High School Memories

Last night two of my high school friends in the Sacramento area played a little joke on me. Actually Bill has a long beard and mustache, today--though it is white--he is a Santa Claus now. I had seen Bill once since leaving high school, at the 2000 high school reunion.

Anyway Bill and I decided to meet and eat since I was working in Sacramento. I thought somewhere in the middle but he insisted on picking me up at my hotel "because he wanted to take me somewhere special". It surprised me when he wanted to go east on 80 (away from Sacramento) (he lives about an hour south of Sacramento, but he insisted he had a favorite "Dennys" that was really special. (I am thinking, how special could a Dennys be?) but I am listening to his nostalgia of this Dennys. We finally get there and though there is an "old cars" meet out in front Bill is anxious to hurry in.

As soon as we get inside some older guy is motioning to us to come and sit with him and I am wondering, "What the heck, does Bill know this guy?" He says to come and sit by him and I am thinking there is something familiar about those eyes but I just can't figure it out. Then he says his name...Chuck E... He had played for Washington at Pullman after leaving high school and I hadn't seen him since he went one way to college and I went another. Chuck had been the boyfriend of one of my friends, Kay, in high school and Bill had been the one who double dated with me in Jr High. He dated my friend Berta and I dated George.

Needless to say we had fun catching up on nostalgia and what has happened to us since. It is always a shock to face the reality of the transition from high school stud to senior citizen but "there we are" and pretty fortunate considering the alternative. Both Chuck and Bill are living the good "retired" life while I continue to work, but so far, I have been enjoying it...

Carmen the Garmin

On the way to work today we tried out my car partner's GPS who he calls Gia. She directed us beautifully, even showing where gas stations were coming up and banks, etc. I was anxious to try my own.

I had purchased one myself last night. My search for "what to buy" started with a trip to BEST BUY to check them all out and then a search for the cheapest of what I liked. I finally found the cheapest was to do a mail order from Wal Mart and then I went to Costco and it was the same price as Wal Mart. Wow, saved $100!!

Tonight I tried it out. I had seen a restaurant I like on the way home so put in the name. I was surprised my GP (Carmen, I call her) had me turn right but I thought it must be a "back" way. When I tried to assume where I should go without waiting for Carmen, she immediately said--"recalculating" and gave me new instructions. When she said I was there after I had tried to second guess her about three times and went in circles and I couldn't see it I figured she had really goofed but...it was just that the restaurant had closed at that location and it was not the one I had seen from the freeway. Will try and find that one tomorrow.

After circling so much I was confused as to which way to turn and didn't know my way home but Carmen did, she easily took me home. Since I have been frustrated and "lost" so many times I have decided this is the greatest invention since computers. Every woman should have one for sure!

Sacramento rocks!

I must say this is a plush assignment so far. We are at the Homewood Suites which backs up to the Galleria Mall so it will be a nice way to get my daily walk. Today I walked over to Best Buy to check out the GPS navigators. I decided it is a must for me.

Yesterday Michael picked me up after work in my car (Mitch, Melissa, and Maria brought it down from Chico) and we went to eat and to a movie. It was dark when I tried to find my hotel. It should have been easier than it was but I took the wrong turn off 80 and then went the wrong direction for a long time. I ended up in Rocklin instead of Roseville and couldn't find the way back to the freeway to reorient myself. It is scary.

I have been lost in Sacramento more than once and I think the GPS is the answer. If anyone has a suggestion as to what kind to buy, please let me know. Right now I am trying to find the Garmin 260w for a good price.

Travel Angels

It seems the "travel angels" seem to watch over me. This morning the Shuttle let us off in the wrong place and my bags were too heavy for me to go upstairs and then all the way to the other end of the terminal... Just as I thought I would die a Skycap showed up and put all my bags on a cart. He said whoever dropped us off was lying when they said they had to drop us off there and I shouldn't have to walk that far with the heavy bags. He said he wouldn't take any money but he did, of course, and I loved giving it to him. I have learned how it is in the DFW and usually look for a Skycap but we were late and I couldn't see one.

Then I lucked on to the one guy that had a car and after coming from the airport he took me to Walmart. This is a great place to be in Roseville. Lots of shopping within walking distance and Walmart Super not too far away and only 10 minutes from the office...

I am so glad I am processing in Sacramento instead of talking apps in South Texas, it will be brutal down there for a long time.

Sunday

We have a day off so I found the Bedford Ward, a half an hour away and attended church today. The closer one was Tongan so I found another, however, one of the ward people said I would enjoy going to the Tongan ward because their singing was so beautiful. Next time.

It was a very friendly ward and good speakers. An enthusiastic "missionary to be" going to Mexico City told about working in a Mexican restaurant in Salt Lake when the Prophet came in. The waitress told the Prophet about him so He invited the young man to come sit for a minute. When President Monson learned the boy was to go to a Spanish speaking mission, he told him this story.

He said the Mission President from the MTC called about a boy who was so sure he could not learn Spanish that he wanted to go home. President Monson made a suggestion about a class to send him to the next day and then he should call President Monson again. He said the next day he received the call from the Mission President and he reported that after attending an hour of the Japanese language class the young man was sure he could learn Spanish.

The High Council speaker said that the Stake President asked the question whether they were happy, whether they had joy in their life. He reminded them that life is about the process, about the journey and not just the destination. We should all be happy along our journey and if we are not, well why not???? He said it is "people" not "programs" that are important. I remember that was something we always said in the 70's when I was in the Stake Primary. He said it is relationships that matter, not just the doing. Life is "becoming" not "doing". This relationship thing is what "The Shack" book is all about also. The Savior was all about relationships, not tasks, something I always need to remember.

The High Council speaker also told of an experience when he was a new missionary in So. Calif. They stopped at the home of a "surf dude" who answered the door in swim trunks with his hair covering his eyes. The dude accepted the Book of Mormon and a booklet and they told him they would come and see him next week. He said, "Sure" and quickly shut the door. The next week they called again and they said they could see his eyes this time. The Sr Companion asked if they could give him the first discussion. He said, "Sure, but first, will you answer this question? What was that feeling I had when I started to read this book?" He said the young man had been on drugs and a school drop out because his grades were so bad. He was soon baptized, he got back in school and off drugs, then attended BYU, went on a mission to Italy and married in the Temple. He reminded us that it isn't the missionaries that convert members, it is the Spirit.

The Sunday School teacher did a great job. He was a young married - returned missionary and taught in a simple but well-informed manner with a very pleasant convincing spirit. Here again the message was all about being happy with where-ever we are in life, choose the right, avoid pride and don't continually be thinking you will be happy "when"--when you get this, when that, when you are more perfect, etc.

So far I am handling things well, I will "check in" next week and see how frazzled I am then...my biggest problem is not being able to think of a word I want to use. That may be a problem when I have to write up my justifications for a loan approval or denial...

But thank heaven, none of us has to go home to 8 feet of water in our house...

Aftermath of Ike

Hurricane Ike came in a little less than expected but powerfully more damage done in the areas I was in after Hurricane Rita. Beaumont was without power for a month after Rita, this time there is more flooding and damage as well as the power outage. Galveston was inundated with water. Even their precious wall that was built after the flood in 1900 was compromised. They are still searching for bodies. Thousands stayed behind even though their was mandatory evacuation. Of course, the rescues go on with the taxpayers money. And Houston didn't have near the destruction it had this time.

Someone told me the reason people stay behind is they had just run from Gustav on Labor Day weekend and there wasn't much damage and they just can't afford to leave. I understand that except that buses were provided and free places to stay...so you wonder.

So...I think SBA's forward planning was timely and I may be working a bit more than a month.

They were to fly us out on Sunday originally, then thought about getting us out ahead of the storm and finally settled on Monday, so we head for Sacramento tomorrow. I will be at the Homewood Suites behind the Galleria Mall in Roseville--hmm, that sounds dangerous.

Aftermath of Katrina

Today I learned the group of us in training here in Fort Worth are a "test group" to see if the Sacramento office can be used for processing disaster loans while being under the leadership of the Texas office.

It was very interesting to learn of everything that went wrong after Katrina hit and what has been done to make sure all those things never happen again.

Previously the DCMS loan program was built with the idea of being used by a maximum of about 2500 loan officers, now 12,000 can be online at once. Previously they had two scanners in this office, now there are 52.

They had geared up to be able to handle a disaster twice as large as the Northridge, CA earthquake since it was the largest they had previously handled. Then Katrina hit and it was six times as large!

Anyway it is amazing all the work they have done to correct everything that went wrong. We also watched a CNN presentation on the insurance problem with the argument over whether it was the water or wind that caused all the damage--and what the insurance companies would not pay for. It does matter what home insurance company you have and you should understand your policy very well!

I know this news is not as exciting as Maria's news but this is my life...a man told me today he was older than me... I am three months older than him and the oldest one in the group as usual. All the people I used to work with remember me and talk to me though, that is nice.

When Betsy and I went to the Verizon store we giggled at the fact the Verizon man explained the directions to her like I was too old to understand. C'est la vie!

Off to Texas

So I am off to Texas tomorrow for a week and scheduled to be in Sacramento from Sept 14 to Oct 14. Maybe Michael and I can meet for a movie or eat out from time to time. I will be staying in Roseville off 80 and he is off 50 but still not that far away.

Unfortunately that means I will miss the BYU reunion of my sisters from Oct 6 to Oct 14!! I am keeping my air ticket just in case I get sent home sooner.

I was so looking forward to being with my sisters and seeing all the new things at BYU and visiting Amy and Craig in their habitats.

Still, I need the money so what can I do...I will just be grateful if they keep me that long. I will probably be asked to do business loans and my brain is not as sharp as it used to be...we will see.

Humboldt Summit and Valley Loop

 

Today Marjorie and I went on an adventure in Plumas County Backcountry. It was to be a 4 hr drive through the Humboldt Summit and Valley Loop. It took us 8 hrs!!! Luckily, though there were few people on the road, we surprised a couple on a dead end road who directed us back to a wrong turn, and then a couple picking gooseberries sent us merrily on our way home and advised us to get there before dark, but we were still doing our last leg at 8:30 PM!!

Although we had directions and a map there were so many logging roads and camp roads it was easy to make a wrong turn, which we did!! We enjoyed our hike up to the Humboldt Summit even though it had not been cleared and we had to go over trees, under trees, through trees.

It was a very interesting trip but I don't think I would recommend it unless they do something to the roads. There were so many rocks and bumps and dips, my car and tires will never be the same. We were very, very blessed to have returned safely! It could have been disastrous because it was so deserted today. We also forgot to let anyone know where we were going.

 

We saw some evergreens we were not familiar with that had these "frosted" cones all over their tops. This was also the area where the bees went after me--liked my sandwich or perfume or hairspray or something and I did get a little sting on my wrist.

This is on the drive from Humbug Summit to Humbug Valley--the road is lined with these beautiful Christmas Trees and there are many more large groves of them.

Bandido was very dirty from the soft, soft dirt and was a reluctant hiker. Great view, though, and I can assure you we will never run out of trees! This is from the Humboldt Summit.

"I Got the Call Today" (Don Henley words in a song)

SBA called and I leave Sept 7 to 14 for a week of training in Fort Worth. This is training on the new computer loan processing program which they started in 2005 but I wasn't one of the few that learned it at that time. I was instead surpervising a group in the "old" program

As I have said before, because I am a loan officer instead of Customer Service and they mostly use loan officers that live in the Fort Worth area so they don't have to pay them per diem, I will not necessarily be working after the training.

However, if this current hurricane is bad enough they plan on using some loan officers in Sacramento and I may get called to go there. Keep your fingers crossed for me. They questioned whether I was able to go if called.

But at any rate I am one step closer to earning a little money and get a free trip and one week's pay. Sounds good to me!

Who wants to keep Bandido if I go for months???? My sister in Orem would if I could get him there...she enjoys Bandido.

Things That Go Boom in the Night

What do you do when you are awakened by a load crash, like a plank following on wood and can't find anything inside or out, crashed? It is definitely hard to go back to sleep, thus the need to find something to do.

Bandido was restless for awhile but has finally given in to sleep. Lucky him. Reminded me of the time I was alone in our big house on the hill in Glendive. No idea what age I was or why I was alone. But I was sleeping in the basement with the dog. Was it Star or Poika? If I could remember that, I would have an idea what age I was. Why was I sleeping downstairs? That is where the boys slept after an individual bedroom was given to each of three of us girls.

At any rate the memory that is so clear is how frightened I was by some noises I had heard. I was wide awake listening and imagining, all the while the dog was making low growly sounds which frightened me even more. The basement had a separate outside door on one side and a door that led from a very old 'under the house garage.' It was so narrow it must have been used for a horse and buggy. But you can imagine how either door was a tool to feed my fright. Never did find out what the noise was all about either but I know I didn't sleep till someone finally came home.

That old house was very old and had lots of creaks and sounds of it's own even when no one was there. Berta Mae and I discovered that when we were in grade school and because we were always playacting out different stories, we would hide behind one of the chairs when no one was home and scare ourselves silly imagining what or who was making the sounds. I remember one time we ran in and climbed on the kitchen table before finally running outside into the sunshine and away from "it".

This fear of "sounds in the night" stayed with me. When I started dating Bill in San Diego I was living with three other girls in a house which was two story on one side and one story on the front side. I was the first one home from a date one night so Bill checked the whole house before leaving me alone. Unfortunately the doors were not locked evidently. As I was drifting off to sleep I heard a clumping sound but convinced myself I needed to stop imagining things, it was nothing at all, I was just overreacting. Later, when Marta and Colleen came home with their dates, they woke me to tell me there was a drunk passed out at the kitchen table. He had climbed the outside stairs from the back alley...

OK, I am now convincing myself it must have been a large branch that fell on the roof, so guess I will try to go to sleep.

So Far, So Good

I think the Republicans are going to have a hard time to match the convention the Democrats have put on so far. It has been very well presented with some great talks even though there have also been a lot that say the same thing like they are scripted and the people don't really know what they are talking about. A lot of promises though, a lot of promises that a President cannot keep without a lot of cooperation and where is all the money to do everything to come from?

I am happy to say that Sen. Biden showed a side I have not seen before. He was not snarling at anybody and actually was presented very well! Beautiful wife and handsome son, too.

Still...

I was wondering..

When will this political stuff be over?

Five Things

5 Things I Was Doing 10 Years Ago:

1. Working for a Mortgage Company
2. Living in Pacific Beach
3. Bicycling daily at the Bay with Nadine (and Bandido in the basket)
4. Planning my escape from San Diego
5. Attended Meagan's Graduation in June

5 Things On My To Do List:

1. Figure out how to make money
2. Finish my Life History
3. Organize my Genealogy (again)
4. Finish the quilt I started 8 years ago
5. Start Yoga or something!

5 Favorite Snacks/Food:

1. Nachos
2. Fuji apple with peanut butter
3. Fuji apple with caramel dip (homemade)
4. Tootsie Rolls
5. Fruit Smoothies and homemade Wendy's Frosty

5 Things I Would Do If I Was a Billionaire:

1. Have a second home in Sweden
2. Have a lavish garden with beautiful flowers
3. Have a yacht on the Mediterranean/Agean Seas
4. Have a Lakeside home with a Sailboat and Goodlooking Captain
5. Have a maid/cook/personal trainer/gardener

5 Bad Habits:

1. Eating sugar and butter treats
2. Procrastination
3. Avoiding Exercise
4. Being unfriendly
5. Selfish with time

5 Places I Have Lived:

1. Ogden, Ut
2. Glendive, Mt
3. Provo, Ut
4. San Diego/San Diego/Pacific Beach/La Jolla/Rancho Bernardo, CA
5. Lake Almanor, CA

Persons I'm Tagging (Kristi already tagged most of the only ones that read my blog)

1. Linda

Fini!

Well, the last rock is in sand and it is finished!!! When the wind blows my cedar makes a mess but I am leaving it in sand so it drains very well. Will see how it does through the winter.

Happy Birthday, Mike!

I just remembered Kristi's husband Mike shares a birthday with Richard. That is one birthday I won't forget. Happy Birthday, Mike, surely appreciated the use of your truck!

Happy Birthday, Richard!

I was reading last week that the spirits are nearby and know our thoughts and feel our sorrow so I hope Richard knows how much I miss him. He used to tell me I would never miss him when he was gone. It was just that he always liked someone near him whether he was working, reading, watching TV or what and I always had little projects I wanted to work on that didn't necessarily include him.

I found this note in my journal about his recovery from his first heart attack. "Richard finally did recover and was home for another month. It was a wonderful month. We were more appreciative of life and each other and Richard was on valium, so did not even think about his work. It was like the honeymoon we never had. We also had a lot of visitors--surely appreciate all our friends."

I am glad we had that honeymoon because we married on a Friday, and were back to work on Monday morning.

Old Age is For the Pits!

I thought this was an interesting contrast in what happens to you in 55 years of living.  Of course, there is the obvious white haire, a "given" if you abstain from the bother of hair color.  The wrinkles (of course, I never did have the beautiful skin like Melissa's even in my good days), droopy eyes, yellowed teeth, brown spots on the skin, the shortened neck (is tht where those 2 inches went)?  Viva la youth, Melissa is a beauty.

 

Janet in better days at BYU, about a couple years older than Melissa.

If I Knew You were Coming, I'd Have Baked a Cake!...

...was a song from my youth.

Well, we did know she was coming and I did bake a cake. It was called Italian Cream Cake in honor of Maria coming back from her "educational trip" to Italy. While looking in my journal I found this about Maria's patriarchal blessing experience which I was able to share with her.

It was really a beautiful blessing. He (Patriarch) asked me if I knew what a choice person she is!

Maria hadn't slept for 36 hours but looked relaxed and managed a big smile before Melissa took off for college in Chico.

A fond farewell to Melissa before she embarks off to Butte College.

New Proposed Location for Solomon's Temple

For those of you who might be concerned about the Temple being built in Jerusalem before the Second Coming of Christ, there is very interesting news. As you probably know, there has been concern about disturbing the Dome of the Rock, the magnificent Muslim mosque, to restore Solomon's temple.

However, a team was sent to Jerusalem last April to research the Temple Mount and surrounding area. I won't list who they were and all their credentials but they had them. And they came up with a new proposed location of where the Temple was and there is nothing on it to prevent the Temple being restored!

Unfortunately more research is still needed. At present, most on-site research is strictly prohibited. Additional careful measurements need to be made. Nevertheless, the evidence is much more solid than anything for other proposed locations, much of which is based on groundless speculation. It definitely appears that some ancient building stood there, and it is about the right size, shape and orientation to have been Solomon's temple.

Evidence has been presented for the location of Solomon's temple having been situated between the existing Dome of the Rock and dome of the Tablets. If this location is indeed correct, then the exact location and orientation have been pinpointed in a place where no building currently stands. Thus the temple could be restored there without impacting the Dome of the Rock in any way.

To read the full article with pictures and all details and specifics, go to Meridian Magazine and read the article with the same name as this blog.

Nightmare! Nightmare!

Wow, am I ever glad that nightmare is over!!!

The last thing I read before I went to bed is that Barack Obama had chosen Sen. Biden as his running mate and I had thought, "Did he ever shoot himself in the foot, I can't believe it." Sen Biden, to me, has always been one of the most unlikable Senators there is. What are they thinking? Good for McCain, anyway.

Then I had this nightmare where I went to work for him and the work conditions were so appalling. I was just admiring this other woman who very cleverly told him what she thought of the "office" and I was thinking, "Why can't I speak up like that?" Then, thank heaven, I woke up.

Mitch was the Man today!

Mitch came up and we made two trips to the creek for river rock. I am hoping this will be enough to finish the patio, yea!!!

Then he climbed the roof and cleaned it off plus cleaning out all the gutters, big job!!!

Then he loaded the last wood I have to the deck...I have been promised more wood coming from the guys at church. Last year I was totally empty when they filled my bin also.

But he wasn't finished yet! He started digging five holes for me to put my white birch trees that I am ordering. This is so that when you look out my dining room you see fluttering pretty leaves rather than somebody else's deck. when you dig holes here you have to keep filling them with water and dig over a period of weeks. It is almost solid rock!

While I was outside I discovered the deer have been in one of my enclosed gardens which makes me wonder why do I have a wire fence around them? I watched a mama deer leap in and later leap out with beautiful form...so the only ones not able to get in easily now are the baby deer and me. The squirrels also jump on the fence and then in. Frustration.

Anyway we did good today and I really appreciated all of Mitch's hard work! Thank you, Mitch.

Summer Under the Stars

This has been a delightful summer of excellent movies from TCM. They have been having "Summer Under the Stars" and feature movies for one movie star for one or more days. I record them and then watch at my leisure. By turning on my TV in the living room and bedroom I can get my whole house cleaned while watching a good movie.

And I can't say too much about the wonderful movies of the 40's--the old black and whites and then some of the 50's. Last week I enjoyed Kim Novak. She was an idol of mine for her looks. This week it has been Greer Garson.

She is one special lady and supposedly has the most beautiful voice in movies. She has always been an idol of mine in the way she carries herself, the way she speaks. Yesterday I watched "Random Harvest" a truly romantic film of WWII.

It just seems the movies of the 40's have so much more depth and personify the best and worst in all of us which such clarity. They also leave a lot to the imagination, which is always best, I think.

Billy Joel - Uptown Girl

Yesterday I saw an intriguing article on 10 musical videos that had been made by musical star couples when they were "together" who later broke up.

Most of them were trash as far as I was concerned but I really enjoyed "Billy Joel - Uptown Girl". It was made in 1983 when Billy Joel and Christy Brinkly were a couple and he takes the part of a mechanic in a garage and she drives up with her chauffeur in a fancy car and gets out and does a dance with him and the other mechanics. He was young and small then and she was a classy model.

It is worth the watch and listen but the embedding was removed so you have to go to You Tube and put in Billy Joel-Uptown Girl to enjoy.

News from Italy

In view of Maria's experiences I was interested in this news out of Italy today!

No sandcastles please, you're in Italy

Mon Aug 18, 8:59 AM ET

When in Capri, don't wander off the beach in a bikini. If you go to the sea in Eraclea, near Venice, remember that building sandcastles is forbidden. And don't even think about mowing your lawn at the weekend in Forte dei Marmi.

Emboldened by a nationwide crackdown on crime and a government decree giving them extra law-and-order powers, Italian mayors have issued a string of often bizarre by-laws to enhance "public decorum."

Public displays of affection in a car can earn you a fine of up to 500 euros ($745) in Eboli, feeding pigeons is off-limits in the centre of Lucca while in Novara groups of more than two people are forbidden from lounging around in parks at night.

Italian newspapers have dubbed this year's holiday season "the summer of bans." But this week one town hall was forced to acknowledge things may have gone too far.

Rodrigo Piccoli, 33, called national radio to protest after he was fined 50 euros for lying down in a park in the northern city of Vicenza to read a book. The mayor has since promised to drop the ban.

Happy Birthday, John

August 18th, the anniversary of John's birth. Richard and I were living in a small apartment in Pacific Beach when John was born. We were very happy. Here is an excerpt from my journal written in December 1960:

John Eric is waking. I'll leave him till he cries for me, he seems to enjoy his crib and looking at the bunnies--probably even babies enjoy a little privacy. He's 3 1/2 months old now and so very alert and active. He weighs around 14 lbs. and is 25" long-- a husky fellow who laughs and smiles for everyone. Most people think he is older and I do believe he was about 3 weeks past due when he was born. He was due July 27th and not born till August 18th. Even then I had uteri inertia and they had to take him caesarean. The doctor says I should have only two more babies and have them two years apart. I'm not sure how much confidence I have in Dr. Shephard though, even if he is a Mormon. I may change next time. Baby John wants me now, he doesn't cry much, just fusses to tell you things. He always lets me know when he's messed his pants so guess he'll be a particular boy about his clothes!! Funny fellow, he's almost back to sleep again--he sleeps much more lately it seems. Yesterday he had his casts removed that he had worn for 3 weeks to tighten his heel cord. It was not serious and looks much better. We received our processed roll of film back. I'm so anxious to see our first movies--hope we really keep a good movie record of our children.

December 7, 1960 Poor John is feverish and unhappy today. He had his second polio shot yesterday and it has affected him. I've been getting a few things ready for Christmas--I'm so anxious to get a tree up, the wrapped packages look so pretty. Saturday we bought our projector and screen. We've shown our Thanksgiving film over and over. I never tire of looking at baby John, I believe he is such a sweetie. I never dreamed I could have such a darling, lovable baby.

TAGGED

OK, I took the challenge, this is not easy...one word doesn't say it.

Where is your cell phone?.........................PURSE?

Your significant other?...............................CARING

Your hair?.........................................60’s

Your mother?...................................KIND

Your father?....................................GENTLE

Your favorite thing?.............................MOVIES

Your dream last night........................HAZY

Your favorite drink................................WATER

Your dream/goal..............................JOY

The room you're in..........................OFFICE

Your children?...................................AMAZING

Your fear?.......................................POVERTY

Where do you want to be in 6 years?.............HERE

Where were you last night?.........................HERE

What you're not?....................................SOCIAL

Muffins?.........................................BLUEBERRY

One of your wish list items?.........................MONEY

Where'd you grow up?................................MONTANA

What'd you read last?......................... THE MEDIATOR

What are you wearing?.........................WRAPAROUND

Your TV?......................................COMPANION

Your pet?.................................FOLLOWER

Your computer?...............................NECESSARY

Your life?.....................................PLEASANT

Your mood?................................GRATEFUL

Missing someone?............................RICHARD

Your car?.........................................OUTBACK

Something you're not wearing?..................UNDIES

Favorite store?..............................COLDWATER CREEK

Your summer?....................................LOVELY

Like someone?.....................................FAMILY

Your favorite color?................................RED

Last time you laughed................................KARAOKE

Last time you cried?.....................................TESTIMONY

I TAG MARIA AND MEAGAN

Just Kate!

Great Grandbaby Kate is a delightful child and Kristi is such a great Mom. Kate really enjoys being with everybody and is busy, busy, busy all the time. She usually won't look in the camera but I caught her four times here, just couldn't get her to smile.

Looks like she is always eating but she is a good eater. Cute, cute, cute. Every day's a good day for Kate!

Looking Good!!!

The Pulsipher children stopped at the river last night after their supper and brought the rocks over this morning and I couldn't resist going out and working on it.

Then Gary, Tanner, Linda and I did one more run and I have it this far tonight!!! I can't believe it after 4 years it is almost finished!!!

The Pulsiphers have really been super about giving so much time to gathering river rocks--thank you, thank you, thank you.

Fun on the Lake and Happy Anniversary!

Linda and Gary have been married 26 years today. Wow, if Richard were alive, we would have been married 49 years!! Anyway they went to Dianna's at the Club for prime rib and said it was good. Hard to believe how quickly life passes by.

 Today I was on the boat with them while they did their wakeboarding. They are all so good and it was quite smooth. Great lake and it was beautiful as always!! I took a lot of videos but haven't figured out how to put them on my computer yet???

 Tonight Kelly, Craig, Amy, Sarah, and Tanner all sang karaoke at Teen Karaoke. That was entertaining. I am always amazed how many want to sing and dance and how few are really talented. Makes you appreciate to pros but it was fun. The kids had made cake for their parents so we finished off the day with that. Nice day!!

Oh, yes, I worked from 6 to 8 am putting down the rocks they brought me yesterday. A little back breaking for an old lady but keeps me young I guess.

River Rock Patio

The patio is almost half done!! And it is looking great. The Pulsiphers have made about three trips to the creekbed--(only need about 200 more). Oh well, Matt first starting digging the area out 4 years ago so if it takes a little more time, that is ok, I am patient.

Summer Concert and Work on the Patio!

Every Sunday night in the summer there is a music under the stars.

But first comes a surprise!  Before Matt leaves with his truck to go back to Reno late Sunday afternoon it looks like my patio is getting a little closer.

Gary somehow finangled some sand from a landscaping place and everyone helped shovel it out and smooth it in my area. 

Pizza Time on Tuesday night.

After pizza at Taratino's they all helped gather some rocks from the river. I can see it will take me years though because a car full of rocks really doesn't go very far!

I really appreciate Gary going to all the effort to find sand before Mike took his truck back to Reno and everyone helping so much. Thank you, thank you, Pulsiphers and Stewarts!

Tijuana

When I came to San Diego to teach in 1956 one of the first places we went was Tijuana to shop. When my parents came that summer we also went across. In fact, all of the tourists that visited us went to Tijuana. It was a fun place to go in those days.

We also had exchanges with the Tijuana ward and ate down there with them and they with us. Each Christmas we would have a ward drive for Toys for Tijuana and this would go to the ward and also to the orphanage there.

I just read an article in the Washington Post about the severe Aids epidemic in Tijuana--one in every 125 people has aids from prostitution and drug use. But it says Aids is a hitchhiker into the United States with the many that go back and forth across the border. Just another "signs of the times" and very sad. Richard loved the Mexican people and enjoyed helping them whenever he could. We always had them as day workers in our home and often as yard workers. It is sad to read this.

Documentaries

Today I was educating myself by watching documentaries and became fascinated with all the money being spent on the buildings for the Olympics. Who decides what is enough or too much, is something I have always wondered? 1000 welders had to be trained to do the 15 months of welding for the Birdnest!

Then there is the Bubble building that is also intricate and expensive. Evidently the Chinese want to have something that no one has done before and it is costing plenty!! But in a world full of needs should money be spent like this on the Olympics? It has become a competiveness between countries and I think it has gone too far.

On the opposite end of spending money is the Duggar family who started out doing everything for themselves and even built a 7000 square foot home that is debt free. On their website you learn about financial freedom and their philosophy on having children. They are really living christian values. She even homeschools!!! Totally unselfish. They are always being asked if they are Mormon or Catholic and they are neither! Interesting story on their website.

Since they have become famous though, I am sure there is lots of income from appearances and photoshoots. Good for them, they will be interesting to watch as the children continue to grow up. They reminded me of the Packard family as far as organization and all the children being responsible for each other and sharing the load. Amazing parents is all I can say!!!

And last but not least, news of the day, is that BYU is the Most Socially Conservative school of the top 368 colleges in America!!! Yea for BYU!

Oh, and one more thing I learned today is how to make Wendy's Frosty, which has always been a favorite of mine. The formula is twice as much milk as Nestle's Quik and three times as much ice cream as milk. Umm, yummy!

'Come See the Paradise'

Tonight I watched a very provocative film about World War II and the civil rights that were taken away from the Japanese Americans. It was shameful and a great mistake. The movie is 'Come See the Paradise' and was filmed in 1990 with Dennis Quaid and supposedly is very factual as to events and places, etc.

The movie had a sweet love story woven throughout the fact based movie but the treatment of the Japapanese Americans was really sickening and sad to watch. It would not make you proud to be an American.

I was so young in WWII I have really never known many of the horrible facts of events before, during, and after the war and am always anxious to learn more.

Mediterranean Trip

Linda asked me today where we went on our Mediterranean Trip and I must admit I couldn't really remember the names of the places so I had to do a memory check with my slides. It was such a fantastic trip, how can I not remember every minute is a mystery but ...my mind is a mystery to me at this age.

I am so glad I have it all recorded on my blog and have the pix on Picasa Web and can read about it all and also have a memory book with lots of pictures and data. I am lucky that when I can do nothing else but look at pictures I will still be able to recall the wondrous days of my life.

Observation about Saturday Night

"Saturday Night is the Loneliest Night of the Week" was a song written during World War II about the gals left at home while their boyfriends are off to war. I know most of the words.

Anyway tonight as I was observing that I seldom get emails on Saturday night or Friday night either, I was thinking it is because most people obviously have something better to do than sit at their computer!!! Woe is me...

Pioneer Day

I just watched the Pioneer Concert from the LDS Conference Center with the Mormon Tabernacle Choice and the Osmonds. It was excellent.

This was the final stop on the Osmonds 50th Anniversary World Tour. On the very last number which was "I Believe" the two brothers who are hearing impaired "signed" the song. It was very touching.

The Osmonds have gone through a lot from that beginning on the Andy Williams Show 50 years ago (which they showed), and they really are an amazing family. Marie looked amazing with her slim Nutri-system body.

If you missed it, I am sure it will be shown again on the BYU Channel!

Living Well and Living Fully

"We don't beat the reaper by living longer, we beat the reaper by living well and living fully." This quote from Randy Pausch, who died today at 47 from pancreatic cancer, is worth remembering and living.

Randy Pausch was the professor at Carnegie Mellon whose "Last Lecture" and book of the same name became a best seller and the lecture is very popular on YouTube. He lived a full life, all of his life and made a difference in other people's life.

I became interested in him because of the pancreatic cancer. When I was working at Choice Mortgage there were five young men in our extended circle of appraisers, loan officers, title officers, real estate officers, etc. who had this pancreatic cancer and all in their mid 40's. It seemed so odd to me and evidently this Randy wanted more research done on pancreatic cancer and donated funds for such because it is not exactly clear what causes it and very difficult to cure.

In the first video Randy states he originally did the last lecture, not for the 400 watching at Mellon College, but for his three children who will watch it someday. In the second video he states he waited until 39 to marry because he had never found anyone until then whose happiness meant more to him than his own and then he picks her up and carries her off the stage.

Both videos are worth taking the time to watch and learn from. I hope you enjoy your life all of your life and live your dreams each day.

California Pizza Barbeque Chicken Salad

Once again I tried one of the recipes out of the "Insider's Recipe Book" I keep on my desktop and sent to you all. Yes, Maria, there were a lot of ingredients I had to buy and I was still out of black beans so went without them but I tried the California Pizza 'Barbeque Chicken Salad' and it was really good.

Instead of mixing all the ingredients together for the salad part, I kept them in separate dishes and just did a 'pile on' salad. That way I can have salad over several days. Marjorie came on Sunday and she liked it as well.

I couldn't make my barbeque turn on easily (I am a whimp) so I just did oven barbequeing of the chicken but it was still great.

Anyway, love that book. Going to try the Big Boy's Strawberry Pie (used to be one of our favorites back in the good ole days) and it uses a can of 7-up!! And Maria, there is a recipe for funnel cake.

Mysteries of My Simple Life

Those birds I thought were geese are actually some game playing crows and they had a conference in my backyard so I know for sure. They appear to chase each other through the trees and call to each other and their caw is a very noisy, very irritating sound, in fact. I need to get a bird book, I am getting so many different kinds of birds bathing in my bird baths.

Another strange thing. I have been having fun making tootsie rolls and trying to make them without having them sugar or get too hard, etc. The recipe calls for the milk to be added after the candy has been removed from the fire. Today I forgot and put it in with the sugar, cocoa etc. Strangely it totally changed the texture, though the ingredients were the same. The candy became hard like a lollipop instead of chewy. Does anyone understand why?

What's New in Lake Almanor?

Lots of new and large and expensive homes, that is what's new. What a lot of building has gone on...and the lavish landscaping, makes my feeble efforts look very puny. Lake Almanor Country Club is truly becoming a rich man's playground...good thing I am happy to stay in my own backyard with my own set of marbles.

I took some old clothes to the thrift store at the Fire Station and then wandered back on Peninsula to the market. The tennis courts have a store that has cute clothes and other fun things to buy. The food wagon has a big presence at the swimming hole. The place the Pulsiphers have rented (hope it went through) is really fantastic and no one was staying here this week. The Kodiak restaurant has been purchased by someone new and is supposed to be very good called the Q or something like that. The eatery at the miniature golf course is bragging to be the best hamburgers in town.

The boat docks seemed filled with summer boaters but the lake still looks empty. Saw several fisherman in boats by the bridge the other day near Chester. It has not been too hot, in fact in the mid 40's at 6 in the morning but warms up to the 70's quite quickly and in the 80's if you stand in the sun. Beautiful for visitors.

Haven't been to any of the concerts yet but I can hear them and everyone seems happy with them. Monday night dances at the clubhouse are popular I guess but dinner is too expensive for my budget even on that night, $17. Dinner's at Dianna's (clubhouse) are in the $22 to & $29 range for those who want a lush night out other nights of the week. The Peninsula Market has changed hands and is really looking good plus has lots of deli sandwiches and salads as well as terrific looking meat for barbequing. Expensive but nice. As I say it is really getting to be the playground of the rich. Just saw a lakeside lot for sale for $1,300,000 and that is just for the lot!!!!

I am also hearing the honking of geese in my area which I do not remember before. Usually they are down a little closer to the lake. Really noisy. Seems to take a pass or two and then move on and quiet is restored.

Anyway things are looking very prosperous around here. Dyer Mountain Ski/Sun Project is still in foreclosure but they are saying they are just dealing with investors and it is still a go... I am hoping, of course, it never goes. There has already been too much change since I moved here 9 years ago. On the road down to Peninsula Market from Clifford there is another "lots for sale" project as more and more homes are built for the summer crowd.

Oh, yes, I forgot to mention the airport is really improved and expanded so there must be some of the rich that do fly in.

PS Another postive is that one of the homes at the backside of my lot put in deer pleasing grass so the deer are staying away from my place except for potty breaks and sleeping in the night and do most of their eating further back yonder...Yea!

My Sister Carole's Clan

The Fuqua's gathered at Silver Gate over the 4th and posed for some pictures. Carole and Len have 5 boys and one daughter plus spouses, girlfriends and grandchildren. Good looking group. Carole is the blonde in the back.