Snow....the good and the bad

SNOW!  Lots of it, too!

It started yesterday, falling down in fat, wet flakes.

And today, we awoke to 8 inches in our backyard!

While I headed out to take pictures in the cemetery, Rick suited up to head out to the water company. All 400 homes on our water system  are without power....and water. Ugh. The good and the bad of a beautiful snowfall!

He's been out there all day, waiting on the electric company to restore power to the plants. While he waits, he's making the best of the time by fixing some line breaks while there is no water pressure.

But before he left, my hubby shoveled the walk for me. I think this was the first time in his life to have to shovel snow!  It reminded me of the 4 winters I survived Chicago...

                                  

The Park was beautiful with the snow glistening on our big, beautiful, 50 year old trees.

                                 

But I was hard pressed to really enjoy the beauty after seeing the toll that this snowfall took on these majestic oaks.  If you look closely in the picture below, you'll see a glimpse of some of the branches that were ripped off of these special trees. "Oaklawn" is not named "Oaklawn" for nothing, you know. So when something hurts our trees, it is especially painful to all of us!

I did, however, get a chance to take out my frustration on dad with a good old fashioned snowball fight.

And finally, here is a picture of our farmhouse. It's survived decades of winters... so I suppose it will survive one more. But I think I'm ready for warm weather now!

Worn down

It's Tuesday, 12:30pm. I'm waiting on Rick to finish a customer phone call before we mosey over to lunch. Mother has "breakfast" waiting on us. YUM.

I'm feeling pretty worn down. We have concluded our "graveyard shift stake-outs" and are going to rely on the newly installed motion detector's to alert us of anything thing, human or otherwise, that crosses the boundary into our cemetery.

We didn't catch the thief, and I feel a bit disappointed in that. It would have been fun to nab the person that's been stealing from the dead!

My audit is tomorrow. I'm swamped. You know the saying, "When it rains, it pours."

It's true.

Rick's off the phone. I'm going to eat now.

Silence

Sometimes I just don't have anything to say.  This would be one of those times.

I had the most wonderful weekend (last weekend) with Mother. Sometime, I'll post pictures of our Mother-Daughter trip to Jefferson. But not now.

With the new year of 2010, the ownership transfer of Oaklawn Memorial Park has been completed. I have never felt more vulnerable and inadequate than I do today. As 100% stock-holder to this Cemetery (where we have 3,030 people buried) the buck does indeed stop here. Right at my doorstep. I can't defer to good ole dad anymore, except for advice and a hug.

And right now, for the first time in 52 years, our cemetery is the target of copper theft. Two nights this week, pathetic, heartless and selfish thieves have stolen vases from graves.

I'm sick to my stomach.  When making the calls to the families to inform them, I'm met with a variety of responses. Some are more upset than others. Thankfully, no-one has lashed out in anger at me.  But I feel hurt for those affected. And I feel angry, as if the bad guys broke into my own home and stole.

I wonder if Granddaddy ever considered this day when he founded Oaklawn Memorial Park in 1958.  I wonder what he would do about it if he were around today.

Preparations continue for our annual audit coming up. My attention is needing to focus on getting ready for that, but I can't seem to concentrate.

I think I'll just be silent for a while.

My thoughtful sister-in-law and mother

My parents, brother, and sister-in-law are at the Grand Canyon for vacation. On their way through Albuquerque, they found a necklace for me!

How thoughtful!

Too funny!  Can you picture me going out to work a funeral wearing a skull and crossbone???

TGIF

I have nothing to write about, except that I am really, really looking forward to a weekend.

Our Valentine's Date has been rescheduled multiple times, and is set to finally happen Saturday night. (Fingers crossed.) I have serious concerns for Rick's sanity, as well as mine, if something else comes up that forces us to reschedule again.

We've been a bit stressed lately, and are looking forward to a night together, out on the town!Mum's the word on what he has planned... I'll just have to wait and see.

Below is a picture of Rick helping to dig Sunday's grave. Isn't he cute?

Other plans this weekend are:

Friday night - Youth leader gathering

Saturday - Home and Garden Show maybe, then Rick will help to install an antenna for a friend

Saturday night - DATE!

Sunday - Church first, then a funeral that we both are working. We are planning on spending Sunday night at the house in Athens.

House, Sport, and 2009!

Well, the house showing went well last night. I feel much better about everything. Now, we just wait and let them work through the details they need for a mortgage, etc. All signs point to an offer coming our way. Big sigh.... I just have to keep reminding myself to not get worked up about it. It will happen when it's time. Below are the 2 pictures I was trying to post yesterday. The Cemetery and the Water Company went in together for a new purchase! We've affectionately named it "Sport." Of course, the entire family had to test drive Sport before we turned it over to our Shop Foreman. This will be used for meter reads with the water company and for maintenance duties in the Cemetery. We're hoping to cut down on the use of gas... and save wear on the old truck that seems to be getting older every day. Finally, tonight is New Year's Ever. We have repeat plans every year with our Cowboy Group, and a few other dear friends, to celebrate the new year. Dinner at Tim & Tiffany's house (Tim's famous lasagna) and then we'll take the party to the Clubhouse for live music, dancing, and midnight breakfast. Here is the picture from last year. I can't wait to spend the evening with them again!

Granddad and Uncle Sam

I caught myself thinking of Granddad today. And because I only knew him as a child, my memories are particulary child-like: - His socks were thin and almost see-through. Black with stripes. Like hose. - I don't think I ever saw him without a necktie on. - Candy. Always candy. (He's to blame for my addiction to Almond Joys.) - $1.00 for eating everything on my plate. - $1.00 if I'd jump off the diving board without holding my nose. (Heck, I won't even do that as a grown up!) - Prunes. Don't ask! And... - Uncle Sam. In the picture above, you can see an Uncle Sam bank sitting on the credenza behind Granddad. That's the main thing I remember seeing in Granddad's office here at Oaklawn. Granddad always taught us kids to save our money. And he'd let us put a coin in Uncle Sam's hand, push the button, and we'd watch it fall into his bag (the bank.)

What's really cool is that Rick and I are carrying on two of the businesses that Granddad started, the water company and the cemetery. And all right here in the same building that he officed from. I'm pretty certain that I will always fall short of Granddad's business sense. Sometimes it's hard running a business, especially when I don't really consider myself business-smart. But what I do know, without a doubt, is that he loved me SO much. There's a certain soft spot a girl always has for her Granddad. And since I was the only granddaughter, I like to think he spoiled me more than the boys. Uncle Sam now sits on my desk at the office.

And when I look at him, I am reminded of the values that Granddad believed in: Personal Integrity, Honesty, Financial Savings, Honoring God with all our resources, Being active in church... It almost seems like that generation is gone, and with it are the values they believed in. I think that if we all lived like our grandparents lived, the world would be a better place. I wish I could have one more day with Granddad. I don't think I would want it to be with me as an adult, getting to know him from a grown-up perspective. I'd much rather be a little girl again, sitting on his lap.

Weekend, ahoy!

We're sailing into the weekend... and I'm ready for it! Plans for this evening include a dinner-theatre featuring the Henderson County Performing Arts Center's traveling troupe. They are performing a cute musical "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" We've got a table with our friends: Stan and Jan, Tim and Tiffany, and Don and MaryAnn. Tomorrow is... NOTHING. I'm looking forward to an easy Saturday. We do have a funeral scheduled at work, but Dad is covering that. So there's a possibility we'll head to Dallas for a day out. Someone, who shall remain nameless, needs a new pair of reading glasses. It's not ME, I assure you. :) This is a random thought, but I wish I had a picture to post of Rick leaping the shrubbery today. It would be worth some money! We were "power-walking" at lunchtime through the cemetery and he decided to showoff. I was duly impressed with his flight over the Garden of Peace. Maybe I'll get a picture next time.

Back to work

We're back from Ohio. What a Monday... Reminds me of that song by the Bangles "Just Another Manic Monday...." I didn't get the chance to upload any pictures of the weekend conference we attended. Actually, I only took 2 pictures. And the stories that would have to accompany the pictures wouldn't make much sense. Kind of those "you had to be there" stories... The conference was entitled "Change the World" and focused on thinking outside of the box for ways to LIVE our mission as Christ-followers. Church is not about how to get more people into the seats, but how to get more people out of their seats...serving others and sharing God's love. I've got lots of new ideas to process about what I can do differently in my life. And I'm so grateful for the freedom we have to "think outside of the box." We're in the minority here, living in this country, with the luxuries that we have. And speaking of freedom, our cemetery hosted the "Freedom Riders" today at a funeral of a retired serviceman. You'll note the American flags in the picture below... each flag was held by one of the Military Veteran motorcycle riders that surrounded the family at the funeral. The service featured full military honors, including the 21 gun salute, presentation of the flag, and taps playing in the background. After a quick google search, I learned lots about Taps, the haunting melody that has only 24 notes. I had no idea there were words to the song, but here is the first verse. Day is done, gone the sun, From the lake, from the hills, From the sky. All is well, safely rest, God is nigh. That's really beautiful. I can't seem to get the song out of my head.

Audit Results... 'nuff said!

My Audit Rating!

I can't stop smiling!

Audit-Bound

I've spent the last week preparing for our annual Tx Dept of Banking audit at the Cemetery.

Well... I've spent the last week "thinking" about the audit. The physical action didn't really begin until last Thursday. I usually put things off and then kick into gear under the pressure. The Banking Dept comes every 12-18 months for our audit of the Perpetual Care Fund, as well as our operating procedures. You wouldn't believe how closely they look at our records! I used to be nervous - real nervous - about the annual Audit. This is #5 for me, and I've found that this time I'm much more relaxed about it.

Being that I took Friday off (iphone!) the real work didn't begin until Sunday afternoon. Mother met me at the office and we began preparing the folders. She has been so very helpful by keeping up with our "internal audit" on a monthly basis - it really doesn't leave much to check over before Mr. Commissioner arrives. And Shannon had already pulled all the folders, a task that was pretty time consuming. I'm grateful for all the help I can get.

We catalogued the folders, completed official Board Minutes, and searched for Stock Certificates (found them, whew!). Then the fun began for me to go through our Trust Fund statements for the past year. It's difficult understanding all of the investments and capital gains and reinvested dividends - I've never claimed to be a "numbers" gal. Truly, it's like Greek.

I fumbled my way through and finally felt like I had a handle on everything.

Rick got to Athens last night about 9:30pm, so that was my call to hang it up for the night. We are continuing to settle in at the Farm House, little by little. Last night was the first night we actually cooked over there. Rick's famous "mac and 'maters" filled our tummies and we watched a movie.

Fell into bed well after midnight. The GREAT thing about staying at the Farm House is that I can sleep until 8:30am and still be at work at 9am. No commute is fantastic!

The Audit is tomorrow. I'll spend the rest of the day tying up loose ends. We're spending the night over here again tonight, so it will be convenient to work late and arrive in the office early.

Crossing my fingers...