Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Yippee!
My credit union has my tax refund already. Mike won't have his for another week and he completed his about a week before I did mine. I think the difference is that I paid for my costs out of a credit card and he is having his costs deducted from his refund.
Smile as Big as the Moon
This recent show by Hallmark was so touching. It is the story of a teacher of a Special Ed group who gets permission and money to take them to Space Camp and spends seven months preparing them to be able to handle it. Up until that time only advanced students were expected to handle the technical difficulty of it. I really admire teachers who can inspire and lead. This was a true story and quite remarkable.
It was also very touching and the acting of the students was superb. It reminded me of one of the few Special Ed students I had in second grade. At that time they did not separate them in Montana. He called me "Sandra" because that is what he got out of Miss Anderson. He was the one who dumped water on the new wooden floor to help me clean. The janior was not happy.
Then there was the little boy I had in kindergarten who told incoherent stories with his colored scraps of paper on the flannel board juist as he saw the other children do. To the children's credit, they took my lead, and patiently listened to him and clapped for his performance.
Both of those little boys were extremely affectionate and sweet. They were not yet old enough to be treated cruelly by the other students or understand how different they were. They were just full of love.
It was also very touching and the acting of the students was superb. It reminded me of one of the few Special Ed students I had in second grade. At that time they did not separate them in Montana. He called me "Sandra" because that is what he got out of Miss Anderson. He was the one who dumped water on the new wooden floor to help me clean. The janior was not happy.
Then there was the little boy I had in kindergarten who told incoherent stories with his colored scraps of paper on the flannel board juist as he saw the other children do. To the children's credit, they took my lead, and patiently listened to him and clapped for his performance.
Both of those little boys were extremely affectionate and sweet. They were not yet old enough to be treated cruelly by the other students or understand how different they were. They were just full of love.
Bruce and I Communicate
It was a warm sunny day and Bruce wanted to lay down in the middle of the road because there was lots of sun there.I enticed him over to the bottom of the steps where there was plenty of sun. However the walk was peppered with cat litter (used on the ice before it melted so I wouldn't slip). I knew it was uncomfortable to lay on so I grabbed the rug off the nearby freezer and put it down.
However when I looked out again he had moved off the rug but he saw I was looking at hin.
He quickly moved back on the rug as if he was trying to please me.
He tries so hard to please but sometimes when he does not want to come in he looks the other way, as if to say.
"I don't want to c ome in yet."
When we walk, he expects me to put the leash on him like I do Bandido. But he really wants to run free and he does. I couldn't keep up with him even if I tried. But he is quite respectful and always comes back and lets me pick up the leash again for a few minutes and then he is off again on his own adventure before coming back to the driveway just as we turn in.
His favorite thing right now is chasing the deer away every morning from the backyard. He gets so excited, he can hardly wait until I open the door and let him run.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Old picture found...50s or 60s? Homemade...
and this was the kind of dress I
wore to teach kindergarten or to
church or anywhere. I didn't wear
jeans as I recall anyplace but
I know I had capris in several
colors (which I also made). I loved
the prints like this with the
rick rack trim.
But I am not really sure if this was
before babies or after??? I just
recognize the homemade dress.
Wonder if that spot under my chin
was on the picture or me???
Good Eating.
What is the Matter with Aunt Jane?
HBO had free service this weekend and I watched the documentary "What is the matter with Aunt Jane?" or something like that.
A family had gone camping for the weekend and taken their three nieces with them. The father and dog drove the truck and the mother with two children and the three nieces was in the borrowed van.
The father and mother said goodbye to each other after cleaning out the camper and each getting into their truck and van. On the way home one of the older girls called her parents and told them something was wrong with Aunt Jane. She was in pain and could not see well and was driving erratic. They later found her cell phone on a cement ledge on the side of the road. And they had a video of her going into a store, looking for a pain pill the store did not have. It was later determined she could have had an abscessed tooth she had not had treated. The mother had a $100,000 job and was amazingly organized. She evidently did all the organizing for the family and treated the father like another child,
In her own personal family her mother had left them when the girl was 9 years old and she had taken over the responsibility for that family also. In other words she was a highly responsible person who was known to smoke marijuana on occasion when she wanted to sleep and having an occasional drink.
Bottom line she was reported as driving at a high speed with intense concentration as she whizzed by other vehicles on the highway and eventually she was driving like this in the wrong direction going south on a north bound lane and drove head on into one vehicle causing a crash that killed eight people including herself, one of her children and the three nieces. Her alcohol level was reported at .19 with traces of something from marijuana. Her relatives could not believe she would drink and drive and she was cold sober when they left around 9 in the morning, the crash was early afternoon after the father had already arrived home much earlier.
The family, of course, wanted to understand what had happened and felt the tests must be wrong. They wanted to clear her name. They spent over $30,000 to an investigative firm. It was all for naught. No conclusions, no understanding what happened, no disproving the tests were wrong.
The relatives who had lost all three of their daughters feel their life is over. The five year old son who lived could not give any explanation for what happened. The children on one phone call were heard to be crying in the background but the relatives had received about three other phone calls earlier just saying they were running late and then the one call from the daughter in which she said something was wrong with Aunt Jane.
They surmised the pain in her tooth was so bad she may have smoked a marijuana at some point and she drank from the vodka bottle in the car and since she didn't usually do both at the same time she had a bad reaction. But there is not proof.
I think the only thing to be gained from this story is to not let your children ever be driven by anyone else. If there is an accident, it will be almost impossible to ever forgive that person.
I remember one time when I was driving some of my grandchildren at night and I wondered why I was being trusted on the freeway at my age with such precious cargo. Not a good thing. Mike recalls his mother entrusting them being driven with a young relative. He observed that you think you are going to be so protective of your children and yet, it is such a relief when someone offers to take them for awhile that you let them go. I am not sure but in the long wrong, I would say in this uncertain world, do not let other people drive your children anywhere, anytime, anyplace.
As for the cars that were hit and four people died, this is the unfortunate chance you take when you drive our freeways. Better start every trip with a prayer. I have had some close calls.
And just yesterday 10 people killed in Florida because of poor visibility on the freeways. As I drive the freeways in the Los Angles areas I always imagine what could happen if just one person makes a mistake...it is a miracle we survive the freeways at all. But we can never be too alert or too careful as we travel up and down the world byways. And...don't let anyone drive your children.
A family had gone camping for the weekend and taken their three nieces with them. The father and dog drove the truck and the mother with two children and the three nieces was in the borrowed van.
The father and mother said goodbye to each other after cleaning out the camper and each getting into their truck and van. On the way home one of the older girls called her parents and told them something was wrong with Aunt Jane. She was in pain and could not see well and was driving erratic. They later found her cell phone on a cement ledge on the side of the road. And they had a video of her going into a store, looking for a pain pill the store did not have. It was later determined she could have had an abscessed tooth she had not had treated. The mother had a $100,000 job and was amazingly organized. She evidently did all the organizing for the family and treated the father like another child,
In her own personal family her mother had left them when the girl was 9 years old and she had taken over the responsibility for that family also. In other words she was a highly responsible person who was known to smoke marijuana on occasion when she wanted to sleep and having an occasional drink.
Bottom line she was reported as driving at a high speed with intense concentration as she whizzed by other vehicles on the highway and eventually she was driving like this in the wrong direction going south on a north bound lane and drove head on into one vehicle causing a crash that killed eight people including herself, one of her children and the three nieces. Her alcohol level was reported at .19 with traces of something from marijuana. Her relatives could not believe she would drink and drive and she was cold sober when they left around 9 in the morning, the crash was early afternoon after the father had already arrived home much earlier.
The family, of course, wanted to understand what had happened and felt the tests must be wrong. They wanted to clear her name. They spent over $30,000 to an investigative firm. It was all for naught. No conclusions, no understanding what happened, no disproving the tests were wrong.
The relatives who had lost all three of their daughters feel their life is over. The five year old son who lived could not give any explanation for what happened. The children on one phone call were heard to be crying in the background but the relatives had received about three other phone calls earlier just saying they were running late and then the one call from the daughter in which she said something was wrong with Aunt Jane.
They surmised the pain in her tooth was so bad she may have smoked a marijuana at some point and she drank from the vodka bottle in the car and since she didn't usually do both at the same time she had a bad reaction. But there is not proof.
I think the only thing to be gained from this story is to not let your children ever be driven by anyone else. If there is an accident, it will be almost impossible to ever forgive that person.
I remember one time when I was driving some of my grandchildren at night and I wondered why I was being trusted on the freeway at my age with such precious cargo. Not a good thing. Mike recalls his mother entrusting them being driven with a young relative. He observed that you think you are going to be so protective of your children and yet, it is such a relief when someone offers to take them for awhile that you let them go. I am not sure but in the long wrong, I would say in this uncertain world, do not let other people drive your children anywhere, anytime, anyplace.
As for the cars that were hit and four people died, this is the unfortunate chance you take when you drive our freeways. Better start every trip with a prayer. I have had some close calls.
And just yesterday 10 people killed in Florida because of poor visibility on the freeways. As I drive the freeways in the Los Angles areas I always imagine what could happen if just one person makes a mistake...it is a miracle we survive the freeways at all. But we can never be too alert or too careful as we travel up and down the world byways. And...don't let anyone drive your children.
Time Flies
So over a week has passed and I have not written in my blog. What's up? One thing bad I did is to reorganize my pictures and now several pictures in my blogs are in a different location on my computer and I have to go back and retrieve them so they will show in my blogs again. Why do I always forget that that will happen???? I did get a lot more pictures scanned though. With my printer I bought this last year, scanning is very easy...
I did turn 79 and had several reports that I look great for my age--that is very uplifting but, of course, I know I could look better if I would change a few bad habits and employ a few new ones. Nuff said.
But I did have a great birthday this year. Lots of calls and gifts. On Sunday I stayed home because of a lot of congestion, later in the week I ventured to the Doctor and found I really do have a sinus infection and antibiotics do work!!! Who knew. Jean and Ron stopped by after church and brought me beautiful purple tulips from Maryanne. I hope I can make them grow in one of my pots next year.
Mike made a cheesecake for my birthday and we had the same problem as before with leakage from even a different pan in the oven. We MUST buy a new cheesecake pan!!!
I made a gluten free pizza crust and Mike took it to work at Buffalo Chips and brought me home a gourmet pizza with Stuffed Mushroom and one side and Jalapenos on the other. That lasted me for three days. Excellent!!!
I also made a gluten free sponge cake which was perfect with lemon frosting.
Besides going to the Dr this week I also have watched several British miniseries. I love them!
Finished "The Grand" about hotel life at the turn of the century. Excellent! "Bleak House" by Charles Dickens which was also great. And a real winner in only three episodes "The Politician's Wife" What a study in revenge, loved it. I also finished listening to the Nicolas Sparks book "The Best of Me".
I read the reviews on "The Best of Me" and many people had complaints about it being too cliche but I loved it. So many situations I could relate to the characters and/or the moments and I cried and cried. He is the ultimate romantic writer and I like that he leaves a lot to the imagination and I am ok with his delving into paranormal, I believe in that. Anyway it was a very poignant, sad, and moving book, I thought.
Finally, I have another new gluten free pancake recipe. Maria gave me this book that is over 10 years old but it has the best recipes all made with cornstarch and potato starch so they are a few more calories, I suppose, but light as air and delicious!!!
And yes, I experimented again, and yummy fresh white bread and licorice cause me tremendous stomach upset so I must stick with my gluten free diet and licorice is not gluten free, for sure. If only I had known that when I was living at the Marriott in 2008...
Lastly, it has been fun to watch Bruce enjoy the snow. He likes to plow through it and make tunnels, roll in it, eat it and just sit in it. He likes me to take him walking so he can run as fast as he wants up one bank and down another (I let him fly with the leash tagging after him) but he always come back eventually. I can only hope he doesn't get picked up by the Security Guard before Matt comes to get him. He was meant to roam free, but he does condescend to let me walk him on the leash from time to time and he is very careful to not go too fast as we go down the steps together. He is a very smart dog. Bandido could care less but he does still run from time to time. Most of the time, though, he just eats and sleeps. He is getting very rolley polley as he likes to eat his food and then walk over to Bruce's and eat his food as well. It will be good for Bandido when Bruce finally leaves. Maybe then I can clean all the lose hair and footprints off the floor, too. Dogs are messy in the winter...and summer...and fall...and spring.
I did turn 79 and had several reports that I look great for my age--that is very uplifting but, of course, I know I could look better if I would change a few bad habits and employ a few new ones. Nuff said.
But I did have a great birthday this year. Lots of calls and gifts. On Sunday I stayed home because of a lot of congestion, later in the week I ventured to the Doctor and found I really do have a sinus infection and antibiotics do work!!! Who knew. Jean and Ron stopped by after church and brought me beautiful purple tulips from Maryanne. I hope I can make them grow in one of my pots next year.
Mike made a cheesecake for my birthday and we had the same problem as before with leakage from even a different pan in the oven. We MUST buy a new cheesecake pan!!!
I made a gluten free pizza crust and Mike took it to work at Buffalo Chips and brought me home a gourmet pizza with Stuffed Mushroom and one side and Jalapenos on the other. That lasted me for three days. Excellent!!!
I also made a gluten free sponge cake which was perfect with lemon frosting.
Besides going to the Dr this week I also have watched several British miniseries. I love them!
Finished "The Grand" about hotel life at the turn of the century. Excellent! "Bleak House" by Charles Dickens which was also great. And a real winner in only three episodes "The Politician's Wife" What a study in revenge, loved it. I also finished listening to the Nicolas Sparks book "The Best of Me".
I read the reviews on "The Best of Me" and many people had complaints about it being too cliche but I loved it. So many situations I could relate to the characters and/or the moments and I cried and cried. He is the ultimate romantic writer and I like that he leaves a lot to the imagination and I am ok with his delving into paranormal, I believe in that. Anyway it was a very poignant, sad, and moving book, I thought.
Finally, I have another new gluten free pancake recipe. Maria gave me this book that is over 10 years old but it has the best recipes all made with cornstarch and potato starch so they are a few more calories, I suppose, but light as air and delicious!!!
And yes, I experimented again, and yummy fresh white bread and licorice cause me tremendous stomach upset so I must stick with my gluten free diet and licorice is not gluten free, for sure. If only I had known that when I was living at the Marriott in 2008...
Lastly, it has been fun to watch Bruce enjoy the snow. He likes to plow through it and make tunnels, roll in it, eat it and just sit in it. He likes me to take him walking so he can run as fast as he wants up one bank and down another (I let him fly with the leash tagging after him) but he always come back eventually. I can only hope he doesn't get picked up by the Security Guard before Matt comes to get him. He was meant to roam free, but he does condescend to let me walk him on the leash from time to time and he is very careful to not go too fast as we go down the steps together. He is a very smart dog. Bandido could care less but he does still run from time to time. Most of the time, though, he just eats and sleeps. He is getting very rolley polley as he likes to eat his food and then walk over to Bruce's and eat his food as well. It will be good for Bandido when Bruce finally leaves. Maybe then I can clean all the lose hair and footprints off the floor, too. Dogs are messy in the winter...and summer...and fall...and spring.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Happy Birthday to Me!
I have already had such a wonderful birthday and it is not even my birthday yet. Linda made a birthday viedeo of my children and grandchildren talking to me and included lots of pictures, many of which I have never seen, and lovely music to accompany it all. It is just so special, I am sure I will play it many times!
I also received neat presents. What a great 79th birthday. What a wonderful family I have.
I also received neat presents. What a great 79th birthday. What a wonderful family I have.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Heritage Halls Being Demolished
I was just a sophmore but in a picture here with some pretty important senior girls. Not sure why they asked me except that I was available that summer. Fun summer, working at the Dairy Queen, working as a telephone receptionist, working in Testing of new students and moving into these new units at the end of summer (as well as taking classes).
In the summer of 1953 I was doing Summer School at BYU to make up for the quarter I stayed home and organized Dad's office at Anderson's Store. I also trained my friend Lorraine to run the office.
The Family Living Units (as they were called then) were being built and I was able to move into the first one. Our Unit #19 became the model that was always displayed to dignitaries. We had a wonderful system of showing it off at it's best and were able to meet some very important people.
I have wonderful memories of those units. They were not named until a year or so later to Heritage Halls and names were important Latter-day Saint women. At that time only girls lived in the units. Now some of them are designated for men also. I believe the first one to be demolished and rebuilt is the one I was living in.
And why are they being demolished????
This was put out by BYU yesterday:
Four of the Heritage Halls, which have been home to thousands of students since 1956 — were turned into a pile of rubble Wednesday. (actually it was 1953, I was there!)
More of the residence halls will soon be coming down and replaced with new buildings that will give students more electrical capacity and space.
"Today's students come with much more equipment than students have in the past," said university spokeswoman Carrie Jenkins.
Some of the bedrooms have only a single electrical outlet. Students often have to use extension cables and extended power strips to accommodate computers, cell phones, iPads and entertainment systems.
Jenkins says the new buildings will have plenty of outlets, as well as other updates to better suit student needs, such as more closet space. The new housing will have a living area and the kitchens are big, allowing the students to come together to socialize. Ten of the 24 Heritage buildings will be taken down by March. All the stuctures will be replaced as resources become available.
So the kids today have more clothes and more toys...of course.
Heritage Hall Roommates and Friends
In the upper picture is our roommate Marta, who also followed us to San Diego, and Gerry. Colleen and I were the only seniors and the rest were younger.
Colleen and I traveled to San Diego after my first year of teaching in Billings, MT ( and last breakup with Harry) and her first year of teaching in Port Angeles, WA. The following year Marta and JoAnne came to San Diego and lived with us.
Colleen, Marta, and JoAnne all met their mates in San Diego in the young adult crowd we were involved with. I was going with Bill, a nonmember. I broke up with him in the summer of 59 and then met Richard on Labor Day. He had just graduated from BYU after 10 years. We married in October.
Richard was dating one of the Law girls downstairs in our Heritage Hall. I never met him. He then went in the Navy and served a mission before finishing at BYU.
Last Year at Heritage Hall #1
I was doing my Student Teaching in American Fork.
I graduated in the spring and went to Montana to teach my first year.
Good News--I Can Do This!
Harvard Medical School psychologist Alice Domar, PhD says that the old guidelines for good health did not consider the whole picture.
Old Rule-8 glasses of water a day
New Rule-Eat your water--fruits, vegetables, beans, cooked whole grains, etc. They deliver nutrients and antioxidants as well!
Old Rule-Nine servings of fruits and vegetables
New Rule-Fill half your plate with produce
Old Rule-Avoid red meat
New Rule-Beef in moderation can be healthy
Old Rule-BMI between 18.5 and 24.9
New Rule-Eat healthy, exercise, and let your weight settle naturally
Old Rule-8 glasses of water a day
New Rule-Eat your water--fruits, vegetables, beans, cooked whole grains, etc. They deliver nutrients and antioxidants as well!
Old Rule-Nine servings of fruits and vegetables
New Rule-Fill half your plate with produce
Old Rule-Avoid red meat
New Rule-Beef in moderation can be healthy
Old Rule-BMI between 18.5 and 24.9
New Rule-Eat healthy, exercise, and let your weight settle naturally
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Snow
It is finally coming down and Bruce wants to keep going outside, so it is out and in, out and in.
It is quite lovely just to watch but I am sure that is not going to be enough for Bruce. In keeping with the peace of new snow I decided I am only going to write positive thoughts this year--my sister reminded me, as she should, I do too much unnecessary thinking ( which tend to lead toward the negative).
When the snow stops falling, I will take the boys for a walk. I do love to walk in the snow--just not have it falling on my head. It is not too cold.
It is quite lovely just to watch but I am sure that is not going to be enough for Bruce. In keeping with the peace of new snow I decided I am only going to write positive thoughts this year--my sister reminded me, as she should, I do too much unnecessary thinking ( which tend to lead toward the negative).
When the snow stops falling, I will take the boys for a walk. I do love to walk in the snow--just not have it falling on my head. It is not too cold.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Cold...
LACC Bulletin this morning:
Sunday and Monday
nights (Jan. 15 and 16), the temperature dropped to 5 degrees or less in many
areas. With no snow on the ground or on roofs, some water pipes have frozen and
broken. If a leak is noticed by a neighbor or staff,
your
water will be turned off at the street and you will be
notified.
So far, so good. Mike washed the car but remembered to unscrew the hose when he was finished.
Freedom
I like Demi Moore's definition of freedom: "Letting go of the outcome. Truly being in the moment. Not reflecting on the past. Not projecting into the future. That's freedom. Not caring more about what other people think than what you think."
Last night I watched a disturbing movie "Hearts of War". It was evidently written in Germany as "The Poet" but name changed for the US. It appeared to have had a lot cut from the film so was difficult to follow. It was a very sad story from WW II. It did have a happy ending (sort of). At least the lovers were reunited and escaped.
One good saying in the movie, "If love beckons, follow..."
Last night I watched a disturbing movie "Hearts of War". It was evidently written in Germany as "The Poet" but name changed for the US. It appeared to have had a lot cut from the film so was difficult to follow. It was a very sad story from WW II. It did have a happy ending (sort of). At least the lovers were reunited and escaped.
One good saying in the movie, "If love beckons, follow..."
Marjorie and Lunch
Marjorie drove down to Corning to help celebrate her mother's 104th birthday. She had six at her party and was even interviewed and photographed for the local paper. They gave her two pages of news, pictures and even a picture from her high school days. Marjorie's grandparents had owned the local theater and her mother had lived there a good part of her life.
Marjorie drove up to visit before returning to Vancouver, WA. On Monday Jean and Maryanne met up for lunch at Mi Casita and we had a fun talk.
Unfortunately we should have met for breakfast so Marjorie could have made it home in one day. She stopped at Eugene and the next day had to drive through pelting rain and sleet storm. They are having snow now. We still have none.
We really enjoyed seeing Marjorie and I wish I had taken her picture. She is so tiny. She eats very well and has lots of energy and she just turned 81!!!
Marjorie drove up to visit before returning to Vancouver, WA. On Monday Jean and Maryanne met up for lunch at Mi Casita and we had a fun talk.
Unfortunately we should have met for breakfast so Marjorie could have made it home in one day. She stopped at Eugene and the next day had to drive through pelting rain and sleet storm. They are having snow now. We still have none.
We really enjoyed seeing Marjorie and I wish I had taken her picture. She is so tiny. She eats very well and has lots of energy and she just turned 81!!!
Eyes and Blood Pressure Problems
Well, I am licensed to drive for a few years more. Miraculously I only missed one on the test though they do not show which one it was. That is not very nice.
However, they gave me a scare. My right eye alone could not read one letter in any of the lines. I had my eyes tested and new glasses just two years ago I think. She finally oked my vision with both eyes but was considering requiring a vision test and new glasses before issuing the license.
Another thing, I guess I cannot eat or drink grapefruit. I had an episode while Marjorie was here on Sunday. I just did not feel well enough to get up and do anything, She fixed her own salad for supper. It had happened before during the last week and I really thought I was having congestive heart failure or something. It was the first time she came to visit that I didn't have the house tip top clean. I was just too tired to care.
But last night I read that if you have grapefruit while on blood pressure medicine it can cause you to have an overdose and cause your blood pressure to drop to potentially dangerous levels. I will give the grapefruit away and if I feel fine all week, I will know that was the problem!!! Evidently the grapefruit allows too much of the drug to enter the bloodstream because it interferes with the body's ability to metabolize certain calcium channel blockers (whatever that means).
However, they gave me a scare. My right eye alone could not read one letter in any of the lines. I had my eyes tested and new glasses just two years ago I think. She finally oked my vision with both eyes but was considering requiring a vision test and new glasses before issuing the license.
Another thing, I guess I cannot eat or drink grapefruit. I had an episode while Marjorie was here on Sunday. I just did not feel well enough to get up and do anything, She fixed her own salad for supper. It had happened before during the last week and I really thought I was having congestive heart failure or something. It was the first time she came to visit that I didn't have the house tip top clean. I was just too tired to care.
But last night I read that if you have grapefruit while on blood pressure medicine it can cause you to have an overdose and cause your blood pressure to drop to potentially dangerous levels. I will give the grapefruit away and if I feel fine all week, I will know that was the problem!!! Evidently the grapefruit allows too much of the drug to enter the bloodstream because it interferes with the body's ability to metabolize certain calcium channel blockers (whatever that means).
Mystery in the Neighborhood
Last night Bruce had a barking frenzy at something across the street. Since he doesn't bark at the deer, squirrels, rabbits, and raccoons, what could have caused the rancor???
Then this morning on our walk we discovered frozen water all over the roadway from about six houses up the road. When we arrived at where the frozen water had originated we saw red sheets or blankets hanging out one of the front windows and it was obvious the water had run down their driveway. It is a house that appears to have a two or more guys living there with their trucks. Their trucks were parked in a weird way. Then as we were walking back here comes the Peninsula Fire Trucks.
They beeped in front of the house and then three or more fireman got out. So what happened while I was sleeping and are they inspecting now? There was no evidence of fire on the outside of the home. Of course, there was not much evidence when there was a fire next door either. Most of the damage had been done to the attic and interior. With so few neighbors living here right now, I may never solve the mystery.
No snow yet!!!!
Then this morning on our walk we discovered frozen water all over the roadway from about six houses up the road. When we arrived at where the frozen water had originated we saw red sheets or blankets hanging out one of the front windows and it was obvious the water had run down their driveway. It is a house that appears to have a two or more guys living there with their trucks. Their trucks were parked in a weird way. Then as we were walking back here comes the Peninsula Fire Trucks.
They beeped in front of the house and then three or more fireman got out. So what happened while I was sleeping and are they inspecting now? There was no evidence of fire on the outside of the home. Of course, there was not much evidence when there was a fire next door either. Most of the damage had been done to the attic and interior. With so few neighbors living here right now, I may never solve the mystery.
No snow yet!!!!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Family Night in San Diego
Here is a great pix from another Family Night I missed with Linda, Maria and Jimmy's family!!! What a beautiful family, thanks for thinking of me.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
War Horse
Today I saw "War Horse" with Maryanne and really enjoyed it. The love between man and his horse (or pet) can be so pure. It is a joy to see.
I liked the line "Some days are just best forgotten". It really hit home with me as I have been working on my journals and I keep finding letters that have never been sent and memos that no one else has read. The purpose of them was to help me remember exactly how a certain situation was--in business or with family or relatives. But I keep wondering if it is best to destroy them entirely. Probably so, some things are just best forgotten.
I liked the line "Some days are just best forgotten". It really hit home with me as I have been working on my journals and I keep finding letters that have never been sent and memos that no one else has read. The purpose of them was to help me remember exactly how a certain situation was--in business or with family or relatives. But I keep wondering if it is best to destroy them entirely. Probably so, some things are just best forgotten.
Monday, January 09, 2012
New Arrangement for 2012
However since I brought the doll house and worktable back upstairs this winter, we needed more openness to our seating so, voila. I intend to shingle the doll house roof. I cannot find the Seven Dwarf furniture I made when I was in San Diego two years ago, did I put them away with all my dolls????
Bruce has his favorite spot, it is one couch or the other, whichever one does not have a computer or a blanket taking up his space. It was hard for Mitch to leave him, hope they can be reunited soon. Mike had him do the Bird trick. He is a very smart dog.
Yesterday the message from our George Albert Smith lesson (which I taught and didn't plan well enough to finish) was "Live What You Believe" and "Do Your Best" -- and the message from Nephi in Sunday School was to "Trust in the Lord and be obedient". Both good messages to start the New Year. It was a good day at Church, good friendship and loving spirit amongst all.
Saturday, January 07, 2012
Yellowstone Bridge at Glendive
Brenner's
Glendive Brenner's Drug Store has very special memories. They had a wonderful soda fountain and I was able to work there for a few months until they found out I was only 15. Anyway it was a gathering place. My favorite fountain drink was the lime phosphate with marshmallow topping. I also liked the black and white sundae which was a double sided dish with chocolate ice cream with marshmallow topping and a vanilla scoop with chocolate topping. This is where I had my first banana split. We also bought our cinnamon sticks here. They were toothpicks soaked in cinnamon oil and we would suck on them. They tasted like the Hot Tamales of today.
Methodist Church
When I was in grade school I attended the Methodist Church in Glendive with my friend Myrna. This was just a couple blocks from Andersons Store. Myrna's aunt Mrs. Potter was our Sunday School Teacher. The Church had beautiful stained windows and I particularly remember the one of Christ standing by the door with no knob on it, indicating we had to open the door and let him in. In the basement we attended Youth Fellowship meetings and in high school my favorite was attending the Sunrise Services at Easter (where were they?) and then coming back to the basement for the wonderful breakfast of Hot Cross Buns, scrambled eggs and sausage or bacon? and good orange juice. In the summer during junior high I went to Church Camp with them in Livingston, Montana. We traveled back and forth in a large open truck with very high sides. Seems kind of dangerous to me now.
Congregational Church
When we moved to Glendive, Montana in 1934 my parents found a church they wanted us to attend. This is as I remember it. We would attend Christmas Eve and Sunday meetings on the main floor and they had nice wooden benches. My Dad sang in the choir. In the basement they would have Bible School in the summer and I liked the activities very much. It is the Congregational Church and we could walk there from our house on the South Side.
Anderson's Store in Glendive, Montana
I like this picture taken in Glendive several years after I went to college. This is Main Street and there is my Dad's store. Lots of memories here.
Rescue
I am just finishing Anita Shreve's newest book "Rescue". It is very poignant to me as I just had a friend tell me about her daughter and then her granddaughter becoming alcoholics.
The thing that is interesting about the book is that the daughter who supposedly became an alcoholic in high school had not been living with her alcoholic mother after the age of 2 so--she could not have learned the behavior from her mother and her father was not a drinker.
On a side note: One of the medics explained the situation about alcohol in marriage. He said you start out your married life with romantic dinners with wine and like it so well you continue. And then one of you eventually has a problem with alcohol and becomes alcoholic. This is the problem with having that first drink. You never know who will be able to take it or leave it and who cannot leave it alone. In the book, Webster discovered his wife was drinking whiskey while nursing her baby.
Although the daughter does not see the mother again till she is 17, she knows from age 12 what her mother was. The question remains, did the daughter drink because of a physical dependence because of her genes or did she believe in her mind that she had no other option than to be "just like her mother". In either case she would have to totally stop drinking to overcome the problem.
The following is from the A.D.A.M Medical Encyclopedia:
The thing that is interesting about the book is that the daughter who supposedly became an alcoholic in high school had not been living with her alcoholic mother after the age of 2 so--she could not have learned the behavior from her mother and her father was not a drinker.
On a side note: One of the medics explained the situation about alcohol in marriage. He said you start out your married life with romantic dinners with wine and like it so well you continue. And then one of you eventually has a problem with alcohol and becomes alcoholic. This is the problem with having that first drink. You never know who will be able to take it or leave it and who cannot leave it alone. In the book, Webster discovered his wife was drinking whiskey while nursing her baby.
Although the daughter does not see the mother again till she is 17, she knows from age 12 what her mother was. The question remains, did the daughter drink because of a physical dependence because of her genes or did she believe in her mind that she had no other option than to be "just like her mother". In either case she would have to totally stop drinking to overcome the problem.
The following is from the A.D.A.M Medical Encyclopedia:
Alcoholism (alcohol dependence) and alcohol abuse are two different forms of problem drinking.
- Alcoholism is when you have signs of physical addiction to alcohol and continues to drink, despite problems with physical health, mental health, and social, family, or job responsibilities. Alcohol may control your life and relationships.
- Alcohol abuse is when your drinking leads to problems, but not physical addiction.
There is no known cause of alcohol abuse or alcoholism. Research suggests that certain genes may increase the risk of alcoholism, but which genes and how they work are not known.
How much you drink can influence your chances of becoming dependent. Those at risk for developing alcoholism include:
You have an increased risk for alcohol abuse and dependence if you have a parent with alcoholism.
You may also be more likely to abuse alcohol or become dependent if you:
.................................
One of the men observed in Sunday School Class that the reason we should not become addicted to anything is that the addiction numbs our ability to recognize and receive spiritual truths.
How much you drink can influence your chances of becoming dependent. Those at risk for developing alcoholism include:
- Men who have 15 or more drinks a week
- Women who have 12 or more drinks a week
- Anyone who has five or more drinks per occasion at least once a week
You have an increased risk for alcohol abuse and dependence if you have a parent with alcoholism.
You may also be more likely to abuse alcohol or become dependent if you:
- Are a young adult under peer pressure
- Have depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, or schizophrenia
- Have easy access to alcohol
- Have low self-esteem
- Have problems with relationships
- Live a stressful lifestyle
- Live in a culture alcohol use is more common and accepted
.................................
One of the men observed in Sunday School Class that the reason we should not become addicted to anything is that the addiction numbs our ability to recognize and receive spiritual truths.
A Night Out
I actually had a bit of a social life this week. One of the new members of the branch invited the ladies to a dinner and game playing at their cabin being constructed in Mineral.
It turned out to be a very enjoyable evening, interesting talk on the way over and back and fun to see a beautiful cabin with the lovely Christmas decorations still up. The cabin is A frame with a very high ceiling and there was an amazingly tall Christmas tree all the way to the rafters.
We were served mahi mahi, which was so delicious, and even homemade Key Lime pie which was wonderful, too! Games were dominoes and a block balancing game.
We should do this more often--only two of use were widows though--maybe not so easy for the others to get away. Right now there is no snow so very easy to travel anywhere.
It turned out to be a very enjoyable evening, interesting talk on the way over and back and fun to see a beautiful cabin with the lovely Christmas decorations still up. The cabin is A frame with a very high ceiling and there was an amazingly tall Christmas tree all the way to the rafters.
We were served mahi mahi, which was so delicious, and even homemade Key Lime pie which was wonderful, too! Games were dominoes and a block balancing game.
We should do this more often--only two of use were widows though--maybe not so easy for the others to get away. Right now there is no snow so very easy to travel anywhere.
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Happy Birthday Dad!
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
20 Seconds of Courage
I really liked that new mantra to live by from the movie "We Bought a Zoo". We just need 20 Seconds of Courage to often change our life. I like that.
I have been so impressed with what I have read about George Albert Smith, the eighth president of the Church. It was in 1947 when I was visiting in Utah and I was walking with my Aunt to go into the Tabernacle for the Centennial Celebration of the Pioneers entering Utah. For some reason we were walking alone, was some of my family already inside or was I alone with my aunt?? I am not sure but I remember we were hurrying because it was late. However, my aunt steered me over to an old man who was shaking the hand of a little girl with her mother. It was President George Albert Smith on his way in to the north entrance. But he took the time to shake my hand as well. No one else was around. From what I have been reading this is the kind of person he was, a very kind and loving man who always had time for others.
It was interesting that in 1951 after President Smith died I was also in the right place at the right time. I was a freshman at BYU and President David O. McKay had come to be with V P Harry Truman as he spoke to us at the football stadium. I was in a center bench near the front and as soon as it was over I was able to be one of the first to go stand by Pres. McKay and although I did not shake his hand, I was able to touch his arm. I remember I was thrilled as I had heard so much about him from my Mom. He was very available to us all. It was always amusing to me that none of the students were interested in V P Truman who left the stadium in a limousine with his Secret Service men surrounding him. I was not aware of any protection around Pres Mc Kay but there may have been some, however he was quickly surrounded by students.
My mother had been a friend of his daughters and had told us stories about his family. The story I visualized most was him walking my Mom and his daughter to a church dance. I think my Mom patterned her child raising techniques after Emma Riggs McKay, who wrote about how to raise your children peacefully, and my Mom never did speak to us in a loud voice in all the years I remember. My sisters say the same thing and we all marvel at it.
Then in the 70's when I was Stake Primary President and we were to go to General Primary Conference we had prepared a birthday card for President Spencer W. Kimball. It was very large and signed by all the children in the stake. President Naylor, who had grown up in the same town as President Kimball, said he would try and get us an appointment so we could personally give it to him. He did and we did and he shook each of our hands and looked us directly in the eye and talked a second or so to each of us. It was very emotional, he had such a spirit about him.
One other experience I had was when we were preparing the meal the Saturday night before Stake Conference. President Naylor would have a special dinner for the visiting General Authorities and the Stake Presidency and High Council and their wives. The Stake auxillaries would take turns preparing the meals. This was before Howard Hunter was the Prophet and President but he was an Apostle and he took the time to come into the kitchen and personally address each one of us. Here again, such a kind and spiritual man. I remember speaking directly to him and shaking his hand.
Another General Authority I conversed with was when Richard was in the Stake High Council and we were to attend the Saturday night dinner. For some reason Richard could not be there and the wife of the visiting General Authority S. Dilworth Young was not there either so President Naylor asked me to sit by him. I think President Naylor knew I could carry on a conversation with him or maybe he felt sorry for me being alone. Elder Young was very kindly and talkative. He had two pills he had to take and he said one was for him and one was for Huldah, his wife. I later read a story about his wife in the Ensign. She had been a single woman all her life and then after his first wife died she married him. He was an older man, born five years before my mother and he died a few years later in 1981.
Anyway, I do not know why '20 Seconds of Courage' made me think of those experiences but in all cases if I had hesitated to act or speak up I would not have had the opportunity to meet and/or talk with these exemplary men.
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My mother had been a friend of his daughters and had told us stories about his family. The story I visualized most was him walking my Mom and his daughter to a church dance. I think my Mom patterned her child raising techniques after Emma Riggs McKay, who wrote about how to raise your children peacefully, and my Mom never did speak to us in a loud voice in all the years I remember. My sisters say the same thing and we all marvel at it.
Then in the 70's when I was Stake Primary President and we were to go to General Primary Conference we had prepared a birthday card for President Spencer W. Kimball. It was very large and signed by all the children in the stake. President Naylor, who had grown up in the same town as President Kimball, said he would try and get us an appointment so we could personally give it to him. He did and we did and he shook each of our hands and looked us directly in the eye and talked a second or so to each of us. It was very emotional, he had such a spirit about him.
Anyway, I do not know why '20 Seconds of Courage' made me think of those experiences but in all cases if I had hesitated to act or speak up I would not have had the opportunity to meet and/or talk with these exemplary men.
Craig's Graduation Pictures!
Craig graduated from BYU in April 2011 but I didn't have his graduation pictures at that time so I will publish them in the 2012 book! Congrats again, Craig.
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