HANNER HOUSE: July 2012

Made my way to Chicago suburb of Glendale Heights today! Nothing eventful happened along the way, however, I believe I have had an epiphany regarding traveling and eating at age 65! Perhaps a bit of background is necessary..........
Being a "Dean" by heredity, I abide by my Mother's rule of 'something to "mince" on while traveling is absolutely necessary. Consequently, I started my journey out by purchasing a McDonald's Mini Meal, which I have never had and thought the word "mini" to be meaningful; wrong. I just looked it up...670 calories and only God knows how many of those fall under that dastardly three letter word, FAT! I rationalized that this was really no big deal, because it was the first I had eaten today.
Unfortunately I had to stop and get a Wal-Mart gas card to save my 3 cents per gallon, and while I was there the Twizzler's "spoke" to me, screaming, "buy me, buy me"........so, naturally, I did. (mind you at this point I had not even opened my mini meal, but, one must be prepared for mincing!) After filling up with gas, I proceeded up the highway happily eating my mini meal and looking forward to my twizzlers....which were, by the way, the $1.00 bag; not the little bitty stuck together candy they sell by the candy bars. I managed to complete by mini meal and get a nice start on my Twizzler's by the time I reached Meramac Bottom Road (few miles south of 255 going into Illinois) when I stopped at a Cracker Barrel to purchase/rent a book on tape to aid in my entertainment as I travel. Wellllll, after eating 8 oz. of Twizzler's, I felt the need for something salty! I purchased, along with my book on tape and a new scarf, a bag of buttermilk potato chips (had never heard of these, so thought it would be unnatural not to try them). Yum, need I say more? Do you know how many potato chips you can unknowingly consume while traveling down the highway at 70 miles an hour listening to a book on tape? I do.......approximately a 12 oz bag! Oh dear. Well, when I realized I was nearly to the bottom of the bag, I did close the bag and refrain from eating any more! That is until I arrived at Lincoln, IL where they have a Russel Stover's chocolate store. After having eaten all those chips I was slightly parched......I had drank my diet coke, including chopping all the ice cubes, several miles back. I needed liquid refreshment! What better place to "refill" than the candy store. They had a major sale going on, 70 per cent off the Easter candy........well, WHAT A DEAL!!!!! I purchased coconut chocolates, mints, and chocolate bars, all for $4.30! Whoopee!
Need I tell you what happened to some of those bargains as I made my final leg of the trip?!? Yep, I ate a bag of the coconut goodies; quite tasty. Finally, I arrive at Danielle and Ozzie. As I got out of the van and began to walk around, I noticed a bit of gaseous concern. Well, let me tell you what, you can't eat enough junk food for an entire impoverished community in one afternoon while sitting on your "hinny" and not expect RESULTS!!!! OMG as the kiddos say. I have NEVER had such flatulence in my life! And what did my kids want to do the minute we had the car unloaded?!? GO OUT TO EAT!!!! Oh my goodness, there was just no stopping it. I probably passed enough gas to fuel a small rural community while at that restaurant and on into the evening, including shopping for groceries. Even my son-in-law was impressed, which, let me tell you takes a lot as he is the "king" of flatulence!
So, I'm writing this down for posterity in my blog so that NO ONE will allow themselves such "mincing" freedom as I took today.....it is disastrous, not only for oneself, but for all others in your vicinity! Having said that, I had a lovely evening with my children and grandchildren and look forward to a week of fun and frivolity! Hope the same for you!

I just love summer, however, I can't exactly say what I do all day, but, as my sister-in-law Carol says, it takes me all day to do it! I will admit, I takes lots of breaks in whatever it is I'm doing......gotta play a little solitaire, a little Words with Friends, check the travel station on TV, eat a little lunch, clean up the dishes, take a nap, check my emails and facebook, talk on the phone with some of the kiddos, read a little, oh yeah, have an afternoon snack, or wine and cheese, finish up what I might have started in the morning, and then, dinner and nighttime TV! Whew! Just takes it out of me! Ha. Audra and I continue to have fun with "putting up" the garden stuff. She and David picked blackberries at a friends, so we were able to make blackberry jam; quite yummy!

We have had some excitement this month as our son-in-law Kyle came across a timber rattler in the gravel driveway by the house! He had to kill it as it was very much a danger to Kylee, who plays outside and rides her dirt bike on that very spot!!!! Thank God it was Kyle that came upon it, not Kylee. At any rate, Kyle managed to kill it, and then, as is the Hanner way, of course, WE ATE IT! Not bad, at first Kylee was not going to taste it, but I badgered her some and she agree to try it......she ate three pieces......what a hoot!

The first week of July Danielle, Sophie, and Brian came to visit.......always a BUSY but rewarding time. We got to have not one but TWO tea parties! This is a tradition which Sophie and I started when she was about 2 years old. Now, Brian is VERY into the tea.....well, actually in the mornings we have hot chocolate; afternoons are tea time. They are quite a pair. Even tho Brian is only two he is quite large for his age; Sophie on the other hand is quite tiny for her 5 years.....she can (and does on occasion) wear his clothes! They can go "at it" with great gusto.....I haven't decided who is loudest yet, just that Sophie's voice is more shrill. Brian and Grandpa go right out doors on the porch when they get up; if Grandpa is not quite ready to go out, Brian will grab his hand and say "out, out", pulling him to the front door. Quite cute. Sophie generally joins them when she gets up unless Grammy has managed to drag her "fat body" out of bed and is willing to set up the tea table! We try to let Danielle get a few extra "z's" as Brian many times keeps her up at night.....even yet. Sophie LOVES spending time with her cousins and especially having a "sleep over"......this time she got to spend the night with Aunt Audra and Uncle Kyle (whom she thinks is quite the "hunk" when he comes to breakfast with his shirt off--her words! What can I say, she is her mother's daughter!) The week went by quickly, as usual, and then all is quiet again; we miss them. Ozzie is interviewing for a position in Turkey and if he gets it, they will move. I cannot even allow myself to contemplate it! So for now, I'll play ostrich and "bury my head in the sand" away from reality! Works for me.

We just spent this weekend in St. Louis watching Kirsten play basketball. Brian is her coach, so it's always a joy for us to watch them in action. Well, that is unless he starts hollering at the ref, at which time I can't help myself, I start hollering "Sit down and shut up Coach!" NOT a good scenario, however, I'm sure it conjures up an image.......hummmmmm. They played hard and won 2 out of three games at Matthews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club in St Louis. This is quite a facility in the inter city which was built in the 1960's and has seen great success helping young people develop into quality citizens not just athletes. We enjoyed returning there; Danielle played there in the 80's when we followed her around with AAU Basketball.

When we got home around lunch time today, I promptly took up my position on the sofa for naptime! David and I both were "pooped". We realized we hadn't quite recovered from making chicken and dumplings on Friday......

We try to have a donation dinner periodically to raise money for our ministers Discretionary Fund or our Christians in Action group. Last Friday, it was "Chicken and Dumplings Night". We always have the best time working together to serve whomever comes out to eat. We then donate the proceeds to the discretionary fund or CIA. This Friday was especially good; we had 33 people and made over $500.00! Our church family is just super to attend these dinners and last Friday we also had two ladies from the community, Joan Whitener and Nancy Carrow, join us......we were thrilled. As I've said many times, "God watches after fools and idiots", so I have the "upper hand"! We're very fortunate that we have been able to help out in this manner and have had people to donate to help serve the less fortunate of Madison County through our churches Discretionary Fund and the CIA.

This week once again sees my family "on the move". Thankfully, Audra, Kyle, and Kylee are home from their "vacation"; they went to Doniphan and played on the river all last week. Kylee was in her element! She paddled around in a kayak, jumped in the river from the rope swing until her leg was a mass of bruises, and played with her cousins from daylight till dark! She loved every minute of it! She's our MAJOR outdoor girl. Her brother, Michael, is in Illinois visiting with his half-sisters for a couple of weeks; we miss him. On Thursday our Pam is taking the volleyball girls to Springfield for a tournament, the next weekend Brian's basketball team again plays in the Show-Me games, and the first weekend in August is the culmination of Christopher's 3 week session at Georgetown. Speaking of which, he is QUITE excited, as we are for him, at being in Washington, D.C. for the Junior Statesman of America program. He flew there today and is ensconced in his room over looking the Potomac River and within view of the Washington Monument! As he said "Score"! Ha. Hope his week is as exciting as his first afternoon/night. I am leaving Tuesday for Chicago; Danielle has requested a bit of help as they enter the last week of preparation before Sussical is going to be performed starting on July 26th. I will be helping finalize costumes, babysitting Brian, and being chief cook and bottle washer! Am looking forward to it.

So, as July rushes by, please join with me in celebrating each day we have and trying to look at the positives life grants us rather than dwelling on the negative.......Because after all, LIFE TRULY IS GREAT.