http://annag.gather.com Recent Articles on Gather by anna g. vanwinkle en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:06:58 GMT 2009-12-30T22:06:58Z en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 http://www.gather.com/images/header/logo_gather.gif http://www.gather.com/ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977592779 This is a two-fer holiday. My birthday is tomorrow, and Valentines Day is the 14th.   Valentines Day is kind of one of sort of one of those evil holidays imposed upon us by the martyrhood of . . . Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:20:25 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977592779 anna g. vanwinkle 2009-02-12T23:20:25Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977583283 I'm having a birthday soon. I realize it's all  - as in the gray hair, the eye crinkles, forehead wrinkles?   It's all only going to get worse. My new leaf this year to . . . Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:06:34 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977583283 anna g. vanwinkle 2009-02-03T15:06:34Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977547705   Uggy passed away December 24th, 2008. She never adjusted to our home, she never became friendly with us, and we were Ok with that. It's enough for us that we were able to give her a good . . . Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:59:58 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977547705 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-12-29T17:59:58Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977527649 It's like the cat version of the classic movie, Guess Who's Coming To Dinner? I call it, Guess Who Came To Dinner and Never Left? It started on a day last July when it was 105 degrees . . . Sat, 06 Dec 2008 08:18:01 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977527649 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-12-06T08:18:01Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977507988 I have two friends who are in the same boat I am in. We are all paraprofessional "Ace In The Holes" for our loved ones who'd be scared to be alive without us.  I do for my . . . Sun, 16 Nov 2008 03:37:19 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977507988 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-11-16T03:37:19Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977498886 I found him there on Sunday night, 8 hours after we'd had lunch at the Golden  Corral where I generally hate to go because I'm fat and it makes me sick to be as fat as I am and eat surrounded . . . Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:57:47 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977498886 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-11-05T20:57:47Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977495153   We live in a small rather quiet town, a bedroom community nicely tucked away from the crime  and drug infested Capital of our state. The most excitement me and my merry band of lady hoods . . . Sun, 02 Nov 2008 01:51:50 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977495153 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-11-02T01:51:50Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977483696 She spent the last five years of Carson's life doing everything for Carson when he was dying of cancer.  She bathed him, cleaned him, lotioned him, fed him, dressed him, drove . . . Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:56:59 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977483696 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-10-20T20:56:59Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977446196 Seven months after losing my mom, I felt it was time to start slogging my way out of the grief pit. To rattle my cage and shake my bones back into something that resembled real life ar - I roundabout, . . . Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:24:35 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977446196 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-09-11T16:24:35Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977388422 It's been nearly ten months since mom passed away. I had her things brought to the new house and today, I went through them. I kept thinking that something, some small thing, I'd run across . . . Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:04:58 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977388422 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-07-03T04:04:58Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977380444 I headed South last Monday, down to Alabama to close out my parent's house. It's a 550 mile drive, but I took my time getting there. I stopped to see Jack Gosset in Gadsen, the Johnsons at Lake . . . Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:56:48 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977380444 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-06-23T14:56:48Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977348935 On October 15th of 2006, my mother stood up in the living room of her home, walked three feet and collapsed - suffering a severe GI Bleed. Despite her insisting to me she did not require an ambulance . . . Mon, 19 May 2008 20:31:42 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977348935 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-05-19T20:31:42Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977347507 SFs.  Stranger Friends.  People we have online relationships with that never cross into our daily toss - or maybe sneak in every once in a while. I don't know about you but my online friends . . . Sat, 17 May 2008 17:01:02 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977347507 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-05-17T17:01:02Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977342957 For the brave who dare to read, I'm wearing my big girl panties on this my First Mother's Day Without She Who Must Not Be Mentioned.                                                   . . . Sat, 10 May 2008 23:32:38 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977342957 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-05-10T23:32:38Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977301563 In 2006 we moved from Dustbowl Ally Texas into Tornado Ally, Arkansas. We bought a nice place out in the country. Last night was the first time we've ever gotten spooked to the point that . . . Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:10:54 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977301563 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-04-04T15:10:54Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977297446 I wrote a few articles last year before my mother died - not knowing  - really knowing - that it was going to be the year my mother died. Some of the titles?   My Mother Is In That Mood . . . Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:03:37 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977297446 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-03-30T22:03:37Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977291179 I was talking last week with a friend of mine  when this fell out in conversation: "When I finally kill my brother, you know I'll be calling you to help me get rid of the weapon don't you?" . . . Sat, 22 Mar 2008 23:14:28 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977291179 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-03-22T23:14:28Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977290278 The day started normally. Almost. Went to get dressed and what did I find?  A BLOODSUCKING Tick who's head was buried deep in the skin under the panty line of my right Thigh.  . . . Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:45:18 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977290278 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-03-21T17:45:18Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977288387 As VISA makes it's debut this morning on the stock market as the biggest IPO ever, I'm inclined to write something to acknowledge the sound of boo-coo-bucks jumping the wires to pay for . . . Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:45:13 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977288387 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-03-19T15:45:13Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977284191 Something else came up. Seems since we bought this house, something is always coming up. Interestingly enough, most of these somethings involve all kinds of fussy wiring, required trips into the . . . Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:39:56 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977284191 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-03-14T13:39:56Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977281797 It all starts innocently enough. Dad asks, 'do you think I should sell the house?' At first I said 'no, no, need to worry about that dad.  Wait a while and let the dust settle.' . . . Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:22:54 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977281797 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-03-12T13:22:54Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977276129 It's been a long time since I had a good cup of coffee.  Sometime before Christmas 2007 I woke up one morning, went to the kitchen, opened the coffee, smelled the coffee, wrinkled my nose and . . . Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:27:43 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977276129 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-03-05T16:27:43Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977274355 This morning I read an article by Ruth McGill, and I absent mindedly called her Ruthie. She's putting down her beloved Chatterbox kitty today and while no one else refers to her as Ruthie, it just . . . Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:50:03 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977274355 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-03-03T16:50:03Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977262384 It happenes somewhere in the middle of things, when no attention is being paid and the big things and the little things get mixed and rolled into the scramble like a Sunday brunch burrito. . . . Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:26:17 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977262384 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-02-19T18:26:17Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977249439 Dear Abby, Today I was shocked to see that my Sister In Law is now hawking gifts my recently deceased mother gave to her on E-Bay. I've been angry before, but this just takes the cake and the plate . . . Mon, 04 Feb 2008 22:51:17 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977249439 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-02-04T22:51:17Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977226089   Jenna Michaels didn't want Christmas this year, but because of who she was and those she had and all the decorations up the attic stairs - it came anyway. It was a year of firsts. Those . . . Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:55:28 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977226089 anna g. vanwinkle 2008-01-10T20:55:28Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977212377 This Christmas, there's a tree with 1700 lights on it standing 8 feet tall in my living room. Then there's my mother, in her grave, six feet down, 550 miles away. I'd pack up the tree . . . Tue, 25 Dec 2007 09:20:19 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977212377 anna g. vanwinkle 2007-12-25T09:20:19Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977178048 I was in Home Depot this morning - and not on a mission to find anything in particular. I'd driven my son Bryan to school, and remembered somewhere in the back of my head I needed 'things' . . . Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:08:37 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977178048 anna g. vanwinkle 2007-11-15T17:08:37Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977173461 My mother passed on September 23, 2007 at Mobile Infirmary in Mobile, Alabama. While I had been expecting her to die this year, the way in which she died was completely unexpected... not that it mattered . . . Sat, 10 Nov 2007 21:53:47 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977173461 anna g. vanwinkle 2007-11-10T21:53:47Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977172261 Ok, well we all know it's been rather sad in Anna's world since September 23rd....but this has nothing to do with THAT so it's a safe read.   Of things I'm notably insane about . . . Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:41:46 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977172261 anna g. vanwinkle 2007-11-09T16:41:46Z