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| My postbox protected by the big tree. |
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| Daffodils! |
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| Snow creations! |
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Who I Was Named After
I remember my mother telling me I was named after Janet Gaynor.Today I watched a silent movie called "Sunrise" starring Janet Gaynor. I don't think I had ever seen her in a movie and I did not realize she was a star of the silent films. This movie was made in 1927. It is so amazing how much they could emote with their facial expressions and body actions. You hardly needed the few words on the screen they showed occasionally.
It is no wonder I never saw her, she retired from films in 1937 to travel with her husband.
She was one of just a few actresses who successfully went from silent to sound films. I would love to see her in "A Star is Born"--the original of the remake that I loved Judy Garland in many years later.
What exciting basketball games today! And good conference this afternoon. We had a power outage all morning, but first one this year, life is good.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Bad News
Today I had my annual physical and my cholesterol is up!!! No wonder--I have been eating like a teenager this winter. So saying goodbye to bad habits and tomorrow is a new day.
I am telling myself I can't take a trip to San Diego until I lose 18 pounds. That is not too much but it will be a good start so do it!! I just need to cut out all the fat I have been eating
For some reason I had interesting conversations in the waiting room at the Drs. I should really socialize more, it is good for me. The first couple were just interested in listening to my Bandido story and we went from there and then the last three were interested in my Montana wolf jacket and wanted to talk about Montana. One of them had a father in Scobey and another had a cousin in Billings. They did not know where Cooke City was. They liked my
jacket.
I finished "To Kill A Mockingbird". So glad I read it again, and yes, every high school student should read it, everyone should read it. I also watched another episode of "War and Remembrance" and it was such vivid images of details of the holocaust...so unbelievable what they did.
When I was in 4th grade our teacher read us episodes of Toby Tyler (joins the circus) every day after lunch. I really enjoyed it. Today I watched a movie that was made about him in the 60's. Still enjoyed it. Life is good.
I am telling myself I can't take a trip to San Diego until I lose 18 pounds. That is not too much but it will be a good start so do it!! I just need to cut out all the fat I have been eating
For some reason I had interesting conversations in the waiting room at the Drs. I should really socialize more, it is good for me. The first couple were just interested in listening to my Bandido story and we went from there and then the last three were interested in my Montana wolf jacket and wanted to talk about Montana. One of them had a father in Scobey and another had a cousin in Billings. They did not know where Cooke City was. They liked my
jacket.
I finished "To Kill A Mockingbird". So glad I read it again, and yes, every high school student should read it, everyone should read it. I also watched another episode of "War and Remembrance" and it was such vivid images of details of the holocaust...so unbelievable what they did.
When I was in 4th grade our teacher read us episodes of Toby Tyler (joins the circus) every day after lunch. I really enjoyed it. Today I watched a movie that was made about him in the 60's. Still enjoyed it. Life is good.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Live in the Mountains
Meagan gave me a sign that said, "If you are lucky enough to live in the moutains, you are lucky enough." That was so true today. The sun was shining, it was not too cold and the grounds were still covered with snow. So beautiful, so peaceful.
Poor Bandido, though. He missed the driveway twice. Each time he walked passed it and then turned around and came back. I was letting him lead us on his leash. The third time he turned in at the right place. He didn't know when to turn in at the deck either. He certainly cannot be outside at all by himself. Poor Bandido.
Today I have been scanning pictures and listening to music. I can't believe how much I accomplish since I went off Facebook. Life is just a lot simpler if you are not involved in everybody's else's life. As my FEMA friend said, "If anybody wants to communicate with me, they know where I am." Guess that is true.
I have been writing again in my San Diego Scene and reading a lot of old letters. It was a good time when we used to write letters, I am so glad I have them.
Poor Bandido, though. He missed the driveway twice. Each time he walked passed it and then turned around and came back. I was letting him lead us on his leash. The third time he turned in at the right place. He didn't know when to turn in at the deck either. He certainly cannot be outside at all by himself. Poor Bandido.
Today I have been scanning pictures and listening to music. I can't believe how much I accomplish since I went off Facebook. Life is just a lot simpler if you are not involved in everybody's else's life. As my FEMA friend said, "If anybody wants to communicate with me, they know where I am." Guess that is true.
I have been writing again in my San Diego Scene and reading a lot of old letters. It was a good time when we used to write letters, I am so glad I have them.
Pacific Beach in 1964
This is another fun picture I found today. This was the day after my sister Carole's wedding in Pacific Beach. I am on the left, then my Mom, sister-in-law Mary, Carole, and my sister Jeanne. The children are Cheri ( Mary's daughter) Linda, Carole (Jeanne's daughter) and Johnny. Evidently David and Marilyn did not come to the wedding. Who had baby Maria? In most of the pictures, Mary was holding her. And I didn't see Richard in any of the beach pictures. He must have had to work after taking off the day before for the wedding.
From 1956
This is another old picture I found of my first year of teaching in San Diego. I was teaching in South San Diego and had too many students and no control in the second grade I was teaching. It was my second year as I had taught one year in Billings, Montana. The big difference is I had only around 20 students in Montana and here I had from 38-40 most of the year. It was very difficult and depressing.
My friend Norma (on the end right, who later set me up with Richard) had us all do a three act play and it was a wonderful diversion from my teaching experience. Fourth from the left is Danny Prager who lives on the same street as Meagan in San Diego. Second from the right is John who I dated when I first came to San Diego and next to me on my left is Bob who also wanted to date seriously. He was very nice but I was not interested in anything more than a friendship. After I met Bill, I didn't date any of the locals.
These young adults all were single and living in Fourth Ward in San Diego so we had lots of fun activites. There were many more other single adults, also. It was a very fun ward for us to be in--North Park of San Diego. I am, of course, the fifth from the right and I was playing the part of the mother in the play and Danny was my son, thus I had powdered grey hair. The big scene was when I had to kiss my husband...I can't remember if it was Bob or Chuck. Chuck, on my right, introduced me to Bill when he brought him to my school. Bill told me later it was love at first sight. We did have a fun romance with dancing, dinners, sailing, the zoo, and the beach. San Diego was a fun, sleepy town in the 50's.
1966 Winter Picture
I love to find pictures of Richard with the children. This was probably the winter of 1966 and we had probably gone up to Julian when it snowed. Nobody has mittens. Richard always enjoyed having an outing with the family. Looks like Linda and Johnny are throwing snowballs on Richard's back. We probably had hot chocolate and marshmallows before going back home.
We had about four inches of snow last night and it is all melting today. Glad I fertilized the daffodils yesterday before the snow.
Mitch came up to get the rest of his things and to say goodbye. He is going to Michigan for awhile to work and stay with his Valko grandparents. I hope he enjoys the change. I wonder if they are still having winter there???
Monday, March 26, 2012
Exhausted
Bandido and I are both recuperating from our exhausting ordeal, both of us walking far more than we normally do. Him seeking home, me seeking him. I know I didn't have any sleep Friday night and I am sure he didn't either as he wound his way down hill to the lakeside.
At least we are both sleeping a lot now and that is good.
It was interesting to go online and read of other traumatic experiences of people whose pets have disappeared, some eventually finding resolve and others none. I can see why people seek others online for similar experiences so they receive some kind of understanding in their anxiety. When a pet is lost or a loved one leaves, you have the same kind of guilty feeling. What should I have done that I didn't.? Was I negligent? Did I not show enough caring and love?
It has been a long time since Bandido has wanted to snuggle next to me like he used to--almost like an Alzheimer's patient, not knowing who he is or who you are, but I have been trying to get him to cuddle more since he came back. Does it matter to him? I am not sure? His eyes are glazed, I know he sees the shadow of my outline but does he see me???
At least we are both sleeping a lot now and that is good.
It was interesting to go online and read of other traumatic experiences of people whose pets have disappeared, some eventually finding resolve and others none. I can see why people seek others online for similar experiences so they receive some kind of understanding in their anxiety. When a pet is lost or a loved one leaves, you have the same kind of guilty feeling. What should I have done that I didn't.? Was I negligent? Did I not show enough caring and love?
It has been a long time since Bandido has wanted to snuggle next to me like he used to--almost like an Alzheimer's patient, not knowing who he is or who you are, but I have been trying to get him to cuddle more since he came back. Does it matter to him? I am not sure? His eyes are glazed, I know he sees the shadow of my outline but does he see me???
Saturday, March 24, 2012
"Yesterday was just awful"
...from the musical "Annie".
Last night while it was still light Bandido was on the deck but not ready to come in. When I went for him again he was gone. As I have said before, Bandido has only gotten off the deck once in the past year and that is when the snow was as high as the deck...and yet here he was... gone.
I looked everywhere in the house. Had I let him in and forgotten??? When Mike came home we looked again and again, even under the beds. It was so dark it was hard to see in the yards but I checked back and front over and over again. He was gone...but where?
At 2 am I still l hadn't been able to sleep and Mike was up, too. He drove us around just in case Bandido had been hit by a car or was on the side of the road. Nothing.
Bandido has 4 tags--one with my cell phone and his name, one with my house phone and his name, one with his rabies information and one with his Vet's name and number. I thought if someone had taken him in out of the cold, they would call in the morning. At 9 AM I called the Security...no one had reported a found dog.
I walked all the lots near my home. I had read on the internet about how dogs go off to die by themselves. I looked under all the decks. I walked up and down the street and across the street. Everytime the phone rang I thought it will either be good news or bad news but sooner or later he has to be seen and someone will call. There are not too many in the LAAC this time of year. Most are summer homes so it could be awhile.
But at about 4 pm the call came. Mary at Security in a cheerful voice said I would find Bandido laying on the beach at such and such a number on Peninsula. After I hung up I thought he must be dead or why would he just be laying there? But she did sound cheerful. I realized Mike had my car so asked my neighbor to drive me down.
When we got there my neighbor talked to the man of the house and I walked directly to the beach behind their house. I could see him laying in a fluffy ball, not moving, and I started to cry. But when I walked up to him I could see he was shaking like a cold leaf but when I wrapped him in my towel he cuddled up and perked up and got more perky as we neared home.
After a long drink and good food and some warm cuddling he was soon walking around acting very normal but inspecting everything and he looked very comforted to be home. He keeps going back to eat and eat, he must have used a lot of energy last night.
When I later tried to take him for a walk or even use the run he did not want to. He was either very tired or afraid, I am not sure which. Since Bandido cannot see very well or hear very well it must have been very frightening for him to walk all the way from my house at the top of the peninsula down to the east shore of the peninsula. We will never know why or how he did it...his left leg slips out from under him quite often and he walks in circles a lot. No wonder he was so tired. It is a lot further than I could have walked, that is for sure. Mike thinks he was interacting with the raccoons...we will never know.
At least for now, he has another lease on life and deserves a lot of cuddling, we better go see Dr. Bob and see what we can give him in comfort for his last days. Hard to believe Richard and I picked him out of a litter 16 years ago in November, just before Richard died. He has been a good, good friend to me.
Last night while it was still light Bandido was on the deck but not ready to come in. When I went for him again he was gone. As I have said before, Bandido has only gotten off the deck once in the past year and that is when the snow was as high as the deck...and yet here he was... gone.
I looked everywhere in the house. Had I let him in and forgotten??? When Mike came home we looked again and again, even under the beds. It was so dark it was hard to see in the yards but I checked back and front over and over again. He was gone...but where?
At 2 am I still l hadn't been able to sleep and Mike was up, too. He drove us around just in case Bandido had been hit by a car or was on the side of the road. Nothing.
Bandido has 4 tags--one with my cell phone and his name, one with my house phone and his name, one with his rabies information and one with his Vet's name and number. I thought if someone had taken him in out of the cold, they would call in the morning. At 9 AM I called the Security...no one had reported a found dog.
I walked all the lots near my home. I had read on the internet about how dogs go off to die by themselves. I looked under all the decks. I walked up and down the street and across the street. Everytime the phone rang I thought it will either be good news or bad news but sooner or later he has to be seen and someone will call. There are not too many in the LAAC this time of year. Most are summer homes so it could be awhile.
But at about 4 pm the call came. Mary at Security in a cheerful voice said I would find Bandido laying on the beach at such and such a number on Peninsula. After I hung up I thought he must be dead or why would he just be laying there? But she did sound cheerful. I realized Mike had my car so asked my neighbor to drive me down.
When we got there my neighbor talked to the man of the house and I walked directly to the beach behind their house. I could see him laying in a fluffy ball, not moving, and I started to cry. But when I walked up to him I could see he was shaking like a cold leaf but when I wrapped him in my towel he cuddled up and perked up and got more perky as we neared home.
After a long drink and good food and some warm cuddling he was soon walking around acting very normal but inspecting everything and he looked very comforted to be home. He keeps going back to eat and eat, he must have used a lot of energy last night.
When I later tried to take him for a walk or even use the run he did not want to. He was either very tired or afraid, I am not sure which. Since Bandido cannot see very well or hear very well it must have been very frightening for him to walk all the way from my house at the top of the peninsula down to the east shore of the peninsula. We will never know why or how he did it...his left leg slips out from under him quite often and he walks in circles a lot. No wonder he was so tired. It is a lot further than I could have walked, that is for sure. Mike thinks he was interacting with the raccoons...we will never know.
 |
| When we moved here 13 years ago. |
At least for now, he has another lease on life and deserves a lot of cuddling, we better go see Dr. Bob and see what we can give him in comfort for his last days. Hard to believe Richard and I picked him out of a litter 16 years ago in November, just before Richard died. He has been a good, good friend to me.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Dancing With The Stars
Is going to be wonderful to watch this year. Such beautiful, happy people who are so good!!!
Today I watched an excellent documentary on "To Kill a Mockingbird" so I need to check out the book and read it again. I did not know the author liv ed next door to Truman Capote and they were great friends until she won the Pulitzer Prize. Her name was Harper Lee and she never wrote another novel, some essays, but not a novel. However, she was able to live on what she made on that one book, which is almost unheard of...
I have really been enjoying the musical "Smash" but I am afraid they will drop it. They like the crazy shows the young people like instead of a good musical I think. I don't like part of the story line, however, it is going to ruin the show, always have to have a little trash I am afraid.
Bandido almost pranced down the street today with his coat on in the crisp air, he must be feeling well. Life is good!
Oh, yes, it is easy to keep up with my scriptures with BYUtv on Roku. Love it. And I am switching to Dish TV--hope that is good, they are cheaper with lots of freebies for 3 mo on some things and a year on others and I will have tv in my bedroom at no extra cost. The rep I talked to was excellent, so unusual but he did a great job and was so patient with me. Life is good!
Today I watched an excellent documentary on "To Kill a Mockingbird" so I need to check out the book and read it again. I did not know the author liv ed next door to Truman Capote and they were great friends until she won the Pulitzer Prize. Her name was Harper Lee and she never wrote another novel, some essays, but not a novel. However, she was able to live on what she made on that one book, which is almost unheard of...
I have really been enjoying the musical "Smash" but I am afraid they will drop it. They like the crazy shows the young people like instead of a good musical I think. I don't like part of the story line, however, it is going to ruin the show, always have to have a little trash I am afraid.
Bandido almost pranced down the street today with his coat on in the crisp air, he must be feeling well. Life is good!
Oh, yes, it is easy to keep up with my scriptures with BYUtv on Roku. Love it. And I am switching to Dish TV--hope that is good, they are cheaper with lots of freebies for 3 mo on some things and a year on others and I will have tv in my bedroom at no extra cost. The rep I talked to was excellent, so unusual but he did a great job and was so patient with me. Life is good!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Oscar Movies
I've been making my way through the Oscar movies. DirectTV is giving back $10 if you watch 4 this month. Last night I watched Descendants and enjoyed it very much. Clooney did a great job.
Tonight I watched "My Week with Marilyn". I thought Michelle Williams really had Marilyn down very well. Marilyn had something no one can really capture but she did remarkably well and she deserved an Oscar. I haven't seen the Thatcher movie yet, anxious to see Meryl Streep in that. Anyway I really enjoyed the Marilyn movie. The fellow who played Colin was great and I am anxious to see him again in another movie. I will have to see who he is.
We have had the strangest assortment of types of snow this week and then it all melts. What a strange winter or spring? One day there were large 50 cent size, very wet, blobs of snow coming down very close together and very fast. Never seen anything quite like it. The next day it was more like artificial snow, tiny dots and very dry. It also melted fast. But I am happy the yard is clean of branches, the buds are out and the daffodils pushing up and spring will soon be here. Life is good.
I think Mike and Mitch are enjoying each other--nice to have them here. With two of them here I have had light bulbs replaced, smoke alarms rearmed with new batteries, driveway and walks cleaned and they are both working at putting the toilet seat down. Mike had had jokes about it on one of his shows so I did express it was something they should learn to do...
Tonight I watched "My Week with Marilyn". I thought Michelle Williams really had Marilyn down very well. Marilyn had something no one can really capture but she did remarkably well and she deserved an Oscar. I haven't seen the Thatcher movie yet, anxious to see Meryl Streep in that. Anyway I really enjoyed the Marilyn movie. The fellow who played Colin was great and I am anxious to see him again in another movie. I will have to see who he is.
We have had the strangest assortment of types of snow this week and then it all melts. What a strange winter or spring? One day there were large 50 cent size, very wet, blobs of snow coming down very close together and very fast. Never seen anything quite like it. The next day it was more like artificial snow, tiny dots and very dry. It also melted fast. But I am happy the yard is clean of branches, the buds are out and the daffodils pushing up and spring will soon be here. Life is good.
I think Mike and Mitch are enjoying each other--nice to have them here. With two of them here I have had light bulbs replaced, smoke alarms rearmed with new batteries, driveway and walks cleaned and they are both working at putting the toilet seat down. Mike had had jokes about it on one of his shows so I did express it was something they should learn to do...
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Bridges of Madison County
I made my pies this morning, and I should note it doesn't work to substitute potato and corn starch for flour when making crumb crust. It just liquifies away. Pie still tastes good but you don't have the crunchy crust.
Anyway after making my pies I watched "Bridges of Madison County", one of my favorite movies. Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood are both such amazing actors and I hadn't noticed the beautiful music in the movie. There are also some wonderful lines in the movie, I want to go back and write down.
I remember the first time I watched it which must have been in 1995 I felt a little naughty liking it so much because it is about being unfaithful in your marriage. But there is a lot to learn from that movie also in just making your life the very best you can and blooming where you are planted--Living the moment--appreciating the wonder of life and the beauty of the world. One line at the beginning of the movie was Clint Eastwood saying:
"I had some wonderful dreams, they didn't all work out, but I'm glad I had them."
To me this is a movie with such feelings, scenery, music and messages it is a classic to watch again and again. I wonder what else the author has written.
Anyway after making my pies I watched "Bridges of Madison County", one of my favorite movies. Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood are both such amazing actors and I hadn't noticed the beautiful music in the movie. There are also some wonderful lines in the movie, I want to go back and write down.
I remember the first time I watched it which must have been in 1995 I felt a little naughty liking it so much because it is about being unfaithful in your marriage. But there is a lot to learn from that movie also in just making your life the very best you can and blooming where you are planted--Living the moment--appreciating the wonder of life and the beauty of the world. One line at the beginning of the movie was Clint Eastwood saying:
"I had some wonderful dreams, they didn't all work out, but I'm glad I had them."
To me this is a movie with such feelings, scenery, music and messages it is a classic to watch again and again. I wonder what else the author has written.
Winter Wonderland
Today is a one of the kinds of days I love most in Lake Almanor. I should write a poem about it. The snow is falling with large wet flakes and sticking to every branch and wire and it is beautiful, so beautiful. Bandido, even though I put his coat on, did not like it though and turned around immediately to get back in the house.
Mitch is here and he filled up the wood bin yesterday and I had gathered more kindling from around the lot so we are well set. I also made a run to Walmart so our cupboards are full. And we don't have to go anywhere today, I hope. Lovely day to sit home by the fire and play their games and read my books. Life is good. I think I will make apple pie, Lake Almanor apple pie, in fact, I think I will make two, one with regular crust for the boys and one with a gluten free crust for me. Yes, life is good!
Mitch is here and he filled up the wood bin yesterday and I had gathered more kindling from around the lot so we are well set. I also made a run to Walmart so our cupboards are full. And we don't have to go anywhere today, I hope. Lovely day to sit home by the fire and play their games and read my books. Life is good. I think I will make apple pie, Lake Almanor apple pie, in fact, I think I will make two, one with regular crust for the boys and one with a gluten free crust for me. Yes, life is good!
Hair
I have always wondered how certain famous people always appear to have the same hairdo month after month. I have never been able to achieve that. That must be why they have their own stylist travel with them on trips and such.
I have had many different people cut my hair through the years, I have found it extremely difficult for them to keep the hair cut the same from month to month.
For instance, I had let my hair grow out after a really bad short hair cut. So when I went to a stylist I have used in the past and I knew was good I went prepaed with pictures of how I wanted it to look. She complained that it wasn't right for me but she spent a lot of time working toward it and it was perfect. I loved dealing with my hair all month. It worked for me!! Yea, I have found the perfect length, etc. etc. etc. I just need it trimmed each month...or so I thought.
I went back five weeks later and I assumed (Motto: Never Assume) but I assumed she would trim the 1/4 inch off or so and keep it the same. Not so!!!! It ended up too short on the crown, too short on the top front, too long in the back for the too short on top, etc. In other words I went home with a hair cut that does not work and was totally different and shorter from the month before.
I have found this so true. They cut that first haircut perfectly and the second one is always too short. What should I say or do to see this does not happen? I guess I must take the pictures every time and let them know I do not trust them.
I have also found trying to explain what you want and what they hear you want is never the same.
One stylist did tell me it was very difficult to trim a razor cut so it was the same as last time when I told her to keep it the same and just trim it. And, of course, it was not. Anyway, one of the frustrations of my life.
I just heard noise from another frustration of my life...Bandido is waking up and I must hurry and let him out before he pees on the kitchen floor. Old age affects all of us in unkind ways.
Oh, yes, Bandido has a too short haircut, too, so we are both unhappy with our looks this month.
I have had many different people cut my hair through the years, I have found it extremely difficult for them to keep the hair cut the same from month to month.
For instance, I had let my hair grow out after a really bad short hair cut. So when I went to a stylist I have used in the past and I knew was good I went prepaed with pictures of how I wanted it to look. She complained that it wasn't right for me but she spent a lot of time working toward it and it was perfect. I loved dealing with my hair all month. It worked for me!! Yea, I have found the perfect length, etc. etc. etc. I just need it trimmed each month...or so I thought.
I went back five weeks later and I assumed (Motto: Never Assume) but I assumed she would trim the 1/4 inch off or so and keep it the same. Not so!!!! It ended up too short on the crown, too short on the top front, too long in the back for the too short on top, etc. In other words I went home with a hair cut that does not work and was totally different and shorter from the month before.
I have found this so true. They cut that first haircut perfectly and the second one is always too short. What should I say or do to see this does not happen? I guess I must take the pictures every time and let them know I do not trust them.
I have also found trying to explain what you want and what they hear you want is never the same.
One stylist did tell me it was very difficult to trim a razor cut so it was the same as last time when I told her to keep it the same and just trim it. And, of course, it was not. Anyway, one of the frustrations of my life.
I just heard noise from another frustration of my life...Bandido is waking up and I must hurry and let him out before he pees on the kitchen floor. Old age affects all of us in unkind ways.
Oh, yes, Bandido has a too short haircut, too, so we are both unhappy with our looks this month.
Friday, March 09, 2012
Winds of War
I am watching this series that Herman Wouk wrote about WWII. It really struck me in one scene. So many times soldiers are criticized or punished for killing innocent people yet, when Germany attacked Poland in 1939 the poles were trying to leave their cities and the Naziis came at them over and over with planes with machine guns. There were no enemy soldiers they were shooting at or munitions they were bombing, just innocent people trying to get away.
Listening to the devious lies of Hitler reminded me again of the gross mistrust I have of some of our government leaders in these latter days. There is so much deception and greed and power grabbing with no regard for what is best for America and her people. Hitler was able to get away with so much in the beginning because the people could not conceive of the evil he was capable of. Many called him crazy but still couldn't understand. He actually told the world the Poles had been attacking Germany for months before Germany retaliated in their surprise attack. He was proud of the fact he was deceiving England and France with his lies.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Edmund Burke
I don't like the character Ali McGraw plays anymore than I liked the character she played in "Love Story". She doesn't seem like someone guys would be so in love with, very manipulative and self serving. In "Love Story" I hardly could sit through it. I did not like her foul tongue and as I say I did not think she was lovable at all.
Listening to the devious lies of Hitler reminded me again of the gross mistrust I have of some of our government leaders in these latter days. There is so much deception and greed and power grabbing with no regard for what is best for America and her people. Hitler was able to get away with so much in the beginning because the people could not conceive of the evil he was capable of. Many called him crazy but still couldn't understand. He actually told the world the Poles had been attacking Germany for months before Germany retaliated in their surprise attack. He was proud of the fact he was deceiving England and France with his lies.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Edmund Burke
I don't like the character Ali McGraw plays anymore than I liked the character she played in "Love Story". She doesn't seem like someone guys would be so in love with, very manipulative and self serving. In "Love Story" I hardly could sit through it. I did not like her foul tongue and as I say I did not think she was lovable at all.
"The First Thing We Must Do is Understand"
--The second is to put our understanding into action." Good advice from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. While I was having a fatty intolerance attack tonight I read something I want to remember.
President Uchtdorf warned of the tendency to complicate simple things. "Too often, we complicate the beauty and simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ with endless lists of meticulous expectations. however, when we focus on the 'why' of the gospel, much of the confusion fades away. Why are we asked to obey the commandments? Why is the Atonement of Jesus Christ of such value to us?"...
"Unfortunately, we sometimes don't seek revelation or answers from the scriptures...because we think we know the answers already...as good as our previous experience may be, if we stop asking questions, stop thinking, stop pondering, we can thwart the revelations of the Spirit."
"Please open your heart and minds to the will of heaven, and I promise that the Spirit will reveal the things that matter most--for you, your family...bring your decisions and efforts before the Lord in your daily prayers and ask for further light and direction. Trust Him. He knows you, and He loves you."
President Uchtdorf warned of the tendency to complicate simple things. "Too often, we complicate the beauty and simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ with endless lists of meticulous expectations. however, when we focus on the 'why' of the gospel, much of the confusion fades away. Why are we asked to obey the commandments? Why is the Atonement of Jesus Christ of such value to us?"...
"Unfortunately, we sometimes don't seek revelation or answers from the scriptures...because we think we know the answers already...as good as our previous experience may be, if we stop asking questions, stop thinking, stop pondering, we can thwart the revelations of the Spirit."
"Please open your heart and minds to the will of heaven, and I promise that the Spirit will reveal the things that matter most--for you, your family...bring your decisions and efforts before the Lord in your daily prayers and ask for further light and direction. Trust Him. He knows you, and He loves you."
Yea!! Maryanne to the Rescue!
I put out an email to see if anyone knew where the new dog groomer is in Chester and Maryanne came to the rescue. She had remembered seeing the sign some place so on way to her work today she scoped out Chester till she found it and called me the telephone number and directions. Thanks to Maryanne Bandido has a long overdue grooming appointment tomorrow. I hope the groomer will not be too hard on him and just shave him all off instead of trying to make him look good. His hair is very thick and a little mangy.
My Hot Dog Craving--Big Mistake!!
Yesterday when I saw the Miller Hot Dogs and got the craving it was a big mistake! I bought them and made my own gluten free hot dog buns and they worked!!! And they are so good! So good that I had them three meals in a row and little else except for Diet Dr Pepper and caramels made of butter, sugar and corn syryp.
Tonight I paid the price of my wacky diet. I had a huge fat intolerance or processed hot dog intolerance reaction tonight...evidently I couldn't digest so much accumulated fat with no veggies or anything else...
But the buns are good!!! Just remember, Janet, you have to eat sensibly and if you indulge in a huge hot dog it will not be more than one every two weeks or so!! I took a picture of my buns but I can't find the camera cord--story of my life, always something lost. And Janet, stop making those caramels, they are making you sick!!! And fat!!!!
Tonight I paid the price of my wacky diet. I had a huge fat intolerance or processed hot dog intolerance reaction tonight...evidently I couldn't digest so much accumulated fat with no veggies or anything else...
But the buns are good!!! Just remember, Janet, you have to eat sensibly and if you indulge in a huge hot dog it will not be more than one every two weeks or so!! I took a picture of my buns but I can't find the camera cord--story of my life, always something lost. And Janet, stop making those caramels, they are making you sick!!! And fat!!!!
Thursday, March 08, 2012
American Idol
Little Jessica Sanchez sang "I'll Always Love You" and made us all cry. She is another Whitney--so amazing.
It is going to be hard to choose this year. There are many good ones!!
It is going to be hard to choose this year. There are many good ones!!
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Seventeenth Summer
While looking for new books on my audio "Library to Go" I couldn't believe I saw " Seventeenth Summer", a book I had read when I was around 14 or 15. There were only two book titles I remembered from my teen age years. This was one and the other was "Men Are Like Streetcars".
I was curious to see if it would be as interesting to me now as it was then. And it was. Evidently a well-written book can be for all ages. I tried to go to sleep last night and finish it the next day but I had to keep turning it on until I was finished. It was so very nostalgic to me. So much like my high school life. However, I had read it before my 17th summer. And strangely enough my 17th summer was the most fun of my high school days so this book was even more nostalgic now than it was at 14. It is a story of first love and I could very well relate to all those new feelings and shyness and concern for the future.
My family was not as formal as this family but many other things were similar. My 17th summer was the summer before I was a senior and my boyfriend would be heading for college in the fall. In the book the girl was headed for college and the boy was moving to another state.
From a blogger I read that the book was originally written in 1942 by Maureen Daly before she was 20 years old. I read it in 1947-48. It was made into an audiobook last year and the book was reprinted in 2010. I don't know that teenagers of today would really wade through the book. It was such a different time and circumstances, I doubt they could relate at all. This particular blogger was a teacher of 7-8 graders and quite enjoyed it herself but also wondered if her students would feel the same. The only thing I thought was a little strange is that it was written in 1942 during WWII and that was not a part of the book at all. I assume the author did not want to date the book by that fact or muddy the theme of the book.
It reminded me so much of my hometown and my sister just sent me a poem written by a classmate of the class of 1950 about our hometown Glendive, Montana. He was the brother of my friend Carla and Hubert had written it for the '49-'52 years class reunion last year (which I did not attend). I hope he won't mind if I put it in my blog as a good memory.
Sandwiched between the Yellowstone and "Hungry Joe"
Our town bears witness:
To those who lived here long ago
To those who live here still
To those of us who were nurtured here and thus can call it our childhood home.
Our town provides a legacy:
For strong, resilient folks
Surviving in a tough, demanding land
Where heat in summer has reached 110 degrees,
Where days have reached to 40 below in a crisp, snowy, winter freeze.
Before us, the Indians called this land "Makoshika"
Yet, for those of us who call it home
The "badlands" has a beauty of its own.
We who are privileged to come together in this place
To renew our spirits, can say:
We have been here and shared our love and laughter
And will strive to leave it better
For those who come here after.
Hubert Carl Huebl,MD 7-9-2011 Class of 1950
I was curious to see if it would be as interesting to me now as it was then. And it was. Evidently a well-written book can be for all ages. I tried to go to sleep last night and finish it the next day but I had to keep turning it on until I was finished. It was so very nostalgic to me. So much like my high school life. However, I had read it before my 17th summer. And strangely enough my 17th summer was the most fun of my high school days so this book was even more nostalgic now than it was at 14. It is a story of first love and I could very well relate to all those new feelings and shyness and concern for the future.
My family was not as formal as this family but many other things were similar. My 17th summer was the summer before I was a senior and my boyfriend would be heading for college in the fall. In the book the girl was headed for college and the boy was moving to another state.
From a blogger I read that the book was originally written in 1942 by Maureen Daly before she was 20 years old. I read it in 1947-48. It was made into an audiobook last year and the book was reprinted in 2010. I don't know that teenagers of today would really wade through the book. It was such a different time and circumstances, I doubt they could relate at all. This particular blogger was a teacher of 7-8 graders and quite enjoyed it herself but also wondered if her students would feel the same. The only thing I thought was a little strange is that it was written in 1942 during WWII and that was not a part of the book at all. I assume the author did not want to date the book by that fact or muddy the theme of the book.
It reminded me so much of my hometown and my sister just sent me a poem written by a classmate of the class of 1950 about our hometown Glendive, Montana. He was the brother of my friend Carla and Hubert had written it for the '49-'52 years class reunion last year (which I did not attend). I hope he won't mind if I put it in my blog as a good memory.
Glendive-2011
Sandwiched between the Yellowstone and "Hungry Joe"
Our town bears witness:
To those who lived here long ago
To those who live here still
To those of us who were nurtured here and thus can call it our childhood home.
Our town provides a legacy:
For strong, resilient folks
Surviving in a tough, demanding land
Where heat in summer has reached 110 degrees,
Where days have reached to 40 below in a crisp, snowy, winter freeze.
Before us, the Indians called this land "Makoshika"
Yet, for those of us who call it home
The "badlands" has a beauty of its own.
We who are privileged to come together in this place
To renew our spirits, can say:
We have been here and shared our love and laughter
And will strive to leave it better
For those who come here after.
Hubert Carl Huebl,MD 7-9-2011 Class of 1950
Girl only house party at 17 in Glendive. As I say we were not as formal as the family in the book.
I told Melissa today that I was surprised the author had the characters doing so much smoking in high school and one even a pipe!!! In our school it was not so prevalent, at least until they went to college or started working.l
Monday, March 05, 2012
San Diego trip Needed?
Last week I went in for another zap on the cancerous looking spot on the side of my head. Dr Marc made an appointment for my annual this month but he took the opportunity to listen to my carotid artieries.
The one on my right was "wide open". That is the one I had surgery on in 2010. But he said the one on the left is sounding strange and he said I should make that appointment for a revisit to my surgeon. They called in January and I said I had no idea when I would be down again. Guess I better make that appointment and also one with my dermatoligist and then head South and pray that neither of them finds anything remotely dangeous this time.
I read an article on 'being prepared' for death at anytime. Guess I better get busy on my To Do list. In 1997, after Richard died, I made my 25 list and there are only a few things left to do
Here they are:
So what were the other 16 I did: Remember Richard had just passed away a few months earlier. I was still resolving all the business problems and was living in an apartment at James and Camber's Pacific Beach home and Camber encouraged me to write this and put it on my fridg.
The one on my right was "wide open". That is the one I had surgery on in 2010. But he said the one on the left is sounding strange and he said I should make that appointment for a revisit to my surgeon. They called in January and I said I had no idea when I would be down again. Guess I better make that appointment and also one with my dermatoligist and then head South and pray that neither of them finds anything remotely dangeous this time.
I read an article on 'being prepared' for death at anytime. Guess I better get busy on my To Do list. In 1997, after Richard died, I made my 25 list and there are only a few things left to do
Here they are:
- Get physically fit to where I can run a mile or longer and feel OK (don't want to take the risk of falling, this will never happen)
- Get down to 140 lbs...(that will never happen).
- Get rid of my spare tire...(ditto).
- Read all the classics. (what are all the classics?) I have read alot and really have enjoyed them!)
- See the Palmyra Pageant.
- See New England in the fall.
- Go to Branson and see lots of shows. (Not now, just had tornados)
- Be a good missionary.
- Exercise every day.
So what were the other 16 I did: Remember Richard had just passed away a few months earlier. I was still resolving all the business problems and was living in an apartment at James and Camber's Pacific Beach home and Camber encouraged me to write this and put it on my fridg.
- Own a home again--English cottage or Mountain Home. (the latter I do, since 1999)
- Feel happy.
- Feel joy.
- Feel contented and secure (it comes and goes like the ebb and flow of the sea).
- Go on a Cruise (Did the Mediterranean, Norway to England, Vancouver and Ensenada)
- Feel love and loved.
- Feel of worth.
- Enjoy talking and listening to people again.
- Enjoy dancing again (Ok, it is by myself but that is something. I did dance with two guys though and had fun for a few minutes)
- Be able to stop working (Well I did, but it wasn't because I had enough money).
- Have enough money to live comfortably. (I am surviving, given up a lot)
- Travel to Sweden (Actually have done it twice!!!) Plus London, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Maui, Hong Kong, Singapore, Guam, Germany, Maryland, West Virginia, Texas (several times and places), Florida, Louisiana, Delaware, New York, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, Mississippi, Tennessee, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Tahoe, Park City, Rancho Santa Fe, El Cajon, Pacific Beach, Carlsbad, Seattle, Vancouver, Canada, San Jose, Napa Valley! Life is good.
- Read Scriptures everyday (doing pretty well on that--helps to be able to listen sometimes)
- Meet Barbara Striesand (No, I didn't but I crossed it off my list as not wanted after all)
- Look in the mirror and like who I see. (I've grown comfortable with that old face)
- Visit Switzerland (No, I didn't, but I flew over the Alps and crossed it off my list)
Sunday, March 04, 2012
A Time To Kill
The best thing about having a bad memory is you can watch an old movie and not remember what is going to happen at all.
The thing I do remember is reading the book and the emotion it evoked in me. A good writer can do amazing things to your feelings. I loved this book and what it helped me visualize of a place and events I was not really a part of. Great job John Grisham.
The thing I do remember is reading the book and the emotion it evoked in me. A good writer can do amazing things to your feelings. I loved this book and what it helped me visualize of a place and events I was not really a part of. Great job John Grisham.
Seven Dwarfs
What was fun is living at the Hardy home while I worked on them and having Kelsi enjoy each new thing I did and having such fun playing with them. It was funny, too, that the dolls disappeared for the longest time and no one could find them. I had let Kelsi take them to bed with her one night. Long after I had gone home, I got the word they had finally found them in an obscure place. Such is family life.
Oh, yes, and a few years ago when Kate was here (she was about 2) Snow White disappeared. We never have found her but Carole sent me duplicates so now I have spares to lose which I keep in a big hat box by the couch. Maybe when Keira comes there will be someone to play with them.
Melissa's Wall Creation
Wow, I am flattered that my granddaughter Melissa would use a picture of me from May 1959 on her wall arrangement about the sea. She also used John, the picture we are all familiar with and which I love.
The pictures are taken about 20 years apart. I remember well when mine was taken. Bill and I had gone to the beach for one last time.
Bill and I had been planning marriage but now were breaking up. I went off to BYU for the summer soon after this picture was taken. That is when I took my great Speech class and private singing (it didn't help me much but it was fun).
Richard came up and introduced himself after Church just before Labor Day 1959, the first weekend I was back in San Diego, and we were married six weeks later.
Bill and I had been planning marriage but now were breaking up. I went off to BYU for the summer soon after this picture was taken. That is when I took my great Speech class and private singing (it didn't help me much but it was fun).
Richard came up and introduced himself after Church just before Labor Day 1959, the first weekend I was back in San Diego, and we were married six weeks later.
Saturday, March 03, 2012
For the Boys
Last night one of my favorite Bette Midler movies was on. 'For the Boys' was about two peformers who entertained the troops in WWII, the Korean War, and Viet Nam. Besides loving her singing it was very interesting to see how differently they portrayed the three wars and the soldiers in the wars. It was a very sad commentary on the last two events especcially.
My memory goes back to age 8 years old when I walked home from school with my neighbor Shirley sometimes. Her parents must have discussed the presidency of the US alot because Shirley was always a fountain of information about such things. I remember so well that we thought the leaders of the nation really were amazing and knew so well what they were doing.
I wonder how soon those illusions passed.
I would love to have the respect for the leaders that I had then. Now it is very difficult to find even a few that you look to for wise leadership.
My memory goes back to age 8 years old when I walked home from school with my neighbor Shirley sometimes. Her parents must have discussed the presidency of the US alot because Shirley was always a fountain of information about such things. I remember so well that we thought the leaders of the nation really were amazing and knew so well what they were doing.
I wonder how soon those illusions passed.
I would love to have the respect for the leaders that I had then. Now it is very difficult to find even a few that you look to for wise leadership.
Friday, March 02, 2012
Gluten Free Bread
Insight into Isaiah
I found a wonderful site on byutv.org. It is 30 episodes of 'Insight into Isaiah' as in 30 half hour discussions of Isaiah in the Old Testament. It is wonderful, lots of visuals, so interesting and you can learn so much. It helps, of course, with Isaiah in the Book of Mormon.
Naturally since I have Roku I can watch it on the big TV rather than my computer. Life is good.
The sun is shining, walks and roads are melted and it is beautiful to behold. No mud, yet, either.
Naturally since I have Roku I can watch it on the big TV rather than my computer. Life is good.
The sun is shining, walks and roads are melted and it is beautiful to behold. No mud, yet, either.
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