Catching Up a Bit...

Little Brother called, just to check on me, since I’d not posted in a while. So, I thought I’d better catch up! By the way, follow the link, and read up on his exciting happening this week when a drunk hit his son’s parked car – in his driveway!

Here’s what’s been happening in the Sounding Forth house.

MLH is getting better – he finally went to work, but he’s trying to take it easy out there. He has a gastroenterologist appointment next Tuesday. Thanks for all your prayers – please don’t stop!

I’ve been extremely busy at work, but it’s all good. I’m still loving it!

Elder Son came in for the night, and it was good to see him. He played with Doug Moreland and Matt Skinner at the Hog Pit, then went to Alpine and on to Austin with them. His truck is still here, so that means we’ll see him again soon…and we’re looking forward to that!

Younger Son moved out into an apartment, and his room was immediately filled by our little friend Sarah, who moved in from the Midland College dorm for the summer. She’s been a joy thus far – we’ve never had a munchkin of the female persuasion hang out at our house and we’re enjoying it. Sarah starts her first job ever at Best Buy this weekend, so that will mark a milestone for her. Sarah is the daughter of one of my childhood friends, and was raised wayyyy out in the country, so working a summer job wasn’t feasible. She’s agreed to dogsit for us, when we’re traveling, so that’s a plus. And, speaking of kids of the doggie kind…

Zack the Wonder Dog is about to have his world rocked once again, as Zoie the Wonder Pup has graduated from her puppy hunting training. Though Zack grieved for about a week when Zoie left, it will be interesting to see how they reacquaint themselves. All reports from Zoie’s trainers are excellent, so that long trip to Kansas just may have been worth it! We’re to pick her up on Monday on our way back from somewhere.

Somewhere, you say? Yup. MLH and I are going somewhere, we don’t really have a plan. We’re just going to get in the truck and go – get out of here for the weekend. Alone. Woohoo!! Well, at least until we go pick up the Zoie-monga.

So, it will be a bit before I post again. Meanwhile, blog amongst yourselves and have a blessed Memorial Day weekend!

Warning: Man Looking Good In Hospital Gown!

9:45 p.m. update

We are home. MLH has been preliminarily diagnosed with diverticulitis, and an appointment with a gastroenterologist has been scheduled. The E.R. doctor wanted to hospitalize him, since he was still in pain, but MLH talked them out of it. Thanks so much for your prayers, please continue.

Though we are tired, and MLH is still in considerable pain, we are thankful. The first radiology report, where they were supposed to be checking his appendix, etc., came back showing a mass on the kidney! The doctor talked to us about treatment options, percentages of complete removal, etc. , then left the room. He was great, the way he told us, really. And as soon as he left the room, yeah – I cratered – I had a hard time breathing, tears rolling down my face. I’ve been here before, with our big brother, Tony, whom we lost to cancer at age 39. MLH had to remind me of some things… things the Lord’s promised us…and I started to breathe again. And he said, “Whose report are we going to believe?”

Oh, yeah. I forgot for a second. We’re going to believe the report of the Lord!!

The tests then began in earnest : contrast CAT scans, with die via IV, oral, and otherwise – and thankfully, the reports revealed that the “mass” was nothing more than a cyst on MLH’s kidney. The doctor said it was nothing to worry about – no cancer after all. And that is the report of the Lord, people.

Sweet.
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I need to quit saying “It’s never boring around here.” Last night, MLH got home from the well he’s working on, and we met for supper.

This morning around 6:45 a.m., he was on the phone taking reports from the wellsite, and started experiencing intense abdominal pain. It worsens, so he suffers a quick shower (you know, because Momma always wants you to have clean underwear in case you have to go to the hospital), and we head to the emergency room. Thankfully, they put him in a room right away. It’s almost noon now. They’ve drawn blood, taken vitals, and taken x-rays. Now they’re doing some type of contrast cat scan. They did give him a pain pill, so everything’s rosy now on the pain scale.

Snooty, MLH and I have had so much fun with the Man Cold youtube video—thanks so much for sharing! This morning, during all the tests, i.v.’s, needle sticks, MLH said, “I just want to tell you – this is Man Pain.” And we cracked up.

Here he comes back from Radiology – more later!

"Do What They Say, Say What You Mean, One Thing Leads To Another"*...aka Effective Lessons In Communication

Yesterday, my brother Scott and I shot in the 2nd Annual Rock Bottom House Shoot with a friend. (The Rock Bottom House/Café is an establishment in Odessa, owned and operated by Tamara Moersch. This place is a great café by day, and after lunch opens up to at-risk youth around 2pm. It’s a safe place for them to hang out, receiving tutoring and counseling, play pool, and do their homework. And the shoot is the Rock Bottom House annual fundraiser.)

We had a great time, the weather was beautiful. The shooting lesson I took last week helped me get back on track, though I must say that Little Brother is quickly creeping up on my score, and he’s had zero lessons. He’s just a natural.

When we were young, Scott and I attended a private school where French was a part of the scholastic requirement. As such, we learned quite a bit of the language, though we rarely utilize it today. We sometimes lapse into French without even thinking, especially on the easy stuff.

We’re in the shooting cart (i.e., glorified golf cart) with our friend, who is driving. I'm sitting next to him, Scott is in the back seat. Our friend is the epitome of a smart-alec. He is one of those guys who loves to have the last word ; however, he has a huge heart and we love him. I can’t even remember how it started, or what we were discussing, but it went something like this:

Scott: I got it.

Janie: Pardonnez-moi, sil vous plait?

Scott: J’ai comprende.

We laugh.

Friend, out of the blue: Voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir?

Scott and I look at each other in shock, and try not to crack up. I mean, this guy is a customer. I can’t even breathe, I’m trying not to bust a gut laughing. Our friend looks at us, quizzically. He knows something’s up, he’s just not sure what it is.

Friend: What? What?

Janie (when I can talk): Ummm…do you know what you just said?

Friend: Well, no. I'm pretty sure it’s French, though.

Janie: (Man. I really don't want to do this.) You just said, “Will you lay down with me tonight?”

Friend, deep red in the face: I didn’t know what it meant, just that I thought it was French or something.

Scott and I trade looks, share a quick smile, and promptly change the subject. We're good like that, you know.

*Song reference: ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER, The Fixx, REACH THE BEACH album, 1983

Happy Mother's Day Gift Suggestions and Great Ideas

Yup, it’s Mother’s Day this Sunday. For some goofy reason, I was looking at ideas for Mother’s Day, and I realized that I. Must. Be. Weird. Already knew that, didn’t you? I belong in one of those State Farm red dot commercials: Janie is Weird. I am so there.

Here are some of the ideas I gleaned from the Internet, and my thoughtful response to each:

A Gift Certificate for a Day at the Spa. (Janie: I’d rather have a Gift Certificate to a Hunting Lodge for MLH and myself, comfy beds, guns, shells and gourmet cooking provided.)

A Beautiful Vase of Flowers (Janie: I think that a beautiful day cruising the wildflowers with the boys and MLH in the Hill Country of Texas would be way better, no cutting allowed.)

A Memory Maker Photo Bracelet (Janie: Making photo memories of my own, taking hunting pictures of our friends and their beautiful dogs, my sons, their friends, and of course, our Littles.)

A Picture Purse (Janie: Are you kidding me? A Picture Purse? Man. If it’s gotta be a purse, make it a Dooney. Or a Coach. Even a fake one is better than a Picture Purse. Puhleese.)

Gift Certificate to a Meal Preparation Place (Janie: Guys, just go by Super Suppers (I love that place!) and pick it up, I’ll put it in the oven. You know it’s gonna be great!)

Take her to the beauty salon. (Janie: You are killin’ me! Am I not gorgeous enough for you? You take me to the beauty salon after all the money I spend there already, I’ll fall into deep dark depression. Highlights, manicures, facial waxing, facials, yadda, yadda, yadda…it seems I am there all the time! I work the heck out of my schedule to make my own appointments, and yours, thank you very much!)

Gift Certificate for a Massage (Janie: I don’t even KNOW these people! I’ll pick my own masseuse, thank you very much…after I lose about 150 lbs.)

Gift Certificate to the Mall. (Janie: Ummmm, how about Cabela's? or Bass Pro?? She Safari has cool clothes! Even the Ugly Dog Hunting Catalog beats the mall! Besides, if you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ll know I haven’t experienced really good luck at malls lately.)

How about getting her that new car she’s been eyeing? She hauls the kids around all day, runs your errands, blah, blah, blah. (Janie: Yeah! Now we’re talking! That’s it! The 2008 GMC AWD Denali, with the cool dog trailer hooked on the back. Suhweet. Only about $70 grand. I want the black one! I’ll run ALL your errands. I’ll even haul somebody else’s kids, or dogs, or whatever. No problem!)

A Diamond Necklace. Diamonds are Forever. Diamonds say “I love you!” (Janie: Ummm. Could I possibly have that new Beretta DT10 Trident L Sporting Gun? Silver engraved receivers say “I love you!”, too! Especially at Eight Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty Five cool ones.)

A Card or Note, Saying How Much You Love Her. (Janie: I am so there. I love that stuff. Really.)

Happy Mother’s Day, Moms, everywhere. You simply rock. Be blessed this weekend.

The Guess Who Review

If you read my last blog, you’ll note I was a little hesitant about this past weekend’s plans. I’m not a fan of company gatherings, for the most part. But this one was…okay.

And when it came to The Guess Who concert, said company gathering turned downright excellent. My employer rented the entire Woodlands Pavilion (to tell you how big, Kanye West played there the night before), and solicited sponsors, and opened it up to all employees and their families, as well as customers and sponsors. All of the money raised was donated to various charities, which was way up my alley.

Our CEO told us that he had seen this show in Vegas, and it was excellent.

He.Did.Not.Lie.

We had a great time, our friends were ecstatic and we all swayed and sang to the music. There was a little dance floor opened up in front of the stage, and people were jamming. The libations were flowing, and the only thing missing was lighters in the air and a certain kind of smoke, if you get my drift. Grooooooovy, maaaaaaan. Raised Blackberries just don’t exude the same ambiance.

Garry Peterson, drummer/songwriter and one of the original co-founders of the band was joined by Jim Kale, another original co-founder, songwriter and bassist. Each of the band members told stories throughout the night, and were very entertaining. The Guess Who started up in the late sixties, and continued through the seventies.

I totally considered this a band of my time, but my fellow attendees at the concert were a bit older than MLH and I. They swore this was “their band, their era.” I don’t know about that…I knew every word of every song. They couldn’t believe it. MLH chalked it up to a couple of things: my brother Scott and I having an intense interest in music, plus growing up in the shadow of our older brother’s musical tastes. I chalk it up to Scott and I hanging with older running buddies throughout our high school years – most of them probably rock and rollers, at that. One of my friends kept saying, “Who knew you would know all the words to these songs? Who knew?” Well, heck, even I didn’t know I would! I couldn’t name a single The Guess Who song…until I got there.

And later, some of us were granted access to the VIP room, and given picture moments with the band. My friends ate that up, as well as the autographed CD’s they were presented.

And hey, Jim…this “American Woman” did not come “Undun”; matter of fact, she was “Laughing” and did the “Clap for the Wolfman”. Then, “These Eyes” vowed to “Share The Land”…before there is “No Time”.

If The Guess Who come to your town, go, see. Dance. Laugh.

If you knew them back in the day, you’ll reminisce. If not, you’ll enjoy.

Knock, Knock...Who's There? The Guess Who

I flew into Denver Wednesday night, just in time to go to supper with MLH. This morning, it was off to work, sales calls, then lunch with clients.

And then, it was time to pack. Again. This time, for Houston, where we will have our company annual meetings and hoorah. Our meetings start at 8 a.m. Friday. Supper tomorrow night will be enjoyed with all my fellow co-workers from all across the country and beyond. We have the entire restaurant reserved. God willing, MLH will join us later tomorrow night. Saturday morning, we’ll be in meetings again, then we’re on our own until the company picnic. From there, we’ll go to our company concert, where The Guess Who will be playing, at the Pavilion at the Woodlands. My company is sponsoring the concert, and it’s a fundraiser event for some local charity.

Seriously.

I know - It’s never boring around here.

Stranger Things...

How wild is this? I get into Grand Junction, walk into the hotel lobby – and run right by a fellow board member from another organization, who lives in Houston. He was surrounded by a group of guys (he’s in a powerful position). I really don’t know him that well, and he had on a ball cap, so…

I hesitated. Got on the elevator. Decided to e-mail him and see if my eyes were deceiving me.

Nope, it’s a small world. He’s in the bar with a bunch of guys. Think I’ll pass. Even though he’s like The Top Dog of His Very Major Freakin’ Oil Company. So, I asked him to meet me for breakfast, but he’s going out to their rig at 5 a.m.

I don’t really want to go into the bar. It’s probably smoky, and I’m. Alone.

Well, not really, but my Young Whippersnapper Salesman has already gone to his room – he was up all night working with consultants, and had to be on a rig at 5:30 a.m. this morning. He would get up and go with me, if I made him, but I’m not going to do so.

So, I think I’ll pass. The trials of being a woman in the oilpatch…gotta keep that reputation pristine!

On another note entirely, my Lord, the scenery driving up from Denver was absolutely breathtaking. I had a hard time driving, I was so admiring the view. And then, I met my young whippersnapper salesman in a small town enroute. We had an appointment to meet a manager for an oil company. We go into the office, for our 3pm appointment. We wait, and wait, and wait. An hour and fifteen minutes. And finally, he comes out of another meeting, and gives us the finger. (Not that finger! The index finger, that means “just one more moment.”)

And ten minutes later, he comes out, and we meet. He was Australian. We’re both Texan. Now, I can communicate with a freakin’ wall. But this guy? No way. I mean, we handled it, but I know I didn’t understand everything, nor did my salesman. Still, we tarried on. It was hilarious, well, after we got back in the vehicle, anyway. My salesman looked at me with this look of shock on his face.

Salesman: What did he say?

Janie: I think he said “I lost two consultants to your firm, are you working for ABC Oil Company?” (By the way, this is not beginning said meeting on a positive note.)

Salesman: Are you serious??? That’s what he said?

Janie: Yup. The very thing you were worried about, he said.

Salesman: Well, how did I do? All I understood was “ABC Oil Company.”

Janie: You handled it well. You didn’t react, you just said, “We are doing lots of work as well as project management for ABC Oil Company.” It was the perfect thing to say.

Salesman: What now?

Janie: You and I will both write him a personal note, and you will come by to see him when you’re in the area. Just by those very acts, you’ll be differentiating yourself. He’s not even met the proprietor of the company he’s currently using. At some point, he may give you a call, who knows?

(Man. I hope we can understand him better if he does!)

I love my job.