Time Flies ~ Whether you're having fun or not!!

Just some random thoughts floating through my mind. For those of you that read of my bout with depression and voiced concern for me and my wacko mind, thank you for the kind words and wonderful messages of care for me. Maybe I made it seem too dramatic, I was just saying I was "down in the dumps" to a little higher degree than usual. I am now dealing with my medical issues and working on my weight issues and I'm feeling much better and will be back to feeling great in the near future.

Medical issues are so time consuming. I've been to Kaiser (my medical provider) so much lately I feel like a commuter. I've done a sleep study to see if I have sleep apnea (I do), next Monday I will do a treadmill stress test to see how my heart is doing (I personally don't think that test does much to tell how a woman's heart is doing, but I'll do it anyway), I had a breast exam today with mammogram to follow. I have some weird rash that "they" can't seem to figure out what it is and so now I will go see a dermotologist. The good part is that I have insurance, the frustrating part is that "they" don't seem to listen and hear what I'm saying.

Yesterday I went to the funeral of a friend of mine. She is the first one of my "contemporaries" to die. I met Eileen Resnikoff when she was a Resource teacher at my school. We hit it off with our weird personalities and paranoia about anything medical. We felt comfortable enough to tell each other stuff about what was worrying each of us and be able to laugh about how paranoid we were after.
She eventually became our Vice Principal and our friendship continued to grow.
She was transferred to another school and our contact remained strong for a long time and eventually came down to infrequent phone calls. Unfortunately, her worst thoughts came to be, she was diagnosed with breast cancer 18 years ago and started on a road that she couldn't get off of. She became the principal of a elementary school and was an outstanding advocate for her school, her teachers, her support staff and her students. Working while doing chemotherapy, never taking time for herself. She finally had to go on disability 5 years ago and try to fight the good fight without the distraction of work. She put up such a battle against cancer and lost her fight last Saturday with her family gathered around her. She left her husband of 32 years, Larry, her daughter Lisa and her husband Dave, twin grandsons that were just 2 years old and her son Joey who is in college.
She lived to see Lisa grown and married, she lived to have grandchildren, she lived to see Joey graduate from high school but I know she would have liked more.
I feel bad that I lost connection with her, that I wasn't as good of friend as I could've been. I told her that not too long ago, she said I had been a really good friend and to not give it a second thought. I wish I would've made the effort. Shame on me!!! I believe she's in a better place, that she looked down on all of us at her funeral and was pleased to have touched so many people in her life (and I'm sure we were the tip of the iceberg of how many people she touched). I will always remember the love that we shared for each other and think of her with a smile on my face.

One of the things I really have enjoyed for quite a while now is watching the little finches come and eat the bird seed I put out for them. My sister Connie started doing it last year and told me how fun it is to watch them. So, I got a "bird sock" ~ hung it from a tree ~ and waited ~ and waited ~ and waited. I was conviced Connie was hoarding all the finches in our neighborhood ~ BUT ~ eventually they found their way down to our house and it's not unusual to have 15 finches all gathered on the sock eating their seed. And they go through a lot of seed. I think half of it falls on the ground but I'm sure I'm helping to keep them alive through the winter!!

Today, I did something that I very rarely do. I went to a movie by myself. I went to see Michael Jackson's "This Is It." Call him a wacko, weirdo or tortured soul. BUT ~ also call him extremely talented. It was sad to watch because he was so thin and you know that he had a weird life and died in such a bizarre way. Music, dancing, performing and all the creative process that goes with all of that was JOY to him and showed while he was on stage. I'm glad I was able to see it and in my own small way feel I paid homage to Michael.

I'm sad to let you know that my sweet pea seeds have not produced any plants this fall and so I will not be having a sweet pea garden next year. To be successful, sweet peas should be planted in September/October. That was right in the middle of my "I don't care period" and so I just planted my seeds right in the ground at the beginning of November. Good lesson for me, I'll suffer in the spring but get my act together in September/October of next year!

As we all get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving and then cruise right into the Christmas season I'm hoping that since I no longer work I can enjoy the seasons a little more. I don't think having time will improve my cooking but you never know, miracles happen. The holiday season is when I especially miss my Mom and wish I would've appreciated the great meals she always made for us for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Talk about taking something and someone for granted!!! So let me wish all that read this mish mash of thoughts a Happy, Happy Thanksgiving!! Let me know what you are thankful for this Thanksgiving Day!! I know it's hard to post a comment here so write me at SherriSews@aol.com and share a memory, a recipe or anything that makes you happy about the season!!!

My thought to leave with you today is: We are BLESSED! Look at all that God provides for us - the beautiful leaves turning color, friendship you can trust and believe in - FAMILY to love!

Until next time . . .

When You Are Down & Out, Lift Up Your Head and Shout - I'm Depressed!

Depressed?? Me, Depressed?? What, on earth do I have to be depressed about ~ you might ask??? I don't know ~ doesn't make sense ~ but the truth of the matter is ~ I have been depressed for months now. I called it "a funk" ~ I called it "down in the dumps" ~ I called it everything but what it is ~ DEPRESSION!!

But now, the truth has set me free!! That sounds so dramatic doesn't it?? I don't really think I was hiding from it, I really did think I was "down in the dumps." And that made absolutely no sense to me. How, could I be anything but joyful, happy and estactic that I was fortunate enough to retire and no longer had to march to the beating drum of school life ~ bells ringing, keeping you on schedule ~ petty gossip, just like in any school setting (probably from the beginning of time)and going to work when I didn't feel good because I was probably out of "sick time." But, the good far outweighed the times that were not so good at Cook Middle School. I had wonderful friends there. And I could jump up from my desk 30 times a day to impart my wisdom on any one of them. We laughed and cried and if you needed a hug, I could always find someone to give me one. So missing that part of school/work was a big adjustment for me.

If you have read any of my previous posts you know that I was totally involved in our yard, sweet peas blooming all over the place!! I slept in, read books, watched ALOT of tv and spent most every day alone and talking to myself and of course, the tv. Who else was I supposed to talk to?? I kept in touch with my friends from work and had lunch most Thursdays with my BFF Sandi, but basically I was alone.

My son Mike was the first one to say "Mom, what is the matter with you?" Then my daughter Tina started realizing that I had nothing much to say concerning what I had been doing and said "Mom, what is the matter with you?" Then my sister, Connie said "Are you okay?" And of course my answer was always, "I'm fine, I'm lazy is all." Which is true, I am lazy, but not usually this lazy.

So, what was making me feel "blue"? I had lost 30 lbs before I retired and by June I had gained it all back!! I felt terrible (hmmm, do you think gaining 30 lbs. could make you feel terrible??), healthwise (again, that nasty 30 lbs.) my blood pressure was up, my diabetes blood counts were also up and I had hurt my knee and both ankles were hurting!! As you can see I was a mess!!

By summer time I had let the yard go because we were on water restriction and the yard and my plants dried up and became a mess, I hadn't found a book that was the least bit interesting to me, I hadn't done 1 creative thing in months, my sister Connie (who is the other half of who I am) has a very close friend who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and she has been heartbroken for months now and when you love someone as much as I LOVE Connie, her pain becomes your pain. So, I finally realized I wasn't just "blue", "down in the dumps" or "in a funk" ~ I was depressed!!

Well, the good news is that I feel I can see light at the end of the tunnel (and, thankfully, it's not a train) it's a big message board, all lit up in beautiful colors of neon, put there by God (and my Mom & Dad) and it says ~

Have Faith ~ Have Hope ~

Count Your Blessings ~
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!!!

So, for all that have been concerned about me ~ Thank you for your love and concern and being patient with me. I'm feeling much better, I'm working on my health and weight issues, I bought a new book that looks interesting, I have Christmas projects I want to get started on and I have my beautiful grandchildren to inspire me to want to live a LONG & HAPPY LIFE!! And don't forget, UCLA basketball season starts this month and everyone knows I'm a huge UCLA basketball fan!!

My thought to leave with you today is: Sometimes everything around you just seems off kilter, but if you're really lucky, a little 2 year old boy with glasses will give you kisses and lovies and tell you, "You're nice Grammy, you make me happy!" And it gives you pause to remember you are filled with blessings in your life. And to those of you who are reading this ~ YOU ~ are my blessings!! Thank you for your love!!

Until next time . . .

Late Again! Happy Birthday to Joe!!

Happy Birthday to Joe!

9 Years Old

on October 3, 2009

I cannot believe Joe is 9 years old. Isn't he so handome!!! Joe is our 2nd grandson and he's got a very artistic eye. Always has. He's very creative in a lot of different ways ~ he the first to try a goofy move on the trampoline ~ he's great at the game of Blokus because he can see the different shape of tiles in an unusual way ~ anything to do with art is always very interesting ~ always has been very good at puzzles ~ he played a great infielder in the Peanuts little league this year.

When Joe was born the doctors discovered he has a problem with his heart and needed surgery. He had heart surgery when he was a little over a year old and he's never had any kind of health problem since. He has a scar on his back and it just grows as Joe does.

We called him Joey when he was little - progressed to Joe Joe a few years ago and now's he just Joe. He does very well in school and is learning to play the piano and is a Weeblo scout. As you can see he's a very busy boy but we get to see him every week and always wonder what the boy with the twinkling blue eyes is going to surprise us with!!

My thought to leave with you today is: I've said it before but time seems to fly watching your grandchildren grow up ~ Remember to stay involved, be interested in what they are interested in and always remind them that you are always close by if they need you.

Until next time . . .

Still Catching Up . . .

Happy 14th Birthday to

C Y R A H ! ! !

One of the important occasions that I failed to get posted

was our granddaughter Cyrah's 14th birthday on

September 27th.

Not only did I fail to get it posted, I didn't even see her on

her birthday.

Cyrah is such a special girl ~ beautiful, inside & out,

responsible, smart, a San Francisco girl.

She started high school this school year and is the Vice President of

her 9th grade class. She's starting a movie review club and doing

GREAT with her class work and grades.

Hope she has a great year! Happy Birthday Cyrah!

My thought to leave you with today is:

Kids seem to grow up so quickly, leave them something of yourself to take through their life!

Until next time . . .

Catching Up . . .

Gosh, September went flying by and I only wrote one post. I always have something to write about but I just haven't been feeling very good and didn't feel very creative I guess. I still don't feel that great but my Grandma used to say - get up, get dressed and do something! So here I am - up - dressed and doing something.


Let's see, we just got back from a quick trip to Redding to see my husband's Mom and go see the Shasta Knights play football. Kenny's Mom was really happy to see him and I guess I was a bonus but we were able to sit and watch some sports on tv with her and Kenny and his Mom were able to discuss politics, old vacations we had gone on, places that she and Kenny's Dad had gone to throughout the United States - exactly what we used to do when she lived near us. I think she misses Kenny coming over and discussing stuff with her. She's really with it as far as issues of the day, sports and has opinions on most things that are going on in the world.


We also went to see Shasta play football. The head coach, Craig Thompson, is our niece Renee's husband and we try to get up and see at least one game a season. Shasta has a great field for fans watching football, you're really close to the field and so you hear the hits and can see the plays really good. It would be great if you could see replays on a big screen but, hey, it's lucky they still are able to have a sports team. Anyway, it's fun to sit up in the stands with my nieces Renee, Rhonda, our nephew Rob, their Mom, Louise who is Kenny's sister and various people we've gotten to know through the years. The Knights didn't do so well but it was a fun


The weekend before that Kenny and I went on a trip to Yosemite to check out some camping spots for next summer. Yosemite is absolutely beautiful. We were on a quick trip because we left there and then drove to Reno for a couple of nights. We were in the car 12 hours but we saw some beautiful country. Reno was a bust and I think we won't be going there for a while but it's become a little get away place for us.


Right before Connie had to go back to work we did something that's been on my list of things to do for a while. We often drive down McDonald Ave. to look at the beautiful old houses in Santa Rosa, but I wanted to get out, walk on the sidewalk and really look at the houses. These homes are very old and were where the rich people lived years ago. The McDonald house is actually a movie star, it was where they filmed Pollyanna (with Haley Mills) years and years ago. So here's a few pictures of our walk. This is the McDonald mansion and it is being fully restored to it's former glory. On some of the pictures you can click on them and they will enlarge. I can't ever tell which ones will enlarge but take a chance and see if it will work.



This is a sign that was outside the gates explaining the history of the house and property.This is a section of the huge garden. You can see the beautiful trees and gazebo. Here's a couple of other houses on the street. It was a fun thing to do and I hope some other time we'll pick another neighborhood we like and do it again.





There is something else that's fun that I'm doing - every Wednesday has become "Wednesday's with Grammy Day". Benji and I spend the day together and have all sorts of fun. I take pictures and eventually will create a book or a DVD. He such a cutie pie - here's just 1 of his pictures from Grammy day.

We were out in the yard and he was up in the flower beds looking at my "stuff" that I have out there. Just a simple thing but being together just creates a bond that goes on and on!

I think this is where I'll stop for today. I'm glad I followed Grandma's advice - I got up - got dressed - and did something!!

This is my Grandma on her 80th birthday. Look at that sweet face. A quiet woman who had 9 children and watched her sons go off to war in World War II and had more than her own sons (my Dad for one) want to get home to see their Mama! A woman who was born on the prairie and saw so many new and exciting things happen in her lifetime. Full of wisdom and LOVE.

As we start to feel the first signs of Autumn this will be it for today. The process of making this blog is very frustrating as I'm doing it but I'm always glad that I kept at it and got it done. My computer is the cause of the frustration.

My thought to leave you with today is: Memories from your past can influence your life today are a very important part of life.

Until next time . . .

Bye, Bye Good Times, Back to School Again!!

Above see my 6 beautiful grandchildren, 5 of them have gone back to school and 1 is very sad looking and won't look at Grammy when I tried to take his picture. Cyrah started high school, Matt is in 5th grade, Joe is in 3rd grade, Zach is in 1st grade and so is the little cutie pie dressed in pink, Chloe. The person who you don't see a picture of going back to school is ME!!! My first "back to school" in 28 years and I didn't have to go. Instead I went to see the boys go to their school, I didn't have to ask anyone's permission, I didn't have to worry about how long I was gone and I felt pretty darn good about it.

I think the kids were all ready to get things started again. That was always the way I felt about it, "let's get going, so we can get finished." They all had really nice vacations ~ busy, busy, busy. So far, they are all enjoying their classes. Cyrah has had a great 2 weeks in high school, Chloe is reading every night and the boys are happy to all be in the same school and getting to see each other at recess.

Benji is a little lonesome, but he sees his cousin Noah on Tuesdays and he comes over to Grammy's all day on Wednesdays, so I think he's doing okay with the change also. Benji is a very talkative little boy, he began talking quite a bit earlier that his brothers and he's to the why? stage right now. I think he would probably love pre-school when he's 3 but who knows if that is going to happen.

As for me, I am totally a retired person now. It seems totally natural and I can't say I think about school much at all. I have some really close friends who are still there and I keep in touch with them but all in all it was a nice place to visit (for 28 years) but all good things (and sometimes not so good things) come to an end!!!

My thought to leave with you today is: For everything there is a season and having a routine helps kids and adults to be the best they can be!!

Until next time . . .

I'm Late, I'm Late, For A Very Important Date!

Chloe's 6th Birthday !!!

Here's our little Chloe girl on her 6th birthday with Mary Poppins and Bert at Disneyland. Her birthday was July 26th. She started her birthday weekend off by going to the big American Girl doll store in Los Angeles and picking out her new best friend. I haven't seen her yet but Chloe told me she picked "Julie" a doll dressed like a hippie from San Francisco, which is where Chloe was born and raised.

Chloe is the little girl that everybody LOVES to be around. She usually has a big smile or a cute little impish grin on her face. Beautiful big, brown/hazelish eyes that light up ~ one way when she's happy & another way when she's not so happy. She makes friends wherever she goes and is very caring, always wanting to help someone she thinks needs a friend.

She's our only "little" girl and that title isn't going to last for much longer because she seems older than 6 years old. We just got back from a camping trip where she had a great time ~ swimming in the lake, tubing in back of the speed boat and sleeping in tent. She loves sweets ~ ice cream is a big favorite of hers and Grammy is a definite bad influence on her, always offering her something she shouldn't have.

We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

Chloe

and hope she has a year of being 6

that brings all sort of new and exciting experiences!

My thought to leave with you today is: How quickly these little people grow up, take lots of pictures, so you'll remember all the stages of their lives!

Until next time . . .

Ramblings of this and that . . .

Just back from a little camping vacation up at Lake Almanor with the Richmond side of the family. It was a really fun time and great to catch up with everyone, I'm sure there will be pictures that will be posted later. On the long ride home my mind went all over the place with little things I wanted to write about, so, here are some of my "riding in the car, idle thoughts".


First, any kind of "Sports Talk" on the radio is totally idiotic to me. I can't believe men get to sit on their rear ends all day and just shoot the - - - - over whatever stupid sport related thing they want to talk about on the radio. Then, there are an unbelievable amount of men with their ear hanging on every word these idiots are talking about, just waiting for who knows how long to get on the radio for maybe 3 minutes to explain why their opinion is so much more valid. Why do I know this you ask, BECAUSE, my husband who is a very smart person listens to this crap. This is the same man that has so much to say about me watching Oprah (which I hardly do anymore). When I ask him "Why do you listen to this?" His reply is "It's just background noise." Well, we had "background noise" for 2 hours on the ride home yesterday.


While up camping we played a game that is so much fun I want to tell you about it and maybe you'll try it. It's called Blokus. It's got a game board (plastic) and 4 colors of tiles in different shapes that you place on this board. The object is to block your opponents progress on the board. Zachy, who's 6, played for the first time and won! So anybody can play, even me, who is challenged by anything resembling a puzzle. Try it!

Do you know what can drive me insane? Mosquito bites!! I have gotten so many mosquito bites on our 2 camping trips. I spray, I wipe on, I wear some sort of "special" mosquito bracelet, nothing has helped. The itching and then scratching that itch is what is still making me crazy. I'd just thought I'd share that info with you!!

Before we left to go camping I had contacted the maker of my Bill's "Perfect Blend" garden fertilizer asking if there was a way I could buy a new sprayer attachment for my sprayer. When we got home I had a new sprayer attachment, free! Such nice people there ~ Sprayngrow.com ~ Check it out!

I start each day eating my breakfast and doing the Sudoku puzzle in the paper. It's kind of weird, at the beginning of the week the puzzles are "gentle" ~ by the end of the week they are "diabolical". I can have as much trouble with a gentle as a diabolical but I enjoy the process of trying to figure them out. While doing the puzzles you need to use logic and I'm not great at logic but I'm getting better!


My thought to leave you with today is: Isn't the mind a incredible thing? Oh the places you can go!


Until next time . . .

Michael Jackson's Memorial . . .

I have to say a couple of more things about Michael Jackson's Memorial. I wrote earlier today but I just listened (again) to John Mayer playing his version of Human Nature. I love how he did that song, I'm hoping he'll record it and donate the money to charity. I've watched it a number of times on youtube but tonight someone actually was letting people download the mp3 of the song. I almost downloaded it but the fear of "getting something" from an iffy download stopped me.

I loved the stories Magic Johnson told and Brooke Shields gave us a peek into their world 35 years ago. Usher singing "Gone Too Soon" was so touching and of course Jermaine singing "Smile" was surprising to me, I didn't know he had such a good voice. I liked what Berry Gordy had to say and I thought Smokey Robinson brought a little humor telling how Michael, at 10, did a better job on "Who's Loving You" than he did. Then Shaheen came out and did a great job singing the song. I thought it was funny that most people didn't know who Shaheen was - because I did know who he was. When Susan Boyle was tying up the internet 2 months ago, Shaheen sang the week after her and when he started his song Simon stopped him and said the song was wrong for him and did he have another song to sing, he said "Yes, I sing Who's Loving You by Michael Jackson." He blew the judges away. He made it to the finals but didn't win. But go to youtube.com and type in Britain's Got Talent Shaheen and you can see him.

Of course, Michael's little girl, Paris, tore everyone's heart out. So brave of her to speak. And I think the love of his Mother is what kept him together, as much as he could be together. We hear all the conflicting reports, rampant drug use/never seem to be affected by drugs ~ broke as can be/spending money like crazy ~ I wish we could have known the Michael Jackson who was the entertainer that was in the Guiness Book of World Records as giving the most money to charity. He was such a conflicted person ~ but ~ I am sure he loved his children, his Mother and the creative process and the effect his talent had on the WORLD!!! As I said before, we'll never see anything like it again in our lifetimes, I'm pretty sure. Now, I think I've finally got all of that out of my system.

Oh, I lied, a couple of more things. I downloaded all the songs I mentioned, Gone Too Soon, Smile, Who's Loving You and a bunch more. I also would like to say that one of my "new favorite things" is youtube.com. It's amazing the things you can find on there. Also, if you want a good site to find out some good reporting on Michael Jackson check out: http://www.bryanmonroe.com/Bryan_Monroe/home.html
He wrote a really big article on Michael when he hadn't been interviewed for years, I think it was in 2007.

Anyone that is still reading this, thank you for continuing to read it, obviously I had to get these thoughts out of my system.

My thought to leave you with this time is: Don't keep "things" bottled up inside, find a way to get them out of your mind ~ talk to a friend, write things down, say them out loud ~ listen to Michael Jackson music and dance your thoughts away!

Until next time . . .

A Little of This and A Little of That . . .

This is a recipe I made last week with zucchini's fresh out of my garden and it was

DELICIOUS! I am not a good cook, not creative in any way, so when I find a recipe that looks easy and looks like something we would like, I give it a try. I'm not sure you can see the ingredients but I'll have to post this first then add to it if you can't see what's in it. I added a container of marinara sauce in the "fresh" section at Safeway's and I bought the fettucine noodles in the same section. Give it a try, I think you might like it! I just doubled-clicked on it on my blog and it enlarged nicely, if you do enlarge it and then want to return to the blog, just click on the back button.

Although I'm going to try and write a little shorter blog (a suggestion from a faithful reader/daughter, Tina) I would like to say that Michael Jackson's memorial service was beautiful. I think it was a wonderful way to remember him for his family, his friends and all that watched on tv, his fans. I don't think anyone knows the "real" Michael Jackson, his personnas are many but I heard him in an interview session with Bryan Monroe, he was one of the commentators for the memorial service, and I think the interview made Michael seem a little more human and not other worldly. He had terrible problems in his life and didn't deal with them in a responsible way but for some reason, I am able to celebrate the life in which he seemed most comfortable, the life as an entertainer and I will listen to his music, watch his videos and enjoy what he left for us . . . amazing entertainment!

The thought I'd like to leave with you today is: Try not to judge, we don't want to be judged harshly, so let's try to be a little more understanding of people and things that are different than us, and just live our lives.

Until next time . . .

Random Thoughts and So on and So Forth 2

Just a few thoughts rumbling around in my mind I thought I'd write down. First, the title ~ So on and So forth ~ this was a phrase my Dad used all the time. I can't even think of an example to tell you, he just always would throw this phrase into anything he was taking about, so it's special to me and that's why I use it. I was going to use another title ~ Things that make you wanna say Hmmmm! This was a phrase that Arsenio Hall used to always use on his late night show years ago, and the things he talked about really made you go, Hmmm?!* So I might use that as a title sometime also, but my Dad is always lurking around in my mind going, and so on and so forth!

First, it was my Mom's birthday on June 23rd and I didn't write anything about her. I felt I had already done that when I wrote about her for Mother's Day BUT
my Mother is always with me, always in my heart and of course June 23rd is always a special day for us, my sisters and I, as we think especially about her on that day. I guess I do have a few things I want to say about her and her birthday. On her birthday, my cousin Judy wrote me and the title of her email was Happy Birthday Auntie! To my cousins Linda, Judy, Janet and Jimmy, my Mom was always "Auntie" to them. I assume their Mom called her Auntie to them and that's why they called her that but I'm pretty sure she was special to them. In our family, our daughter Tina is call "Auntie" by her Matty, Joe, Zach & Chloe. And to them I know it's a special name for her, although I, like my Aunt Edith, always called her that for the kids. Also, as I think of my Mom I remember she didn't really like the recognition of her birthday. She seemed uncomfortable with the recognition and especially opening presents in front of us. I think the best present I ever gave her was for her 43rd birthday, I brought Mike home from the hospital on her birthday and put him in her arms, she was a real "baby" person and of course her first grandson was pretty special ~ so that was a present she was okay with.

In the same thought pattern, just to continue on with that last thought, June 21st was our son Michael's birthday. Earlier in my blog process I wrote that our grandson Matty had changed my life. Well, he did change my life in one aspect, but the birth of each of my children changed my life in oh so many ways! But Mike, oh Michael, he was a test kitchen baby. I had no idea what I was doing with him. He knows all the stories, this is no secret to him. When I said before in a blog that my parents came over at night and were back in the morning to check on him, I wasn't kidding. Kent was working nights at Speedspace, my sister Connie, who was 15 would stay over night with us. I can remember piling Mike into the car and us going to 7/11 at 11:00 at night ~ what for I don't know but I remember doing it. I remember my Mom and Dad going to a funeral and my sister's Connie, Cathy, Susie and I staying at their house with Mike and before my Mom walked out the door she shook her finger at us and said "He'd better be alright when we get home!" Well, he sort of fell out of the bassinet that day. On his first birthday he sort of choked on an ice cube. He loved "oot boo" (root beer) and "ot ogs" (hot dogs) at A & W with his Aunt Susie. He has been from the moment his life began, a very loved child and still is, a very loved adult man. Although for me, he's the one that will listen to me, talk with me, watch me cry and try to be patient with me. I push that patience to the edge of the envelope though when I continue to have computer problems and ask Mike to "just come here for a minute!" I Love You Michael, Happy Birthday!!

Another thing I wanted to write about is the death recently of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. We were up camping when I talked to Mike on my cell and he told me the news that they had died. It was shocking to me that Michael Jackson had died, although I don't think he's been "well" for years and for Farrah Fawcett, I thanked God that she was with him now because she wouldn't be suffering anymore. Now, for Michael, I continue to be abundantly sad, this was a man that was a tortured soul. And now in death, they continue to haunt him and pick at him and won't leave him alone. How much info do we really need to know?? He has 3 children, to them he was their "Daddy" why do they have to be subjected to any of this. Although I found myself watching some of the stuff on tv when we got home, after I had lunch with my BFF, Sandi, and we were able to talk our feelings through, I came home, went on Youtube and watched several of his videos and got back to remembering why I cared about this person so much. First, he was immensely talented, from the time he was just a little boy. We watched him grow up and obviously be unhappy with his looks and continue to try and change himself, much as an anorexic can never be too thin, he could never get his face where it looked right to him. It was actually kind of painful to see pictures of him the last few years of his life but going back and watching his videos was comforting to me. Also, they are now showing a video of one of his last performances as he was getting ready for this new concert series. And he still had IT! He had the moves, the body that was so lithe and wonderful to watch. I will always feel sorry for the life that Michael Jackson had, although famous and at times rich beyond belief, he was a lonely little boy who just wanted to have a "normal" life. I hope he has found peace, tranquility and is singing and dancing his ass off with God!

I've been a little "off" lately. Haven't felt very good, have an awful cough, a knee that hurts with every step and the eternal always unhappy with my weight but as I said before I had lunch with my friend Sandi the other day and we just sat and talked for almost 4 hours at Round Table pizza. Outside, at a patio table, just talking and laughing and solving the problems of the world together ~ and it's just what I needed. I think she needed it too. We worked at Cook together for probably 20 years and our friendship grew into a loving, trusting, laughter, crying, hugs will solve any problem kind of friendship that has gone on after we have both left the school. She has listened to me and helped me too many times to count and I have tried to be the same kind of friend to her in times when a friend is a lifeline to hold onto. So, I think I'm coming out of my funk and will be back on track and writing these blog posts and expouding on life in general.

I have a new photo program that I hope to learn and make some slideshows of all the thousands of pictures that I have, hopefully I'll pick up another book and get going on reading again (you can tell I'm off when I haven't read), get back to working in my yard, do something fun with my constant companion and BEST sister ever, Connie (who also will listen to me and cry with me and most especially, laugh with me and more especially LAUGH AT ME!). My cousins have gotten me to sign up on Facebook, so that's a new thing to check on every day and a great way to just stay connected. So onward and upward ~ Thanks to all of you that take the time to read whatever it is I have to say and to let me know you've taken a look at this blog! I am BLESSED!!!

My thought to leave with you today is: When you're down and out, lift up your head and shout ~ It's Gonna be a GREAT DAY!

Until next time . . .

It's Summertime, Summertime . . .

One last picture of my sweet peas
in more abundunt times!

Oh my gosh, we finally got some heat here and my beloved sweet peas bit the dust. Really, just dried up and the leaves turned papery thin. I'm in the process of tearing them all out now. I'm sad to see them go but I learned alot this year in my quest for sweet peas. I learned two things ~ 1) I won't plant so many next year & 2) I will only plant along a fence. The few things I have in my garden are doing well, we've had zucchini bread made with zucchini's that have grown and the cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and radishes and growing like crazy. I would like to plant a watermelon and maybe a couple of pumpkins but because I don't have a drip system with a timer it's kind of hard to go away and ask someone to water my plants for me. Actually, it's just hard for me to ask anyone to do anything for me. I wonder why that is.

We just got back from our 1st camping trip of this summer. We went up to Richardson's Grove State Park, just south of Garberville. It's beautiful up there, surrounded by redwood trees and nature in general. We had 2 really nice camping spots and the kids really enjoyed riding their scooters on the loop (the road around the campground). The weather was warm and everyone (but me) swam in the Eel river and had a great time. It was a very low key camping trip for us, no big agenda of things to do, just basically playing games, eating and having a good time.

Joe playing his DS on the hammock ~ Benji playing on a log with his toys ~ Zach giving our trip a thumbs up! Matt & Santino riding their scooters.

Mike came up with Benji on Friday and left with him about 1:00 on Saturday when he fell out of the door of the motorhome, face first, onto the asphalt. It was awful. I am terrible in an emergency, I just ran to Jeff and cried. After Benji stopped crying he seemed to be alright, but Mike felt he should take him home. When he got to Santa Rosa he took him to the ER where they checked him out and declared him alright and Mike finally walked in the door at home at 9:45 p.m. It was a long day for him. Benji has a little scuffed up nose and his lip was a little swollen but he's fine ~ Thank God!

On Saturday, as we were camping, our prima ballerina, Chloe, had a ballet performance in San Francisco ~ but ~ our roving reporter ~ Erik ~ (Chloe's father and totally non-biased) said Chloe was by far the star of the show! This is Chloe's 2nd ballet recital. Last year we were able to attend it and I made a DVD of it. The soundtrack I used for it was Stevie Wonder's "Isn't she lovely", it continues to be a song that identifies our little Chloe girl. She's a wonderful, loving spirit with a beautiful smile who loves to giggle! I am so sorry we missed her performance.

This is Chloe at last year's ballet recital. Last year, almost 5, this year, almost 6. She is a definite cutie pie!

So now as we get into July we have another camping trip planned in 2 weeks and then that will be the end of my camping for this summer. Kenny and our sons and the boys will do another trip or two but Grammy sits those trips out. I look forward to Kenny retiring next March and the two of us going on a longer trip to places we've never seen, but until then I'll just be happy that we're able to take the short trips we do now and include our family.

My thought to leave with you for today is: We have not inherited the earth from our Fathers. We are borrowing it from our children. Let's try a little harder to leave them something that they can leave to their children.

Until next time . . .

Random thoughts and so on and so forth . . .

A big week for Cyrah, she

had her promotion from the

8th grade on Monday, June 8th and she got her braces off the same day. She's pretty happy!! And she looks so grown up!

Congratulations Cyrah!

And for the beautiful little Chloe girl, it looks like she graduated - from Kindergarten!! The way time seems to fly by I'm sure we'll be watching her promotion from 8th grade in no time!

For the boys, school was out last week and on Friday of last week we went out to lunch at McDonald's, then we checked out a few Charlie Brown's, Snoopy's and Woodstock's. These figures were the focus of our summers for 3 years in a row. And now we like to go visit the ones that are still in the area and take pictures with Benji because he wasn't born yet when we saw all the others figures. When we started 4 years ago, Cyrah was 9, Matt was 6, Joe was 4, Zach and Chloe were 2. We always had fun looking for them and taking pictures. And they still love to do it.

I received this email from a friend of mine - it's amazing to think that a 90 year old woman wrote these thoughts down. I think we can all find something in what she wrote that can help us along in this journey we call LIFE, so I thought I'd share them in my blog.

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer,Cleveland , Ohio"

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written."My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column I wrote once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Here's a recent photo of my sweet peas. They are on their last hurrah. I still have quite a few flowers but they are definitely fading. My yard is still a work in progress. I guess one of the lessons I learned from this gardening experience is ~ it seems the yard is a continual "work in progress." I have enjoyed all of it so much. I've given so many vases of sweet peas away and all the people I've given them to are so excited to receive them. I've become a regular at the Dollar Store, that's where I've been buying glasses that become "vases" for the bouquets. Last week I took a vase full of flowers over to a nursing home near our house, I find that older people (older than me) really have quite a sentimental attachment to sweet peas, they always remark about how they had the sweet peas in their yards years ago. I think the smell of the flowers is also a reminder of days gone by. So I will grow them again next year although I will have more support for them. They tend to fall over is they are not supported well.

I've also been sticking some seeds in the soil and have yet to see flowers but I see leaves and sprouts so I'll report on how they do in a blog later this summer. We finished our back section with rock and it's quite nice to be able to go back to the garden area and be able to walk on a footpath. I have before and after photos that I will post another time. I have tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers and radishes planted in the garden area and I see they are all making progress towards becoming food for us to eat.

The weather has been cool ~ not hot enough for swimming ~ so the kids have been disappointed. We are in the last stages of Little League baseball. Matty's team has made it to a playoff situation, Joe has his last game Wednesday and Zachy's last game is Saturday. They have learned a lot more about baseball than when they started and I think they will all try it again next year.

So now we start our camping season. We will have our first camping trip to Richardson's Grove State Park in June with Jeff and Mike and the kids. In July we will join Rob, Renee & Rhonda and their families up in Chester at Lake Almanor for another camping trip. Matt, Joe, Zach & Benji will go back to Utah and be camping with their Mom and her family in August. Then school starts again for everyone August 17th. I'm not sure when Cyrah and Chloe go back to school but they will be going to LA to spend a week with their Grandma and Grandpa and then back again for Chloe's 6th birthday at Disneyland. So it sounds like a pretty busy summer for everyone.

And for me it will be my first year that I will not be going back to school after summer vacation in a very long time - 28 years to be exact. But I think I can deal with it. I am now fully immersed in being a retired person and am very thankful to be able enjoy every day. I continue to look for the positive and hope that I can keep the 45 examples of "how to live a good life" that Regina Brett took the time to write down above as a guide.

My thought to leave with you this time is: You're never too young or too old to have a positive outlook on life!!

Until next time . . .

My Sweet Peas . . .

I WISH I could send all that read this blog a bouquet of my sweet peas. The sweetpeas I have pictured above are just what I picked this morning!! They are so beautiful and smell glorious ~ I wish I had smell-a-blog capability!!!

Thanks to my "Bill's Perfect Blend" fertilizer they've grown so tall and are just full of flowers. But I think that they are coming near the end of their beautiful growth pattern. It's starting to get hot here and they don't do well in the heat, so although it's a short amount of time that I've gotten to enjoy them, I have really loved finally seeing the result of the work I put into them. If you click on the picture it will enlarge and you can really see the beautiful colors of the sweet peas.


So, in a way I am sending you some of my sweet peas ~ I hope you enjoy them!!

NOW,

to my

Real, Real, Real, Real, Real, Real

Sweet Peas!!!!

How Lucky Am I!!!!!!

Cyrah, is a beautiful girl who will not smile in pictures until she gets her braces off!! She will be 14 in September and will also be starting high school. She's going to re-read all the Twilight books over the summer.

Matt, (he will always be Matty to me) is 10 and loves baseball right now and is very competitive.

Joe, is 8 and is very artistic and becoming quite the performer ~ dancing & impressions and he's good at baseball too.

Zach, is 6 and loves to jump into the pool, he has a great memory and loves family activities.

Chloe, will be 6 in July and loves Disneyland and dressing up and looking beautiful (which is pretty easy for her, because she already is). She also is a performer and loves to dance ~ ballet, hip hop, and interperative Chloe.

Benji, is 2 and loves the movie's Cars and Toy Story 2. He's a very funny little guy, talks alot and loves to give kisses and lovies. He loves chocolate and jumping off the ladder in the swimming pool to his Dad.

Our family, is a family because of these great kids. They keep us hoppin' and give us a reason to get up and get moving. Kenny and I make our plans based on what "the kids" are doing. They are very special to their Auntie and Uncles and of course their Mom's and Dad's too!

My thought to leave you with this time is: Count your blessings!!!

Until next time . . .

Happy 6th Birthday to Zachy!!

This is our little Zachy boy on his 6th birthday!!

I wish everyone could be as excited about their birthday

as a 6 year old can.

Zachy was excited the whole month of May and tells us

that he still has a few days left of his birthday month.

I can tell you, he has LOVED the prospect of turning 6,

having his birthday and being 6,

and being an official "big boy" now that he is 6.

Zachy is just finishing up his kindergarten year

and looking forward to being in 1st grade

at the same school with his 2 older brothers.

He loves swimming, helping Grandpa and is looking forward

to doing some camping this year.

Happy Birthday Zach!!!

My thought to leave with you this time is:

Find and remember the 6 year old in you and go out and do something silly!!!

Until next time . . .

43 years ago today . . .

For better or worse,

For richer or poorer,

In sickness and in health,

For as long as we both shall live.

These are the words the that Kenny and I vowed to each other 43 years ago today.

We were so young,

and it seemed like we could do anything together.

And for the most part we've made a good team.

I was 19 - he was 20 - what were we thinking!

In 1966 it wasn't that unusual to get married so young and he was making $2.65 an hour working at Speedspace and I was probably making $2.00 an hour working for my Dad at his flooring store.

We went to Los Angeles for our honeymoon. Dodger Stadium (we saw Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale & Juan Marischal pitch - Dodgers against the Giants).
We went to Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm.
We had a GREAT time.

We still have a great time where ever we go.

I always say I deserve a medal for being able to stand up to Kenny when I want him to listen to my point,

but the truth is,

he equally needs a medal for putting up with me and my

hypochondriac, bitchy, emotional, selfish and childish ways for all these years.

We have grown up together and somehow knew enough to not be attached at the hip and give each other enough space to enjoy other things besides being with each other.

I enjoy watching sports with him and know the players of most of the sports well enough to actually talk football, baseball, basketball and golf.

He on the other hand knows nothing about the things I'm interested in but I don't really need him in watching me sew or paint. I show him what I made and he says "Oh, that looks nice." That's all I need.

Our life has been centered around being with our original families (both sets of parents had long marriages and were examples for us), in the beginning of our marriage, then, the family we created - kids and grandkids, for the most part. We are family people. We also enjoy traveling together, listening to music as we travel and we are in sync with each other in our routines of our daily life.

Kenny is very good to me and because of him I am

and he is

I cannot imagine my life without him and I think we've done pretty good so far, so I think we'll keep going and see how long we can play this thing out.

Who knew when we went out on our first date 45 years ago that it would lead to falling in love with each other, marrying and having 4 super kids, 6 grandkids that have us wrapped around their fingers and a life that works for us.

We've had our ups and downs, everyone does, but when all is said and done,

we're still standing

- together -

My thought to leave you with today is: The way to happiness - keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry, live simply, expect little, give much.

Until next time . . .