When I’m at The Lake, I like to go to Antique Stores. Heck, I go to Antique Stores WHEREVER I am!
I love to collect Pyrex, Hazel Atlas, and Glasbake items for the kitchen.

Don’t ask me why I collect such a wierd thing.

But lately, I’ve noticed I’m buying Viewmaster items.
It might have started with a Partridge Family viewmaster disc and then just blossomed.
But, whatever the reason, they are finding a  home in the new quarter-sawn wood box I bought today at an Antique Store near Esterville, Iowa.

And, speaking of The Lake, it is quite a different place in the fall.
Lots of leaves and acorns!
Only a handful of boats come by our house now.
I see hoists plopped up on the shorelines and docks piled up next to the skeleton hoists. Boats are tucked safely away somewhere for their long winter nap.
Saturday was over 85 degrees. By Thursday, I think it is to be in the 40′s.

We will continue to come up through the winter, whenever we have time.
And you can bet, I’ll be making a list of "daddy-do’s" for Grampa Florida when he returns in the summer!

I Believe I Can Touch the Sky

Think About it Every Night And Day
Spread My Wings And Fly Away

I Believe I Can Fly.

October 3, 2006
Matthew Emory Hunt
Solo Pilot
Cessna 172

and not in a Halloweenie sorta way.
I just got back from the grocery store and it was PACKED for 8:30 p.m. There were at least 3 people deep on all the check-out lanes at No Frills in Blair.
I waited with my cart-o-diet coke behind a young family.
Mom was pregnant and carrying a young child.
Dad was in his dirty work clothes.
One child was in the cart.
One child was with dad and sort of driving the cart.
They looked devoid of life.
They looked so tired. Even the children looked tired.
They were very quiet, not talking at all. Not interacting at all.
She paid with cash. Wadded up money.
She smiled slightly to the checker and I caught her eye.
I gave her what I thought was a hopeful smile.
She didn’t really respond.
And they took their cart and trudged out.

And I can’t stop thinking of them.

Because of the lifelessness that was in that family.
What was their story?
Did work and daycare and bills and laundry and groceries and car payments and gas prices and in-laws and lawn mowing and hospital bills and the upcoming holidays and the war and ear infections and every little thing take up all the life in their spirits?

Cause it does.
What could I have done?
I remember that time in my life, when my children were smaller and life was tighter.
But I had help. Alot of help. A few friends who traded kids with me. And I didn’t work. And I had a mother-in-law who helped whenever….and I mean WHENEVER….I needed or wanted her.

I am haunted by the lifelessness.
And I wish for my children, a life filled with LIFE and HOPE.

A fresh start.
Every DAY is a fresh start, but Monday’s are ESPECIALLY fresh!
1. Called doctors today.
Made appointments.
The DENTIST one was the hardest….I waited until 3:54 to call.
Physical, eyes, and teeth.

2. October is officially Candy Corn Month.

candy corn should be a food group.

3. Matt did the lighting and sound for the school coronation but did not attend the dance. He dressed up to go, though, and looked cute as a bug’s bun.

4.Cute hubby went on a "boys only weekend" and came home from the Kansas City Chiefs football game happy and tired. I’m glad he went somewhere just for fun.

5. Did I mention that I can’t stand going to the dentist? Earphones AND nitrous JUST for a cleaning. I’m a brave girl…calling like that….after not being there for like a year………………………..
so embarrassing!

6. And ANOTHER thing on my mind…..
Today marks the day that Omaha restaurants are Smoke-Free. Yet, the media conTINues to focus on the places you CAN smoke! Oh, those poor smokers…don’t have anywhere else to go.
I, for one, will go out to ALOT more restaurants because there is NO SMOKING anymore in them.

I only hope that I don’t have to go through the smoke gauntlet in front of the restaurant doors in order to get inside, because those "poor" smokers have to get one last puff before they go inside.