Just Me - AmeliaJake, The Peanut Butter Cafe & Roadhouse

Obviously, I must feel . . .

December 31, 2013 AmeliaJake 2 Comments

Obviously, I must feel as if I have something to say before this year ends, but it seems I have no idea what it is and come here expecting some sort of Ouija board writing. And it is not working.

Could it be a paranormal thing that I, with my amazing AmeliaJake psychic power, am psyching before it happens? At midnight, will something fundamentally change and I will different? Oh, you hope . . . you hope. But, I must remind you, better the devil you know than the one you don’t.

I think it would be fun to have a shortbread party right now – shortbread made with real butter. Shortbread that melts in my mouth. Shortbread! Shortbread! Shortbread! Shortbread! Shortbread! Shortbread crumbs on my chin and shirt and lap . . .

It appears that the season’s cheer sort of held off on me until NOW and I feel like having fun . . . and shortbread.

My friends here at the PBC & R are getting a wee bit nervous . . . Who IS this smiling, cheerful person? They need to relax; chances are it won’t last. That’s a bummer of a thought, but stranger things, dontcha know?

Just Me - AmeliaJake, The Peanut Butter Cafe & Roadhouse

Shoot and double Gadzooks

December 31, 2013 AmeliaJake 2 Comments

It’s 12 degrees right now and we have an alert.

Local Weather Alert
Special Weather Statement for Noble, IN
Other affected areas:
…
La Porte, IN; St. Joseph, IN; Elkhart, IN; Lagrange, IN; Steuben, IN; Noble, IN; De Kalb, IN; Starke, IN; Marshall, IN; Kosciusko, IN; Whitley, IN; Allen, IN; Berrien, MI; Cass, MI; St. Joseph, MI; Branch, MI; Hillsdale, MI; Williams, OH; Fulton, OH; Defiance, OH; Henry, OH; Paulding, OH; Putnam, OH
More

… SIGNIFICANT SNOW POSSIBLE NEW YEARS EVE THROUGH THURSDAY…

A POTENT UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY ADVANCING INTO WESTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA AND MAY LATER FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM. THERE IS SOME INDICATION THAT THE SYSTEM MAY TAKE A PATH FAVORABLE FOR A LONG DURATION SNOWFALL EVENT ACROSS THE SOUTHERN GREAT LAKES NEW YEARS EVE INTO THURSDAY.

WHILE THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXACT TRACK OF THIS POTENTIAL WINTER STORM REMAIN UNCERTAIN… SNOW… MAINLY LIGHT TO MODERATE… IS EXPECTED TO OVERSPREAD THE SOUTHWEST GREAT LAKES REGION AND INTO SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN AND NORTHERN INDIANA TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY.

THEN… A MORE POTENT SYSTEM COULD EXIT THE SOUTHERN PLAINS WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND INTENSIFY ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY REGION ON THURSDAY. AT PRESENT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DEGREE OF VARIABILITY BETWEEN MODEL SIGNALS WITH RESPECT TO THIS STORMS STRENGTH AND FORWARD SPEED. A SLOWER… MORE DEVELOPED SYSTEM WOULD FAVOR THE POTENTIAL FOR A SWATH OF HEAVY SNOW ACROSS NORTHERN INDIANA… FAR NORTHWEST OHIO AND SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY. GIVEN THE LONG DURATION OF THIS EVENT… 36 TO 48 HOURS… SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL TOTALS IN THE 4 TO 8 INCH RANGE ARE CERTAINLY POSSIBLE. AT PRESENT THE LOCATION OF THE HEAVIEST SNOW APPEARS TO BE PRIMARILY ALONG AND NORTH OF ROUTE 24… AFFECTING NORTHERN INDIANA… FAR NORTHWEST OHIO… AND SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN. SMALL FLUCTUATIONS IN THE TRACK AND INTENSITY OF THIS SYSTEM COULD SIGNIFICANTLY ALTER ACCUMULATIONS.

WHILE A SIGNIFICANT SNOW EVENT IS NOT A CERTAINTY AT THIS TIME… HOLIDAY TRAVELERS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO LATER FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS… SHOULD WINTER STORM WATCHES… WARNINGS OR ADVISORIES BECOME NECESSARY. ALSO… TRAVELERS MAY WISH TO CONSIDER ALTERNATE SCHEDULES AND ROUTES.

Just Me - AmeliaJake, The Peanut Butter Cafe & Roadhouse

Gadzooks, socks and boots

December 31, 2013 AmeliaJake

Ah, right off the bat I think I’m going to have to get some compressed air and blow out the “n” key (did that) because it did not want to go down. So, first crisis of the morning taken care of. Well, it wasn’t the first crisis; the first one was not being able to easily put my hands on a pair of matching socks – but then I figured I’m wearing tall boots, so who cares. (I do not put mismatched socks in the same category as underwear with holes in socks when it comes to the ER.)

I have no good reason for the Gadzooks, other than although I know a day is a day and a year is a year, I just feel better about it going to be 2014. Of course, there’s still a few hours to go, but I’ll just pretend I’m really far east of here until midnight.

I have no celebratory New Year’s Eve planned. No resolutions. Not anything. I first typed “no nothing”, keeping with the vernacular, but it just rubbed too hard the wrong way on the nap. That’s kind of funny because I just had to shift off the option in post writing that highlights grammar questions. It was driving me crazy with its little suggestions that I might way to phrase things differently.

We have a light snow this morning, with the occasional flake still falling. I’m going to check the weather forecast now and perhaps you’ll hear another GADZOOKS!

***Jody Lynn Vance: 1985-2011***

Jody was born at sunrise on a bright, sunny, cold, snowy Groundhog’s Day and from Day One she was a gift to everyone around her. Her infectious laugh and rambunctious spirit made her the center of attention where ever she happened to be.

She and her Dad would watch Sesame Street and sing at the top of our voices (and quite out of key) all of the songs. She enjoyed having Mom fix her hair so it was fancy and just right.

As a toddler she had quite an impressive vocabulary and often had a lot to say. One time Dad was headed out the door to go to work and she pointed her finger and said, “No. No. No. Don’t go anywhere!“

Jody was very seldom crabby, always happy and she wasted no time in spreading that joy to everyone around her. Jody’s favorite place was to be perched on the lap of Mom or Dad or playing with her toys spread out all over the floor. Jody was always affectionate, wanting hugs and “moochies” as she called smooches on the cheek.

At around two, Jody’s illness began to attack her. It took a beautiful, innocent child and put her through untold pain and suffering,

I know that through all of that she was not afraid. She had the heart and spirit of lion. She never gave up; time after countless time, she would open her eyes and there would come that smile. Jody lost her speech, but never was at a loss for words. She could say more with a look or a half smile than most people do yakking all day long.

After numerous doctor, hospital, and specialist visits, we were given the news of her illness. I remember that moment frozen in time … it was as if the entire world stopped. It was in that brief moment we both knew that we must make the very most of the time we had remaining together and not dwell on the despair of all of the things that would never be.

Jody was not expected to live more than three or so - but she had too many things to do and stories to tell, so she cruised by that birthday and over two more decades of birthdays, Christmases and millions of smiles and hugs. Jody was well-liked by other kids; once when she was being wheeled into her classroom at Handicare, one of the children yelled, “Hey everybody, Jody’s here” and all the kids cheered.

Two of the biggest joys in her life were her two little brothers, Joey and Sammy. She would just beam with joy when they would sit next to her and when they began to get older she’d love to listen to them running through the house and playing together. The two of them would start laughing and Jody would laugh right along with them. She would listen intently to everything they did and they would include her as often as they could. The three of them loved watching Saturday morning cartoons and The Three Stooges.

Joe and Sam did without a lot of things that other kids had, did and took for granted … and they never once complained or were resentful of the way things were. That shows a special kind of love and a special kind of family.

As the years went by and the boys grew up into strong and healthy, Jody’s health slowly and steadily declined. She would have long stretches where she was fairly stable and then would become so very ill.

Many times we were sure the end was near and then she would open those sparkling blue eyes and stretch just like nothing had happened at all.

Once she was in the hospital with her usual bout of pneumonia and lapsed into a coma; this went on for 8 days. One Dr. came in, examined her and just shook his head. Later that night Jody’s eyes popped open and she was refreshed from her cat- nap.

People over the years have commented, ”I don’t know how you do it. ”This always struck me as odd. My thoughts would always be: How could you even think of turning your back on someone who needs you that much?

It was always our promise to Jody that she would always live at home with her family and I think she found comfort in knowing that.

But, no one person can take the credit for caring for this wonderful young woman. It has taken an army of doctors, nurses, teachers, aides, pharmacists, friends, and family over the years to maintain Jody at home, and we could never begin to thank you enough.

Jody always kept her head held high and never seemed to be afraid; she has truly been my inspiration on many occasions. When things were gloomy and seemed hopeless, just one smile and a hug was all I needed to go on. Jody will always be my hero. I love her and will treasure the time we had together.

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THE LEANING COW ………………. Our musings & Our emoos

Daily Archives: December 31, 2013

Obviously, I must feel . . .

Shoot and double Gadzooks

Gadzooks, socks and boots