Tender Popped

I'm feeling tender popped and in need of a soft red sweater to hug my life...

Found the words "tender popped" on some trash blowing in the streets of Highland the other day while out walking the dogs. Took this self portrait at Sam's Town Casino earlier this year.

Katee finished the semester last week. Yay! Has a three week break before a big schedule of working at computer labs at school this summer. We're working on getting an art business up and going. (Kathryn)

The Small Green Vintage Suitcase Cradles Photos...

... of our family and found pictures that are of other people's families. There are even some society pictures from the Shreveport Times.

I continue to work on my creative space. Most recently, I gathered up the six old suitcases I've purchased over the years. After thoroughly scrubbing each one, I'm now deciding what to store in them. (Kathryn)

I Need This Church...

Creative

Dead Squirrel

I like walking Eko in the Greenwood Cemetery. We don't go very often and I'm sure he hates it because I walk him in a stop and start manner because I take pictures and collect flutters of fabric flower petals. He likes to gooooo!

We found this so-dead-he-looks-mummified squirrel when we were there in February. I took lots of snaps and then picked him up with one of Eko's poop sacks (clean!) and drove him to Deb's house. It was the hardest thing I've ever done because he would have looked so wicked on my shelf next to my taxidermied alligator head.

Not From Target

We're painting the front room green. We found a discounted gallon ($5) at Lowes.

This is an organizer for mail and bills that I made from four wine boxes. I taped them together and covered them with fabric.

Why is Love so Hard to Do?

Love my family and love my husband is my 2009 New Year's commitment. Trying to be nicer is hard. Maybe I need to go the the 24 Hour Church of Elvis. (Kathryn)

New Year's Day 09

A trip to Lowe's is how we celebrated the day. (Kathryn)

Christmas Day 08

I had to work Christmas Day but we had Christmas dinner earlier in the day at mom's house. I convinced my dad to let me take a picture of his boobie that might have to undergo a mammogram.

We all ate at the kitchen table, including John. We pushed the table towards the window and that gave more room for moving about. Katee was in Norway so it was just me, Charlie, my mom and dad and my brother.

Later in the day Auguste came by our house and delivered tasty divinity he had made. He stayed and talked with Charlie for an hour or so.

Norway Kate

She's called twice and sent emails since arriving in Norway last Friday. I took this picture last Thursday morning when she was getting ready to have Auguste drive her to Dallas so she could catch her plane.

Finals Over!

Another college semester down for Katee. Some folks are on the four year plan. Some the five. Katee? We'll just celebrate each completed semester and tally them later.

And those glasses are so gone! Ask her about the day she spent at the eye doctor learning to poke her eyeball with her finger so she could get contacts. (Kathryn)

Back on Carbamazepine

Charlie went to the doctor today. Doctor wanted to up the Carbamazepine. We looked at the bottle. Someone has not been taking it at all. At all. The last time it was filled was over a year ago at K-Mart.

Do you see why I want to run away? I'm never gonna get to be a super star or a super hero. Stoopid families. (Kathryn)

P.S. The video of Charlie having jerking movements is on May 23, 2008. I haven't processed it. It was a result of him taking Seroquel.

Trust You R Self

...because I can't trust Katee's car because it keeps breaking. Charlie pushes on to figure out why it's being funky. Katee is counting the days she will fly to Norway. She'll be gone for Christmas. I'm just not sure how I feel about that. Happy for her. Sad for me. Happy for her. (Kathryn)

Obama Mama

How can a college student not want to back a man who wants to make higher education more affordable? Katee is living in this shirt. (Kathryn)

Worship

Goddess bless New Zealand! I need to go to a church like this. (Kathryn)

21 Katee

Katee is 21. We are celebrating for days... Here's a video of a man who turned 100. Not that when your 21 you worry about that but when you're the momma of a 21er the notion begins to enter your brains. Please no bent over in a wheelchair future for me...(Kathryn)

Fall Fall Fall

Katee crawled in to bed with me today. She's not feeling well (brain). We may have to see about getting her meds adjusted. She's taking four classes at LSUS. In a week she will be 21.

Watched Graduating Peter this weekend. An HBO documentary about a teenager with Downs Syndrome. There were things he did well like bowling. And other things he struggled with like tying his shoes (why the hell didn't they just get him shoes with Velcro?).

And why the hell did they make him at age 15 start working at boring ass jobs -- sweeping out city buses, washing dishes and washing clothes. No wonder he was depressed. If I thought all I could do was crap jobs like that for the rest of my life, I'd be depressed. Crap jobs are okay if you are older and have to pay rent and put food on the table but one hopes you've got a plan to move into something you like eventually. But how do you know what you like if at age 15 you are never given the chance to discover your passion. Having mental retardation doesn't mean you can't have passion. Like riding on a city bus or something else.

Peter should have had the time to explore and develop interests. He reacted with typical teen boredom when forced to do what he didn't like. Who wouldn't? There are so many interesting things to do in the world why shut down his options like that? (Kathryn)

Secret Crush

I had to struggle to get through the first episode I saw because the accents are so off. But... then somehow this thing has grown to be a favorite right up there with Pushing Daisies. Those are two shows Katee and I are enjoying together. DVRing lights up my bleak life.

How could I not watch it? The thing is set in a fictional town one hour north of Shreveport (Kathryn)

I'm Thinking About Doing the Etsy Jig

Our Lady

Before Hurricane Gustav sprinkled its way up here I spent $7.71 on hurricane supplies. We were advised to stock up on bottled water and food supplies that could be eaten out of a can.

Our limited funds meant we would have to risk it. We did have a manual can opener on hand so whatever was in the pantry could be opened.

I did end up going to the Family Dollar store and getting two white Lady of Guadalupe candles and two packages of tea light candles. I guess that means we are as stocked up as we are going to get. Now it's just wait and see what path Hurricane Ike is going to take.

P.S. I'm proud to say we've got six cans of tuna waiting as storm riding nibbles.