Back Home for Cake!

On April 2, my daughter Maria married Johnny Rasimas, to start a new life together.

This is a backward story of their wedding.

After the wedding on the beach we all came back to their beach house on Law St for wedding cake.  There was actually two, one her friend Vickie had sent which is pictured here.  It was Maria's favorite carrot cake.  And another beautiful white wedding cake that Michelle Hinton, Johnny's sister, furnished.  Both were delicious.

Feeding each other as man and wife.

Kelsi like the top of the white cake.

Great Aunt Linda holds Keira.

Krisit is having a baby daughter this month.

Meagan enjoys eating her cake while Keira gets passed around.

Canber and James share the cake.

Loving couple, Meagan and Matt.

Keira grabs Tanner's finger.

The carrot cake--so good.

Keira with a hat!

A farewell hug.

The Sunset Wedding

The Sunset Wedding

Beautiful setting in Pacific Beach at the end of Law Street.

The clouds had come in but this scattered the crowd.  We had the beach to ourselves.

Mike read a poem.

Pulsiphers look on as Kelsi tends the Rose.

Masseys wed in 2007.

Masseys and the Cousins

Thee I Wed.

I Love You!  Maria wrote the beautiful vows that James gave.  It was very romantic.

It's a Commitment!

Maria, Camber, Linda

Maria, with sister-in-laws Michelle and Camber  and sister Linda

Maria with mother-in-law and Mom

Maria with sons Mike and Matt

with Johnny's parents

Gathering for the Wedding

Kelsi

Maria and Meagan's baby Keira

Hardys, Stewarts, Pulsiphers, Hintons

Matt and friend Kara and daughter 

Maria and Johnny ready for the big day...

Lea Hardy, Mike Valko

Camber and Jimmy Hardy

 

We gathered at the beach house at 860 Law for a barbecue before going to the beach for the wedding.  It was immediate family only and I didn't get pictures of everyone.

Phone Again

My phone came yesterday (I had broken mine) and Gary programmed it, took it to Verizon to put in all my contacts and preceded to buy a blue tooth, car charger, and a very strong cover  for my phone.  I shouldn't have any breakage problems again.  Linda and Gary have done so much for me,  how can I ever repay them?

I have decided also the two people in my life who I can always call when I need a morale boost is Carole and Myrna.  They are the best empathizers in the world.  And they listen to me.  I wish I had those kind of skills.  I tend to try and solve people's problems with advice and no one likes that.  I must try harder to be the kind of listeners and boosters that they are.

Something to Remember

I have realized yet again that people do not really want to have personal information emailed to them.  They are happy to send an impersonal 'joke' or 'Get Well Soon' but please, not too much information. 

So I have lots of time on my hands and write a few emails to friends about what is going on in my life.  What do I get back?  One liners or nothing!  People do not want too much informtion, it is a burden I think that they might have to do something about.  We all stay a 'distance' friendship.  I wish I could find the article I just read about Facebook, that emphasizes that very thing.  Email is the same way.

We are all supposed 'share each other burdens'.  In reality, do we?  From my experience, I don't think so.  We are a "don't get involved" generation.

It would be lovely if people wanted to call and entertain me with a little conversation.  I will have to remember to do that for someone else when they are recuperating...

The Nurses

My doctor had his once in a year Pheasant Shooting Retreat outside Gorham on Friday and Saturday so arranged for another ortho dr to monitor my release.

The substitute doctor's nurse came down and in addition to the pain medication she was ordering I asked her if she would order my flunisolide nasal solution.  She said it was not a problem and glanced briefly at the bottle. I asked her if she had gotten that written down. She said, "Oh, I know that is the generic of Flonase". I commented that I did not know that.

When Linda brought the medicine back from Wal Mart I saw that it was Fluticasone Propionate 50 mcg. Gary said this sounded like a cortisone type spray. When I looked it up and then the Flunisolide I noticed the Fluticasone had a lot more serious warnings about it. I would not open it.

Now, I am not sure what the difference is, they are both cortisone type but definitely one is stronger than the other,

Wal Mart would not take the medicine back and it cost $48!!  I left a message on the nurses's phone and she called back on Monday, all cheery.  'Well, we try', she says.  'I will order the other one' and asked me to read it to her.  I reminded her that it had cost me $48.  She said she would try and get the pharmacy to give me a credit.

Later, I called Wal Mart and yes, they had the new order and it was $43--no credit.  So, yes, I am bummed out.  And I think it is extremely dangerous to have a nurse who is so cavalier about prescription mistakes!!!

Carrie was also not a stellar nurse.  I had told her to send the pain prescription to Wal Mart in Santee.  She couldn't find the phone number but noticed I had last year had prescriptions sent to the Poway store so assumed I had made a mistake and sent it there!!!!

Now I would like to tell the Drs about their charming but inefficient nurses, but how?

When I had the mortgage company I had two rules I expected the processors to follow.

1--Never Assume

How dangerous in the financial business (and nursing) when someone 'assumes' something that is not true.  So often people do not want to appear dumb so instead of getting the correct answer they 'assume' and this cannot only waste time but make costly mistakes.

2-Know What You Don't Know

Here again, instead of thinking you might appear dumb, say, "I don't know, but I will find out." or "Would you please let me write that down and read it back to you?  I want to make sure I have it correct."

I hammered this over and over and when a mistake was made this way, I said, "I don't care whose fault it was, what are you going to do about it?"  People are so quick to start with the, 'It was not my fault.' that they forget the bigger picture of 'solving the problem'.

I just watched the story of JFK and the PT boat accident and the reason he was a hero is that instead of 'blaming' or 'moaning' and 'complaining' he tried to solve the problem and saved everyone's life.  Too often in life our thoughts and efforts are spent on the wrong things.

The Downside

The downside. Sunday morning I woke up with such terrible pain on my left side leg and I was frightened. I lay there for a long time and when Linda came down I asked her to stay home with me, I didn't want to be alone and I was frightened.

She did stay home and got me settled with some lovely music to listen to and and made sure I had my pain pill and I told her I wanted another blessing. She said Gary and the home teacher would do it when they came back from church. In the meantime she had also called James and he said he and Jacob were coming over.

Finally I realized what the pain was. Remember I had been having left backside and side leg hurt so much when I came back from Sacramento and I realized this pain was the arthritis--the pain in my legs from the nerve pressure was gone but this is the arthritis I had been treating from carrying too heavy of bags. He had warned me this problem will not be solved  instantly by this operation as the pain in the legs but it would take longer as it had nothing to do with the pressure on the nerves. I had also read that but had forgotten. Anyway They had taken the antiinflammatory drugs away from me because of the possibility of bleeding and she said to wait a few days before I started it again. Well, that was the problem.

Linda called Gary and he said there was no reason I couldn't start taking that again by now. By the time James had arrived I was feeling much better and less frightened but I told him I needed a blessing of comfort and alleviating this fear I had. Gary wasn't home yet so Kelly asked if Matt (her fiance) could do the anointing. Gary walked in just as they were to start and Matt backed away but I asked him to do the anointing anyway. Kelly just beemed. James gave me the most beautiful blessing I think I have ever had. Really strengthened me and made me feel loved. He's a keeper.

My leg is miraculously much better and I feel ok again. Though I do think I was up too much yesterday.

Linda didn't mind staying home. She has had such a hard week. She's a keeper,too. and now I am going to take another nap. They are giving me a free phone, it is in the mail! Took a little persuasion.

Note: On Tuesday I called the Nurse Carrie--Asst to Dr. Thorne.  She said the nurse upstairs should not have told me to stop taking the ibprofen, "another person said she had told her the same thing".  She said the ibprofen actually helped more than the pain pill for the leg aches.  She said, "I better tell those nurses up there."  I think so.  Fridays and weekends are not a good time to be at any hospital I have decided.  It is all the "extra weekend" help.

The Red Quilt

Something funny,  I always take my red flannel quilt traveling with me as I love to nap under it. I noticed that when I came back from Sacramento Kelly had it in her car and Sarah likes to come and get it to watch tv under, which is fine.

However, Tanner and I spent a little time Friday night teaching Bandido that this would now be his bed and he could not cry to get on my bed. Finally by 10 pm when I turned out the lights he was prone on the red quilt on the floor and seemed happy about it. (I can't lift anything over 5 lbs for the next 10 to 20 days)

When I woke up later to go to the bathroom, the red quilt had been stolen from underneath Bandido!

When he woke up later, he looked around very bewildered.
Note:  I found out later Sarah and her friend had taken it as they were sleeping on the couch.

So That Is What.s Wrong With Me

I remember Marjorie saying something about I should find out why my legs ached so much when I walked.  I called her to ask he what she meant.  She said that her mother-in-law had that problem and it turned out her inner leg artieries were completely clogged and filled with placque, etc.

Since I am very concerned I will not be able to do this job of traveling to the field for SBA because of my not being able to walk without pain and having difficulty manuevering in the airports because of my bad back I decided to call my heart doctor about the artery tests I had last year.  The receptionist said the doctor was not available but his assistant Melinda could meet with me Friday morning. 

Melinda is so thorough, she asked me so many questions and she had retrieved the tests.  When she found out I was in so much pain on my backside, she told me she wanted me to see a back doctor before we did anymore about the legs.  She said that may be my problem.  I had not thought about that.  She also said the tests from last April showed the clogging to be mild.  She made an appointment for me with a Doctor Thorne.

I found out I need to have a lumbar laminectomy because arthritic calcium is pressing on the nerves and causing the leg pain!!  Eureka!!!

SBA Training

I flew to Sacramento on Feb 6 and a Robert W picked me up at the airport.  Turns out he was the youngest person in the training (there were only 9 of us and 1 went home, so 8) and I was the oldest as usual.  We stayed at the Homewood again and they gave me one of the rooms for the handicapped on the first floor.  I love that because you don't have to climb in and out of a tub to shower, you have this really roomy shower room.  In 2009 a lady had an accident in the tub, so I am sure they have learned to just put the old people in the showers for the handicapped.  Works well for me!

The first day of training we all went to a Chinese lunch and we had bought fruit and such at Whole Foods the night before.  I also bought some gluten free cookies but...they have a lot of artificial stuff in them.  Something I ate really disagreed with me and I had an explosion just before I was to meet my ride in the morning.  There was such a mess and I had to totally shower again and redress and left a big mess for the cleaning lady.  That is so scary to me that certain food affects me like that.  I was panicked the rest of the week and on the plane home.

The training was excellent and also included of day of Closing procedures--no more having special escrow people come out in the field, it will be the Customer Service Reps.  They also gave us a jacket and two shirts and really act as if they will call us.  Are they expecting more hurricanes this year?  They say there has been a three year slowdown in disasters.  Right now they have 284 workers and want to have 450,

Saturday I had my face threaded, which I love having done and my toes pedicured and met Melissa and her friend at the mall to eat (forgot my camera).  My legs ached so much I had a hard time walking though.

I flew home on the 16th and James and Camber picked me up and I drove their car to their home as they were headed for the Bahamas on a trip they had won!  My back was aching and I did not feel well at all.

Keira

Meagan put some pictures of Keira on Facebook.  She is precious.  

Meagan and Matt's Baby

Wow, I haven't written in here for a long time, much has happened but not sure I can remember it all now.  First of all Meagan and Matt's baby daughter was born Friday night.  Jennifer had called and left a message and then Maya reported the baby was born and sent a picture.    Oh, yes, 7 lbs, 5 oz as reported by Maya. Birthday 2/11/11  That is easier to remember than my 1/22/33

 

 Picture sent by Sarah Chipps to Facebook.

Hard Times

I have to remember because I always forget.  I am very lonely when I come to San Diego.  Last year I had Kelsi, this year I don't even have her.  I should just stay home, yes, I am lonely there, but it is expected.  I am alone. Somehow I always think it will be different down here.

Everybody has their life.  Everybody lives so far a part.  It costs me too much down here and unless I have money to spend for clothes, etc I am just stuck on the computer which I can do at home.

I thought I would be so focused and work on scanning, on finishing my quilt, on sewing.  I don't want to do any of those things.  I do much better at home just doing my own thing.

I thought I would get out and exercise and eat less.  I still weigh the same as when I came down a month ago.  So obviously nothing is working... I thought I would spend some time with Meagan in anticipation of the baby but not so.

My legs ache so much when I walk, I just can't get any good exercise.  Bummer.  Hard Life.  Not happy anywhere anymore.

Bad Day!!!

Today was a bad day for me!  The restoration to my new computer from my on line back up was just 9 hours away from being complete when the new computer started freezing.  After many attempts to get it up and running strong, I called Toshiba.  We did a system restore with no loss to my data, however, still freezing up. 

Three Toshiba reps later I was finally convinced we would have to do a system restore and lose all my data and programs I had put in the last two days.  Ok, I was resigned to that.

However, I had bought Microsoft Office 2010 and installed it and now I can't find the key card!!!  I called Microsoft because I do not have the receipt with me to run over to Walmart.  Always helpful, they said if I faxed in the receipt tomorrow, they would replace it with a new disc, not just a card.  Cost would be $23 plus $5 postage.  Not bad, for a $200 loss! 

First I will travel across town tomorrow to get my receipt--it is at Linda's house--and I am at Maria's house today, a loooong way a part.  I wonder if the Walmart near Linda's house will help me or will I need to go to the Walmart near Maria's place, a loooong way back?

Not to mention all the work of having the restoration done.  A friend suggested no lap top has enough memory to hold all of my pictures and maybe that is what caused the freeze.  How will I know that until I have everything restored and it starts freezing again.  So frustrating.  I can say with all honesty that computers have been such a delight to my life for the last 25 years but they have also caused me more frustration than anything else in this world, with printers coming in a close second.

The New Computer

• A couple of months ago Melissa observed my computer was probably due for a crash, from what I had told her about it. 
•  My friend Mary Anne told me about backing everything up with Carbonite (which I did). 
•  Last week I received a certificate from Walmart for 0 interest financing on a computer. 
• Then the back of my computer broke.
• I did a survey on Microsoft to see what requirements I needed for a new computer, considering my activities.
• Mike and I went shopping for those specs and found some possibilities at a Walmart near his home.
• I reviewed the requirements I needed with possibilities Online.
• It takes too long Online...I need it before I leave on the 7th, all set up.
• Then I did a survey to see if any of the possibilities I wanted were in a local store.  I zeroed it to two.
• One was in the Walmart store near Mike, One was in City of Industry in L A, all the rest were Online only.
• I bought the one at Walmart for 0 interest financing and Mike helped me set it up with cross over from my old computer and it is now restoring from Backup with Carbonite.
• Sounds like Destiny, doesn't it...or good planning and research...Which?

Kristi's Fun Bunch

Kate, Kristi, Ryan, and Mike Stewart

Kriti's Blog is a must to keep up on.  This last week is especially charming about the Christmas in Wyoming.  What a beautiful place and what a beautiful family, great pictures, Kristi, thanks for keeping us current with the Stewarts.

Melissa--Another Writer in the Family

Another interesting blog to read, my granddaughter Melissa.  She has written quite a few insightful blogs and poems and recently did the 30 Day expose'.  Very interesting, Melissa.  And you should definitely keep writing and you should definitely take up dancing and go back to your acting, you were fabulous.  We saw her in some high school plays and she was so good!

I wish all the grandchildren would keep up their writing because they really are all individuals with different kinds of talent and I, for one, like to hear about their lives.  They may seem dull to them, but they are  very intersting to me.

Looking Beautiful at almost 9 Months!

Meagan looks so good for being almost full term. Yoga and good eating pays off! She said she was a little tired but I think she looks phenomenal. So smart to get your Masters and then start a family and she has this terrific job she can do at home. Sounds perfect.

Way to go, Meagan, we are all so proud of you for doing it all. Of course, there might be a little crimp in her international traveling for awhile.

This is a neat lunch place called the Renaissance Center off Towne Center in UTC. I should never have left the Golden Triangle, great area, I love it here. When we bought our house in La Jolla Heights, this place was all hills and weeds and motorcycles.

Julie Thayne Smith

Introducing my grandniece Julie Thayne Smith-- Julie lived with my sister quite a while and was always such a delight to visit with. Now she is married to Morgan and has son Nixon and has a full and exciting life. I enjoy reading her blog from time to time and added it to my other blogs I follow. I liked what she said in Facebook and I quote:

I am swimming through this life, jumping in head first as deep as I can, only coming up for air when it's absolutely necessary:)...... I don't want any regrets....... I want to ALWAYS remember my dreams and follow them with all of my heart...I hope to do my best to be worthy of the blessings I have and will receive.... What keeps me breathing and has made me who I am-? My beautiful son and husband.... The longing and hope I had as a child and as I grew up for peace and justice in this world, the pristine beauty and encompassing power of nature and our Father in Heaven's hand in ALL that is tranquil beauty around us...... Remembering when I lived in France and found and left part of my soul there and traveled through Europe to receive an expansion of my perception through my journies- I long to return and regain that part of my dormant soul and I will one day... The sweet all encompassing joy I feel going to our cabin in breathtaking Silvergate, Montana: a place where time stands still, the air is clean and crisp, wild animals roam free, and it's brilliant nature scenes engulf me... The beach of Laguna where my childhood memories come rushing at me as the waves of this life and crash into my existance. The sting of the salt and the force of the water so powerful as the strengthening sun kisses my skin.... If I have loved enough If I have served enough If I have lived enough......

What a great attitude toward life.  And... I think we have another writer in the family.

I love her blog, she has a lot of great pictures from the cabin at Silvergate.  By the way, Julie is the daughter of David Thayne, son of my sister Jeanne Thayne.  Her husband Morgan Smith is a dentist and they live in Utah.

I Got the Call Today!

SBA is calling me in for training for Customer Service Feb 6 to 16th in Sacramento.  Actually I had the training in 2005 for Customer Service prior to Hurricane Katrina but I retired in 2006 and then rejoined in 2007 and this past year I switched from Loan Officer to Customer Service (taking applications in the disaster area).  When I rejoined in 2007 you could only join as a Loan Officer, no openings in Customer Service.  However, since they want to use locals as loan officers, if possible, there is little chance for work unless there is a major, major disaster (when you live so far away from Sacramento and Fort Worth). 

This past year my friend Mariebeth emailed me from Sacramento and said they were recruiting Customer Service Reps again and so I applied and got in.  Some of my other friends did it later and for some reason the positions were pulled, not sure just why.

When they first started the Disaster Reserve program in 2000 we were expected to serve wherever they asked us to be--either in the office making loan decisions or out in the field taking loan applications and we were all called loan officers.  I remember the first time we were asked to put our preference of which we wanted to do on a sheet of paper.  The leader was trying to convince me of all the reasons it was better to work in the office and stay in a nice, safe environment in Fort Worth.

However, I noticed the regulars were really excited when they were called to travel and they brought all their suitcases to the office and then took off together and had exciting tales to tell when they returned.   Luckily, I was able to experience both over the years and traveled to Maryland, West Virginia, Guam, Galveston, Texas and Louisiana.  I also enjoyed the many times I worked in Fort Worth and then the Sacramento office.  There are challenges and perks to both but now, there is no choice, it is one or the other.

Hopefully, there will be no fiasco with me flying from San Diego instead of driving from Lake Almanor--somehow the information you give one doesn't always get to the right person.  It will be fun to see Mitch and Melissa again, glad I will be there over the weekend, but I may miss the big event, the birth of Meagan and Matt's daughter...hate to miss that.

"I Got the Call Today!"

SBA is calling me in for training for Customer Service Feb 6 to 16th in Sacramento.  Actually I had the training in 2005 for Customer Service prior to Hurricane Katrina but I retired in 2006 and then rejoined in 2007 and this past year I switched from Loan Officer to Customer Service (taking applications in the disaster area).  When I rejoined in 2007 you could only join as a Loan Officer, no openings in Customer Service.  However, since they want to use locals as loan officers, if possible, there is little chance for work unless there is a major, major disaster (when you live so far away from Sacramento and Fort Worth). 

This past year my friend Mariebeth emailed me from Sacramento and said they were recruiting Customer Service Reps again and so I applied and got in.  Some of my other friends did it later and for some reason the positions were pulled, not sure just why.

When they first started the Disaster Reserve program in 2000 we were expected to serve wherever they asked us to be--either in the office making loan decisions or out in the field taking loan applications and we were all called loan officers.  I remember the first time we were asked to put our preference of which we wanted to do on a sheet of paper.  The leader was trying to convince me of all the reasons it was better to work in the office and stay in a nice, safe environment in Fort Worth.

However, I noticed the regulars were really excited when they were called to travel and they brought all their suitcases to the office and then took off together and had exciting tales to tell when they returned.   Luckily, I was able to experience both over the years and traveled to Maryland, West Virginia, Guam, Galveston, Texas and Louisiana.  I also enjoyed the many times I worked in Fort Worth and then the Sacramento office.  There are challenges and perks to both but now, there is no choice, it is one or the other.

Hopefully, there will be no fiasco with me flying from San Diego instead of driving from Lake Almanor--somehow the information you give one doesn't always get to the right person.  It will be fun to see Mitch and Melissa again, glad I will be there over the weekend, but I may miss the big event, the birth of Meagan and Matt's daughter...hate to miss that.

No Pictures!

Sunday I shared a birthday lunch at James' and Camber's residence for the next year.  The birthday cake was to die for--from Coldstone.  The view was pretty great as well.  Next time I am there I will have to take pictures, a lovely equestrian scene in Rancho Santa Fe.  I received two lovely jackets from Coldwater Creek, one from Christmas and one for my birthday.  Of course, I will need to exchange them, I am not as small as they think but I will have fun doing that.  Thanks, Hardys, for a nice birthday lunch.

I spent most of my time helping Kelsi put her clothes away and hanging up her dresses while she entertained me with dancing and talking, what a lively girl.  Lea does very well at organizing her things by herself, she has been taught well.  She even has room for the keyboard in her room, great idea.

Jacob had a big job in his room as Jimmy was off doing other things so I worked with him and we did very well till it was time for me to go home.  I do not like driving at night anymore, not sure just why, I think it is the way the pin points come out from the head lights too much.  It gets dark so early!

It takes exactly 30 minutes from Linda's to James' home on a Sunday afternoon, not bad...

The Christening Dress

Yesterday while I was helping Kelsi put her clothes away in her new bedroom Camber brought me the Christening Dress I had been looking for.  I had thought Linda and Maria were blessed in it but I can see Mom had sent them a nylon dress from Andersons.  Anyway I believe Linda's daughters were all named in the dress and Melissa.  Camber's Mom had bought Lea a new dress and so she and Kelsi never used it.

Anyway it is in perfect condition if Kristi or Meagan want to use it for that special occasion of naming the new baby daughter. 

January 22, 2011

For my birthday we gathered at my favorite fish taco place called El Portal Mexican Grill
and the food was delicious.  I shared some gluten free cupcakes  and they liked them, too.

We didn't do a very good job of getting everyone's picture though.  We missed Matt M, Maria and Linda.

The boys had come from a roofing job, and James and Lea from moving from one house to another  and Matt M from soccer so I really appreciated everyone making the special effort to wish me a Happy Birthday!!

I also appreciated the birthday song on my cell from Camber and Kelsi, calls from Jeanne, Marilyn, and Carole, all the birthday wishes on Facebook and a special birthday call from Ryan and Kate, the great grandchildren.  Thanks to everyone for a lovely birthday!


 
Me, Mike and Meagan

Matt V, Johnny, Matt S and Kelly

James, Lea, and Mike.

Sarah was trying out for softball league with her Dad Gary and Jacob and Jimmy had soccer with their Mom.

After we went to see the new digs the James Hardy family is living in this year in Rancho Santa Fe.  I think Maria decided it was a terrific place to have a wedding.  Yes, the date is set for April 2 for Maria and Johnny!

I told everyone no gifts but I surely ended up with a lot of nice things and gift cards and even movie tickets.  So nice to be with family at birthday time.

 Next big event is Gary's birthday and Meagan's new baby--both scheduled for February 6, can hardly wait!!   

Zoo Again!

Kelsi and I hit the Zoo again to take the bus ride and ended up with their big soft cones--so good!  My legs ached so much after my last day at the zoo, the bus was great.

Instead of  going to the Wild Animal Park on Friday, Kelsi wanted to see a movie.  We saw "Tangled" and it was as good as Linda said it would be.  Fun time with Kelsi.

Back to the Zoo!

Since James and Camber are moving from one house to another this week I am taking Kelsi to the Zoo again.   We will ride the bus this time and try and catch the big animals we missed and the Pandas and Sea Lions and maybe, just maybe we will check out the Wild Animal Park on Friday before I deliver her to her new home.  I will have to wait and see how tired I am.  But this is such a great time of year to go.  The only problem I have is my aching legs.  I am so out of shape.

I will never forget one hot, hot day in the sumer when I had three of Maria's at the Wild Animal Park.  Melissa was still in diapers (which we ran out of) and she had diarrhea.  I was so hot, my capris were soaked.  The children were all too little to be of any help, it was a disaster.  I don't know why I thought I could manage them all by myself.  When I saw a worker go by with a cart he was driving I wanted a ride so badly, I will never forget that trip but I am sure the children don't remember it at all.

Sort of like taking our own children on a train trip so they would have that wonderful memory.  I am sure they don't remember it at all.

Check-Up

Today they checked my carotid arteries at Scripps and they are looking good!!!  No need to check again until next year so I really am doing fine!  Dr. Hemp asked me how  old I was and then said, "Oh, well, you are already beating the odds."

Truly as I sat there in the waiting room and saw so many people in wheel chairs I did feel very healthy indeed.  I also read half of my new book "Home to Holly Springs" by Jan Karon, one of my favorite authors,
so time was not wasted by waiting.

Biggest problem is driving home in the dark.  My eyes do not like all those bright lights from the cars and such--I just should not drive at night at all.  Couldn't be helped though, Dr. Hemp was two hours late for his appointment as usual.  I shouldn't complain.  He doesn't see many patients at all, he mostly just does surgeries but when he asked if I had a Dr down here and it was negative, he said to just see him again next year and they would do the test.  I appreciate that.

Books, Books, Books

Good news today, visit to skin cancer doctor--none this year!!

What would we do without books to read?  I am into a new author to me, Luanne Rice.  I just read a fun, family mystery called "The Secret Hours" and now I am reading another of hers called "Summer of Roses" and there are so many more.  I love it when I find an author I have not read.  I put her quote about "Conservatives are just liberals who have grandchildren" on Facebook and immediately a sidebar showing her Facebook came up.  It is unbelievable how far reaching Facebook is.  I see the young adults from Church get their social calendar from there also.  What a world we live in.

Yesterday after church the Pulsiphers had a marvelous roast beef dinner with both roasted and mashed potatoes.  Tanner did the mashed potatoes.  It is one thing they all do so well.

I always marvelled that my mother could put on a roast beef dinner every Sunday, I somehow could never manage that.

The Piano Teacher

Yesterday afternoon while waiting for  prescriptions from Wal Mart I learned about a library that was close  by.  Needing to replace my lost SD library card anyway, I spent some time there and checked out "The Piano Teacher" by Janice Y. K. Lee.  I remember I had read the review in the Costco magazine.  It is her first novel.

In reading reviews, I was surprised at several who did not like it.  I am really enjoying it, she reveals bits and pieces at a time of the characters.  I am especially interested in Hong Kong during WWII and how it affects the Americans and British who were living there.  Marie Arana gave this review and I like that she introduces me to three new books about WWII, which is a subject I like to read about.  The fact that I actually can visualize some of the places in Hong Kong it mentions is really neat.  Meagan flew me over there in 2005 and I especially remember the Peak area which plays a big role in the book.

"War. Love. Betrayal. The harsh lessons of history. These are big subjects for any veteran writer, and yet, in her first novel, Janice Y.K. Lee confronts them admirably. The Piano Teacher is an intricate tale about the British colony of Hong Kong during World War II, when the island's inhabitants were overrun by Japanese forces, suffered a harrowing occupation and emerged profoundly shaken -- their sense of self undone.

It's hard to imagine a more complicated theme. Few have dealt with it successfully: J.G. Ballard did so in Empire of the Sun, about a lone English boy in Shanghai during the Japanese invasion; Graham Greene, too, in The Quiet American, about the French in Saigon after the war; and J.G. Farrell in The Singapore Grip, about British bankers in 1939, on the verge of a terrible conflagration. These are superb novels that manage to convey the divided loyalties, sudden reversals of fortune and deadly opportunism that a colony in peril can breed."

Anyway, good read and three more to come, yea.

New Beginnings

Tuesday night was the New Beginnings program for the young women of the Santee Ward.  Sarah is a petite, lovely, second year Beehive.

Linda prepared and gave part of the presentation, which was spectacular.  The girls are so fortunate to have such beautiful, accomplished and caring leaders to guide them during this exciting time of their life as they change from girls to women and develop their talents and beauty.

Sarah gave part of the presentation and was with the group who sang the closing song about Virtue.  It is a new song and was especially well done.  They gave such a great performance.   Gary gave the closing remarks so it was a family affair. 

My mother used to lament that we were missisng Mutual, which was such an important part of her life.  I can see it would have been very helpful to me.  We pretty much winged the growing up thing, without any more than motherly advice, which is not always taken as well as it should be.

Gorilla World

After Linda, Kate, and Ryan left we ate some Nachos and Ice Cream. Kelsi kept saying she wanted to see the umbrellas, I thought. But it was the gorillas she wanted to see. They were very active and close today so very fun. Especially when papa took a swipe at mama? to make her get out of the way and baby stole papa's doo doo and preceded to eat it. Always fun watching the gorillas, Kelsi was right.

Kelsi wanted to take pictures and she did a pretty good job! These next two are hers.