Those that read this column often know that my mom is aging as we all are, had a stroke recently, and is now in a nursing home where they take very good care of her. Last week, I was keeping mom busy with a zoom call so my sister could cut her nails, along with a few other little delicate chores like finding her glasses (again) and filling up her water cup…if you can find it. Those are two constant battles for my sweet sister. Well, during this time mom very matter-of-factly informed us, “Last night I had a date with a Baron. He was a gentleman.” I giggled inside and told her that was really nice – my mind was already drifting; reflecting on the kinds of jewels I might receive for Christmas if we could get her married to this Baron fast enough – then I quietly asked mom what the Baron looked like? She replied, “Not bad. But his haircut didn’t look so good.” My sister and I were rolling. Lately, mom seldom makes sense, but this was a really good day. Then she told me, very matter-of-factly, staring at me on the phone, that I needed to cut my bangs. I love it when she comes up with something like that because I know for just a short moment, mom is still in there somewhere. The last time I was visiting her in person, as I bent down to kiss her on the forehead, she looked directly at me and said, “Do you want me to get my scissors and cut your hair?” Mom was a hairdresser before I was born, quite a few years ago, but I guess it’s hard to take the hairdresser out of the mom, no matter how many years have passed. She ALWAYS stinky-permed our hair the day before school pictures, stressing to us, “You must suffer to be beautiful!”
Each person must live their life as a model for others. Rosa Parks
Recently, I attended a baby shower for my niece in Austin. It was so great to be with my sister, Danielle, who is one of the grandmothers-to-be, but there were a couple of other things that I learned from the young whipper-snappers giving the shower. #1. The “other” grandmother made a jeep out of baby diapers (four wheels and spare tire), a covered cardboard box (the body), box of diaper wipes (seats), covered pool noodles (roll bars), pacifiers (tow bars clips), baby boots (side mirrors), baby bottles with plastic nipple guards covered in red tissue so the light would shine through (front & rear lights along with a tiny sets of bulbs inside), a set of toy keys, even a couple of stuffed animals sitting in for the driver and passenger. We are talking cute. #2. For party food, after you cut up all your fruit and veggies, sandwiches, chocolate fountain, marshmallows and more… just cover your countertop with parchment paper and set it all up… no dishes or serving plates, just parchment paper straight on the counter. It looked great and it didn’t take up awkward space like platters. Clean-up was a breeze. #3. The most fun toy was a Crawling Crab that played music, had light-up eyes, and walked frontward & backwards depending on an obstacle. I liked it so much I ordered three when I got home and used them for Christmas gifts. I would suggest that instead of the battery crab, get the chargeable crab (there are several companies – so don’t just buy the cheapest one, buy the FeelGuy chargeable one). I promise. Update: Baby Riley Danielle Bowman was born really early on January 12th weighing only 4lbs.6oz. Since her due date wasn’t until February 20th, they kept her in the hospital until she weighed 5 lbs. She is perfect and beautiful. It’s nice to have a baby in the family again.
It doesn’t matter how strong your opinions are. If you don’t use your power for positive change, you are, indeed, part of the problem. Coretta Scott King
In the past, I have told you a couple of benefits of getting older, like getting 10% off at Pet Supermarket on the last Tuesday of each month. That’s great savings if you spend an abundance on pet food supplies for four animals. Me. So, this month I saved $12.90 on my LJ water bill. That’s huge. Don’t go to Goodwill expecting anything because they discontinued their Senior Discount. ☹. That wasn’t very nice. Consumer Cellular, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon all give senior discounts. Kohl’s, Ross, Michael’s, TJMaxx, Walgreens, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Dairy Queen, Denny’s, IHOP, Jack in the Box, McDonald’s, Sonic, Taco Bell, Subway, Wendy’s, Whataburger, AMC Theatres, and plenty more. Some discounts may just be on a certain day of the month or could be a free item. Some discounts are available every single day. But you have to ask for it, so they don’t hurt our feelings by asking us if we are old…
Hate is a wasteful emotion. Most of the people you hate don’t know you hate them, and the rest don’t care. Medgar Evers
A Kansas City mother was charged in the death of her one-month-old baby after telling police that while putting the baby down for a nap she accidentally placed the child in the oven instead of the crib and burned it to death. Hmmm. There are no words. As a mom, I can’t ever imagine ANY situation where you might get a crib and an oven mixed up. The baby was pronounced dead at the scene. I was in a store last week, shopping, trying not to listen to a young child crying, sitting in the basket with a man I believed to be her father, who was telling the little girl over and over again to shut up. It was horrible. Another woman shopping was visibly bothered (it was hard not to because it was so loud) so as I passed her, I said, “Just because you can have a child, doesn’t mean that you should.” I mean that. There should be a choice, all options for people that have unwanted pregnancies. Since I wrote the above, I read that the mother of the infant that was put in the oven had mental issues and did not possess mature decision-making skills. Really!?
Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you. Frank Lloyd Wright
Two JetBlue planes made contact (aka collided) on the tarmac at Boston’s Logan airport as snowy conditions caused skidding. No injuries. 53 people were evacuated after an American Airlines plane slipped off the snowy runway in NY. No injuries. There was a Delta Airlines Boeing 757 carrying 184 passengers that lost its nose wheel just before takeoff in Atlanta. No injuries. An Atlas cargo plane made an emergency landing in Miami after a reported engine failure after being in the air for just 14 minutes. Witnesses reported sparks trailing the plane in the night sky. The FAA noted that a softball size hole was discovered above the engine. Royal Caribbean confirmed the death of a passenger on their 9-month long Ultimate World Cruise, also announcing an itinerary reroute is imminent due to the ongoing conflict in the Red Sea and Suez Canal, along with Princess Cruises announcing the same caution. Queen Victoria sailed from Fort Lauderdale on January 22nd. Since, a total of 129 passengers and 25 crew members have reported gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea. The ship wasn’t scheduled to dock in Honolulu until Feb 12. A single-engine Diamond DA40 private plane lost the left rear passenger door a few miles from Buffalo, New York airport with two people aboard, but was able to land safely. Aren’t vacations fun!
We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. Martin Luther King Jr.
If you want to join the worldwide bird count Feb 16th – 19th, go to birdcount.org. The Brazosport LULAC Council invites you to their Scholarship Banquet and Fundraiser on Feb. 22 at the LJ Civic Center. Contact Irene Ocanas iocanas@texasgulfbank.com 979-549-7441. The mother of the Oxford High School shooter was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after a two-week trial. That means as a parent she is responsible for allowing her child to have the gun used for a school shooting. She knew he had mental health issues. His father goes to trial next, the mother saying multiple times during her trial that it was her husband’s responsibility to secure the gun. Perfect example of being thrown under the bus but in this case, ok. Lisa Marie Presley was working on a memoir when she died a year ago of complications from bariatric surgery years earlier. If you remember she was married to Michael Jackson and Nicholas Cage. Probably some really good stories. The book is set for a fall release. There are new McDonald’s toys…12 different Squishmallows with your Happy Meal, for a limited time only. A Disney on Ice Princess Belle skater has been hospitalized in serious condition after a fall in Minneapolis. The script is being prepped for the third Top Gun film. Diana Ross, 79, is the new face of Saint Laurent Spring 2024 campaign. Fruit Stripe Gum is being discontinued after 50 years on the candy counter. Just typing this, I can taste the gum from my childhood. A Tesla employee who loved Elon Musk was killed after his Model 3 crashed into a tree in 2022. His friend who survived the crash, said the car’s Full Self-Driving feature was turned on at the time of the crash. The driver had received the $15,000 add-on feature, free with his employee discount. Tesla says that the vehicles are still far from being able to drive themselves. This could be the first known death involving the feature. According to a new study, mutant wolves roaming the Chernobyl disaster area have developed cancer-resistant genes. A few airlines may be asking for volunteers to consent to being weighed before boarding planes, so the airlines can refine weight estimates for planes before takeoff. The CDC is now warning about a staggering measles outbreak in 9 states.
A 36-year-old trans female shooter, Genesse Moreno, wearing a trench coat and backpack opened fire inside Lakewood Church last week, with an AR-style rifle in between services. Two off-duty officers (heroes) working security, shot and killed her. The shooter brought her 7-year-old son into the church with her – he was shot in the head, is in critical condition and not expected to live. An employee of the church, a man in his 50’s, was also wounded. The church is attended weekly by 45,000 people, so if this situation had happened during services, it might have turned out totally different. How was she able to buy an AR-style rifle despite her criminal and mental health history, and how could you take your child with you to a shooting. The shooter’s former mother-in-law described that Moreno suffered from Munchausen Syndrome by proxy and was making her own son sick. Remember Gypsy Rose Blanchard.
Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce are very accomplished siblings. Travis recently shared that their real name is pronounced Kels not Kel-see. Jason later explained that the rest of their family goes by the Kels pronunciation, but years ago their dad got tired of correcting everyone that called him Kel-see, so he just changed it, so Kel-see it is. Have a great week and thank you for reading and shopping The Source Weekly.
Lisa
Send comments to Lisa Baker at lisa@thesourceweekly.com
