Friday, August 31, 2012

It's a Good Thing!

Making hard decisions after months of stewing!  It's a good thing.

Bar-S Corn Dogs from Costco baked at 375 for 20 minutes!  It's a good thing.

Getting a perky short hair cut! It's a good thing.

RNC Convention!  It was a really good thing--loved seeing all the young people expressing the traditional values of America that are needed back so badly.  The Governors and the Ladies, Eastwood, all were so impressive as were Ryan and Romney.  I loved seeing truth and belief in God being sung from the airways with vigor and determination by a multitude of good people from all walks of life and religion, very impressive.  I am so sick of the negative untruths being slung from the airways.  The new show Newsroom was absoluting repulsive this week.  I am so sick of distorted views and chopped quotes being cavorted as truth...Not!  Some of the Democratic women are the most repulsive representatives of womanhood that I have ever seen.  Why is that?  When I am feeling negative and bitchy, I feel just like one of them.  Definitely Not a Good Thing.

A full tank of gas.  It's a good thing.  Paying $4.39 a gallon--It is such a bad thing.  Who wouldn't want the 50's back?

 Simplify, simplify, it is where I am heading.  It's a good thing!!!

Lovely cool days with sunshine and calm and not so much smoke.  It's a good thing.

Cabbage slaw with pineapple, marshmallows and cream.  It's a good thing.

Talking to my sisters.  It's a good thing.

Communicating with my family.  It's good thing.

Getting rid of more stuff!  It's a very  good thing.

A very clean yard after days of the wind blowing needles down.  It's a good thing.

Being able to do it myself.   It's a great thing.

Bandido still hanging in there with his pokey little walk.  It's a good thing.

Cantaloupe and watermelon right now!  It's a good thing.

Getting a good night's sleep.  Such a good thing.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Maryanne Turns 60!


Saturday night I was privileged to be invited to the surprise birthday party for Maryanne, our Relief Society President.  Her son had planned this party and had flown all the way from Arizona to pull it off.  He had invited her siblings and spouses who live in Chico, Paradise and Chester--there are four of them here.
 
He had also invited a several friends from the Branch.  SHE WAS VERY MUCH SURPRISED!
The birthday cake that her sister brought from Raley's had her picture on it!!  I have never seen any like this.  It was very well done!
 
The food and service was excellent.   We were at the Red Onion which has moved from Chester out to the Peninsula--so not far from my home. I   personally had  the Salmon and Garlic Mashed Potatoes and it was delicious and I had enough to take home for another meal. 
 
It was fun chatting with everyone and I am very impressed with Maryanne's son Chris.  He is 41 but looks much younger but a very impressive man.  He is in charge of  Golf Tournaments and a whole lot more.  He has lived in Florida, Mexico and now Arizona.

Friday, August 24, 2012

It's Me, Richard!



Richard, in high school.
 
Richard, when we married.



Richard, a few years before he passed away.

No doubt about it, he was handsome all the days of his life.  We miss you, Richard.  Whenever Richard called on the phone, he always said, "It's me, Richard."  Like I didn't know.
Wonder what he looks like in heaven.  When was his most perfect image?  And who of the children, grandchildren look the most like him, I wonder.
Happy Birthday, Richard!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Carole's Dog

Carole told about her dog's experience at the cabin last week and it was so like Bandido's.

While they were away from the cabin her dog got out.  He has a lot of the problems like Bandido, he can't see or hear well.  Anyway they searched and searched for him but to no avail.
Much, much later a stranger found him laying at the edge of the creek water edge.  He appeared to be dead, just as Bandido did.

She said she nursed him and even had to use a dropper to get nourishment and water to him.  Amazingly he recovered.  That TLC has amazing recuperative powers.  He now seems better than ever.  Not unlike Bandido.  The power of love and care in a cold uncertain world.

Yesterday I expected the debris to still be in the lake.  Amazingly it was just on the edge of the lake.  Mother Nature really does know what to do.  I was the only one in the lake again, just a few children playing on the edge.   I feel so much better by going everyday, I just wish it would warm up, the smoke would go away and we would have a long Indian summer.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Embers

Today was the first day the lake was really littered with ash and embers--largest about 2".  So dirty, I hope no one got it in their mouth.  There were about five or six boys with their Dad's today.

Strange this morning their was about a dozen birds in my yard at the same time.  Some drinking water, some running up the trees, some digging in the dirt and a couple big ones digging between the river rocks.  There were about four different kind.  I wondered if they had been dislocated because of the fires??  A deer was just here trying to get water, too.  This smoke cannot be good for them. 

Michael was complaining about some bird making strange sounds this morning and there was a big black one running around the side of the lake doing the same thing.  Complaining about the ash or what??

Right now there are eery golden spots shining on the ground as the sun tries to shine through
the smoke.  Wow, that was a big ember coming down.  Michael better get on the roof!

Danny

In 1957 I was in a play at 4th Ward in North Park.  Danny, one of the San Diego locals, played my son.  I had floured grey hair as his mother.   I also remember Danny and I stole a kiss behind the curtains one night.  Danny was the one who brought me a treat when I had my wisdom teeth out.  He stayed and cheered me up and told me about his experiences in Japan.  I also remember my beautiful new white blanket was stained when my gums bled in the night.  I was at the sink drenching my blanket in cold water, forgetting about the pain in my teeth.  Luckily it was white again.  It was also Danny who asked me to go to the Fireside with him the first Sunday I was back in San Diego after spending the summer at BYU after my break up from Bill.  Richard also asked me to go with him after he introduced himself but I went with Danny.

Danny was a good looking, fun guy who all the girls had a little crush on and he eventually married our friend,  beautiful Lani.

Lani and I were two of the BYU graduates who came to San Diego to teach in 56 and 57.  We drove all the way to Utah one Christmas when we were both alone in San Diego.  We had Christmas Eve in Las Vegas as we stopped for something to eat.  It was a spur of the moment trip and we arrived early Christmas morning at her relatives and mine.  Anyway fun memories of those dating years in San Diego--56 to 59.

Jump forward 53 years and Meagan is living on the same block as Danny and Lani and here is a picture of Meagan and Keira at Danny's 80th birthday party.  It is a small world, after all.

Monday, August 20, 2012

A Lonely Lake

I guess I am really committed to my water noodling exercise.  Today I was the only person at the lake, not even the lifeguards.  There was quite a bit of smoke on the main lake and it was a little cooler, however, the water was warm and smooth as ever.

I thought about the prospect of having a heart attack and no one being there but, heck, my license was in my beach bag and they would see a noodle flooding around and what a nice way to go, in a lovely serene mountain lake surrounded by lofty pines.  Can't think of anything lovelier.

Actually the worst I had was I didn't stay to sit in the sun as there was no sun.  Total smoke cover.  Ron and Jean are supposedly in a mandatory move area and would go to Dore's back apartment to stay in.  However, they don't plan on leaving but have packed some precious things and clothes just in case it does get worse.

It is like a ghost town here.  Weekend visitors are staying away. 

Jeanne wants me to come and help organize her pictures, papers, etc. and so I plan to go, in October.  She said she would pay my way.    Amazingly I can't find a direct flight!!!  Since Reno Air disappeared, the scheduling and service is not as good.  I can ride with Maryanne to San Diego and fly from there.  She is going to Santee and stay at her daughters for awhile after the baby is born.  Two trips in one???  Have to think about it.

Bandido made a big mess in his pen this morning.  I had changed it and gone back to bed and oh my, he was disturned when I woke up.  Mess all over his feet, everywhere on the towels.  He is so happy once he is bathed and his area all cleaned up again.  I think he loves his little pen and all the attention he gets.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Actual Waves Today

We had much needed rain this morning so we could see blue sky and the sun.  When I went to the beach at 1:15 the only ones there were two young lifeguards and one was laying there with his eyes closed.  The other was yelling to him to sit up when he saw me setting up my chair.  I asked them if something was wrong with the water since no one was there.

"No, it's fine", one of them said.  "Just a little cooler from the rain."  Actually it wasn't much cooler but it was much cleaner than yesterday.  And then the breeze came up and there was acdtually little ripples or waves on the water.  I have never seen that and thought we were in for a storm.  I thought I better leave when the lifeguards did, in case something happened.

When we swam in Glendive and a little storm would begin, they would tell everyone to get out of the pool.  You had to wait and see if it was going to be a lightening storm.  If it passed over, we could get back in.  Actually the wind calmed and I was able to spend a little time tanning my legs.  First time I have had a tan in oh so many years.

Anyway it was another pleasant day of  dog paddling with my noodle.

In Remembrance of John

Here's a picture of John  that surfaced this week,  He would have been 12 years old and had started surfing in 5th grade so was surfing mostly at La Jolla Shores at this time.   We had no way of communicating. however, when it was time for me to pick him up. 


So we had a plan.  I had a huge yellow umbrella and would walk the beach when it was time for him to come in from the sea.  It worked fairly well.  Eventually he began to bicycle with his surf board down to La Jolla Shores but I probably was still picking him up.  It would be four or five more years before he would have the Vokswagon and be able to drive himself.


Surfing was a great passion of his.  We miss you, John.  Happy Birthday.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Who Knew?

We were watching "Man in the Back Booth" on my computer because it was already on the dining room table and had the speakers hooked up.  Twice it died--overheating.  Then Michael tells me he always puts his laptop on two books so it can circulate air in the middle.  Who knew?

Interesting site called "Letters of Note".  I especially enjoyed a letter from Scott Fitzgerald to his daughter in camp on what to worry about and what not to worry about.  There was also one from Albert Einstein on his view of God. (He was an atheist)  And one from Hitler's nephew to President Roosevelt.  He had defected to England in 1939 and eventually to America and warned everyone he could about his uncle.  He wanted to join the US military and had been rejected by them.

I recently watched the whole 2004 season of "Sex and the City".  The thing I like about that show is the disecting of relationships and how the four women accept their own and each other's absolute individuality.  They are good listeners and supportive of each other.  And, of course, the clothes are so fun to see. 

Now, I am in to Reba reruns.  I like the way they can accept each other and make life work for them all.

Last night I slept 12 hours, with help, of course.  I have been stewing about so many things I just haven't been able to sleep.  Maria has been trying to help me with my distorted thinking and I appreciate the time she has put in to it.  We all have so much to learn about ourselves and each other.

Only Lady in the Lake

This water therapy at the lake is so good for me.  Today you could acttually see some blue sky for awhile but there was only a few people there.   By the time I left at two the smoke was worse and I did see some ash on the west end of the lake.  I find if I go back and forth the long way it actually takes about a half hour.  The swimming lake is really large this year and the water was so warm today.  It certainly lifts my spirits and I have felt the sore muscles so I must be doing something worthwhile.

I found an actually web site for doing water exercises with the noodle and this is how it described what I do.

Deep

In the deep water, you can sit on your noodle with one end in front of your body, and the other behind, and pedal your legs as if riding a bicycle. This position can also be used to challenge the arms by using a breast stroke to pull you through the water and allowing the legs to hang. Another use for this straddle position is to move your legs in a scissor motion, as if cross country skiing.

Exactly what I do.  I heard a little girl ask her Dad at the lake,  "Is that lady floating?" 

They Do It In the Movies

How many times have we seen a runaway heroine in a motel chopping off her hair and it ends up looking fabulous. 

I stopped wearing my hair short because I didn't want to have to get a hair cut every four weeks.  It was especially difficult when I was working out in the field on Disaster Duty to find a beautician on our off hours. 

Nevertheless every once in awhile it has to be cut.  This was that week but Shelley is evidently out of town so as I stood looking at myself in the mirror today, I thought, why not?--they do in the movies all the time.

So I took the scissors and chop, chop, chop, a half inch or so all over as much as I could and it doesn't look half bad...it works.

As I have been working on my San Diego memoir I have noticed I can tell how well we were doing by my hair do and my body.  If  we were doing well, I had a classy hair do and was slim and trim.  If we were not and I was working like crazy and had no time for for myself, I had put on weight and my hair looked lousy.  It's a fact...

PS--can't find my camera and I have looked in all the usual places, by my bed, under my bed, on my bed, in the kitchen, on my desk, in my purses, in my car, oh, woe is me...

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Power Outages

Just as Michael was ready to warm up some chili, the power went out.  We scraped our monies together and bought him a Subway as I had to go into town to buy some envelopes anyway.  Doug Thayne has sent a copy of the Trust being drawn up for the cabin and asked if I would email it to Marilyn and Mary.  Unfortunately, they do not have email and I am totally out of envelopes.

When we returned the power was back on soon.  I was able to listen to a powerful talk given by Mitt Romney--with just a few notes in front of him--not a teleprompter.  This is a very interesting campaign as some of us cannot understand how anyone can have confidence in Obama and his cronies and the liberals feel the same way about Mitt.  Very interesting indeed.  I hate to get into politics on Facebook but it is getting harder and harder to not respond or not to share.  I would rather people kept Facebook more warm and fuzzy.

Last week I found my CD folder and so I have been listening to some of my favorites as I travel up and down to Susanville.  It is so funny that each song reminds me of a certain time and place or a certain person.  As one of my friends recently said it is such a blessing to have happy memories imprinted in our brains.  Certain songs can bring back a photographic memory of a scene in my mind and evoke laughter or nostalgia.  Randy in Guam was such a fun person in my life.  We shared a lot of personal information, he was the most sensitive man I have ever known, but he was not Gay.  He could also make me laugh even though we disagreed on so many things.  As I listened to one song today I remember him stomping in the parking lot and saying, "OK, that's it, the wedding is off!"  He was 23 years younger than me so it was just a funny joke, but so unexpected, he was like an actor performing for an audience he knew would appreciate his humor.  One day in Texas he got called on the carpet for sexual harassment because he was teasing us ladies with his buck teeth inserts.  So ridiculous.  If you couldn't laugh once in awhile those long days of tedious work would really get to you.  One day Julie had three of us laughing so hard we couldn't stop.  She had shared that last night her husband had said, "Why does it take me all night to do once what I used to do all night long?"  The guys wanted to know why we were laughing, we did not share that.

Another funny memory that came to my  mind from a song today was one Myrna shared with me.  In high school she had a boyfriend named Donny.  He went to the Army and she stayed home and because he was not ready for marriage and she was not going to college, she ended up marrying one of the oil men she was employed by.  Years later after she had left her husband because he was an alcoholic and she was in her 50's and had just gotten a new job near where her daughter lived in California, who should come up to the copy machine and say "Is that Myrna Graves?" but her old boyfriend Donny.  Small world, working for the same company.  No, they did not get back together.  He was married and died too young.  She ended up marrying one of her bosses again--it was good, but too short.  Why do all the good men die young????

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

We have had so much smoke from two fires near here that we rarely see the sun. For the most part the windows are closed and Michael is ready for winter to come!!!

Actually I have been enjoying "noodling" at the lake. I go down about 1 pm and because of the smoke there has been few people at the beach but when you are "noodling" in the water the smoke does not bother you at all. Since my thighs are hurting when I walk too much I find the exercise in the water is wonderful. The water feels like silk and is so warm--why haven't I been doing this every summer??? I am feeling great.

Money has been very tight for both Michael and I and that always depresses me but a few days ago I was reading about real poverty in Bangladesh and I felt ashamed as I considered how blessed we are in America. The interesting thing in the article as it talked about how anti-poverty programs of providing an asset and microfinancing have been used is that they discovered that there was much more success if they also provided a mentor to meet with them each week. This mentor would help them to have self-confidence in their enterprise and gave them HOPE!!! Without that HOPE the dream of a happy life eluded them. They also pointed out that it wasn't enough just to cheer the people up, they needed to provide them with purposefulness. A belief in a better future correlates with better performance, more money and improved health.

This is what we all need in life, a purpose, a feeling of hope and a sense of achievement. I am back to work on my San Diego book. I know it is really not needed by anyone else and may not even be read by anyone else but for me I want to complete it and then do my tie in book to my Lake Almanor books and I will feel like I have finished what I set out to do so many years ago when I started my journal. Will I include my negative experiences as well as positive--probably with wisdom from hindsight I hope.

I have a friend who is on a Spiritual Journey--trying to raise himself above just "positive thinking" into a higher relationship with God (metaphysics) and putting aside our earthly faults and being a better person. It is good to hear about--as for me I am still trying to put the positive thinking into my life and free myself from the suspicious skeptic I have a tendency to be. I think I was born a "Doubting Thomas" as I have always been a little bit wary of everything and everyone around me.

We had a very friendly meal after church on Sunday. Ron and Maryanne had prepared pulled pork and the rest of us provided salads and dessert. Many lingered as we talked and talked.

James and family are settled into their Del Mar place and feeling very good about things so hopefully he can pull it all together.

New fave in my life this week is warmed fresh blueberries on my yogurt each morning--love those blueberries. I have also revived the salad Mom made for us of cabbage, pineapple, and marshmallows with mayo and cream dressing. It tastes so good to me. There were several cabbageslaws at the church on Sunday that tasted good also.

Yesterday I realized how much interest Walmart charges--I should never be charging my food there. Michael says we don't need to buy anything but he asked me to make a big batch of chili and it does taste so good. We always need provisions for chili and milk so I am off to Susanville to make a visit to Golden and deposit some money and buy a little food anyway and I am sure I will visit Margie's Book Store and peruse the used books. Life is Good.

Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Memphis Belle

I just watched one of the best films to come out about WWII, the supposed true story of the "Memphis Belle" bomber plane which flew 25 missions and came in on a wing and a prayer on the last mission.  It was really exciting and made you realize the many problems of those old WWII planes.  Richard's brother Scott flew them.

This was probably the first movie Harry Connick, Jr sang in and I really liked the way he sang "Danny Boy".

Two days ago I watched "The Longest Day"--the story of D Day.  The landing on the beach was certainly a lot more tame and probably less realistic than that shown in "Saving Private Ryan".

Michael has been the chef the last two days and we have been watching "The Man in the Back Booth" on his computer while we ate.  It is last season's episodes and new season starts next week.  It is a series just shown on computer and very compelling.  I completely cleaned out and reorganized the garage today and found some room for Mike's stuff on the shelves.  Looks good and we changed the parking back to the way it was before!!!

Oh, yes, Michael's dessert that he shared "Boston Coolers" which is vanilla ice cream in Ginger Ale--actually very refreshing!

Proof

Here is the proof, I actually swam in the lake when Meagan and Keira were here.  Thank heaven this is a distant picture.  This was before I learned about riding on the noodle as an alternative to swimming.

 

Tuesday, August 07, 2012

Favorite Pix of Keira

Meagan took a lot of great pictures of Keira while she was here.  These are some of my personal favorites.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thursday, August 02, 2012

Private Swim Lesson


Keira was the only one of her age group to show up for her "Mom and Me" Swim Lesson so she had a private lesson with lots of cheering from the side.
 
 
 
 


Keira complied with most all their directions till she had had enough and then she got her strawberry licorice reward.

She really did well, I didn't get all the pictures.
 

Wednesday, August 01, 2012

Fun at the Beach and Learning to Swim

 


The reward for a good day's work in the lake.


Hey I like to wear this vest!

Practicing Keira's Swim Lesson.

Keira and Meagan at Lake Almanor


Keira and Meagan flew to Reno on Sunday and  by Sunday night we were playing on the slides and dancing to the Jazz band at the Bandshell.  Hopefully Meagan has a lot more pictures than I do.


Meagan and Keira have been at the lake everyday and Keira is happiest when there are other children to play with.  She has had one swimming lesson and appears to have no fear.
 
 


 
 The noodle is used for the children to hold on to while they kick.  The lady next to us on the beach told me I could ride on it and it would actually hold me.  Her son and I rode our noodles out to the deck and amazingly it does work.  You can get exercise with your legs and arms without all the work of swimming.  Keira has another lesson tomorrow.  Hope I get some more pictures.

It has been so fun to have them here.  We have also been to town and bought books and had frosties, Keira has walked Bandido, we had pizza at Buffalo Chips and played on the slide in Clear Creek and walked on the old bridge.  Keira has helped with tending Bandido and do the watering.  I just haven't gotten enough pictures!!!

The lake is so clean and warm, glad I finally got in it this year!

John Hardy Memorial Hike 2015

My Life So Far