I love you Grandma

I am sure many of you know this already but I wanted to blog about it anyways. My grandma Irma Miller passed away last Friday. I flew home to Iowa on Saturday to spend time with family and returned to Indiana late Wednesday night.

Grandma's death was in no way sudden, but is still a loss to all those who knew her. Over the last 5 years she has been in and out of different care facilities and it was time for here to go.

My theory is that God simply wanted someone to bake for him. Grandma always made the best rolls even if Steve and I mashed them up. I have never tasted a better carrot cake and hers other cakes are the measure in which I measure all cakes.

I will also remember rides on her wheelchair, her playing croquet in the front yard with us kids, driving all around the county in the silver van, her and grandpa peacefully talking things out, her hamburgers, chocolate pudding, the blankets she made me, the way she shuffled the cards with only the tips of the cards, where she sat at Mass, working on puzzles with her and so many other little things.

Grandma was a true inspiration to many and to all of us who knew her, we can call ourselves blessed for being in her presence.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. ~ 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Amen

Good Bye Good Time

There was a story this week which received some media attention, but not the extent that our staff at A Cage of Words felt like it deserved. So, we are using our soap box to spread the word of the death of another great man in American politics.Who was this man that once had the guts to call Pat Schroeder, "Babycakes?"

Who was this man who said in a book:
"The girls had cocaine, and the music was loud. It was total happiness. And both of them had ten long, red fingernails with an endless supply of beautiful white powder....The feds spent a million bucks trying to figure out whether, when those fingernails passed under my nose, did I inhale or exhale, and I ain't telling."

Who was this man that funneled millions of dollars into arming Islamic Fundamentalist in the 80's to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan? (It also helped to cause many of today's issues, but never mind that.)

Who was this man that recieved the second highest amount of demerits when he was at the Navel academy, and then made lieutenant?

Who was this man who got into politics to spit his neighbor for killing his dog?

Who was this Democrat that represented the 2nd district of Texas for 12 terms? (The fighting 2nd is a bible belt good Christian district...hardly a place for a blue tie.)

Who was this man who had to testify to congress about his love of a Russian model which some in congress believed to be a spy?

This man was Charles Nesbitt Wilson. Know in the big show as Good Time Charlie. He partied hard and brokered enough back room deals to make even an Illinois politician blush. It was Tom Hanks who portrayed this man in Charlie Wilson's War. Yes, Wednesday was truly a sad day for American politics. I can only hope that he and Strom are watching over us now. Thank you Charlie for all you did for us. Rest in peace, servant of our freedom.

Keep up the fight... we must carry on for Charlie

To Swim A Mile

I remember a few years (7ish) when I first because a lifeguard. I did my training with Bonnie in the Ho Chunk House of Wellness pool. The hardest part of the training was not the brick, not the written test or recovery of a passive deep water victim with a positive MOI spin who needed back boarded, it was the 1 mile swim. I remember that it took me a little over an hour to do this task. All the other people in the class where done and on the side eating lunch before I was done, but I did it.

You may or may not know this about me but I swim at least 3 times a week. Most of the time my workout is about 1 mile in length, but I stop on average twice. Yesterday for some reason I just didn't stop. I was feeling good and the water was the right temp so I just kept going right through my first break and into my second set. Then I went right into my third and before I new it I was only 4-5 laps away from the mile so I just did it.

Now I know swimming a mile is not that big of a deal. Most swimmers will do this several times a week. There are a few lightweights out there who might not be able to handle it but that's ok. I also know that the distance is not important but how much effort you put in. Shorter workouts can be more productive and all that. It was just a small personal moment I wanted to share with you all because it was only the second time in my life I have done such a thing.

Keep up the fight