My Dad

On Father's Day I was telling the Valko children about the all-around athlete that my Dad was in his high school days. This would have been taken around 1920-22. He had many medals and trophies from his track, football and basketball.

Here his hair is greased down but on close up you can see that it was very wavy and evidently it used to stand up in curls as he was nicknamed 'Snowball'.

1917-18 Freshman Brigham City then out of school one year because of flu epidemic 1918-1919 Worked in Saddle Dept of Salt Lake Hardware 1919-20 Sophmore Salt Lake City--lettered in Basketball and Track 1920-21 Junior in Blackfoot, Idaho--lettered in Basketball and Track 1921-22 Senior in Blackfoot, Idaho--lettered in Basketball, Football, Track and was Student Body President as well

First store experience in 1919 for two weeks at Golden Rule in Ogden, Utah--during summer of 1919 and 1920 he worked on building the Stakehouse in Blackfoot with his Father and two brothers Arlow and Lorin.

After graduation in 1922 (born Jan 5, 1903) he moved to Ogden, Utah to work in shoe department of the Golden Rule Store. He met Ethel Larson there and married her on Nov 6, 1923. She was the only one in her family born in America as her parents had joined the church in Sweden in the 1890's and one by one came to Ogden, Utah where she was born in 1902.

Dad's great grandfather Anders Petterson of Kalmar, Sweden was a student and lover of the bible and his conversion to the church is a good story for another day. His wife had died when she was 44 in 1865 and left him with 10 children. He was converted along with some of his children and came to America in the 1880's.

Dad's great grandfather and great grandmother Lillywhite joined the church in England in the early 1840's and they came to America in 1847 and that is also a fascinating story for another day.

Ancestors and such...

This week I received a wedding notice and a funeral notice, both from cousins I have not met or knew only as a child. Neither are having LDS ceremonies which made me contemplate how many descendants are in or out of the Church and why.

For instance, in my mother's and dad's families, they were the only ones who had all of their children stay in the Church. Since they raised them as the only LDS family (most of the time) in their community, that is quite remarkable.

My newest great granddaughter Kate is a 8, or 9th generation Mormon on her mother's side depending on which line you follow back to the first ones to join the Church. Every one of her lines had early roots in the Church.

Most of her ancestors joined in the 1840-1850 era with one line joining in the 1890 era. This means her ancestors have been in the Church for over 150 years.

So what happened and why to those who are not. I can only speak for the lines I know, I cannot speak for the others. But I can see that in the first generation a couple of the boys and one of the daughters married out of the Church. Their children did not stay in the church even if they were baptized originally. None of their descendants that I know are in the Church.

There was also at least one of the children of the second generation who became caught up in alcohol. She had no children. Next generation a few more marry out of the Church and then some of their children marry out of the Church and a few get caught up in alcohol. And it appears that there is an addictive strain in the blood line so none of the descendants should take that first drink and take the chance.

And so it goes--descendants are not in the church either because 1--They were not taught by their parents and never gained a testimony of the Gospel (like the Lamanites) I call this the Lamanite Predicament or 2-they got caught up in the worldly things and teachings of the world and strayed away. I call this the Nehor Aspect. It is the problems of the original followers of Christ all over again.

The problem is that one person leaving the church leads to all their descendants being out of the Church as well and never having the choice to know for themselves whether the gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true.

When I think of all that our ancestors went through to join the true Church, against family and friends, and giving up all they had to get to America and join the Saints and the great testimonies that have been born by them in the way they lived, it makes me very sad generations of descendants will never know what they knew.

On a positive note, I have never heard of any that are anything but upstanding citizens, educated, living noble and christian lives and that is a real blessing and shows the strength and goodness of the original ancestors coming through. It is just sad that they never knew the joy of the fullness of the Gospel in their lives.

Good Mood Diet!

And another simple 'GOOD MOOD DIET' (Linda and Maria, you will like this one!) This also lends credence to the "after school snack" of cookies or Indian Fry Bread that I held to when raising my children...

..."That brings us to Granddad's cookies, which can brighten your spirits when eaten judiciously. (Incidentally, carb snacking may be more effective for women because they produce substantially less serotonin than men do.) Now, you won't want to try this regimen if you have diabetes or are prediabetic. But if you qualify, try raising your mood-lifting serotonin levels a couple of times a day by doing the following:

1-Include protein in each of your three meals.

This will raise blood levels of tryptophan, a chemical that eventually turns into serotonin. The best sources of tryptophan are poultry, seafood, and lean meat.

2-Have a small carbohydrate snack about 3 or 4 hours after each meal and about 1 hour before your next one.

Make sure that your stomach is empty and that you eat no protein between meals. The carbohydrates should be easily digestible — such as one or two oatmeal cookies, a third of a bagel, a slice of whole wheat bread. This will cause tryptophan in your blood to enter the brain, where it is metabolized into serotonin. Elevated serotonin will improve your mood within 20 to 30 minutes.

If you follow the rules, you'll also fall asleep more quickly at night, because at the end of the day, your brain metabolizes serotonin into the natural sleep aid melatonin. From happy to sleepy, all by way of a cookie. It doesn't get much cheerier than that!"

Thomas Crook, PhD, a clinical psychologist, has conducted extensive research to improve our understanding of how the brain works. He is a former research program director at the National Institute of Mental Health and is CEO of Cognitive Research Corp. in St. Petersburg, FL. Provided by Prevention

Fire, Fire, Fire, Raging all About!

There are so many fires up here there is a continual smoky haze under the sun and it makes the day a strange color. You can smell the smoke, too. However, there are not any fires in Plumas County as yet so the smoke is coming from both directions but not too close.

We cannot burn any fires outside, no fires on the beach and no fireworks anywhere at all. We cannot even burn in our wood stoves unless the screen guard is on the top part of our chimney and mine is not. I have to call the chimney sweeper and get him out to fix my chimney and clean it as well.

I have one huge pile left to burn from the last wind storm we had but my fire permit is up June 30 and I doubt they will lift restrictions by then. Evidently our trees are very dry and combustible. It is very sad.

The Nightmare or Reality?

I was so glad it was a dream! or Nightmare that is...haven't had one like this for a long time. It had all the elements of every worst nightmare I have---

I am lost so stop to ask for directions to a school where I am to teach...

With directions in my mind I start down the stairs and...

I find I have lost my purse that has my keys to my car, my money, name of school where I am to be...

I think I left my purse where I asked directions so I try to find the place again...

I go up and down countless stairs with many, many people on the stairs but I can't find which floor of this huge building I was on...

It is time for school to start, I must find a phone to call...

I can't find anyone to ask to use their phone though there are countless people everywhere...

I am praying frantically all through my search...

Finally my prayers are answered and I wake up!!

Hey, alone, lost, no money, no job...

Why don't I dream about the good parts of my life instead of the bad...

Sunny cool days, time to play, lovely home, neat yard, money in the bank, good food, nice clothes, faithful Bandido, friends and family to email and phone, beautiful scenery out my door, beautiful music to listen to, good literature and scriptures to read, the gospel in my life, big tv with good stories to watch, nice car in the garage--why don't I dream about all that?

So which is reality, what I think I have in the day time or the fears and nightmares in the night? I will ponder that today as I play...

Janet does Barbeque!

I did it!!! For the first time in my life, I lit the barbeque all by myself and actually cooked my dinner on it! For some reason it has intimidated me. I did Tilapia fish which I ate a lot of in Texas. It is very mild, they usually blackened it with spices. When I found it up here and so cheap I tried it and liked it and now that I can cook it outside and not have the fish smell, I will eat it often. Someone told me the reason it is so cheap is that it is home grown in hatcheries so no cost of catching them. Anyway I am proud of myself. You can get two huge shrink wrapped ready to cook fish for $2.00!

It's a Good Life!

Lovely day without a hint of breeze but not hot at all. Yesterday was a very lovely day. Lesson went well. I think I have figured out what I need to do to compensate for my poor memory and fatigued eyesight to keep the lesson moving along. Now if my ears dim we are really in trouble.

We have new missionaries and they both came up and complimented me on the lesson. Charming, good looking boys. On the way out I asked them if they had plans for lunch and they didn't so I invited them over. I couldn't imagine what we were going to have but thank heaven there are things in my freezer. Next time I will be better prepared.

But Elder Nolen, the football player from Tennessee loves to grill and I had cleaned the grill yesterday so he flavored and grilled chicken. Very good. I had some frozen muffins and cookies and veggies. If I would shop on Friday instead of Monday we would have been in really great shape.

Anyway both had charming manners and swept the patio from yesterday's storm (have to eat on the patio with a single lady) took the garbage to the curb, set table, cooked the chicken, very nice guys. And Elder Nolen showed me specifically how to turn my grill on and off and all the little details that guys know. I will have to write it down quick before I forget. I have been wanting to do fish out there as I do not like the smell in the house and I am very intimidated by the gas, etc.

I should have taken their picture, they are definitely granddaughter material. Elder Witt from Chicago will be at BYU in the fall and Elder Nolen will be going to back to Tennessee in a couple years. He is a soccer player but specifically for college he is a football kicker and Elder Witt says he is really good.

Today I was out early and cleaned up all the branches so now I am off to the library for the book I ordered called "Suite Francaise" so I can spend the rest of the day reading. Yea. Oh yes, and I already have my lesson completed and printed out for next Sunday. That doesn't often happen this early in the week. I am either very efficient or just do not have enough to keep me busy.

Mary emailed from Iowa and said it is ridicilous that they need people so badly and I am already trained and not out there. She was going to email Dave to see if he could do anything. She said there were 300 in line in Des Moines yesterday and only 35 to take care of them. You are supposed to only take about 20 min with each but it often takes longer. Even then it would make it a long wait for the people and SBA does not like that. She thinks it is going to be as big as Katrina...

Melissa the Gourmet Cook

Every day without a stomach ache is a good day for me and Melissa planned a meal to put us in a good mood and I am still in a good mood so it must have worked. I have half of it left for dinner tomorrow so that is good. I haven't craved any sweets either so it must have been just perfect. Thank you, Melissa and Maria!

Yesterday I vomited part of a bottle of Spinach Dip plus the chips. It was Tostitos and I am sure there was nothing wrong with it except I cannot tolerate some of those ingredients they use. Just have to stick to natural foods.

I suited up today and thought I would finally get a swim in the lake but a freak storm came up and sent us scurrying. Now I have firewood to gather from all over my yard, especially from the cedar trees, they must be especially brittle...

Then off to work on my B of M lesson. It is all about destruction being poured upon the Nephites because of their hardened hearts and wickedness. Is history repeating itself? I agree with Maria we need the prayers and obedience of the righteous in these tumultuous times. It is interesting how many emails are calling for that right now so there must be a lot of people thinking the same thing. I liked this quote from a man who had a mighty change of heart from his unfulfilled living. "I never knew how miserable I was until I found out how happy I could be."

Music We Love to Hear

Today I was thinking how interesting the different music on the blogs of my daughters, granddaughter, and I. So what makes us like the different kinds of music? Many of their artists and songs I have never heard before but I like them. So much of what we like is just what we are introduced to.

Speaking for myself, some songs are just beautiful like "Lady in Red" and "Hold Me Till the Morning Comes"--no special artist I like, no special memory it brings to mind, just like to hear them.

Most of the songs I liked in high school, I do not care for presented by the artists or movies of that time but when reprisals are made by Rod Stewart, Michael Buble, Steve Tyrell, Linda Rondstadt etc. I love the music and memories they bring back.

Some songs I have learned to love just by hearing them over and over. During the 2001 disaster in Texas I had a car that had a CD in it of Burt Bacharach songs and I still love to listen to them. That disaster Julie introduced me to Phil Collins and his music. In Spurger, Texas after Hurricane Rita, one of the young management guys introduced me to Al Green, in Galveston, the FEMA computer guy had me buy John Lennon and I learned to love his songs, Randy in Guam reintroduced the Bee Gees and introduced Don Henley songs. My car partner in Guam helped set up my speakers and said I was listening to Reggae--never was sure which they were. It was Hurricane Isabel that I listened to Elton John so much and remembered John had listened to him so much in high school.

Some songs like "I Cried For You" reminded me of Richard and it is very beautiful as well. And it is true, often a song reminds you of a certain person, a certain place, a memory, a time in space and so we want to hear it again and again and remember. It tells a story to us that no one else knows.

Garth Brooks song "Dance" just makes me embrace the heartbreaks I have had in life and so is a positive plus good listening. Our record player when I was in high school was in the living room so whoever was in there had to listen. I remember my Dad casually walking over and stopping the record player after I had played "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" about 10 times. He never said a word.

I discovered Michael Ball while grieving for Richard. Which reminds me of all the old tapes I have in a carton. They are mostly oldies and Richard liked to carry them in his car and play them when he was showing property to one of his "older" clients. They really loved that music. He never got much into music but he knew they did.

I remember when grandson Michael was riding with me and very calmly said, "Grandma, I think I'm going to be sick if I have to listen to this music." When Meagan was riding with me just a few years ago, she said, "Grandma, I didn't know you were such a romantic." The grandchildren have often asked me to listen to a song to see if I liked it. It is a different beat than I am used to but they usually know which ones I will like.

I love the versatility of going from Rock, to Classic, to Country, to Ballads, etc. It is a wonderful world of music and I am always happy to find a new one I love to hear over and over... I just happened on Chris Botti and his sax, love sax...

My all time favorite?--"Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Listen to Connie Talbot sing it. She sings it like it should be sung. So many artists ruin it by changing the tune. I asked Jacob to learn it to sing at my funeral. Not sure he remembers.

So how do you choose the music you listen to?

Facts About Kissing

Not that these facts will do me any good--but I thought it was interesting. How do you do with No 8? I could only come up with 15 that I remember... 29? That is a lot...

10 Quirky Facts about Kissing By Laura Schaefer

Think you know a thing or two about kissing? You probably do. But the facts below are so off the beaten path, we’ll bet you don’t know them all—and they could come in handy. Not only could they provide some steamy “Did you know…?” chit chat, but they’ll help you see all the benefits a satisfying lip lock can bring into your life. Happy smooching!

1. Two out of every three couples turn their heads to the right when they kiss.

2. A simple peck uses two muscles; a passionate kiss, on the other hand, uses all 34 muscles in your face. Now that’s a rigorous workout!

3. Like fingerprints or snowflakes, no two lip impressions are alike.

4. Kissing is good for what ails you. Research shows that the act of smooching improves our skin, helps circulation, prevents tooth decay, and can even relieve headaches.

5. The average person spends 336 hours of his or her life kissing.

6. Ever wonder how an “X” came to represent a kiss? Starting in the Middle Ages, people who could not read used an X as a signature. They would kiss this mark as a sign of sincerity. Eventually, the X came to represent the kiss itself.

7. Talk about a rush! Kissing releases the same neurotransmitters in our brains as parachuting, bungee jumping, and running.

8. The average woman kisses 29 men before she gets married.

9. Men who kiss their partners before leaving for work average higher incomes than those who don’t.

10. The longest kiss in movie history was between Jane Wyman and Regis Tommey in the 1941 film, You’re in the Army Now. It lasted 3 minutes and 5 seconds. So if you’ve beaten that record, it’s time to celebrate!

Midwest Flooding

Reading about the devastation in the Midwest from all the flooding is very heart breaking. The thing that always bothered me when I was working the disasters is that the rest of the nation is hardly aware when people are on the brink of losing everything. This was a quote today that really struck me:

"For some it's a bad year, a terrible year," he said as he cleared corn stalks from the propeller of his boat. "But for some, it's the end."

What do you do when it is the 'end'? Hopefully the government or churches or friends step in and help but so many are totally unaware when it is the "end" for anyone.

I will never forget when we had lunch in a small town on the way to Baton Rouge after Hurricane Katrina. The waitress was totally unaware of what was happening. Strangely I have found if you happen to miss the news when the little blurb is on, you don't know about the tragedies of people's lives. Everyone goes on talking about movie stars, politics, losing weight, buying cars and life goes on as before.

I remember when Richard's brother died. After the funeral and his return to San Diego he was having a hard time realizing that other people's lives go on the same when his world had been turned upside down and would never be the same again.

Still it is gratifying to read about all those who come out to help. I was reading about the yellow shirted LDS youth who were cleaning out all the debris and damaged walls from homes, working long hours serving these older people who couldn't do it themselves or afford to pay someone else to do it. And all of the yellow shirted that were there sandbagging in every TV blip I saw. Every disaster I was in the yellow shirted LDS were always there. It is always amazing to others how quickly they can be organized and get people or trucks of food out to others.

Richard would have so loved to go on one of the Humanitarian missions that they have today...

Collins Pine Co Museum

Today we had an interesting Enrichment Meeting. We met for lunch by the Feather River in Chester Park and then toured the Collins Pine Co Museum in Chester.

The museum debuted last summer but I had never heard of it. It is actually very interesting and educational. I think all my family visitors here should put it on their "To Do" list.

Have any of you heard of "FSC" and certified wood? I had not either but it is a must for everyone to know...

I also heard an interesting thing on the radio driving home. You can call and get a book called "The Bible vs The Book of Mormon" which is so ridiculous. How anyone could write a whole book on that issue and not realize that the Bible and Book of Mormon go to together as two witnesses of Jesus Christ--they are definitely not opposed to one another or opposites in any way. The Bible takes place in the land of Israel and surrounding countries and the Book of Mormon mostly takes place in the Americas. There is so many untruths out there, it is sad...

My Backyard

My yard has never been so clean this early in the season! I have several lillies just about ready to bloom and I am so worried the deer are going to eat them as they did last year. Today I watched one walk right on by though, so I am thinking the 'Liquid Fence' is working.

It is so perfectly quiet and lovely right now. I just love looking out into the peaceful vista...

SBA Friends Call from Cedar Rapids

Emmett is standing behind me in red... Mary is here with Sirdon, and he is also out there...

Two of my SBA friends called today from Cedar Rapids. Mary, who I worked with in Beaumont, and Emmett, who was my leader in Baton Rouge are car partners. And chatting realized they both knew me.

They are trying to figure out how to get me out there. Emmett said he knew someone in Personnel and was going to ask him how I can get switched over to CSR easily so I can get some work. Hope he finds out something good, but the system is so different now, I am not holding my breath.

Anyway good people, and I was happy to talk with them. They said if they were successful in getting me out there, I might be mad at them when I got there...

At any rate, I appreciate them thinking about me and trying...

Sunday Afternoon in Susanville

It was a beautiful Sunday in Susanville, Melissa was there taking pix-- Maria cooked the tri tip dinner with strawberry shortcake for dessert--

Matt was special guest--home from his tree job in Truckee-- Mitch composed a song for G Hardy (Grandma Hardy)--

and Grandma came down from Lake Almanor. And of course, Bandido and Bruce, were there enjoying tidbits from the table.

Not one father was in sight but we told Father stories about our Dads and I shared with them about their ancestors coming to America from Sweden and England as converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the mid and late 1800's.

Maria and I took a walk out in the trails by Susanville--it was a good day...

Thanks, Maria

Lake is Looking Good but...

Yesterday I drove down along Peninsula Dr and into the swimming area. It would be nice if the water were higher but... There are more picnic tables and the beach looks clean and pleasant. I heard over the news that we are having a bad drought and there may be water rationing so I think we better pray for more rain! Driving over to Chester I can see that the lake is actually a lot higher than it was and it looks very beautiful so it should be a great summer, even if the swimming area is not as high as we like.

What really surprised me is all the homes still being built in the Club! Large homes! And it appears there is a hotel being built down by the water near the little miniature golf area. It all looks very prosperous.

Today I just couldn't force myself to go out to offices or do anything worthwhile except to water and walk. I don't know why I get in these non-productive, negative moods, but I do. Then later in the evening I see I have an email from a friend who wants me to edit something. And I dive right in with enthusiasm for having something worth while to do.

So I guess the answer for me is just having something that I HAVE to do. I have always worked better under pressure even though I hate it.

My SBA friends are in terrible weather in the midwest so I can't say I mind at all not being with them. We are having sunshine, no wind, and it is in the 70's.

Another thing I noticed on my drive yesterday is how many glorious flowers and bushes so many of the homes have. I think my problem is my soil. I have planted so much and yet still do not have much to show for it. It is very frustrating to me and...some of the flowers I planted are already struggling! What is the problem???

It's a Good Life in Lake Almanor!

Like Maria, I was feeling pretty gloomy part of this weekend being alone without Richard at my side and concerned about mundane things. But when I went to Church it was good to be with my lady friends and feel comfortable with them in Relief Society.

And then in Sunday School there was a lot of participation in my lesson and that always makes a teacher feel good. The best thing about teaching is not that I do such a great job or feel so great about my teaching anymore. My memory is fading, I can't always get the words out like I want but the good thing is the preparation each week has been so good for me. I learn so much, even if I don't retain it, the spirit of the truth I teach each week stays with me and I am at peace.

And then in Sacrament meeting Don and Sue told me that while Ron (my home teacher) was gone I should call him (Don) if I needed anything at all. I talked to him about the sand I wanted (he has a truck) and he asked me what for...then said he would show me exactly where I could get some good river rock for my patio and he would come up and see where I wanted my sand and help me figure it out. And if I needed anything else at all to be sure and call them.

Then the Dyer family, who has been such a great asset to our ward, gave some great talks and Fonda told me she appreciated my handouts so much and was saving them for her teaching Book of Mormon in Seminary.

When I arrived home I somehow didn't feel quite so gloomy, I was part of this extended family at church and it was a good thing. Then my children call and talk to me, even little Kelsi was reminded of her 'Maa' and Camber let her talk to me. I am blessed!

Besides while the rest of the nation is being ravished by storms we are peacefully enjoying 70 degree weather with glorious sunshine and no wind. My flowers are growing, the deer are staying away and Bandido and I are each able to take a good walk each day. It is a good life at Lake Almanor for Janet and Bandido.

Romantic? Not Me...

I am in the middle of the picture and Ivan is peering around me...

I didn't take the "Romantic" test Maria referred to. I already know I am not a romantic. I was told that in my junior year in college and have never forgotten it and I guess I have sort of lived up to that. You know how it is if someone tells you something that is a negative, you tend to never forget it and think it is gospel truth.

It was Ivan. I remember we met because I was at college early since I had been at summer shool and he was a transfer football player from Arizona. I don't remember too much about him but I looked him up in my letters to my Mom and I had written home that he was in drama, played the violin, sang, had been Stu Body President in Arizona, was bashful and nice. And with such a versatile personality he was different than any football player I had ever known.

I do remember we walked to lower campus sometimes together and he liked to interpret my dreams. He was studying Freud. It was a very busy quarter for me, I do remember that, and after I started dating him I neglected writing to my high school sweetheart and a missionary I was writing and they were both mad at me and I broke up with both of them.

But the only thing I remember about Ivan is that when we stopped dating we were talking on the phone and he said I was not romantic enough, whatever that means. It is the kind of thing you never forget.

When the missionary returned to the Y, we dated awhile but I decided I still like my high school sweetheart better and I went to Billings to teach school after graduating and tried once again to try and convert him. I failed, I came to California to teach and as far as I know, have never been known as a romantic...

Granddaughter Kristi, the Mom

Thinking about Craig made me think about granddaughter Kristi, the Mom. She is amazing to watch in action. You can tell she loves being a Mom. I have no picture on here because if you click the title to this blog it will go straight to her blog and you can see her darling Kate and husband Mike and her. Try it, it works. I am so proud of you, Kristi. You are setting a high mark for all the other granddaughters of how to be a Mom!

Craig in Brazil

Thinking about Meagan over in India, of course made me think of Craig in Brazil. What an amazing mission he has shared with us through his Mom. I have so enjoyed reading his thoughts. Often I have shared them in my Sunday School lesson. How unique is this day and age to be taught by a young man about truth and right. I am so proud of you, Craig.

I was thinking about what he said about the three things he should do when he gets home...one of them being to date temple ready girls. Each generation has taken freedom to a new high or I should say low. There is a song on You Tube by Sons of Provo I think about wanting to have a virtuous bride on their wedding night and advising the girls in how they dress and present themselves. I remember one of my Laurel girls telling me after she married how she dressed for her dates with the young man she eventually married. This was in the 70's. She said she dressed in layers and bulky sweaters. She did not want any temptation to mar their relationship. Think of how they dress today in comparison.

Thank you Craig for sharing your experiences and testiimony with us. We are all looking forward to you coming home from an honorable mission. So proud of you, Craig. (Click the title and go to his site)

Meagan in India

I am so enjoying reading about Meagan's time in India. It is unbelievable to me what a brave girl Meagan always is. She has traveled everywhere but to live and work in such primitive places is truly amazing to me. We admire you, Meagan. I hope all the relatives are enjoying your journey as much as I am. (Click the title and go to her site.)

As I continually say, grandchildren are great. I am so proud of you, Meagan.

Fun and Excitement

Speaking about fun and excitement, my grandson Michael called yesterday. There is nothing that brings me more joy than having a grandchild call and just want to chat with their Grandma.

We talked about politics, books, grades, life, etc. etc. Michael is always fun to talk to. And his grades--three A's and 2 B's whoo, whoo!!! Good for him. He plans on graduating in 2009!

Like me, he is looking for ways to make money...Like me, he is enjoying the library. Of course, the library at Sac State has got to be huge. I used to love to explore the library when I was at college. Unlike Michael I would do a lot of my homework in the library. The dorms and living facilities are too noisy. He evidently doesn't have that problem where he is living.

We shared books we had been reading. Like Richard, he reads non-fiction and documentaries. And I bet he remembers what he reads as Richard did. I am so glad he loves to read. All of the grandchildren should be avid readers. Certainly their grandparents and great grandparents were. I never saw my Dad, my Mom or Vida without a book in their hands in the evenings or even the daytime if they were able.

We shared movies we had seen, he sees more than I do and always has interesting ones to tell me about. Yes, grandchildren are great! Thanks for calling, Michael. I am so proud of you.

3 Tips to Living to 100!

I think I live a fairly healthy life but according to this article I need to make some big changes in my life--except for the not smoking or drinking I am not really doing any of these things!!!!

Article from Glamour Magazine, on Thu May 15, 2008

Your behavior now makes a difference, says new research.

Experts recommend these habits:

Get creative at work. On average, a woman with a creative job has the cardiovascular fitness and other health attributes of someone six years younger, according to a recent study. What does “creative” mean? Acting, writing or painting are obvious picks, but any job can count as long as you find it interesting and it lets you develop new skills, experts say.

Make sure you cover the basics. Eating five servings of fruits and veggies a day, being active, not smoking, and drinking in moderation could add 14 years to your life, according to new British research. Too tall an order? Tackle just the exercise part: A recent study by the National Cancer Institute found that older people who got at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week were less likely to die over the next seven years than those who didn't.

Do something fun. Women who are feeling “happy, excited or content” have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, as well as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6—two markers of inflammation linked to heart disease, a University College London study found. It may not take a Ph.D. to figure out that being happy is good for you, but this is one of the first studies to pinpoint a biological reason. So the next time you're feeling frazzled, make plans to do anything that'll get you smiling.—Article by LISA MULCAHY

OK, more creativity, more excitement and fun, more smiles, and more exercise needed---but I already know this...I just haven't figured out how or drummed up the desire! I would rather bury myself in a book. "Get a Life" as they say. My matra for the summer...

Get A Life Beyond Reading and Gardening.

Camber told me she read playing the piano can prevent Altheimers!! Yea, I play the organ during commercials, I have that base covered.

Yea for Wal Mart!

About 13, 14 years ago I told Maria I couldn't imagine what I would ever buy at Wal Mart. Now anything I do buy, is from Wal Mart. Their philosophy on pharamceutical sales must make them the most hated retailer amongst the stores catering to the health needs of America.

This is their statement about health care:

"More and more people find health care, and particularly prescribed medicines, difficult to afford. This is one of the reasons we continually work to take our $4 Prescription Program to the next level,” said Dr. John Agwunobi, Wal-Mart senior vice president and president, health and wellness. “We’re succeeding in our efforts to deliver simple, affordable, quality pharmacy solutions for families struggling with the rising costs of health care. And, our customers – and their budgets – are seeing a dramatic difference."

And they did, 90 days for $10, slightly higher in California and a few other states. Still today I bought my medicine for $14.72 and it says right on it that the retail cost is $99.88. I have been paying over $100! I read also that they include most all of the medicines that are regularly prescribed by doctors. I hope they do put the other companies out of business. When I was working in Texas I saw the expenses of so many elderly and they would have $400-500 in medical costs a month. Outrageous!

Yea for Wal Mart. They deserve our business and they get it! I have mentioned this before but Wal Mart was also the first store ready for business after Hurricane Rita and they stayed open 24 hours a day. Yea for Wal Mart! >

Books, Movies and Candy

I found another Anita Shreve book I hadn't read and finished it "Light in Snow". Her books are so readable...how do writer's do that? I also ordered one of Rick Bragg. He is also such an enjoyable writer, just so fun to read. And I found another one by Barbara Kingsolver I haven't read and two more of Anna Quindlen's. We have a great little library in Chester.

That should keep me busy for awhile. Reading about other people's problems and solutions is so much better than tackling my own. I keep trying to do a new resume and walk around with it in town but I keep putting it off. I am just not confident about anything I can do anymore. What a dope I have turned out to be...

Last night I watched one of the videos I picked up at the library. "Paradise Road" with Glenn Close. It is a true story of a women's prison camp in Sumatra in WWll. They were women from different countries, speaking different languages who had been living in Singapore. A heroic group of them formed a vocal orchestra and performed many times for others in the camp until so many of them had died it was disbanded. The atrocities the women went through did not follow Geneva Guidelines for prisoners. Very disturbing but stirring to watch. War is hell...

On a lighter note, I have been on a sugar bend lately. Something I do when I have something to do I don't want to do (seek a job). I have learned, if anyone needs to know, that Milk Duds are much better than Sugar Babies and Jelly Beans are not good unless they are the Spiced version or Jelly Bellies. Furthermore you cannot lick a lemon drop after eating something as sweet as Milk Duds. (You will have to spit it out).

After hearing all about the Tornado watches around the country my little plot of ground feels very secure and peaceful to me. So thankful...

Some people are just nice...

I called my Doctor's office to see if they could call in a couple of my prescriptions to Wal Mart rather than where I had been going. I told the receptionist that under their new guidelines the one would only be $10 for a 90 day supply (I had been paying over $90) and the other would probably also be a lot cheaper.

She called me back today to say she had called the $10 one in but they have a lot of free samples of the other and that might help me. I thanked her profusely and said that would be wonderful. She said it would probably be two months worth and I could pick them up this afternoon.

When I went to pick them up, she was gone but she had left me a huge bag and guess what...7 months worth! I couldn't believe it. That is worth more than $200!!!

I don't know if she thought each box was just one day or what but actually each box had a week's supply! Anyway, very kind of her, made my day...

Thoughts on Aging by my sister Carole

The following was written by my sister Carole and says so well the pitfalls of becoming an "old lady".

"Ode to my friends who are turning 70!!! I am in my 69th year. I and my friends who graduated from high school with me are turning 70. We consider ourselves the same young hip girls we were of the fifties..that is until I see a young hip girl of the 2008ths. (How do you stay that cute?).

I then realize I am not a young hip girl even though I did have eyelid surgery. The tops of my eyes look great but the bags and wrinkles underneath still give me away. Barbara Walters still looks young and hip. What does she know that I don’t…does money still do everything!!! Can TV hide the inevitable?

Clothes shopping is a nightmare. The clothes in the non-maternity section look like they should be in the maternity section and the maternity section looks very comfortable to me. What do I do? I wear my same old jeans with the slight stretch and the same old sweat shirt that feels so good.

Summer is coming. I get hot. Do I reveal the sagging arms with short sleeves…don’t even think about sleeveless! Or do I constrain myself to wear the timeless shirtwaist blouse that certainly defines my age. I never did look good in that style ,the puffy short sleeve always fitted my figure best but I don’t want to look like I am trying to be 16 again.

Hair…do I continue to dye or let the natural grey do the lighting for me? The girls on TV look great in their long shiny straight hair..mine just wants to frizz and I can’t seem to get out of the helmet look without lots of time in the bathroom. I no longer have 4 kinds of shampoo to choose from, I have 40. Do I want it thicker, shinier, straighter, curlier, streakier, moisturized, dryed out or just plain clean? Do I want it sticking out, messed up, sleeked down or shaved off? Do I need to glue it, spray it, wax it, sculpt it, or heaven forbid, perm it?

Shoes..I will be on my feet all day, thank goodness for Easy Spirit..but high heels, not for over two hours. I will not wear “grandma shoes” with the slight wedge and tie. I believe my dad, who sold shoes, called them oxfords…never! The ballerinas I so loved as a teen, just don’t quite do it anymore either. I did find some cute sandels, but oh, the price. We have 9 months of winter, not practical--oh,what the heck , I’ll wear thick socks.

Yes, I will fight old age. I will exfoliate, moisturize and serumize. I will eat right, walk and get my yearly exam..I will not have any more mammagrams, I had one. I will have my colonoscopy and keep my teeth in order. I have final expense insurance but I am dropping that and donating my body to science..being the practical person I am and wanting that body to keep on being of some use since I have nourished it so well, burying it just doesn’t seem right.

Very sincerely,

Carole Fuqua, a girl of the fifties, a grandma of the nineties but I just can’t say what I am of the 2008ths, someone else will have to call me an 'old lady'."

Widows Weeds

I found out yesterday another widow is moving. There will soon be just a few of us left in the ward. Not good. I keep trying to prepare myself for an alternative, but I can't see one yet. I am very lonely but I would be that anywhere and I love my digs here, simple as they are.

Yesterday and today I learned the delicious sugarless puddings make me really sick to my stomach, painfully so. It has to be all that substitute sugar. They have it in the jello also, so I am sure that has been part of the culprit on other days. I found out two of the other older ladies have similar problems so I guess it is just part of old age.

If we can't eat anything interesting and eyes get fatigued from reading and ears miss a lot on tv and muscles don't cooperate, it is getting hard to find something really enjoyable to do. Old age just gets gloomier and gloomier. Thank heaven for the ipod, music, and the computer.

"Nights in Rodanthe"

I saw the advertisement of this movie coming out but I couldn't remember the storyline. Sure enough I have the book on my shelves so I have to read it again or for the first time, I can't be sure. It is another sensitive love story as all Nicholas Sparks books are. I read it in one afternoon.

I liked this line, "They wanted to feel peace in their hearts, they wanted a life without turmoil, they wanted to be happy. The difference was that most young people seemed to think that those things lay somewhere in the future, while most older people believed that they lay in the past."

Isn't that the truth? I remember after Richard had his first heart attack I promised myself I would never say, "I'll be so happy when" or "If only" again. We have to learn to live and enjoy the moment and not always be looking forward or backward.

Ha, easy enough to say...

The Great Escape

It was sunny today and I was able to plant the rest of my flowers, hope it won't freeze. Every time I plant in my Mourning Gardens I have to climb over the wire fence that keeps the deer out. I notice I am getting better and better at lifting my legs over so I must be getting in good physical condition.

I talked to both the Sacramento and Texas office today and because I was hired back as a Loan Specialist and they will only call per diem people in a Major, major disaster, I may not get any work this year, so back to the drawing board on bringing in money!!! Woe is me.

Today I watched an interesting true English war film about a German pilot. He was the the only war prisoner ever to escape from a British prison. I have never seen such determination in his "duty to try and escape." He could lie and impersonate and never wavered on his goal.

The first time he just had too much English countryside to get through and was caught by the many patrols searching for him. They sent him to a new prison and after digging a long tunnel out he was just ready to take off in an experimental plane when he was caught (he had to lie to many officers, police and airport personnel to get to that point).

Then they sent him to Canada and he was able to roll out of the window of the train and eventually cross the frozen Montreal river into the USA. He was partly frozen and very weak when the border patrol found him. Since the USA was not yet in the war, he asked for asylum.

While the USA and Canada wrangled over extradition he had manuevered across in to Mexico and through four South America countries and finally flew back to Germany. A short time later he was back to flying for the Germans when he took a nose dive into the sea and was never seen again.

Why was he so successful in his efforts?

1--Confidence in himself, his abilities, superiority of his country

2--Dedication to his duty

3--Ability to get his fellowmen to do whatever was needed

4--Attitude of "whatever it takes"

5--His mind was always in gear, always thinking, always wary, always planning

I suppose this could be a model for success in anything you wanted to do. And it is interesting that if it had been the story of an American instead of a Nazi he would have been a hero--actually I suppose he was a hero ln his country as well, but what an ironic ending to his life.

"For the Boys"

It is hard to get my work done with so many good movies to watch. I really enjoyed another favorite of mine. "For the Boys". It is the story again of USO performers, a couple who did USO shows in World War II, Korean War, and Viet Nam War. Bette Midler and James Caan starred and it was filmed in 1991. Lots of good music and a tear jerker, of course.

It was interesting to see the contrast between the different wars in the way the soldiers looked and acted and the attitude toward the war itself.

Dixie Leonard (Bette Midler) loses her husband in World War II and then her son in the Viet Nam war. She advises a young man "to not outlast everybody". I can relate to that.

Helicopters in Korean War and After

While watching "Bridges over Toko-Ri" today I learned the Korean War ended in 1953 (Richard was in the Navy 52-53) and that was the first time they had used helicopters on carriers. They were used to save the downed pilots.

This made me curious as to what the helicopter pilot I was dating in 56-58 was doing since he wasn't in the Korean War. So I emailed him. (You know how curious I am.) This was his reply:

"Jan - my carrier was composed of S2F patrol bombers and our HS-6 helicopter squadron. We were all anti-submarine although we picked up folks in trouble and I do remember putting a wheel on a submarine conning tower to deliver the mail!! "

"We would spread out in an arc ahead of the fleet and use sonar to find submarines. I remember complaining to my CO that 'We find these guys, but then they take off in a hurry and we lose them--depth charges are not going to be effective'. (the subs were capable of 30 mph under water). I never forgot his reply- he told me that if the submarines were hostile- we had nuclear weapons and anything within 2 miles would be toast-"

"Jan, it is still alot of fun to think about those days. I am also very grateful that I came through with no accidents. One of my roommates was killed and another lost a leg in a crash."

If I ever knew all of that, I surely don't remember...anyway it was interesting to me after watching the helicopters in the movie.

"With a Song in My Heart"

It has been a delicious nostalgic weepy day of watching old war movies. I just finished my favorite "With a Song in My Heart".

This was the true story of Jane Froman, a singer who was injured in a plane crash on her way to sing overseas. She had over 22 operations on her leg during a three year period and then went back overseas while she was still on crutches to finish her USO singing stint. She did over 100 shows. She also fell in love with one of the pilots who was injured in the same crash and they finally got together after three years. It is a great musical and I have looked for it for years to buy. I think I was looking for it under the wrong title.

Now I can buy it on TCM.com or just keep it on my recorder! Robert Wagner made his debut as a young soldier in the movie. I saw it while I was in college and never forgot it.

The nice thing about a recorder is you can record other shows while watching so I have another six or so war movies to watch. Always something to look forward to...

Memorial Day Concert

I hope you were able to see the National Memorial Day Concert from Washington DC. It is one of the best programs on television every year. It was very moving and heart wrenching. It made me feel so blessed to be an American. We owe so much to our servicemen.

Stopped by a Susanville Cop--Again!

After leaving the movie last night, I went toward Safeway to buy some milk and meat. The police stopped me! I think it is because I made a hurried turn to get away from two strong looking thugs as I wasn't sure my doors were locked and I am always cautious of getting my car hijacked.

He tells me my front light is burned out and I don't have 2008 registration. I find my registration but then my mind tries to remember. Did I actually put on the new sticker? Or did I not put it on solid enough and it came off? Or did someone carefully peel it off? Of course, with my mind, I will never know for sure. I certainly don't remember, but here is his advice:

"After you secure the sticker, take a razor blade and slice through it a few times." That way no one can steal it, which evidently they do.

Now I have to go to the Susanville DMV and replace the sticker and also get my light fixed and then find a cop to sign my ticket and then I forgot what I am supposed to do...Just another vexing thing in my spacy life.

Me? A Lover?

Well, I took Maria's test and although I don't think of myself as the creative, caring person Maria is I did come up with the same predominance, I guess that is because I am so introverted and nonassertive but here is the breakdown with comments by myself.

You are predominantly a Lover. (but not by much) You also possess aspects of the Magician, Warrior, and King/Queen personalities and your complete personality profile can be described as 30.8% Lover, 23.1% Magician, 23.1% Warrior, and 23.1% King/Queen. Hey, that sounds kind of balanced, sweet!

With a gift for art and mystery, Lovers share a deeper meaning and vision of the world. Hmmm, sounds good.

STRENGTHS Creative--not sure about that. Caring Idealistic

WEAKNESSES Passive--actually I guess I am. Lazy--I never thought of my self as lazy, not a competitor, but lazy?? Over-sensitive -- hmm, am I?

DIVE IN Creative, intuitive, and deeply caring, your mind and spirit are open and capable of expressing deep meaning in the world. You represent the artists and nurturers of society—the romantics, the insightful poets and writers, the musicians and painters, the fools who make us laugh with joy—and your gifts of art and mystery resonate powerfully. NOT!

While nurturing like a King and Queen, and artistic like a Magician, you sometimes lack the ability to speak up and stand your ground, and have a tendency to be passive and introverted. TRUE!

Location on the cognitive-emotional spectrum: In the top right quadrant of the spectrum, your personality reflects your strong emotional sense of well-being. Your style of thinking tends to be more right-brained—creative, intuitive, holistic, and spontaneous.

Attractions: Located on other end of the spectrum, your perfect opposite is an assertive and analytical Warrior. (This is definitely true! Any 75 year old Warriors left?)

Quick read: To find out if someone is a Warrior, approach them carefully and in respectful body posture. Then in a funny or flirtatious tone, say "I feel your power." If they warm up to you immediately and respond to your regard for their status and rank, you have found a Warrior. You've also given that person exactly the positive emotional energy they need. (Do I dare try this, if I find a 75+ warrior, ha)

Advice: Learn to fight for what's right, dare to stand alone and be disagreed with, and discover that serious pursuits are not impossible. (What serious pursuit should I have at my age? I guess survival would count.)

Happiness is Coming Home! 2008

I always come home with a little trepidation wondering what damage the deer have caused, etc. Yea, no damage! Just lots of yellow powder from the cedar trees all over the decks and yard.

The airplane ride was simple and I came home much more rested than I would have if I had driven. Thank you, Linda.

Jean picked me up right on time and after a quick lunch we bought flowers to plant from the Home Depot and then from a delightful nursery in Quincy. Now if it just warms up, I will pot my plants and hope for a colorful summer. Thank you, Jean.

Marjorie had Bandido all walked and packed when we arrived at her home. I think he had a delightful time at her home. Thank you, Marjorie.

Ron had hauled away the large branches and even chopped some for firewood. Thank you, Ron.

I get by with a little help from my friends, sincerely, what would I do without them?

This morning I was up early to clean the decks and water the plants and now it is back to my usual--"throw out, clean up, organize"--that I do every time I come home.

SBA has called and is anxious to have me on their Hurricane Help List so maybe I will get some work when hurricane season hits...That means a summer home enjoying the sun and lake and going to work for the fall I hope.

Oh yes, and IRS has confirmed I will get my little check after May 30. Yea!

Grandchildren

I came to Jimmy and Camber's home Thursday and have had a delightful time with the children. Kelsi and I are good pals, as everyone else has things to do with school, work and such. We've enjoyed the swimming pool, reading books and watching TV. She calls me 'Maa'.

I am struck each time I come down how quickly children become adults and, of course, how delightfully different is each grandchild. Such individual personalities and talents, it's a wonderful world, this world of grandchildren.

Thursday night the Valkos and Pulsiphers came to the Hardys for a Mexican Feast. For some reason we all forgot to take pictures!!

Sunday I enjoyed sitting in the second row of Church with the grandchildren and James. After a bit of noise, they finally settled down to being fairly reverent. It reminded me of how difficult those years of keeping children quiet in Church was...

It has been a great trip, so glad Linda invited me for Mother's Day and beyond. Now it is back to see if the deer have eaten everything that has popped up or if the dryness has killed everything. I am looking forward to having a few more green things this year than last, though I hear it is the dryest it has been in a hundred years in Lake Almanor!!!

Two Sisters in the Sunset

We used to sing the song "Two Sails in the Sunset"--well this is "Two Sisters in the Sunset."

Linda and Maria against the setting sun in Oceanside, Ca May 14, 2008.

Mother's Day and a Beach Bash

On Mother's Day, Gary and his children prepared a gourmet belgian waffle and bacon breakfast with luscious fruit on the waffles. Gary could be an excellent chef in any restaurant, if he so chose, so it was really good.

They also presented Linda with flowers and we received cards. Linda wrote me a very nice letter--something we don't often see in this day so I really appreciated that.

After a lovely Church service we had a wonderful dinner with Gary's parents as guests and then the Pulsiphers were able to talk to Craig in Brazil for a whole hour.

It was a lovely Mother's day and I did not get the Mother Day Blues as I so often did in my younger years.

Richard could never figure out why I was so blue on Mother's Day and I didn't know either but I will never forget the Mother's Day he told me we should just skip church and listening to all those Mother Day talks and spend a few hours alone at Seaport Village. We did just that and met the children later for dinner. He was very thoughtful of my feelings.

On Wednesday the 14th we went to Maria's timeshare in Oceanside and had a Beach Bash. This was something we always did in June to celebrate Linda and James birthday--only that was always at La Jolla Shores. This reminded me of those times.

Pulsiphers brought a wood crate and Matt found another so there was plenty of wood for hot dogs and 'smores'.

The beach was quite deserted as the tourist crowds have not yet arrived.

You can see how lovely the beach and palm trees are. You can see Maria's timeshare in the background.

Matt and Tanner kept the fire going huge for a long, long time.

Just another day in paradise, as Maria says. The weather was great, surfers were in view and the water was quite warm...

I didn't have to do anything but pose for a picture...it was 7 at night so we did not have our bathing suits on...

Happy Birthday Amy!

For Amy's birthday party she requested Fantastic Dessert for her birthday cake!

But before that we had a delicious dinner out...

We went to Mario's in La Mesa for some delicious Mexican fare.

Amy, Kelly and Tanner...

It is a home converted to a restaurant which can hold 80--it was filled so we sat on the patio with heaters.

Marilyn and Frenchie were there plus all the Pulsipher's but Craig and Kristi, of course.

Three generations of smiles together in Linda, Sarah, and Grandma Janet...

It was a fun night--Happy Birthday Amy, 19 years old!

Early Mother's Day

I had a lovely early Mother's Day present tonight. Maria took Melissa and I(Mitch ate with us, too) out to dinner and then to the Susanville Symphony and finished off with sharing a Banana Split.

The Symphony was really in top form tonight and performed wonderful numbers like Themes from "Cowboy" and "Dances with Wolves" among others. It was songs from the American Frontier.

The Artistic Director is really fascinating to watch with all his arm movements and facial expessions and we were sitting in a perfect place to watch him.

And it was fun visiting with Melissa again. She says the nicest things...

It is Officially Spring...

This picture was taken on April 27 so officially the last piece of snow in my yard melted on April 28 and Spring was here, finally!

Unfortunately it went to 20 degrees a few days later!

Daffodils bloom in one of John's Mourning Gardens. It really helped to plant them in cages last year as the squirrels have left them where I put them. I will do a lot more this year now that I know!

The amazing thing is that on May 1 all of my lot had been raked and ready to burn all unwanted needles and branches. That is the earliest I have ever completed this task. It took me all week of working a few hours and then reading and resting and then working again. I finished "The Jane Austen Book Club" and "Eden Close"--recommend both of them. The reason it was so amazing is I didn't think I had the strength for all that but yea, I did it!!!! Now if I can just get the sprinkler system attached to the water faucet, I still haven't enough muscle to do that. Where is a good man when you need them?