What Now?

I am enjoying being home but it is too cold.  Today I decided I better start watering as winter is surely over and spent the morning watering the front and back.  This afternoon it rained and rained and turned colder.  Summer is not here yet.

I enjoy having Michael here.  Yesterday we shopped, cooked a mexican dinner, watched a scary movie, and then played Trivia on the TV.  Michael won, of course. 

Today I had an email from an SBA friend in Sacramento and she said some of the workers in Joplin are having to travel 3 hrs back and forth.  Wow, that would be hard.  Maybe it is good I am here.

Sunday, we had a lesson on desires, choices, priorities, and actions.  I've always had a pretty good work ethic, learned from my parents I am sure.  As my father taught us, "Always be worth more than you are paid."  I have accomplished a lot as I have had to reinvent myself several times to fit the current needs in my life.  And I have always worked hard to learn and succeed in whatever role I was required to do at that time as I went from one career to another.

But it got me to thinking about where we get our desires.  If you have the right desires, it is easy to make the right choices.  Where do those desires come from?  Circumstances for one.  After Richard died and I had to sell my "retirement home". I really desired to have my own home again.  I worked relentlessly toward that end and the miracle happened even though I had to 'start over' again in my late 60's with only $25,000, my car, computer, furniture and clothes.

When Colleen and I came to San Diego to teach and had explored the city I had the desire to live in La Jolla someday.  That goal was reached 13 years later.

I had always wanted to marry in the Temple and that finally happened in 1960.  My desire to live in the mountains finally happened in 1999.  When we had the money, I could never talk Richard into investing in a home in Big Bear, though I tried.

I never had any great aspirations to be rich, or successful other than being a good Mom, Grandma, wife and serve in the church.  I can see I should have had loftier desires toward being rich and I might not have to still be working.  So where do those desires come from?  People we associate with, our reading, our listening, our family, inspiration from the Lord, where?  Something to think about.

After I saw Nadine's Memory books, I wanted my own.  I now have 37 scrapbooks, or memory books and I have written and printed a book on part of my life and working on the rest.  I have organized 10 large books of letters, emails, etc from the 40's to when I started blogging in 2005.   I have worked since the 50's on my genealogy and sent many names to the Temple.  Am I finished with everything I started, no, there is always more to do but I haven't been lazy, either.  The question is where did I get the desire to do it all?  Why does one work on acquiring friends and another work on writing books?  It is a mystery to me...but right now I am bored doing all the things I do and need a recharge, a reset, or something.  What now???  Hmmm, thinking about it...

How I Missed Good Mexican Food!

It was a fairly easy pickup for Michael at the airport and we were both starving so decided to cut off to the Natoma area to find a good Mexican restaurant.  Michael had a ten page paper to write and I was anxious to get home so we did not even go in to Sacramento to see Melissa and Mitch.

The restaurant we found was one of the real Mexican places and the food was delicious to me.  I ate so much!!! 

I was glad Michael was driving as I had read the whole flight home and my eyes had spots in front of them.  The canyon was beautiful but it got more and more cloudy as we drove north.  Summer was definitely not here yet!  I built a fire soon after arriving home but we are so low on wood...hope summer comes quickly, like before the Memorial Holiday on Monday...

If I Had Only Known...

That last day in Union City Brenda said we were to wait until Jan called because some of their people had gone over to Fort Worth to process loans and they may need us to travel to work another Disaster Center instead of going home.  Since I was just a loaner from FOCW, they had reviewed all their needs and as usual, try to send whoever is not needed any longer, home before a long holiday.  Loaners are the first to go home when not needed.  It is very expensive to pay overtime on Saturday and Sunday and then double time on a Holiday.

About noon we got the call to go home as planned--now there was a six hour drive down to Jackson, Ms to turn in our cars.  She would call us on the way to tell us where we were staying and fax the hotel with our flight plans.  Brenda did not want to leave yet so I left by myself.

The Country Inn did not have a printer that was working so I could not read the fax and had to call Jan until she finally looked up the confirmation number and I was able to go online and get my flight information.  It was at six am which meant I would need to turn in my car previous to that as the Country Inn did not have shuttle service that early.  I did not read the details very well except to verify my seat and see if I could change it to an aisle seat.  On the leg to Sacramento from Houston I saw I had a seat in First Class.  I thought it was because I chose my seat so late there wasn't anything left but in First Class.

However, the girl at the desk assured me the airport was just 12 minutes down the road at Exit 54.  Since I would be driving in the dark in a strange place and needed to know what to do with my car I thought I better do a dry run.

Good thing I did it was actually Exit 52 and there was a little swerve in the road which was easy to miss and two rental car signs which were easy to be confused by.  By the time I finally found where I was to go a half hour had passed.  The garageman told me no one would be there that early but blah, blah, this is what I should do.

So after a fairly sleepless night I did get to the Budget Garage in the early am and no one was there as he said and it was fairly dark.  I did not like it.

Going into the terminal from the garage I found I was first in line at Continental.  Since I did not have a readable eticket I thought I had to wait until the ticket man talked to me and he was having problems finding his key.   The young man behind me showed me I could just scan my passport and it would bring up the tickit in the kiosk.  Voila--there were my boarding passes and a mini version of an eticket.  Just what I needed for my voucher later on.   They were having problems without the key to print off our luggage tags but I wondered why they put a priority ticket on my luggage bags.

The flight home was good except I couldn't believe I really had a seat in first class.  The lady looked at my boarding pass and assured me I did.  However, I felt very uncomfortable there and was sure someone was going to claim my seat at any time before we left the airport.  Later when they asked what I wanted for breakfast I didn't know if I had to pay or not because they were talking on the intercom about prices.  I also chose to read my book instead of watching DirectTV because it had a slot for paying $7.99.  I asked for just a banana for breakfast.

So it wasn't until I got home and was working on my voucher that I studied the faded fax given to me at the hotel and saw that they had actually 'booked' me first class.  Evidently it was cheaper than waiting for another flight and paying me for the wait.  I could have really enjoyed that First Class ticket if I had only known I wasn't in the wrong place after all...  What a bummer trip.

Last Day

Today was my last day working for FOC East.  It has been very slow so we are being released.

Tomorrow I have the whole day to drive to Jackson, MS and then fly home from there on Friday.  The people in this area are quite self-sufficient I believe.

We had a little excitement.  There was a tornado warning for the area and when it passed over it was a lot of wind and rain and a little hail (not much compared to the hail in Montana) but fortunately we did not see a tornado!

Michael told me it was snowing in Lake Almanor today and actually sticking on the road.   Unbelievable!!!

Joplin, Mo Tornado

The news that is coming out of Joplin is so heartbreaking.  I listened to the radio on the way home from work and heard a mother's story of talking to her son on the telephone when the tornado hit and they have not been able to find him since.  His friend had dived into the back seat at the last minute after they got out to go in a store.  She told about all the injured that had been flown to all the surrounding states so even if he is in a hospital it is difficult to know.

They finally determined the tornado was an EF 5 which is the highest of any they have every known, over 200 miles per hour.  It wrapped and twisted things and flattened most of the town.  The hospital was ruined on every floor.  They are searching for over 1500 people, and known dead is at 122, and it will be more.  This is the highest ever for a single tornado and to think this all happened in just seconds.  There was little warning evidently.

We have been under thunder storm warnings every day but the warning for tomorrow evening is very severe.  It has actually been quite lovely today.  I will be home in the Hampton in Union City in western Tennessee ready to jump in the tub for safety tomorrow evening.

The American Idol is on and I must stay how much I have enjoyed it this year.  Lopez and Tyler added so much positive vibes to the show and they had such quality singers.  The youngest they have ever had are vying for the title and both Laurie and Scotty are so good.  I surely like having the good shows come on at 7 pm instead of 9 like they do in Calif!!!

Reelfoot Lake

In the 1811-1812 era there was an earthquake and this lake was a result. It is about 15 miles off Hiway 51 on the other side of Troy. We pass Troy every day on the way to Obion. I drove out there the other day at lunch. It takes quite a long time. Evidently there are several kinds of fish, catfish being one. So I sought out a local restaurant that serves catfish and it was very good. In fact, it was the best place I have eaten here yet.

Today while I was standing in front of the office one of the locals walked over and chatted with me. He said he didn't understand why they put the Center in Obion where there is nothing going on. He said in 1997 there was a bad flood and the worst places were "bought out" with the understanding that if they stayed there they could never get help from the government again. He said also the people here are very self-sufficient.

Evidently we had a lightening storm last night and I slept right through it. Yea. Except for not being surrounded by hills it reminds me of Montana here. The sky, the breeze, the scenery. The farms are beautiful. Obion stands for 'River of Many Branches' and was started by the Mississippi indians in the 1700s. Very peaceful life here.

Yesterday a lady brought in a beautiful 3-layer carrot cake.  It looked delicious but with my gluten intolerance problem I did not attempt to eat any.  I am missing lots of goodies that the younger ones are eaten...such a bore being old with a touchy digestion.

Michael picked up my mail today and paid some bills for me.  So nice having him in charge and taking care of things.  Bandido has been groomed, my car has been serviced and all is well on the home front.  Thank you, Michael.

Unfortunately the deer repellent I put in my bushes didn't work and the two bushes on the left side I took the wire cages off were stripped by the deer!!!

Everyone Has a Story...

Today I commiserated with another gal who had lost her son, her only son, through a freak accident when he was only 17.  Then she told me an amazing story about their life.

She worked for an investment firm for about 11 years in New York but every summer her son would go to Puerto Rico to visit his grandmother.  He was not happy in New York and pleaded with his Mom to move to Puerto Rico.  Eventually she gave up her job and did just that.  He was happy but she wasn't, at first, and then she found employment with FEMA and really liked it.

Being a very smart lady, she had invested her earnings in a high yield safe investment for her only son.  And when he died it had grown to $600,000!  What was also unusual is that he had been very prolific in his youth and at 14 he presented her with her first grandson, and then another granddaughter with a different mother, and then just before he died he had another mom pregnant and she delivered a beautiful daughter in time.

Each of these granchildren have been given a third of this trust and it will provide for them until they are 30 or so!  What a story, don't you think?

Mayor's Wife

Today the Mayor's wife came in and brought us a strawberry pie.  I took the opportunity to ask her some questions about this little town.  Like 'what happened?'  She said in the seventies there were several restaurants, clothing stores, drugstores, etc.  Today there is nothing except one Convenience Store.  What happened?  Well, there was a shirt factory and it closed and that was just the beginning.

There is an ethanol factory still and I suppose that is why all the corn is grown .  She told me the four houses I saw in a circle were the beginning of a subdivision but there were so many trucks going on the road in front of it, no more  homes were built.  When the new highway comes through, it will solve that problem.

It appears to be a dying town but I did see one beautiful home with really lovely sprawling lawns and a little lake with a boat dock.  She said the owner was a contractor and her son had been married there.  Really lovely.  I enjoyed listening to her as she talked on a first name basis about God in her life with her sweet southern accent.  She says, "Did I misunderstand you God?  I thought you told me this."  She says nothing can go wrong in your life if you just trust in God.  Amen.

Anyway life moves slow in these parts of Tennessee but I found the Subway and I love those 'Grilled Chicken Spinach' salads and I thought I found some good chocolate malt ice cream cups but they couldn't match up to the Cho Chos of the 40's.

Mexican Food--not so Good!

Tonight I tried some taquitos at a Mexican place and they were too greasy, burned and tasteless.  I was so disappointed.  I told the Cashier and he said this restaurant was Tex-Mex and referred me to another one down the street.  Hmmm, we will see.  Then I realized I had my jacket on and they will know it was a government person complaining, oh dear.

It was slow again today but they keep opening Centers trying to be very proactive.  It will be interesting to see how long this one stays open.  The area director told me it was a very poor area but I saw lots and lots of fields of corn growing! 

Beautiful skis again with low fluffy clouds and very blue sky.  Vickie told me it was allergy season, hope I don't get hit.

I enjoyed spending my lunch time talking to Marjorie.  The eating places are so far away I decided to just eat some yogurt and strawberries and then I found a close place with corn dogs.  Unfortunately they weren't a match to the Frosty's...  And not good for my diet anyway...

There is so much TV about the flooding down below here, I am not sure they show so much in the west but it is affecting so many people after they opened the floodgates.

My BIG BOSS and I Cross Paths Today!

President Obama and I were in Memphis today at the same time.  I was picking up supplies from Holiday Express on Union Street and he was traveling on the highway below.  They blocked traffic for about an hour.  Also all along the highway from Southaven to Memphis there were police cars parked with their lights flashing.   I was hoping to take a picture of the black SUVs as they flashed by, but never saw them.  I was also late getting to my destination but no problem, they understood.

From Memphis I drove along a peaceful highway to Obion, TN where a Disaster Center has been set up and later checked in to the Hampton in Union City about twenty miles away.  I tried to take some pictures of the thickets of trees and lovely green fields as I sped by---will post tomorrow.

Mississippi and Tennessee are very flat.  The Tennessee area I am in is very sparsely settled--must be farmlands, however the town has a lot of car lots and car businesses and a lot of fast food and a movie theater just five minutes from my hotel.  I pass one homestead I am curious about as I go from the Center to my hotel.  There are three mansions in a circular fashion with lovely landscaping at the entrance and their own lake on the side.  Curious who lives there.  Most of the homes are very modest looking.

Two of the families who came in today had their autos damaged and the other family had their flooring damaged.  Since the Center has not been advertised yet, it was a surprise to see them.  However, there is a big FEMA Mobile parked by the side of the Community Center and I am sure they saw the
name.

I also had watermelon tonight--wonder if it was from Tennessee or Mexico???

Humidity?

Not yet!  I am freezing!  A couple told me it doesn't get hot till July in the Southaven, MS/Memphis,TN area and then I better keep covered with OFF! because of bugs.  At any rate I am missing my comforter in Lake Almanor.  Tomorrow I will ask for more blankets from the Courtyard.

It was truly a beautiful drive up Mississippi yesterday and I saw only one spot in all the trees that line the highway that had been affected by tornadoes.  Trees were cut in half and smashed all over each other.  They tell us the snakes and alligators are looking for higher ground though so be careful!

I met a very friendly couple who was so gracious to me.  I was wearing my blue jacket at the grocery store so they want to know what you are doing, and are very appreciative of us being here.  They told me not to miss the Barbeque in Memphis but I see Saturday was the last night.  The wife told me of all the places she has lived, she liked this area the best. 

I find the grilled chicken/spinach salad at Subway is very delicious. 

Today as of 1 pm was the first day of seeing people but since we are very new here, no one found their way to us yet so we spent the afternoon exchanging stories about ourselves.  Everyone in SBA who is out here away from family has a story! 

I spent my free time last night refreshing my memory of what our job is here.  I haven't worked in the field since Katrina/Rita in 2005-6.  And I didn't realize until bedtime that I had left my pajamas on the bed at Jackson--(they will send them to me)...what will I lose next?

Disaster Duty 2011

Wednesday at 1:38 pm I was awaken from a nap and told I would be flying out east tomorrow. It was finally decided I would fly out in the morning so would pack and drive down to Sacramento that night. I left at 6 pm and arrived at Melissa's apt at 9:30. I took a rest on Melissa's bed and awoke at 2 am and Melissa and Mitch drove me to the airport at 3:45 am. Poor Melissa slept on the couch!

I am working for the SBA Field Operations Center-East which means I will be east of the Mississippi. We flew to Orlando and then on to Jackson and I rented a Kia. I like Jackson and I like the Kia. I met Stan from Sacramento on the plane and I tried to follow him--doesn't work, too many white cars. I like the pace of driving in Jackson, though--not so frantic as CA and as you can see it is beautiful with all the trees and interesting clouds.

 Thursday we met with our director and were assigned to new Disaster Centers that are opening up. Three of us are driving up to Southhaven, Ms which is just south of Memphis, Tenn. There has been both flooding and tornadoes in the area. The place we met at is going to be the big base of operations for FEMA and it is huge. Evidently it was an abandoned business park and they are still setting it up.  This is a view from the back of the building.

As usual everyone I meet at SBA is very nice. I remembered Dan from Guam and John from Sacramento. I will be driving up north with Jon from Louisville, Ky and Stan from California. Also as usual I am the Great Grandma of the group.  We all have our own cars so we can be reassigned to different centers as needed.

And as everyone warned me, it is humid here in the afternoon.  Also there have been storm warnings on the radio all afternoon.  It is probably a good thing I don't know how close these places are to me. 
These clouds remind me of the kind we had in Montana in the summer.

I did drive over to Wal Mart for some yogurt and it is half the price as California.  I also went to Dillards for the face cream I left at home--it is the same price here.  Dillards had a lot of tempting clothes but I swear I am not buying any more clothes and I am eating very light so I don't gain a lot of weight!

I am staying at the Fairfield but our leader told us 15 cars were broken in to at another Jackson hotel so I brought my GPS in.  How did we ever get along without them?  I am so turned around here, I never know where I am but I just follow directions and eventually get there.

They have me booked for 30 days at the Courtyard in Southhaven but not sure how much that means. 

Great Grandchildren

Kate and Ryan

Brynn Alice and Keira Jennifer

Mommy and Keira

Mother's Day

It doesn't take much to make this Mother happy.  Phone calls from children, grandchildren and even a very dear friend from the past, cards, tulips, chocolates, a lovely book.  This was a very lovely Mother's Day.  For some reason I am not having my usual paranoid issues about motherhood, just enjoying it all.  Maybe I am finally maturing or maybe I am just feeling mentally, spiritually and physically healthy.  It's a good thing.

Update on Baby Brynn!

Baby Brynn with her beautiful mop of hair--Brynn is my fourth great-grandchild.

It's a Great Day!

I can't believe it!!  My whole lot is raked and clean, plants are fertilized, and all my doodads are out--even the hammock is up.  We are ready for summer.

Matt surprised me and worked a day and a half and did everything, even the roof and gutters.

Even the daffodils are happy and ready to bloom!!

Today I had a burst of energy I have not seen since  I came home.  I even washed the car, hung out my sign and opened the windows to let spring in!!!  Life is good.

Matt was Here!

Matt did a super job raking up all the winter debris. Don't know how I could manage without him. Looks like I need a few new river rocks--wonder who could go with me?

 

Eton's Mess

In celebration of Catherine and Prince William's wedding I made my own Eton's Mess.  It is supposedly Will's favorite dessert and just a little different version of one we used to make.  Delicious!

Craig Graduates from BYU

 

Brynn Alice Stewart

Brynn Alice Stewart was born on April 20, 2011 in El Cajon, CA to Kristi and Michael Stewart with Kate and Ryan as her older siblings.

Back Home, April 2011

I am back home in Lake Almanor and have much news to add but it will have to come later.  I am trying to clean my house and get rid of everything I don't need, and it is exhausting me!!! 

I am not ready for this, I have no energy.  Oh, well, I will soon.  And spring is on the way.  I can hardly wait.   In the summer my yard will look like the above.  

Right now it is covered with many, many broken branches, a little snow and lots of twigs and such...what a mess!  Will I be able to clean it up as i usually do??  For some reason my half acre looks more like an acre this year...

Hardy Children Make Music!

Party at the Hardy's Before I Go Back to Lake Almanor

The night before I left we had a little party at the Hardy's. We ate and played some silly games. We learned a little more about Maria's new husband Johnny and he learned a little more about us.

James and Camber are always very generous with their home and welcoming everyone.   

Maria and Johnny had been moving furniture all day and were very tired.

I had a lot more pictures but this is the only one that survived for some reason!  

Grandma and Kelsi

Before I left Rancho Santa Fe Kelsi and I shared a picture. She is always such a delight to me.

Happy Birthday Kelsi!

Kelsi and I share a moment as she wraps herself in the "I Love Grandma" comfy blanket I made for her. Kelsi is a Big Five on April 13!

Maria and Johnny Marry

 

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.