LONDON TOWN AND MORE!

What do you do with Marriott points from spending months in hotels working disasters? My daughters Maria and Linda went with me to London for a week and we had a wonderful time. This is the first time I have had an uninterrupted week with them since they were children, so it was very special. As you can see from the blue skies and coats, the weather was sunny but cool and no rain except for one day! Smashing, I say. It was a wonderful trip of sightseeing around London and excursions to Leeds Castle, Stratford on the Avon, Bath, Dover, Oxford University and more. Seven days packed full of subways, buses, walking, talking, eating, theater, and straining to understand what was being said. One of the things that fascinating me were the very tall Quince trees (I think) seen everywhere. It would be fun to see them all in bloom. Our hotel was luxury with lots of thick towels, down quilts under us and on us and great service. And Linda and Maria took charge of all the subway and bus travel so I just had a very lazy holiday. We saw "Les Miserables" which we enjoyed and ate lots of shortbread and delicious pastries and Bassetts Licorice candy. Oh, and the ice cream was smooth and lush. We saw London from the top of a Big Bus which is a must--here we are are looking at Trafalgar Square. I read you must go to the United Kingdom 16 times to see it all--I believe it. It is a fascinating country. Maria and Linda waiting for the changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Maria and Linda in a Grotto under the Maze at Leeds Castle--this was amazing. Maria and I with old Norman castle in the background at Dover. We saw the White Cliffs of Dover, of course, and the driver asked for volunteers to sing the song. I did sing it to myself and remembered most of the words, too. After the hustle and bustle and many, many people in London, my own half acre seems very quiet but so good to be home, as always.

MELISSA IS A STAR!

Tonight I went to Susanville and had Mexican dinner with Grandson#1 Michael and it was so good! I just can't understand why it was so hard to find good Mexican food in Texas but it was, we tried them all and they could never match with California Mexican--we are so blessed here in California. Then I went to see Granddaughter #3 Melissa in two high school original plays. She was brilliant playing a big part in each play and she acts so effortlessly--it is definitely her destiny. However, the issues of today's youth overwhelm me--the plays were about substance abuse, mental phobias (can't leave the house), unfaithfulness, Altheimers, and homosexuality. In the 40's I don't recall these subjects were ever brought up--well, maybe homosexuality in a passing remark but we were definitely the age of innocence. I had just been putting pictures in my memoir and so read about my life in the 40' and 50's. What a contrast. But at any rate Melissa is a star!

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN!

Michael, #1 Grandson, has been accepted at Humboldt State in Eureka, CA (Northern Coast). Michael has completed two years at Lassen College in Susanville, Ca and will major in Journalism with an emphasis in Media. Nice going, Mike, we will be expecting very interesting things from you.

Congratulation Twice!

Congratulations, this time to Craig Pulsipher, shown here with his cousin Melissa Valko. Craig has been called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Rio De Janerio, Brazil. It is a Porteguese speaking mission and Craig will be leaving for Missionary Training Center in June. Congrats also to Craig's Dad Gary Pulsipher who has been called to serve as a Bishop. Several wards were realigned in the El Cajon area and the ward he will be serving is made up from two wards so there will be many new positions to fill. It will be a busy, busy time for Gary but we know he is a man who who can capably handle it all and will have lots of support from wife Linda and all the other Pulsiphers. 

DISASTER PREPARATION

So what have I learned from working on all these disasters? First and foremost, your life can change in an instant from peace and tranquility to disaster and devastation. Secondly, the 72 Hour kit is probably the smartest thing ever devised. http://www.nationalterroralert.com/readyguide/72hourkit.htm We all saw that for the first 3 or 4 days you are probably going to be on your own no matter how near you are to help. Third, is your insurance adequate and for the right kind of damage? Is your insurance company credible and with adequate reserves for disasters? Will they be there when you need them? Fourth, how is your inner strength? Do you have the faith and determination it takes to carry you through the bad times? We are told "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear. " That is a promise. "Bad breaks will not break the man who has spiritual strength" according to one of our spiritual leaders. I talked to many people for six months. Some were total survivors, doing what had to be done, serving others and moving forward. Others were waiting for someone to tell them what to do, where to go and unable to function at any level. If everything you own were taken from you today, including some of your loved ones, how would you fare? I, personally, cannot imagine surviving without all my "stuff" and family surrounding me. But I saw them, those who were just grateful to be alive and thanking the Lord, rather than cursing him. I will never forget one marine who had his own construction company. He was the essence of what we should all be in a time of disaster. But I heard countless stories of those who were not... Something to think about and to prepare for--as we have been told to do...for so many years.

CONGRATULATIONS TO AMY PULSIPHER!

Amy Pulsipher, Grandaughter #3 and child of Linda (daughter) and Gary Pulsipher was just elected as ASB President for Grossmont High School. She is also on the Honor Roll and as you can see a beauty and very sweet. Hats off to you, Amy, we all applaud you! 

30 Inches, Yikes!

W Wow, my garage roof measured 30 inches high this morning--and my railing is 19 inches... How much snow can my little roof hold before I need to worry?

View from My Front Door Today!

Snow, Snow, Snow

Looking skyward in my backyard.

A Big Hello from New Friends

It's a lovely snowy morning and new friends are enjoying my habitat and welcoming me back. No fear here, just a curious look.

CALIFORNIA HERE I AM!

Back on my own front porch with lovely snow on the trees and back in my own comfy bed...

and back in front of my own fire on my own couch--Aah, life is good!

Mark and Maria picked me up at the Reno airport on Friday and it was a beautiful sunny, snow laden view all the way home.

This truly is paradise as I was was often telling my Texas friends...

After six months, it's good to be home...there is still lots of work left in Texas though, I deserted my post to recoup a little...

World Financial Sends Congratulations!

This was sent to all the agents of World Financial Group!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to my son James. He was just made a CEO in World Financial Group, a financial organization he and Camber have been associated with since 1992. I worked with James for two years after Richard passed away and saw the excellent leadership he gave to his coworkers in San Diego. Congrats, James, we are all proud of you.

NOW KARLA LEAVES US!

Our Beaumont group dwindles. Karla was called yesterday to go to Napa in California where approximately 1000 homes were damaged in the flooding and landslides of last month. We will miss Karla. She was our Excel expert who created forms for us to use to make our closings and such go a little smoother. Besides that she sings like Janis Joplin! And she is from Ohio! It seems the "out of staters" were called to California and four of us Northern Californians are left in the Beaumont office with our lone Texan Barb, "the closer"! Go figure!

Goodbye, Mary and Deloris

We know we are getting to the end of Disaster Assistance when some of our favorite people are sent home. Mary (on the left) will be going home tomorrow and we will miss her "merry" smile and upbeat spirit. Our social life will probably dwindle as well, she was the one who saw that everyone was included and that we celebrated regularly together. Here our Beaumont group is downstairs at the Hampton Inn with the Orange group saying our farewells to Mary of Beaumont and Deloris (second on left) of Orange. Seen in the forefront of the pix is Dave, Barb, Dean, Mary, Suzanne, Sirdon and Karla and in the rear of the picture is Deloris, Amy, Marlene, and FEMA reps from the Orange office. Supposedly we are still waiting for 4 states to be declared for flooding but evidently there are still too many of us out here. It won't be long and I will be going home, too.

Trip to Galveston and Kemah

So what do you do on a sunny day off from the Beaumont DRC? You drive to Galveston! Mary, Suzanne, Barb and Janet drove to Winnie and then down 73 headed for the ferry and--Lo and behold after driving through a yucky part of Texas you come upon a beach area called Crystal Beach and there are some very lovely streets just a few steps from the beach. Riding on the Ferry from Crystal Beach to Galveston--Children try to be brave enough to hold the bread while the birds swoop down for it. Shopping on the Strand in Galveston is always fun--Mary, Barb and Janet bought bracelets, charms and earrings in a new favorite store The Front Parlor. Posing in front of the warm Gulf across from where Gwenda and Janet lived in Galveston. I was trying to get a picture of the unusual blue and pink Gulf skyline as well as the ladies of SBA on the Boardwalk at Kemah. Beautiful, right? One final thing to end the day--dessert at The Flying Dutchman--only Suzanee resisted--we had Italian Cream Cake and Pecan Pie with Bourbon Sauce. Yum, yum--a fun day.

Happy Birthday! 73 Years Young!

Another birthday on the road. Mary, Suzanne, Sirdon, Dave, and Dean, the other SBA reps from the Disaster Recovery Center, shared my birthday with me at the Country Italian restaurant of Johnny Carino's. I had the grilled salmon which has pecan and sauce on the salad. Really yummy and enough for lunch. My favorite cake is the Red Velvet and it says "Over the Hill" on top of the cake.

 

All of these SBA reps are from the Sacramento area and have been left to serve in the Beaumont, Tx office. The Texans who served with us were called to the fires in north and central Texas.

A Good Change!

Who works for SBA in the Beaumont DRC? Sirdon and Mary from Sacramento.Karla from Ohio and me, of course.

Last week we had some good changes made in the office--Dave was made the Team Lead and we are all enjoying the new peaceful, calm environment we are working in. Dave is from Sacramento.

Suzanne is also from Sacramento.

Here is Mary again with Dean from Sacramento.

Our closer, Barb, is from Fort Worth.

Gwenda went to work in the Austin office and Evanne was sent to the fires in Texas and we will miss them. However, we are all happy with the leadership change. Saturday morning I saw my coworkers walking in with the biggest smiles I have seen in a long time. It was a pleasant, peaceful morning and we all celebrated at Olive Garden!!!