop gap measure would be to substitute a piece of bread for a bun, unless of course someone is willing to run and buy another package of buns.

My major medical concern is with the cholesterol lowering medicine that was prescribed for me. The hospital sent me home with a 30 day supply of Simvastatin. I don't mind taking this to help lower my cholesterol the 20 to 50 points needed to be in a healthier range, but I don't really want to take it forever. At a total cholesterol level of 201, do I really even need it? I was told the medicine does not even become effective for 4-6 weeks. I may be able lower my cholesterol myself through diet and exercise! The thing that disturbs me the most is that I have started taking the medication and I have applied for the hospital's MIA program to pay for the pills. However, it takes 45 business days to be approved or denied for the MIA program. I am sure I qualify because of my low income, but what is the stop gap measure for the period between finishing the hospital's 30 day supply and the 20 or so more days without meds before the program approval? Wouldn't it make more sense to supply enough medication for the endurance of time between hospital visit and health program approval? I guess I just don't understand county logic.

Tutoring Pimps

September 1, 2011

Today's Quote:

Falling is the first step to learning how to fly. ~ Jodi Picoult

And just for fun, an inspired Hinky Pinky:

What do you call a movie that is all about an educator? A Teacher Feature

FYI - A Hink Pink is a rhyming word game involving riddles. If the answer to the riddle has 2 one-syllable rhyming words, it is a Hink Pink; a Hinky Pinky is an answer with 2 two-syllable rhyming words; and, a Hinkety Pinkety is an answer to a riddle with 2 three-syllable rhyming words.

~~~~~~

I was inspired to create that riddle above after I applied online for WyzAnt tutoring, teaching and coaching site. Hink Pinks, etc. were always a big hit in the classroom for students of all ages, or at least through the 6th grade. I really like to play word games with students as a way to increase vocabulary, promote problem solving, and just have fun. Students get excited about creating their own riddles.

WyzAnt says that they supply the tutoring students and take a percentage of your earnings as a finders fee, you know, like a pimp. I just went to get the web address and it came up with a long thread of posts bad and good. So now, I'm not sure if this is going to be a good idea or not, but I did do the online application and took one test in my best subject, spelling, which I easily passed. Maybe someone out there has had an experience with this company and can give me a heads up, or maybe you just want to check it out:  http://www.wyzant.com/. I hope it is not a scam. But if it is, and you need a tutor in the Rancho Cucamonga area, you can contact me directly through this blog and we can skip the WyzAnt site completely. I earned an elementary teaching credential in 3 states but I landed in California at the height of teacher lay-offs.

The reason I even got to WyzAnt was because I decided to do my job search at all of the cities within a 10 mile radius of my home. One of the cities led me to a Tutor Wanted post via simplyhired.com. I went through the list and interestingly, there was a list of 12 cities and 1 community. It sure seems like a lot of political divisions in such a small radius. If you are interested in the list, here it is:

     Rancho Cucamonga

     Alta Loma

     Cucamonga

     Upland

     Guasti

     Etiwanda

     Ontario

     Montclair

     Claremont

     Chino

     Fontana

     La Verne

     Pomona

Etiwanda is the place designated as a community. Guasti shows a population of 3. Upland and Claremont have no current openings and Fontana, Montclair, and Chino only have part-time openings. I take that back, some of the cities are looking for a "Lateral Police Officer."Since that is not my field, I did not really check those positions out.

Even though I do not have a library science degree, I am interested in applying at the local libraries next because I LOVE books, learning, research, compiling information, and writing.

No Pimp Needed.



 

Unemployed

Today's Quote:                                                                                                         August 31, 2011

When your brother-in-law is unemployed, it's a recession;

When you are unemployed, it's a depression.

These song lyrics are from the album "Words We Can Dance To." It was copyrighted in1975, Big Ears Music, Inc./Red Pajamas Music Inc., ASCAP.

UNEMPLOYED
(Steve Goodman)

When I got up this morning I walked down to the plant
I wanted to go to work but they said you can't
When I asked the boss why I got canned
He said something 'bout the laws of supply and demand
Now that's just the kind of thing
That gets a man annoyed
When the wolf is knocking
And you're unemployed

I filled out the forms they had in personnel
There's twenty men applying for every job to fill
Some men in line are just bums like me
And some of them got sheepskins and PHDs
It's a sorry situation that you can't avoid
When you're overeducated and unemployed

I don't want to be told how long I have to wait
Don't want to be no number in no jobless rate
Don't want no welfare from the welfare state
I just want to put the groceries on my baby's plate

When I die then I'll get my just reward
When the devil makes me chairman of the board
Whenever they had the hard times in this land
Before then they said the way you stop is to start a war
Well I don't want to hear any of that stuff from any politicians no more
Or next election day they'll be unemployed

Steve Goodman had a few lines in there I can really relate to, especially if you change all the gender terms. The lines that hit me the hardest are: "It's a sorry situation that you can't avoid, When you're overeducated and unemployed," and "Don't want no welfare from the welfare state, I just want to put the groceries on my baby's plate." Everyone is always saying how education is so important to enhance your career, but so far it hasn't helped me much in mine. Helping my daughter out in her schooling by watching my grandson has put me in the unenviable position of having two college degrees and living at the poverty level with tens of thousands of dollars of debt from student loans and no job prospects. And now, instead of there being "twenty men applying for every job to fill," there are 200 people applying for each job. Talk about depression!

Heart Scare

I had heard that stress can manifest in our bodies, but I never expected the weight of desire to be a working, productive citizen with the ability to pay my rent, insurance, utilities, other bills and necessities could cause enough pressure to feel like a heart attack. The other night as I was visiting a friend in an effort to escape the harsh realities of my inability to have any control over my financial situation, we were watching a movie and I felt a tightness deep in my chest that lasted for several minutes. The pain moved to the space between my shoulder blades and lingered there for several more minutes. I tried to breathe my way through the pain and eventually felt a little better, only to have the cycle repeat. This pain cycle lasted for over an hour and by the time the movie was over, I felt well enough to try and sleep, but not comfortable enough to drive home. It was a restless night.

My friend mentioned the possibility of a heart attack and though I refused to believe it, I worried about it all night. When I woke up the following morning, I went home and did some research on heart attack symptoms in women. Everything I experienced was included in the lists. The thing that concerned me the most was the fact that even a small attack can cause heart damage. When the EMTs asked me why I waited to call, I told them I was afraid. I don't have a job, money, or insurance, but I called anyway because I don't want a damaged heart at my age, or any age. I had forced myself to call 911 just for advice, but they sent out a team to check me out and I got my first ambulance ride to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.

At ARMC, all sorts of nurses, interns, and doctors checked me out and they recommended I stay the night. Now, if you have a choice, do NOT check in to the hospital because they never want to release you! Even after a chest X-ray and numerous blood samples determined that my heart was okay and my only problem was a 201 total cholesterol score and an obvious financial stress overload, I practically had to fight my way out of there to get back home. Lots of gas was wasted by family members who drove out to Colton to bring me home but were not allowed to because the order had not been made. Finally yesterday, the doctor made his morning rounds at 3:45 pm. He said to expect to be discharged soon, but when I still heard nothing after an hour, my sweet nurse took the time to track him down and I finally got the order and was out of there by 6:45 pm. That gave me 15 minutes to get to the pharmacy and get the too many medications prescribed (antidepressant not being one of them!). Lucky for me the registry nurse did not listen to the staff nurse who recommended I stay yet one more night.

Today, I am still so sad because all the issues are still in place: no money, no job prospects, and a huge pile of bills to return to. But, I comforted to know that my heart is healthy, my blood is good, and I have a whole lot of people who were concerned about me.

Journal Art #1

August 8, 2011

Today's Quote:



I believe that much UNSEEN is also here.

                                                           ~ Walt Whitman

Seeking refuge in the past sounded better today than dwelling on the present. Here is some journal art from my 3/07-8/08 journal.

 Think big but take small steps.

 Took a guess on the direction of this unsigned piece.

Connecting the energies above and below.

Energy Fairy.

Meditation Message.

AppleOne: Surely no Fun

Monday, August 01, 2011

Today’s Quote:

For as long as I can remember,

I’ve had AMNESIA.

As I mentioned on Facebook, I am searching for employment in earnest now. Having always had good resuIts from using employment agencies, I once again have been applying at some local agencies, as well as directly to jobs that show up on one of the several Internet job sites I have joined. Today, I thought I would search for AppleOne to apply to as an agency resource. I found them online and was pleased to see there is a local office right down the street from me. My first disappointment was when I called with an inquiry. The telephone was answered in an unwelcoming manner and my questions were answered brusquely. Nevertheless, I completed the online application and took a hard copy of my resume to the agency in the afternoon. I felt like Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman” when she walks into the store on Rodeo Drive and the sales clerks tell her she is not welcome there. It is the first time in my life I have gone to an employment agency and was told they do not help people like me, i.e. ones with teaching credentials. It was a terrible experience and even though I told them they should call me, I don’t really want to be represented by a company that made me feel bad about myself. Maybe I am not looking for the right kind of employment. What is a gal with a master’s degree looking to be an administrative assistant for anyway? Tent-making…



Growing up in the 1960’s: Hair Stories

Today’s Quote:

Everyone seems NORMAL

until you get to know them.

My old high school chum and Facebook friend, Dan, posted this blurb on FB and it got me thinking about my childhood in the 1960s:

          "If you were raised on bologna, biscuits & gravy, fried potatoes & soup beans, played in the dirt,

           got your butt busted, had 3 TV channels & it quit at ten o'clock, school started with "The Pledge,"

           had a bedtime, rode in back of pickup trucks, recorded the top 40 from the radio on cassette tapes,

           drank from a hose, played in the creek, rode your bike all day without a helmet, and you still turned

           out OK, REPOST"

From 1964-1968, my brothers and I lived in a rented house in Temple City, CA with my mom. At first, we also had a live-in babysitter named Carlotta, who came from Mexico. For my first grade picture, Carlotta curled my hair and made me look cute, even though my front teeth were still coming in.

The next year, Carlotta was gone and my teeth were in. The current hairstyle was called the Pixie. Unfortunately, my mother tried to save money by cutting my hair herself. That would have been okay if she had haircutting scissors, but the only scissors she had were electric ones that she used to cut fabric. The result was a REALLY bad haircut and lots of tears on my part.

Another time, mom gave me a home perm called Lilt. That was another disaster. I mainly remember the strong aroma of the permanent solution. I am glad it wasn't successful or I may have had to sit through that again. Luckily, my mother did not get a job that had anything to do with hair. I'm just realizing now that these hair events are probably why I never wanted to go to a salon and managed to avoid them until my 8th grade graduation. Even though it was the beginning of a new decade, I still mistrusted the hair salon. Here I am on graduation day with my interesting hairdo and my brothers on either side of me.

 June 1971

 

As far as hair goes, I am glad the 60's are over!

Ben's 30th Birthday/Azusa Gang Reunion

July 28, 2011

Today’s Quote

If at first you don’t succeed,

SKYDIVING is not for you.

My kids lost their father when they were very young, just 3 and 1 years old. I have tried to keep his memory alive by writing a story every year on the anniversary of his birthday. Each year Mike Day has been a little different. Sometimes it is just an e-mailed story and sometimes the family gets together. Maybe I was afraid I was going to run out of Mike stories, but somehow I got the idea to get the old Azusa Gang together to let them tell some Mike stories so that the kids would get to know the kind of person their dad was before he got depressed and died. Since this year was a milestone birthday for my son, who turned 30, I asked Ben if I could combine his birthday with a reunion of his Dad's old friends.

This photo includes my good friend Pam, who has known me since before I met Mike, Mike's 2 brothers, Alan and Gene, who came down from Oregon for the party, and 2 couples who we spent a lot of time with in the 1970's and 1980's: Walt & Kathy and Bruce & Kay. I had hoped the Dickerson's would also show since we spent every weekend with them for about 10 years, but unfortunately, they did not come.

Walt and Kathy brought their daughter and her family. I knew Leslie until she was about 4 years old. I had several pictures of her in various stages of undress which I gave to her. She was an adorable child and still beautiful.

Young Leslie

Leslie now, with her husband and daughter

Of course, family was there: Dad, Tina, Bro and his family, me and my kids. My grandson Logan was there too, but somehow missed this picture.

We all sat around reminiscing for hours. I had some poster boards prepared - one with Mike pictures and one with pictures of Ben growing up. I brought a couple of old photo albums and created trays out of some old LPs to put loose snapshots in. Those were easy to create since Mike had a large record album collection back in the day. The pictures ignited memories and we recorded some of the stories on videotape. Everyone stayed until it was too dark to see outside and then the old gang was gone again.

1979 Wedding

New Purpose

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Today’s Quote

Bad Spellers of the World

UNTIE!

I want this blog to be my online journal now. It’s going to take some getting used to, considering I have a cedar chest full of handwritten journals. Favorite Aunt Caroline gave me my first diary on my 13th birthday so I would have a refuge from my 2 older brothers and parents as I discovered teenage-dom. My first journals are all words. Later, they evolved from stream of consciousness writing about my daily life and events in the community to more creative ways of communicating on paper. I tell the truth about life as it happens, along with emotional commentary, dreams, jokes, random thoughts, etc.


I am embarking on a more public expression now. I started this blog because I wanted to share a booklet I researched and wrote called The Grandparent Book of Names. After a year of informal surveys, I compiled the list and chose the grandmother name, “Mimi.” Then, my Blogspot went through a series of purposes: a place to collect my poetry, a record of our family’s name songs, an occasional random thought, and most recently I added Photo Essays. My blog has evolved organically. Like all good learning, it is built on experience and action. Now this will be the place to share my thoughts, photographs, poems, and more for anyone who wishes to read them. I am no longer the same girl who was voted Most Secretive by her college roommates!

ADT Rip-off

Good morning all!

   I just had lunch with two good friends and heard the sad story of ADT alarm system company taking advantage of an unwary buyer. The company advertises a $99 installation fee, which seems like a good deal, so my friend ordered the service. A service man came out and did the installation and had her sign a blank print-out form that was supposedly just to verify the installation had been done. Much to the surprise of my friend and her husband, over $700 was charged to their credit card bill. My friend requested a copy of the transaction. Sure enough, there was her signature at the bottom of that same form, but now, instead of being blank, the form was filled in with hand written charges, $567 of which was for installation. How do they get away with this?
   If you do not want to have a $700 lesson, remember NEVER to sign a blank invoice!

Don't be fooled... http://www.adt.com/

ADT                  Call today for $99* special at 1-888-271-1823               

Photo Essay #2: Cucamonga Falls Hike

I don't know the actual name of the place we went to but it is up above the 210 frwy; trail head near Banyan and Sapphire. At first I was upset by the grafitti but there was actually some cool looking rocks along the way and especially at the waterfall, I liked the tagged rock wall there. I was still terribly upset with those who left trash near where the water collected in pools. I mentioned this to my young friend and he had never heard of such camping/hiking etiquette as "Pack it in, pack it out." Oh the young have so much to learn about ecology, nature, and respect.

 My hiking companion and guide.

 Investigating a cave

 Some kind of shelter.

 Small fall before the falls.

 A good grafitti spot.

 Tagged rocks along the trail.

 Almost there!

 First, you have to pass over the flattened remains of an old car.

 Colorful rocks.

 Fellow adventurers.

 Signpost up ahead.

 Risk 09

 Climbing the rope to higher falls.

 Equal opportunity risk.

 Looking up from the pool.

 Looking back.

Me & Matt 

This was my 4th of July adventure. We shared the space with about 30 other people. I'm glad I went and would do it again. Maybe Monrovia Falls next time...

Photo Essay #1: RMMS

Welcome to Ruth Musser Middle School

Zoe's Song

Zoe's is also spelled out but it is a made up tune.

Zoe
Zoe
Z-O-E spells Zoe
Zoe
Zoe
Z-O-E-I-L-O-V-E-Y-O-U

Benjamin

Here is the song I made up (and Granny edited) for Ben when he was a wee lad. Sung to the tune of "Oh Christmas Tree."

Benjamin
Oh, Benjamin
B-E-N-J-A-M-I-N

Born in the summer of  '81
Mike and Diana's new born son

Benjamin
Oh, Benjamin
B-E-N-J-A-M-I-N

Diana, Where Art Thou Going?

A short break from Bop poems to write down family members' songs. This is the song my mother used to sing to me.

Diana, where art thou going?
Upstairs to take a bath.

Diana, thin as a toothpick
Head shaped just like a tack.

Diana stepped in the bathtub
Pulled out the stopper plug
Oh my goodness
Oh my soul
There goes Diana down the hole.

Thanks, Mom.

The "Wo" in Woman Comes From Woe

July 1988



The "wo" in woman comes from woe.

The pain of childbirth proves it's so;

The pain of men who are free to go,

And other pain that women know ~

A "wo"man's life is full of woe.