PHOTOS: Fans arrive before sunrise to see Pattinson and movie set - WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & Sports

PHOTOS: Fans arrive before sunrise to see Pattinson and movie set - WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & Sports

This is the big news going on where I live. Part of the film "Water The Elephants" is being filmed in our little town. Two of the big names in it are Robert Pattison (Twilight) and Reese Witherspoon. This morning on my way for groceries I saw all of these people driving slowly with a map in one hand, trying to find the back road where the filming is taking place.

Just checking in

We're having a loud thunderstorm right now and it's scaring my lab. She's not feeling very well today and I guess it's her tummy bothering her because each time it cracks outside, she farts and it is horrible smelling!

I had my annual physical this morning. The dr. asked me if I had anything good to report. Immediately my mind flitted over all of the things WRONG, but then I remembered finding the money last week when I really needed it. He thought that was great and I was so happy to share it with him.

Did I tell you that I was diagnosed with CFRD last week? That's Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes. So this morning the doctor gave me a machine for checking my blood sugar and a prescription for the test strips and lancets. How fun my life has become. Before I eat I have to take my reflux pill, then I have to check my sugar, then I have to take my enzymes. Then if I'm not too worn out I can eat! lol

I haven't been eating nearly as much lately, but I discovered this morning that I've gained 4 lbs. That is so discouraging. Maybe some of it is stress, but I really need to get diligent in the exercising!

Our phone quit working on Saturday and the repairman came this afternoon, so we finally have service again. (Man, this dog is farting!)

Since it's so hot outside and we're inside so much I spent $1 at Redbox and got "Extraordinary Measures." It was pretty good. Not riveting, but pretty good, especially since it's based on a true story of a father trying to save his children's lives. (They have Pompe) Next I'm going to see "Dear John." I listened to that audio a few times and just love that story! I hope the movie is as good.

Well, sorry this hasn't been exploding with news but I'm bored and just thought I'd check in.

Here's a picture of our Crepe Myrtles. We need rain and it's been so hot that nothing is very colorful and these really add to the scenery when I look off our deck.

Neat story on God's Provision

It's supposed to be 100 degrees today.

We were bored all yesterday and I'm trying to think of something fun we could do for just a little part of the day.

Something that doesn't require money (maybe play with the water hose?), although I have a neat story on that subject:

I had no money in my purse - just change - and because of our lack of income Jim had told me not to take ANY money out of checking or savings because all of it would be needed for bills.

I was dog sitting this little guy for my parents

and when I walked through the room I saw Toby sleeping in his dog bed with a crisp dollar bill between his paws.

#1 Toby eats EVERYTHING, so the fact that he was SLEEPING with this between his paws was amazing.

#2 No one knows how it got there. Ryan and I were the only one home and I didn't HAVE any money to drop and Ryan's BR door was closed. We have no idea how that crisp dollar bill ended up between the sleeping dogs paws!

BUT NOW I HAD ONE DOLLAR!!!!

I was pretty excited. We were down to half a loaf of bread and with a teenager in the house we use a lot of bread. I figured between that dollar and my change I had enough for a loaf of bread at Aldi's. YEAH!

Then I saw that we were almost out of milk!!! No way that money would reach.

While pondering the situation I went to do laundry. I've learned to be very careful checking Ryan's pockets before washing anything because...well, he's a BOY...and I've learned the hard way. Nothing in his pockets.

I ran the wash and when I went to take the clothes out there were 3 $1 bills in the washer. They must have been in his pockets and I missed them somehow. They would have been money Jim had given him a few days ago for lunch at the zoo before we knew he wouldn't be staying the day. That meant it was household money and I could keep it.

MILK MONEY!

Man, I was getting excited now, and so was Ryan. I was waving my $1 bills around like they were hundreds!

When I went to get the clothes out of the dryer I found ANOTHER dollar!

Now I definitely have enough for a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk!

Ryan was just as excited as me and it was a great opportunity to talk about how God provides for all of our needs, even little ones.

I said that people who always have money in their wallets lose out on the opportunity of seeing God provide for their basics like we got to see and dance around about.

After I get the milk and bread today I will be back to just change, but I don't feel so bad about it now. I know that God will provide and it will be kind of exciting to see!

Heading through the Battlfield

Driving to the hospital yesterday, I had to drive through our local Battlefield. It's very pretty and peaceful, which is the opposite of what it once must have been.

I saw some deer in a field near the road, but couldn't stop to get their pic.

I did stop and quickly snap these two pictures through my car window.

and


Pretty drive and it only took me about 10 min. to get to the hospital!

Just a friendly hospital visit

Today I started out with a trip to the local hospital for my Annual Glucose Challenge and fasting bloodwork.

People with Cystic Fibrosis are prone to CFRD (Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes) whether they are overweight or underweight. I'm not sure, but I think it's mostly because our pancreas is affected so much by the sticky mucus - but I'm not certain. Any of you CFers can correct me!

If you haven't had a Glucose Challenge, you have to fast and have blood drawn. After that you drink this lovely beverage.


They gave me my own room with a nice recliner and used my MediPort for accessing. After my drink they waited an hour and then drew blood, then another hour and drew more blood. Hopefully I don't have to wait long for my results.

When I was leaving the hospital I was faced with this.


Is that thing pointing at my car?

What a way to greet people who come to the hospital, huh?

Living in a Civil War town we have cannons all around and I thought it was funny how this one was situated in front of the hospital POINTING AT THE CARS!

Sad news

I thought I'd do a brief update and tell you the outcome of the zoo meetings and evaluations. Ryan is no longer working there. They couldn't get to the bottom of what happened with the other guys and they aren't there, either.

With Ryan it's mostly that he's not mature enough to work on his own yet. A lot of the keepers were praising his work, but some said he said inappropriate things at times, even in front of guests. That's not good.

With his Aspergers he walks a fine line between his immaturity and being his age. His emotions and social skills are several years behind, but his intellect is ahead of his age and his hormones are right on target. Makes it hard!

He's very sad and already missing the animals - especially Red Rock - but it's a learning experience.

The school of hard knocks is open year round and for some people that's a necessary school to learn and grow.

Thanks for your prayers.

*****

It's been so hot and humid here that we're keeping inside most of the time. Since Jim hasn't paid for last week and has had so many "half paychecks" I am also trying to conserve gas and not drive much. When I am able to get out and take pictures I may have something new and upbeat to share!!

Thanks for being there.

Broke down in Laredo

Jim truck is broke down in Laredo and he's having to call a wrecker. Please pray that they can fix his truck and fix it permanently. (This has happened at least 9 times in the last 4 weeks and he is very frustrated and upset.) Also, if he has to come home w/o his truck then he doesn't even get paid for this trip, even when he's been gone a few days.

We need the income, too!

Pray for that truck and mechanic!

*****

Update - Jim had his truck towed and he's on his way home with another driver. No pay!

Don't you just love technology?

People who have grown up in the technology era probably don't fully appreciate it.

They hadn't even come out with personal computers when I went to college.

We definitely didn't have cell phones or digital camera's or MP3's!

Now I have all 4 and I can talk to my family for free each day, either by cell phone or computer. We can post pictures on the computer or talk via Skype, even though my siblings are in the Marshall Islands and Illinois.

Ryan's closest friend he met through an online game 3 1/2 years ago. You hear horror stories of meeting the "wrong people" online, but Ryan has met some really nice people online. Jake is a Christian guy, one of 12 kids (all boys!!!), who lives in the same state we do. He's a really sharp guy, a few years older than Ryan, and he's been such a help to Ryan in the last few years. He encourages him and counsels him and they have so many laughs together.

Today Jake introduced Ryan (online) to a friend of his who is deaf and mute. Ryan talked to her online quite a bit today (she REALLY appreciates computers!) and right now they are on the phone, via an interpreter. Wow!

And of course, if it weren't for technology I wouldn't have met so many great friends on here. I hear about your families, your vacations, your recipes, your prayer requests.

"Aint" technology grand?

Don't get it

I haven't been able to sleep at night this week and it's really showing.

Today Ryan's supervisor called and said there are new accusations about Ryan that he needs to look into. They were made by a kid that this supervisor told me (on Tues.) has been nothing but a trouble maker, so I'm hoping he will take them as a grain of salt. He's the same one that started all of this mess. Ryan is, indeed, learning that you can work hard at your job and keep your nose clean and still be in trouble and possibly fired.

He said he can't lift Ryan's suspension and Ryan can return to the zoo next Monday. At that point he will talk with Ryan about what he's learned.

I told Ryan I'm very impressed with how he's handling all of this. In the past he would have been crying and angry the last few days, but he's been happy and acting like nothing has happened at his job. We've talked about it just twice.

After Monday I plan to make an appt. with the zoo director and asst. director. I intend to ask the asst director what the reason was behind suspending Ryan. If he was hit, he didn't do anything wrong. He was the victim. If he wasn't hit (which he was) he didn't do anything wrong for suspension. I intend to do the questioning with the director present and plan to get some answers. Someone punched him - why was RYAN suspended, too?

I just really don't get it.

Suspended

This morning D punched Ryan in the mouth after he saw Ryan talking to the manager about him. No one saw D do this so the only proof is Ryan's bloody lip.

They suspended BOTH of them.

Ryan is very upset.

The new volunteer supervisor is investigating today. He seemed like a very nice and fair guy, so hopefully D will be terminated and Ryan will be reinstated.

Please pray for Ryan

Back in January Ryan witnessed a violent fight between two volunteers, I'll refer to as S & D. S threw D into the refrigerator and shut him in before walking off. Ryan let D out and reported the incident to his supv. There was another witness, but he asked to be left out of it because he was afraid of S & D.

The Supv. talked to S & D and they told her they were just fooling around. She believed them and gave them a week off.

(According to the Handbook, any fighting on zoo property is grounds for termination.)

S & D then told Ryan that they would get even. They said sometime they would do something wrong and put the blame on Ryan so he would get in trouble. To "watch his back."

Today it happened.

D threw moldy lettuce at someone and said Ryan did it. Ryan was rebuked by the Assistant Director and she wouldn't listen to his protests. She gave him a black mark. A few mos. ago they did something similar and he got a black mark for something he didn't do.

3 black marks and you lose your job.

I probably don't need to tell you how much Ryan loves his work at the zoo. All of the Zookeepers have told me what a great worker he is and how he will do anything they ask of him.

He is now terrified of losing his job. He feels rather helpless. I told him this happens to most people at some time and all he can do is keep doing his best and "keep his nose clean."

He is going to talk to his favorite Zookeeper, who is in management at the zoo, tomorrow and is hoping he will take care of the problem. This manager has taken Ryan under his wing and training him in all kinds of things, knowing Ryan's goal is to be a zookeeper.

Incidentally, D was kicked out of public school this spring when he kicked a teacher in the crotch. This is the type of kid he is. And yet he seems to hang on to his job and fool people and is getting Ryan in trouble.

Please pray for Ryan and for this situation to be resolved. Ryan is so worried about losing his chance at future work at the zoo. It's all he's wanted to do.

Thanks! Oh, if you have advice, I'd be happy to listen.

Soooo romantic!!!

Our library has free downloads and I just am finishing Nicholas Sparks "The Wedding". Holy Mackerel! It get's soooo romantic!!!!

A Birthday and a Giveaway!

I discovered through Ginger that Momma Roar is having a birthday this Saturday.

I feel like I'm DROPPING NAMES here! Snicker!

Anyway, Momma Roar will be 35 years old (Boy, that seems young!) and is celebrating with a great GiveAway. Give her a visit and wish her Happy Birthday. If you enter the GiveAway contest, mention me and I'll get an extra entry.

Happy Birthday, Mamma Roar!

The littlest things we miss

(Picture used with permission. Sharon at And Just Be)

Okay, I just posted a blog where I was bummed out about finances. It still is seriously stressing me out, but I've been browsing some new blogs and it's struck me how I am just not thankful for the little things.

* My son can talk. He can tell me he loves me (altho he rarely does!), he can tell me what interests him or what is making him angry. But he can talk.

* We have cars that run and are dependable. I hate that my husband picked out cars that have higher car payments and tend to focus on that, but there are so many I hear of lately who have major car problems. No transportations.

* These days have been hot. Here in Georgia we've had weather in the mid to upper 90's most of the last month. Today hit 102 degrees. There are A LOT of people out there who do not have a/c. There are a lot of people who are having power outages. *knock on wood* this hasn't happened to us and our house is cool, altho I'm keeping it running at a higher temperature right now to save on costs and keep it from crashing.

* We haven't had as much food to eat lately, but at the same time I have not been very hungry. I've been having a lot more digestive issues in the past 10 days and haven't had much appetite. That's good!

* My husband has a job. He truck may keep breaking down and our income cut in half and health insurance provided is pitiful, but at least he has a job!

* We haven't had hurricane, tornado or flooding happen here at our house. I feel for the many people impacted still by the many storms. People who have lost their homes, their places of work, their cars, even pets and family members.

* I miss my friend Jeannette, but I still have a few other long distance friends. I'm thankful for them!

I like the 365 photo idea that many of you do. It's a great idea and if I left the house more I would enjoy doing that. It helps show the little things each day that you may have overlooked.

I need to work on appreciating what I have and not complaining about what I don't.

No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:18

Every morning tell him, "Thank you for your kindness," and every evening rejoice in all his faithfulness. Psalm 92:2

**I just read the neatest post on We Are That Family this evening and it reinforces what I'm wanting to say. Visit Kristen's blog and read "When Jesus Isn't Enough"**

Sugar Daddy's and Money Trees

Where are they when you need them?

I'm supposed to be taking Pulmozyme. It's a nebulized medicine to thin secretions in your lungs. But my insurance won't cover it and I can't afford it (It's something like $1500-$2000/mo.). They have programs to help with this, but we don't qualify for any of them.

I need a money tree!


For those of you who don't know, my husband drives truck for a local company. Their trucks are turning out to be junk and are breaking down EVERY week. Last week Jim had 4 break downs - in TX - and today he had 2 and thinks he'll have to be towed home. Each time this happens, he can't make deliveries and our paycheck get's smaller. This month we've had 3 weeks with 40-50% usual income.

Where is that money tree?


I keep reading about everyone's summer vacations. People going to the beach, people splashing in pools, people going on trips making memories...
Okay, this one isn't of necessity, it's born of jealousy. It's been a few years since we've had a vacation. Maybe one day trip during the year. No pool.

Please don't think I resent your blessing! I actually live vicariously through you. Especially when I'm spending my days inside during this 102 degree weather.

For this pity party I am looking for a Sugar Daddy....no sex...just some rich somebody to shower us with spoiling!