Life Through the Eyes of my Scattered Brian

It’s been a few days since I have blogged but here I am! Spring has been a busy day for me. First it was getting ready and preparing for my Art Show at the gallery. Lots of work goes into that. Making tags with the name of each painting and the price for each. Making sure you have enough paintings to hang. Painting some, framing some, this on top of making sure you have enough wine, cokes, and snacks to serve at the opening. This was last Saturday but the Thursday before I had to go down and hang the paintings. That was not easy, I can decorate around furniture but hanging one painting after another was a chore. Wow…I was tired before it got here. But it was great. I will be posting a blog on that as soon as I have photo’s to show also. But let me say that I thank each and everyone of the people that drove to Watertown to see my work. You guys are great! Speaking of paintings, I have a fund raiser to attend tomorrow (Thursday) evening. I have a painting on sale there also. The proceeds...

See postings from February 10 and April 1, 2009 for part 1 and 2. My ex worked nights just about the whole 13 years we were married. I guess I got use to him not being there when I was. His days off were usually Friday (while I worked) and Saturday’s. So I was the one that took the kids to day care, picked them up, cooked for them, fed them, got homework, baths and got them in bed. Not that I blamed him because he had a good job, but it would have been nice to have had him there in the evening. He was good at getting up sometime after the kids and I left and before going to work he would usually pick up all the things we left out on our mad rush for the door to leave on time. On Friday’s, usually our day to eat out, sometimes he would cook. He was a good cook. But like I explained in an early post of “could that be the reason I am not married anymore”, I stated that I was usually the joke person in our relationship. Keep that in mind! Early on in our marriage, I did work several yrs. p...

Administrative Professional Day I got called to the bosses office first thing this morning, as I was going in there sat three of the agents that I do work for and my supervisor. I got a bit nervous then, not really sure what that bunch would pull. But as it was, they presented me with the most beautiful silk arrangement with paint brushes, tubes of paint and pallet knifes stuck down in it. All this in a beautiful white pedestal vase with two birds on the side. Seven agents and my supervisor went in to do this for me and Angel arranged it. They could not have done anything any better for me, it is so very thoughtful. At lunch my supervisor and his boss took Cindy, Deborah and I out to lunch. We went to Raffty's and had a really nice lunch. Then later, the three of us were again presented with a cake that was decorated with 14 carrots, to symbolize that we are all three 14 karat gold! So neat. All this to show they appreciate us and the work we do. I know that my move to the TBI less...

When it comes to the kids of today and their manners, I would say that I was brought up in a different time. But when you experience someone older that shows lack of manners, I have to wonder what is up with that? I guess some people were not made to be waiting or dealing with the public. I stopped for lunch today after attending the funeral today. And the woman that waited on me was not friendly at all. Now I can understand someone having a bad day, we all do but when you work with the public and it is your job to serve those customers in a friendly manner, you just have to put that bad day behind you and do your job, if you can’t, you need stay at home that day. I have worked off and on with the public since I was 16 years old. I understand the meaning of being polite, helpful and friendly. Today though you go in so many places and they don’t even say hello as you step up to the counter, they mumble your total amount for payment and don’t even say thank you. What is wrong with peopl...

In May I have been invited by a friend to attend a wine tasting, dinner, play party. Apparently she has purchased a play where all of her guest invited will have a part and play a certain character. It is a murder mystery. The wine tasting and the dinner will link into the play. I had been asked back in December if I would like to come and be a part of this….of course I said YES. I have never done this before but I am the type that would just jump right in and have a great time with it. To make this more interesting is that all the names for the characters will be named after drinks….the host idea. I am not sure what names will be going around, but I am going to be Bud Wiszer! I will be an FBI agent that investigates the murder. This is somewhat fitting since I work for the TBI in Tennessee. I am not an agent but….it just seems to fit! I will be stopping in at Goodwill and locating a suit jacket to wear. I have a plastic badge that I will be redoing to read “FBI”. I think I will see if...

This past weekend, a friend on mine that lives in Ohio went on a Spring Break trip with her husband and son. What was to be a fun and relaxing vacation turned out to be a scary and thoughtful trip. I received this email from her this morning and then I said said a prayer to God for bringing this family home safely. Please read the attached email and heed the word of warning that goes with it. All could be lost in a matter of seconds. To all my friends...a request.. PLEASE...don't TEXT and drive. Not only do u put every unsuspecting soul at risk..you put yourself as well. This week while on vacation during Spring Break in Pennsylvania we had a very close call...too close for comfort and let me tell you nothing puts a damper on a vacation like seeing your life pass b4 yr eyes wondering is this it? Has our number been called...will my son be spared in the back seat...who will be there for our son..have we covered all our basis with his care in our absence? I have NEVER seen my husband...

You have met my niece Holly, my drama queen, let me introduce you to my the rest of my niece’s and nephew’s. There is Chase, the oldest at 25 years old. Chase recently married in November and he is the son my oldest brother, Ray. Chase and I have always been close. He use to spend a lot of time at my house, playing with my daughter when he was younger. He is a very handsome young man, polite and sweet. Chase took up racing Go Karts at the age of 13 years old. From there he went to racing cars. He started out at a local track and then he moved to ARCA racing. He took home a first place in ARCA in Daytona, holding the record for the youngest driver to sit on the pole in Daytona. From there he went on to racing BUSCH and his first year as a rookie he finished 10th in Daytona. Chase then went on to race NASCAR Craftsman Trucks on the team with Bobby Hamilton. Chase is not racing anymore but you can check out his old site at http://www.chasemontgomery.com/ and while you are at it check out ...

I received an email card last week from a friend of mine from Ohio. It was just a “thinking about you" card but she applied a poem to it that she had read. She said the poem made her think of me and it brought my paintings to mind. It brought a smile to my face and I so wanted to share it with you. The poem was called “Colors of Our Life” by Lisa Winn. Our lives are filled with color from the star, and Red is the love that comes from our hearts. Blue is the sadness that drips from our eyes, but Black is the evil that makes us tell lies. Green is the shade of jealousy and rage, and Grey is the hair that comes with age. Purple is the mood most misunderstood, but White is the color that Makes Us Feel Good. Life is full of meaningful colors, but especially White . So hold on to it tight. Thanks for stopping in, Pam

I am usually a friendly driver. I admit I ride bumpers a bit but as far as being considerate I think I do really well. When someone lets me merge over, or out into traffice I always acknowledge that with a wave. It's polite. I still move to the side of the road when a funeral procession is coming past. I use my blinkers if there are people close around, but not always if there are no cars near me. But I have to admit, I get a bit ticked when I let someone merge out in traffic in front of me and they do not so the "Thank You Wave"...I feel like that is just polite. What has happened to the younger generation? Most times I don't get the "Thank You Wave", is from someone younger. But I am not so sure that the younger group needs to be labeled with the "not move to the side of the road behavior". I feel that is a form of respect for the person who has passed on and their family. I have noticed that even the older people that you would think wittnessed ...

If you read yesterday’s blog you will understand this one, but if you did not read yesterday’s blog…. go back and do it now. You have to get the full effect by reading Part One. Rosco was a source of entertainment in his own way. Let me also throw in here that Rosco is still around, only he has new owners now. He lives in KY. with a gentleman that from what I understand, has room for him to run and have fun. This man has had boxers before and I also understand that he loves Rosco. Now back to the story of the Doggie Day Care and the report card that Rosco did not get: When I returned from Daytona after the race I got on the computer and I wind dinged up a report from this Day Care for Rosco. He was graded on his personality, manners, behavior and just him in general. He rated an A for his loving, winning personality. I can’t remember exactly what grades I gave him on other stuff but he did not fail. There were notes written that stated that he related well with the horses when he was w...

My brother and sister in law were adopted as parents by this reverse brindle boxer several years ago. I think the way it went was Lori took him in as a foster dog. My brother became attached to Rosco and Rosco in turn became attached to them. We always joked that Rosco picked his home! Rosco had a great personality. But little did Ray and Lori know, boxers have issues about being left alone. One day after being gone Ray came back to the house to find the sunroom torn to pieces. In this room the windows open by being pushed out, leaving the screens inside. They were torn out where Rosco tried to get out. Also did some scratch damage to an antique buffet table. Next time they left the house, Rosco was locked in a bathroom. This bathroom use to be a changing room for what use to be a local pool. It was made of brick o blocks but somewhere along the way, it got plaster board put up for real walls. When my brother returned he found two holes chewed in the wall board. Rosco stopped when he h...

Carpenter bee’s, are a look alike for a bumble bee. Big difference is they will drill up into any exposed wood. The males do not sting, the females will but usually they have to be really provoked. The female bee’s will bore in the wood, nest or breed while the males just swarm around as look outs. About 12 years ago or so I had a really nice wooden shed put up in the backyard. It was made of course with treated wood, but after a while that treatment will wear off and if the shed is not painted (like on the bottom) it will draw these bumble bee look alike bees. I know this because about 7 years ago they appeared. I know my neighbors have enjoyed the scene over the years of me fighting these things off to get in my shed. I have tried bug spray, but the males will not lite long enough for you to hit them. I have tried hair spray, I was once told that it would cause the wings to get stiff and they will fall out of the air…once again, hitting them was a problem. But a few years back I was...

What is up with Mother Nature? That woman is really messing around this time! Yesterday it was 70 plus degrees here in the great city of Nashville, TN. Today, the high is 40 degrees. Problem with that is it will be dropping. Showers with chance of snow showers later today. Freeze warnings out for the next two nights. With that said, I worked in my flower beds this weekend! I out smarted Mother Nature though, I planted NOTHING! All I did was clean them out from the fall leaves that had covered them. I usually leave that on over the winter to help protect the roots of the flowers. Plus, when it decomposes it helps the dirt. But I figure most things are up and peeking out of the leaves so I needed to clean all that up. I will wait a few more weeks before I start putting any plants out. I think I am going to do a lot of pot planting this year (as I read over that I realized how that sounded)…I am going to plant a lot of my plants in pots this year. I think that was worded a bit better! Ten...

Going in for the count down now! Three more weeks and I will be at my very first opening for my paintings. I have about 20 paintings to hang for that night. I have been working on my tags that will hang next to each painting with the name and the price on it. This is my invite that I will be mailing and handing out. Most invites will be sent via email since that is really the easiest way to get hold of everyone. Hoping for a good turn out with friends and family. I will be sharing this show with Trevor Elliot and his photo's. Trevor and I have had several emails but I will be meeting his young man the day of the show. But I am so looking forward to it. I so hope this goes well. Thanks for stopping in. Pam

Morning, For anyone who knows me knows that I love the movie the Wizard of Oz. My fav movie even at this age. I have shared my love of this movie with my kids. When my daughter was little, when we got our first VCR, she thought that everytime we went to check out movies...she had to get OZ. I had to just stop that because, its a movie that I looked forward to watching ONCE a year. Once a yr. it came on tv and that was my tradition...once a year. My son also liked the movie. He is the type that can watch a movie once and knows it line for line. He was very good and re-acting that movie. After sharing my love of that movie with my kids...I started on my niece, Holly, who is about 7 yrs. younger then my son. She loves it also. Holly, is my drama queen, she can act. And like my son, she is a born entertainer, also up and acting silly and entertaining all around her. She has performed in 3 plays herself and she is just in the 8th grade. These days, I share that movie with my grandson, Caleb...

Believe it or not there are advantages to living alone. Cook if you want, don't if you don't want to. Clean as you go and never have to pick up after anyone else. Do laundry when you want, or have to cause you have nothing else to wear. Watch what you want to in whatever room you want to.... There are disadvantages to living with a loved one. My daughter and grandson moved in with me just shy of my grandson, Caleb turning a year old. This was the second time, he lived with me for about 4 months when he was just a few months old. It was suppose to be a temp thing. They moved out of my home in Jan. 07, a few months after Caleb's 6th birthday. That was a long temp thing! I love my daughter and my grandson but I never felt like I was a grandmother. If I spoiled him, I paid also. Things got rough with the living arrangements after awhile. The house was to little for all three of us. It was not bad when it was Amber, my son, Cory and I, but things started to close in on us. Ambe...

Part II - Feb. 10, 2009 I guess I was the joke playing person in my marriage. My ex was a very laid back person and it was so easy at times to get him. We had been married maybe a couple of years and I was over having to pick up the dirty clothes that he left lying around. He would come in the door and start taking off items and where they fell is where they stayed. I guess I nagged enough (not me) about this so he picked a corner in our bedroom to toss his clothes. That was okay for a while, at least they were not in the floor all over the house. After a while, that began to get to me. He would toss the dirty clothes there, then if he went to the store and put on a clean shirt, it got tossed there when he returned (he went shirtless a lot). At first I would go in there and remove the clean and fold it or hang it back up but then I got so tired of doing this too. One day while we were getting ready to go somewhere my ex came to me and asked if I knew where a certain shirt was. Of cours...