Badder Grandma

May 17, 2014 ~ JodiLea ~ 1 Comment

Apparently, I did not inherit my Grandma McGuire’s skill. That woman could take great pictures no matter what position the sun was in, or extreme heat/cold. There are so many photos of our family that I treasure now, and they are all because of her diligence.

No matter how much we protested.

When I was a kid, she was always blinding us with that flash-lamp or making us stand still and say cheese. Sometimes, she was more like the paparazzi than a doting grandmother. I remember her getting fabulous footage of a parade because she squeezed her 4-foot 10-inch frame, through the crowd surrounding the street, until she popped out at the curb with her camera. Nobody even minded – probably because they could see over her.

Now I am the grandma. Even with an incredible camera, and a wonderfully photogenic family, I was only able to capture a fraction of the fun we had – and it’s blurry. I am so bummed out…

For better or worse, I took these yesterday at the Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee.

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You heard it here first – I promise to learn how to use my camera in extreme heat and sun conditions, with 3 people talking to me at the same time, and wanting to rip my camisole off because it’s full of popcorn, salt, sweat and dirt.

Grandma, I don’t know how you did it!

Note to Self: Remember This!

May 14, 2014 ~ JodiLea

The person who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.

— Chinese proverb

I should have this proverb tattooed on the top of my right hand. So I would see it every day and remember this simple, but very important concept.

It is in my nature to have a great idea and go full steam ahead with it – expecting to create or change whatever it is, in an impossible time frame. Then… I get overwhelmed. When I am overwhelmed, I become stuck, the task is too large and I don’t know where or how to begin. So I don’t do anything at all and feel like a failure.

I am an intelligent, mature person. Why do I insist on making things harder on myself? If three therapists over the years can’t help me answer that question…

I have several ‘mountains’ I want to move these days. Each one requires patience, perseverance and a lot of time. They should not be done in haste, or, as my folks called it, half-assed, because they are important to me. No boss or taskmaster is looking over my shoulder, or anxiously waiting for these mountains to get moved. The only ones who give a flying hoot about these things are Me, Myself, and I.

You would think I could give myself a break! Sometimes I do. Then taking a break from one, leaves room for working on another one. Therefore, I am floating in the breeze, not getting anything finished.

You may have noticed this, my dear reader, but my blog posts are few these days. And yes, I know they are boring – a fact I plan on correcting.

Oh wait! That’s another mountain, isn’t it?

Damn!

Gotta Go…

May The 4th Be With You…

May 4, 2014 ~ JodiLea ~ 2 Comments

I didn’t know how much I lost touch with the Star Wars culture until my daughter called this morning and asked what I was doing today. “Spring cleaning I suppose,” I said.

“Mom!” she said, “It’s May the Fourth, Star Wars Day. You know?”

I did not know about this ‘Star Wars Day’. I DO know more about Star Wars than she does, but I don’t tell her that because it’s not her fault she was born in the 80’s and missed Episodes 4 – 6. Her generation was given the back-fill trilogy episodes (1 -3). Poor things! Personally, I was not impressed with the “new” trilogy. Too much special effect crap, in my opinion.

And no Mark Hamill.

Not a big fan of futuristic outer-space stories, I probably would never have watched the 1st movie (1977), if someone other than Mark Hamill had been cast as Luke Skywalker. I had fallen in love with him way before then, seeing him guest star in episodes of “The Streets of San Francisco“, “Medical Center“, to name a couple.

I was thrilled when he landed a comedy series, “The Texas Wheelers” (1974). I could see him EVERY WEEK! After the 8th episode, the show got canceled. I was devastated. How would I be able to see him now?

When the hoopla began about the new film I was not interested. Then, I saw a poster with – why that. looks. like… OMG – it is him! Sure enough, his name was listed among the main actors in the film.

For the price of a movie theater ticket, I could ~~lust~~ gaze at him on the Big Screen. For hours.

Sigh.

In August of 1977 I moved into a college dorm. The first thing I unpacked was my Star Wars poster. Everyday, as I left or entered that room, I would kiss my finger and touch Luke Skywalker’s face. For good luck or The Force, I don’t remember.

I heard that Episode XII is now being made. With the original cast. What can George Lucas be thinking? I mean, the Emperor is gone, Luke and Leia are brother and sister, and their dad used to be Darth Vader but now hangs with the good guys, Obi-Wan and Yoda.

What happens now? Do our heroes check into Senior Citizens housing? Han Solo and Leia marry? Chewy gets a bachelor pad, and is quite popular with the ladies?

And dear, sweet, Luke. What is to become of him? That question will get my butt to the theater to find out.

And finally, I wanted to share this clever iMessage conversation. LOL.

May the 4th be with you always!