Lent & Spring Training are my friends

I'm strapped in for what I believe and feel will be a rollercoaster ride!

I am so looking forward to Lent. I actually began my Lenten resolutions shortly after New Year's Day. I tried a little something different this year. It seems everyone always goes up to the midnight deadline of Fat Tuesday and then BOOM!

Come Ash Wednesday, it's an about face.

Not for me. I really did kick off the year with good intentions and have plugged along, little by little. Instead of an abrupt halt or revving up, I'm coasting into Lent with very good momentum.

This is the week my friend flies into town though I won't see him until the end of the week. Lent begins just in the knick of time. And Auntie scheduled an appointment to get our taxes done. I can not even believe the almost all-nighter I pulled over the weekend gathering all of my tax information. First of all, I have nothing. Yet, I am such a meticulous person, I notated everything and anything for my new tax guy. It felt soooo good to get that material organized and get myself perched to cross yet one more thing off of my 2011 to-do list! My Aunt has known her tax guy since he was a baby....and ironically, he does the taxes of a number of my co-workers. Funny how life plays out. I am a month older than he yet I'm fairly positive he makes at least 20-40x more money than I make. I think I am ok with that having donned a new attitude after Mom's death stretching into 2011.

Ash Wednesday brought torrential rains. I think they caused my Aunt to catch a little cold. She's a bit under the weather now. However, we found the most delicious fish luncheon across from The Lake County Captain's Ballpark, the Captain's Club, to enjoy a meal together.

The rains continued. I had a personal day from work this week, where I had to rise at 5am. Nice. The only girl who is OFF and must get up at the crack of dawn. Amazing. In my travels I had to cross the Valley View Bridge not once, but twice. For those of you who are not familiar with this bridge, someone crashed, flew off the bridge and died just a few weeks ago. Unnerving to be traveling on it in an awful rain storm.

We survived. I actually got to spend some quality time with my friend who is in from out of town. Amazing how some things and people never change. I am so glad that is not my mojo.

But, it was /is nice spending a little time with him for just a few days.

Besides the Lenten feeling saving me over the next 6-8 weeks, Spring Training is finally in full swing and my boys began playing games this week. Oh, yes, there is a God. Thank you God for just the simplest of things to keep me going! Baseball is definitely one of those energizers.

Seeing MLB on tv has gotten me through this stressful week.....Thank you!

'With faith in God, we know we are not alone'

I admit, usually an upbeat person, I've been going through a bad stretch since my car was struck by a man high on PCP as it rested in my company underground parking garage.

I know. I've been told about 212 times how no one was hurt and I am very lucky. And I agree. I was not injured, no one was injured. My guardian angel was watching over this situation.

I know it is only a car. I'm over that as well.

But let me tell you. My life has been turned upside down. Though not injured, folks forget that emotional stress, strain, duress, and hardship can oftentimes be much worse BUT there is no way really to record and calculate the toll it takes on a person.

Not only have I had 200x the stress placed on my shoulders...my life agenda has been put in disarray. I am even further behind.

It's ironic what I do for a living. My life is a television show which is closely back timed. Every second in my life is accounted for and utilized. Taking care of a parent or elder person, working a full time job, and just trying to keep it all going, allows for not much spare time. Who am I kidding. No spare time.

At the beginning of Lent, I sat down and outlined what major projects I needed to tackle over the coming months....well, I actually was coming along swimmingly well until that fated day.

It's amazing how one bad decision by a stranger has impacted my life, so quickly.

I can not get ahead. No matter how hard I try. No matter how I try to fend off sleep. It's no good. I can not get ahead monetarily and with my precious time.

Over the last few weeks, I've had everyone come up to me and offer advice. I do appreciate the advice. I greatly appreciate the support also given by my friends and many co-workers. But frankly, without walking in my shoes and knowing me and my family's needs, it's really hard to hear some of the wise words of wisdom:

• do this, do that
• hire a lawyer
• don't hire a lawyer
• take the money and run (which is hardly enough to get a car of any type)
• get a new car
• get a foreign car, they are cheaper (not doing this)
• get a cheap used car
• lease a nice car
• get your car fixed
• get a sports car
• get an suv
• it's a sign --good time to get a car
• don't worry
• sue everyone
• change insurance companies
• go to a salvage yard and buy 50 dollar doors (not a bad idea)
• don't get the car fixed until you have to
• junk the car (can't do this just yet, it runs perfectly)
• take it to my auto body, no mine, no mine, no mine
• pray over it, a lot
• God will take care of it all

The list is endless.

Those of you who know me, know that when there is a big decision I take my time in solving it and consider EVERY option.

I truly believe I will look back on this a month from now, and HOPEFULLY the situation will be rectified somehow, in a way acceptable to our needs.

I am not a young, single chick who can fly by the seat of her pants. I have a huge responsibility in caring for an elderly parent. Unfortunately, those not living with, taking care of, or dealing with this issue on a regular basis don't really have a clue what it all entails. My life as I once knew it is gone forever.

The car I purchase or lease or re-construct has to cater to me and my parent's needs.

Right now, it is hell.

I can't stop thinking if this would have happened to someone else??!?!?! But then, I can't think about that. I have to focus on the here and now and my situation.

I DO believe. I DO have faith. I DO know that in the midst of this chaos and hard times, God is the one carrying me leaving the single set of footprints.

I've had much worse happen in my lifetime and unfortunately, will endure much worse when people I care about begin going up to see their maker.

But really, how much can one person endure?

However, each day since the fated event, during our daily Lenten readings, God has given me signs.

• 'Faith gives us hope, courage and comfort in the most trying of times. With faith in God, we know we are not alone.'
• 'I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me.' John 8:28b
• 'The power of prayer is amazing. God can give us strength and provide us with a sense of peace.'
• 'The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation'...Exodus 15:2

I've been able to laugh a lot over the last 2 weeks. It's not that I am being flippant. Laughing with those I love and close friends has helped me deal with this situation. I thank God that he has brought uplifting moments, fun times, enjoyable events, and lighter conversations to take my mind off that fateful day.

Keep the faith.

Flat as a pancake

I just love my little car. It's old. But over the years I've become even more attached to it making it harder and harder to part with it.

I know one day I will get a new fangled car with satellite radio, a camera to view the scenery when backing up, and so much more....one day...

After stressing over the periodic problems I have when starting my car, I totally missed the tell-tale signs of a 'flat as a pancake' rear tire.

I did hear something flapping in the wind as I left for work. I just thought it was yet another creak.

It drove fine. Never even felt like I had a flat tire until a good samaritan woman honked and told me my tire was flat.

I still could not believe it. My baby was driving perfectly!

I only had a few more blocks to go for work. I arrived at work in hopes of finding someone to help me. George helped me put air in the tire to see if there was a slow leak or if a nail was visible.

I fear coming down at the end of my shift having yet another flat tire. My boss and the girl I relieve are gems! Rita said I could go up the street to get my tire fixed and Lisa said she would set on the desk until I got back.

Now, the stress is gradually leaving my system. And when I came across the little Amish woman sitting in the waiting room with me, it totally left.

There is always someone worse off. This little Amish woman was in town with her son, who recently had a kidney transplant. He must come into Cleveland each month for his checkups and tests. They had a three hour drive back to Sugar Grove PA. I felt awful. My 'inconveniences' are REAL hardships for so many others.

And the kicker--they finished with my car first but I'm fairly sure she got there before me. Just doesn't seem fair.