Angels and Shepherds Amongst Us

Great grandson Ryan is a Shepherd and great granddaughter Kate is an Angel for Christmas 2010. How Precious!

Snowed in Till Morning

Tomorrow I will be freed. I finally called a snowplow service. It will be my Christmas present to me and Matt I guess. I don't think he could have cut through the huge berm that has developed the last four days and another three to go!!!  I know it doesn't look too formidable from here but it is also very wide and very hard.

I had my nice path all the way out to the street and the second snowplow came by and laid on a huge, hard berm over my path and on top of what was already there. I had to climb up, and over and back again to get the mail. Of course, I fell, but hard snow is softer than concrete! There is just nothing to get hold of to get back up but I made it. That was when I decided to make the call.

It is now snowing hard and heavy again so guess it is good he is not coming till morning.

And Still Learning...

I am continually amazed that I am continually learning new things...or have I just forgotten...

At any rate it was time for my annual physical this week and as I was chatting with my Dr--bingo, I learn something new.  I do not have to have Medicare D if I don't want to.  Good I will take care of that.

Then I am getting my blood drawn and the technician is telling me about his fire stove.  He fills it so full it will burn for eight hours at night!!!  The only problem with filling it too full, he said, is that sometimes you burst the welding (that doesn't sound good).  Why have I not been filling my stove full?  I don't know...

Wow, another scary drop of snow outside.  We have had two days of  very cold and the snow has been stuck on the big pines--now it has warmed up enough to be snowing all night and some of the trees are dropping their glory in one big plop.

By the way, I did not like the movie, "Going the Distance"--it is just a lot of trashy talk.  I do not understand why classy stars allow themselves to act in movies like that.  I read it more closely represents true life.  Well, all I can say, if true life is having the women talk like that, this country is in even more trouble than I thought, and furthermore I worry about these kind of women being the mothers of the next generation.

I have always heard that men will rise to the standard of the women and this determines the morals of the country.  Younger generation women need to, "step a little higher" as my Mom used to say.  They don't have to be influenced by whoever they are getting their trashy mouths from...

I liked a movie I saw recently where a detective was having to guard a classy woman and really began to admire her and care for her.  His wife realized this especially when he asked his wife why she had to talk like she did (swear words).  She said she had always talked like that and he never minded before, why now...

Why now, because he saw how lovely a woman could be, that is why, and he liked it.

And What A Busy Week!

First thing this week the power went off.  This is what happens especially when we have a minor or major storm.  But this time I was ready.  Just last week I had plugged in my landline only phone so I could call out when the power went done (I listened to the PG & E man the last time he came out on an outtage).

Also last week I bought a flashlight just like the dishwasher installer had--so when the power went out I had my trusty flashlight and continued on with my life.  (It was 6 AM and I was at the computer and it was still black as pitch outside.)

I looked across my back yard and could see the neighbors still had light.  I looked down the front street and saw other neighbors still had light.  Was this only me?  Oh, no, I don't want to go out and flick the fuses, I will wait and see...  Sometimes the power bounces right back on, not this time.

I used my flashlight to find a P G & E bill and called them.  Oh, no, I was the first to call in.  You know what they think, I am some old lady who has blown a fuse and is going to make them run all the way out to my house and turn it on.  She took my number and assured me someone would be out soon or they would call when they found out what was wrong.

No one came, no call, however, I was able to go on with my life because I had my flashlight.  It is eerily quiet when the power goes out.  There is no hum of anything.  I kind of liked it.  I look outside again--the lights have gone out at the neighbors, it is not just me.

About eight o'clock I empty the garbage and when I come back in--there is a hum, the furnace is on, the computer is on, the lights are on...

I have successfully made it through the first outtage of the winter--and what did I have for breakfast?  Peanut butter, of course. 

Satan's Plan

Busy, busy, busy.  This past week I gave the lesson in Relief Society and one point that was made was said so well in this poem and is the story of my life, always something keeping me busy, busy, busy:

SATAN'S MEETING: 

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. In his opening address he said, We can't keep Christians from going to church." We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the

truth. "

"We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their Savior. Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken."

"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ."

"This is what I want you to do," said the devil: "Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"

"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.

"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.

"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles."

"Keep them from spending time with their children. As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!"

"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice."

"Entice them to play the radio, CD or I-Pods or cassette player whenever they drive; to keep the TV, VCR, DVD's and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly."

"This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ. Fill the coffee tables with magazines and papers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day."

"Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes."

"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives. "

"Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night. Give them headaches too! If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere. That will fragment their families quickly!"

"Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of  Christmas. Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection and power over sin and death."

"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted."

"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead."

"Keep them busy, busy, busy!"

"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences."

"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus."

"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of  the cause."

"It will work! It will work!"

It was quite a plan!

The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there, having little time for their God or their families, having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.

I guess the question is, has Satan been successful in his schemes?

You be the judge""!

Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?

My FedEx Man

I have my FedEx Man well-trained.  For some reason I have had some very heavy packages of late.  I had to buy a new printer and then the paper, etc.  And  I also bought a mini trampoline so I can get some good exercise no matter what the weather.

Well, the first day he came with a big package he tried to leave it in the garage (nine stairs down) but I caught him and asked him to bring it upstairs and told him I didn't want to have to ask the dishwasher installer to bring it up for me.  They actually knew each other and  he laughed and he said, "Oh, you could ask him all right."

The next day he brought the trampoline all the way to the top and today he waited for me to answer the door and actually brought the paper inside for me.  I almost asked him to snap the trampoline together but I thought that was going a little too far.

It is actually a very simple thing to do and I could put it all together except I do not have enough muscle to snap that first connection together.  So frustrating being an old lady.

Enjoying My Newest Treat

In trying to listen to my body and eat what my body wants instead of some sweet craving, I have come upon a new delight.  It is frozen grapes.

The store clerk told me about it when I bought red grapes at Thanksgiving, so I put individual red grapes in a little tupper wear and froze them.  Yummy.  This week I didn't like the look of the red grapes so I bought the green and yes, they are very yummy, too.  Actually they are both better frozen than regular.

Once when I was taking an Insurance Exam the gal next to me had a bunch of grapes.  She said she always takes them to tests because they keep you alert, good brain food!  And ...I note on the Chart Les sent me it does say they enhance your blood flow, same thing, right?

This morning I had a terrible stomach ache (had some sausage last night, not good) but I was craving cabbage which I thought might make it worse but actually I felt so much better and the plus side is it promotes weight loss as well as prevents constipation. 

I have also been craving onions and eating them at supper each night and guess what they reduce risk of heart attack and lower cholesterol!!  I think this Chart Les sent is very informational!

Also my cherries before bed each night has me sleeping like a baby and the plus side is they shield against Alzheimers and slow aging process, just what I need.

Also  I craved broccoli today and guess what... it controls your blood pressure, just what I need as well.  Also been craving apricots and walnuts--apricots controls blood pressure, shields against Alzheimers, slows aging process and etc. and walnuts boost memory and lifts mood as well as lowering cholesterol and rotecting against heart disease. 

I love this Chart and I like listening to my body.  Cravings for goodies are getting few and far between!!
I would put the chart in here but it doesn't maintain the formatting so too hard to read.  I will just have to keep it on my fridge.

Haven't found a veggie or fruit for a strained back though...

The State of our Schools in 2010

I want a record of the state of things in our schools in America in 2010 and so I am putting this in my blog.  When I was a student we pledged allegiance to the American Flag every morning.  Prayers were allowed.  We had many races, many religions and we all got along just fine.  Outrageous students were sent to the principal for discipline.  There was decorum in our dress.  Teachers were respected and expected to be obeyed.  Values and morals were taught from the lips of teachers.  Religious songs were sung on appropriate holidays such as Christmas or Hanukkah.

THIS WAS WRITTEN BY A 15 YEAR OLD STUDENT IN ARIZONA 

Now I sit me down in school

Where praying is against the rule

For this great nation under God

Finds mention of Him very odd.

If scripture now the class recites,

It violates the Bill of Rights.

And anytime my head I bow

Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,

That's no offense; it's a freedom scene..

The law is specific, the law is precise.

Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall

Might offend someone with no faith at all.

In silence alone we must meditate,

God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,

And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks...

They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.

To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,

And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.

It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,

We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,

Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.

But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,

No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,

When chaos reigns the school's a mess.

So, Lord, this silent plea I make:

Should I be shot; My soul please take!

Amen

Ice Skating, Then and Now

The small community near me is flooding the baseball field this year to have an ice skating rink.  This was done in the little town I lived in every year.  So what is different now?

30-40s Free, anytime you wanted to skate--no supervisors, just come and skate--City Recreation Department was funded by our taxes, I assume
2010    $5 or $10 Family, 4 to 8 PM every day (Fundraiser for Recreation and Park District)

30-40s No snack bar--we brought our own snacks.
2010    Snack Bar operated for Fundraiser

30-40s No rules that I know of...
2010    Must sign a release of liability and must wear a helmet if  under 18

30-40s City Equipment kept the ice cleared of snow 
2010    Volunteers needed to prep the ice at noon

30-40s  No adult supervision
2010     Need volunteers to staff from 4-8 pm

30-40s  Shed with big pot stove and plenty of wood and benches to sit by the fire and warm up
             (No adult supervisors and the place never burned down, no one was ever burned that I know)
2010     Go sit in your car and warm up, I guess

30-40s  We all managed to have our own skates--a lot were just strapped on to the shoes or galoshes
2010      Asking for new and used skates to be donated

Yes, it was a different world in the 40's.  Kids were expected to take care of themselves and use some common sense and  respect the property.  The community provided all kinds of recreational activity and nobody sued or expected someone to nurse them if they got hurt.

Of course, I was just a kid then, but I know it was a huge field and the boys could play their hockey and the girls still had plenty of room to skate and we somehow all got along fine without skating in a circle around the rink with everybody going the same direction.

Lighting, I think there were some light posts around, but it could be pretty dark in some areas.  How late did we skate?  Well, this was Montana and it was a lot colder than here so we went in and warmed ourselves when needed and went home when it was too cold or we were too tired to go longer. If we'd had to pay every day, none of us could have skated.

Introvert or Extrovert?

BYU has an interesting program called "Generations Project".  In it one person is highlighted with investigative help and trips to trace their ancestory.  Today the lady was a college professor who had had cancer and now had diabetes and was needing to change her lifestyle to a more healthy regime.  She had heard stories about her great grandmother who had come from Ireland when she was 19 and had a very prolific life in America.  Her grandchildren remembered the days visiting at her home in Camden, New Jersey as some of their best and had great admiration for her.

This professor wanted to find out what her great grandmother was like and where she got this inner strength that she was reported to have.  She felt she needed the inspiration to have the strength to change her life as was needed.

This professor felt somewhat guilty about the fact that she always had people around her helping her with her projects and she helped them in return.  She did not do things on her own very well.  She always seemed to need that companionship to succeed at anything.

When she traveled to Ireland she learned about the way they lived in the 1800's, very much as a community helping one another.  Her ancestors were poor and had a small home with two bedrooms and maybe four to five or more to a bed.  She learned about the potato famine in Ireland when the potatos were rotten in the ground.  She learned about the peat made from the soil that was used as firewood and how the women had to work along side the men.  She learned about her great grandmother who had help from the community in getting her out of Ireland and to "America" in 1892 because she was hungry, yes, physically hungry.  And how she had help from others as soon as she arrived.

She came to learn that she didn't need to feel guilty about wanting her 'community' around her in whatever she did, this was to her a genetic 'footprint'.

The statement that interested me is the fact that 'introverts' are those who gain their energy from being alone, and 'extroverts' gain their energy when they are surrounded by others.

Her Irish heritage was one of being with a group, a community, having others around her--she no longer feels guilty about asking a friend to come and exercise with her.

And you know what they say about Swedes--"two's a crowd."  So I guess that is my genetic 'footprint' as I am definitely an introvert.   Picture on left, in Stockholm, Sweden, visiting my heritage with Linda and Maria.

Oh, yes, and Ireland was so beautiful, what a great place to take a trip.

Thanksgiving Weekend 2010

Thanksgiving was very lovely.  Thanksgiving Day I was actually alone as Maria and Johnny were driving up and the Valko children were at their Dad's in Susanville where Grandma and Grandpa Valko were visiting.  But I enjoyed finishing up details for tomorrow's Thanksgiving Dinner and setting the table and watching the parade, football, music, and one of my favorite DVD's 'Holiday'.  With all the fluffy snow on the ground and the sun shining brightly, it was a beautiful day.  I enjoyed calls from Linda and the Hardy family.

Maria and Johnny arrived in the late evening and it was fun talking with them.  Mike and Matt came up later and settled in.  The next morning Matt and Johnny worked on my garage door, the snowplowing, and Mike drove down for Mitch and Melissa.  Matt and Mike also did the neighbors's driveway so Amerigas could put in a new propane tank for me. 

We ate around 1 and Johnny cut the turkey, Maria made the sweet potatoes, creamed corn, and mashed the potatoes.  Mike had baked his cheesecake the night before and made his favorite green bean dish.  Melissa brought her special pecan pie.  It was all delicious.  I had made rolls, and the stuffing, the cranberry salad, waldorf salad, baked the turkey and made lots of gravy.  The cream corn and cranberry salad were the first gone--need more of those next year and we all loved the cheesecake and pecan pie.  Great meal with everyone's help.

That evening we watched "Immortal Beloved", the story of Beethoven (great movie and glorious music).    We also played a fun guessing who game.  Then Mitch entertained us with his guitar, harmonica, and voice, and Melissa added her accents on the organ.  It was very fun.

Saturday morning Mitch and Matt loaded the wood and put all cut wood in the shed, and we went to lunch in Susanville at the Pizza Factory and met Dixie and Mike Valko there.  The drive down was gorgeous as it was snowing again and staying on the trees.  Johnny picked up needs to fix the broken garage door and fixed it beautifully when we went home.  He also put down the cherry wood strip from the hall to the bathroom and that looks great.  He further checked out my broken dishwasher and decided I may as well buy a new one as try and fix it.  It was 23 years old!  All in all it was a very productive weekend for me with the help of Johhny and the boys.

Matt, Melissa and Mitch stayed at their Dad's and Sunday morning Mike, Maria and Johnny left for San Diego and Bandido and I slept until 1 PM!!!  Great weekend, love my family and enjoyed getting acquainted with Johnny.

Thanksgiving Time

Fourteen years ago we went to bed in Maria's family room and Richard passed away at 2:20 AM. He had just asked for an aspirin for his sore throat and we couldn't find any. He asked me If I would turn on the tv so he could go to sleep easier. Within a few minutes he had cardiac arrest and left us.

Thanksgiving is always a sad time of the year for me as I reflect on the devastating events of that day and many more to follow. I like the above picture as it reflects happier times with Christmas at Park City. Today as the sun pored in and I looked out at the winter wonderland I couldn't help but think, though, what a wonderful place this has been for me to live.

It was Thanksgiving twelve years ago that Maria and I drove up to Lake Almanor and I fell in love with the area and found my perfect little home. The big trees on the drive up the hill were just as laden with snow as they are today. I knew immediately that this is where I wanted to be.

My Little Christmas Tree

Actually something is new, my Blue Spruce has grown a lot this year. I tried to find some battery operated Christmas lights for it but they are ridiculously priced up here. Oh, well, it is a sweet little Christmas tree anyway.

Unfortunately it is also a little thinner.  The deer have been living off the tasty branches this year!

Another Catch 22 in My Life

Seems everything in my life is a Catch 22 lately.  I just had to go outside and put up the mailbox again.  If it is too close to the white line the snow plow knocks it over.  But if it is too far from the white line, the post mistriss can't reach the box...

And I would put up a new pix but it looks just like the one above.  It is a beautiful wonderland this morning.  And the new fence the neighbor put in really catches the snow--good for something...

They are looking for actors for a New Testament movie--I think Mike would be a natural--I am leaving the site out for him to peruse.  Too bad, they already had auditions in San Diego in October.  Doesn't he look like he walked out of the New Testament, if you take off the glasses and put on a robe?

Well, I Asked, Now I Know

The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fascitis which is commonly referred to as a heel spur. Plantar fascia is a broad band of fibrous tissue which runs along the bottom surface of the foot, from the heel to the toes. Plantar fascitis is a condition in which the plantar fascia is inflamed. This condition can be very painful and cause considerable amount of suffering.


Often the pain is worse on first rising in the morning and after rest and is aggravated by prolonged weight bearing & thin soled shoes.


CAUSES OF SORE HEELS


Excessive load on the foot from obesity is a major cause of plantar fascitis. Which is why this condition is common in middle aged and over weight adults.

I Learn a New Word

I learned a new word tonight.  I was watching a French film with subtitles and at the very end we find what the woman had was erotomania.  The movie was extremely well done.  The first half is her version of things and it appears real.  The second half is his version and then the end when he finally realizes what is happening and who is stalking him.  Supposedly John Hinckley Jr who shot Ronald Reagan was suffering from this with Jodie Foster, the movie star.

Erotomania is a type of delusion in which the affected person believes that another person, usually a stranger or famous person, is in love with him or her. The illness often occurs during psychosis, especially in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar mania. In one case, erotomania was reported in a patient who had undergone surgery for a ruptured cerebral aneurysm...   Usually the patient then returns the perceived affection by means of letters, phone calls, gifts, and visits to the unwitting recipient. Even though these advances are unexpected and unwanted, any denial of affection by the object of this delusional love is dismissed by the patient as a ploy to conceal the forbidden love from the rest of the world. (From Wikepedia)

I have sometimes imagined someone loved me.  Now I realize I was delusional.

I just used my spell check and it does not recognize the word erotomania!!!

Winter Wonderland

No pix but beautiful snow this afternoon--winter begins.  I should have a gorgeous pix in the morning.  It has been snowing for hours and is still snowing and in the morning everything will be piled on the trees and houses like a marshmallow world.

Matt showed up about supper time with a friend and took his snowboard things back to Tahoe.  I knew he was coming so had chili for them.  They came straight up 89 so only took two hours to get here but were going back the long way as he needed his snowboards from his Dad's house.  Hope he doesn't injure his knee again.

It would be fun to walk in the snow tonight as it is warm and fluffy like spring snow.

If It Isn't One Thing. It Is Another

Marjorie was right, the black speck in front of my eye is called a "floater".  I thought this Chinese opinion was the most interesting of those I have read.  It is like there is a piece of something on your eyelid or haning down from your hair.  Very annoying.  I first noticed it last Monday while I was waiting for Mike at the eye doctor.  How appropriate.

CHINESE MEDICAL VIEWS
In the Yinhai Jingwei (Essential Subtleties on the Silver Sea), a text on ophthalmology from the time of the Ming Dynasty (1), there is a discussion of floaters, described as "black blurred specks in the eyes resembling fly wings." The pathology is said to be related to the "water of the kidney" refers to the kidney yin, as distinguished from the "fire of the kidney," which corresponds to the kidney yang or mingmen fire:


[Floaters] are a sign of weakness of the water of the kidney. The kidney is the mother of the liver. If the water of the kidney can not nourish the wood of the liver, the liver will display deficiency heat. The gallbladder lies beside the liver. If the wood of the liver is withered and parched, the qi of the gallbladder will be insufficient. As a result, whenever one starts or halts a movement of the head, black specks resembling fly wings float in the spirit water of the eyes.

The Many Faces of Maria

Beautiful Baby

Early Walker and Speedy Stair Crawler

 Little Sister

Mischief Maker and Classy Dresser

Middle Child and  Big Sister

Can Fix a Great Breakfast

Charming Smile

Food Lover

Fun Auntie

Terrific Mom

Fun Traveler and Sister

Loving Girlfriend and Adventurer

Appreciates Nature

                                                     Fun to Be With and Wonderful Friend!

Caring Daughter

And no picture-- but a very successful career lady in a very intricate and difficult career--and a writer we all love to read...Happy Birthday Maria, you've come a long way, Babe.

Love One Another

Tonight I received a beautiful note of appreciation and friendship from a ward member.  It was so unexpected and yet so needed.  We are all in need of validation and support from others and yet how often we forget to express our thoughts of admiration and appreciation.

I immediately thought of two other women in 7th Ward who would write a nice note whenever they thought you had said or done something well.  What a kind thing we can do for others. 

Richard was good about that.  Even silly little things like, "I love how you have Christmas in our house from October to January."  or "Let's count how many dolls and stuffed animals Janet has in the house."  He could have made fun of my collections and traditions but he never did.  In fact, I remember so well when he insisted on buying the blue velvet bunny I had admired at the Craft Fair. I still love it.

I have probably said this before but if anyone would want to know how to show love to their partner, they should read the book about David and Emma McKay written by a son.  Their expressive love was legend and many couples learned from their example.

Through the Years with Mitch!

Mitch with his little cousin Jimmy.

Mitch with his Mom.

Mitch with his cousins.

    

Mitch in college and now he is 20!!!

Mitch, you are a sweetheart, and I like those curls.

My Sister Carole has a Birthday.

Today my sister Carole is turning 72 (I think). She is such a special person, I just want to pay tribute to her (again possibly.

She was always the sparkler of the family, the one everyone always enjoyed being with, listening to, or being heard by. She is a great Mom, teacher, speaker, and just a wonderful human being.

One of Carole’s best qualities is her ability to listen. She is not only a good listener but then she always has something positive to say. She Is a nurturer, one who cares, I don’t think she likes to let anyone feel badly. When I need a kind and sympathetic ear, I always call Carole.

She can also be very wise and speak up when a sane voice needs to be heard.

Carole always had lots of friends, like Marilyn, she acquires friends easily.

I can’t remember a time when Carole hasn’t been there for me. During high school, she was a lot younger so I mostly remember her as being cute and funny and always having a pet that she loved. She was always tender to the animals.

I can’t remember why we were at college one time together. Maybe it was the summer before I went to teach in San Diego. Anyway I just remember coming home too late to get in the dorm and her hand was waving out the window to let me know she would let me in.  No scolding, just being there.

When I had my first baby, she was teaching in San Diego, and was always there for me as a baby sitter, companion, listener, helper.

Carole also likes to decorate and move things around to make them more interesting. I tend to get things one way and leave it there forever. A funny story is when they were staying with us for awhile in the 1980’s. Richard and I had gone out and when we came back she had rearranged all the living room furniture, and that was not easy. It was a big room with lots of heavy furniture. Richard was incredulous, that she would have the nerve to do that. I didn’t think too much about it, just glad she was interested in making it better.

She was always the creative one, the one who could do things with flowers and such, talent I never inherited.

Of course, she was not for paper work. How well I remember when she worked a day in our loan office for one day and as she sat there there and looked at the paperwork, she looked at me and just said, “I can’t do this, I’ll go crazy.” Or something like that.

Oh, yes, she and I are very different, very different in deed. But I am so glad she has always been there for me, to make me feel loved and capable, and share in my grief and joy. 

She and Len are at Lolo, Mt with son Hunter and his new bride Toni.

Carole, a wonderful sister. How blessed to have sisters in my life.

Easter Dresses

I told Maria we always had new dresses for Easter. This is Mom, my sister-in-law Mary, me, Marilyn and Carole one Easter. I know I made my dress, not sure about the others. Everybody liked new dresses for Easter, and often hats...

Fun

Fun? Yesterday in the video Maria had on Facebook, it said to have Fun. So I have been thinking about what is Fun for me? Not going back to the Montana years but just from my adult years in San Diego, what has been fun for me?

I know what it is not—not fishing, not golf, not hiking, not clubs.

When I was a young, single, school teacher in San Diego it was going to the beach or bay every Saturday, just being lazy in the sun and chatting, body surfing, walking, eating, any kind of beach activity, day or night. That was fun.

Also when I was single the years of sailing every weekend. That was fun, really fun, I loved it. Never could get into the motor boating and water skiing but I loved the sailing. That was fun.

Though I wasn’t young, I loved the walking on the beach in Guam in 2002, 2003. You could go for about a mile in back of all the hotels. It was after work but still warm and light. There were so many interesting people to watch, music streaming from the hotels, beautiful sunset. I was sometimes with a friend and talking, but most often alone. The air was intoxicating, the view breathtaking. And then sitting on a chaise for awhile when the stars came out. That was fun. Really fun.

Also as a single, the dancing, the stake dances and then the officer clubs and hotels. After I married, same thing, stake dances, hotels. Richard was a great dancer and I always loved topping off a date night with dancing.

Of course, eating out is always fun, no matter what age...

The music, after Richard died, the music became such an important ‘me’ time…over 200 cds and 100 vcrs and dvds later I still love to turn off the tv and just hear the music, all my favorites, over and over…and if I have a really great book to escape into, yes, that is fun for me.

Also after Richard died, beach and bay biking with Nadine, yes, that was fun.
You can bike from the bay to the beach and it is all flat.
Very nice. 
When the children were little, here again, I think the beach and bay trips were always the must fun for me. I liked it much more than camping.

And then the skiing, loved the skiing years, that was very, very fun. The whole scene. Especially a sunny day and a rhythmic ski with family or friends and the eating in the lodge at the bottom. Yes, loved the skiing years. That was fun.

But all those years in the sun were not good for my fair skin—and I don’t have the body anymore that does well lolling on the beach. I also don’t have a friend with a sail boat and no skiing anymore so except for casual walks on the beach  or beach family gatherings when I am in San Diego—

So where is my fun now? Still enjoy a great book, still enjoy my music, I dance alone, not quite the same. I love the solitude and beauty of the mountains.  When I am in San Diego I enjoy the grandchildren, the family get-togethers, the eating out. That is fun.

But I am alone here…really not much opportunity for the kind of fun I once enjoyed…and no, I don't enjoy the golfing though I live in a Country Club with great golfing facilities and  I don't enjoy clubbing at the clubhouse.

Yes, I need to find new fun besides walking, blogging, family history, organizing my life, and yard work...

"I'll think about it tomorrow!"