a funny thing happened on my way thru today!

and wouldn't it be a good thing if each of us could find something funny or silly to mention at the end of the day .... perhaps our lives would be just a little less stressed as a result. Of course the silly thing I came across today .... was ME. Off & on during the day, I am thinking about a nice, long, bubble bath to soak in. I am getting chores done throughout the day for the purpose of "deserving" my bath even more. HOWEVER, in being "off" for the holiday- such was my thinking as well. I start the bath, add the bubbles, begin to disrobe- only to remember that I have a head full of curlers that took me a 1/2 hour to put in & can't come out (to do any good) for at least a couple more hours!!! IN the bath I go (anyway), shirt tucked under my chin, curled around my neck & fastened with a hair clip .... as I am NOT going to miss my bath !!

preparing for our upcoming roadtrip ...

soooooooo now is the time when we have to make lists & check things off, in preparation of the trip we are embarking on June 5th. I have the easy part done - my banner for the blogging to be done :o)

and NOW the real work begins .....

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Chris & April !!!

to my "baby boy" & his lifemate. may you have MANY, MANY more years of wedded bliss. LUV U both xoxo

time to relax, time to enjoy

WHAT A TREAT ....
last weekend with twin #1 (=)LouLou, this weekend with twin #2 (=)Sow. It's great to have a sister as a friend..... you never have to be anything more than who you really are, because THEY know where you came from!!

HERE- we have our resident DIVA staking her claim to the lanai lounge for a bit of vitamin D.

MUCH to our surprise, we "accidently" found out how patriotic and attractive the pictures turned out with the flag flying proudly. And we ARE a family of proud & appreciative Americans!! Don't we look delicious (the snacks, that turned into our dinner sure were) It was a wonderful day together.

exhausted but not ready to let go (of the weekend)

It has been a long (LONG) time since I've had this amount or even quality of time with my sister Sow (aka Lindy) ...... not to mention her S.A. husband that I adore and the ever-changing Savannah. We ate, walked, chatted, cocktailed, played, & laughed together. And it has been a weekend that I hope to repeat again ..... only not wait as long !! If you can't tell from the pictures, that "sometimes" we were in a little over our heads .... then you don't know any of us well enough to understand.

yesterday .... today .... yet I STILL have tomorrow !!

this is me with "a" sissy last week ...... having my very first purple cadillac margarita (and my FAV seafood enchiladas)

once LouLou ordered .... all I had to say was "I'll have the same"

got cheese?

with the moon big & bright last night .... and not a cloud to be seen ..... it was a beautiful sky. I sayt on my lanai for a while, then got me a cup of coffee & returned for a while longer yet... to watch the fires at the campgrounds that are like flickering stars in the dunes. listen to the stillness (mostly), imagine what is going on inside the ticky-tacky houses in old town, even pretending that I can smell the last of the cotton candy being sold.

and my favorite ..... the glow of the moon on the water. It was wonderful. magnified ... I am pretty sure I can see the cheese !

over the top- well, duh!

SATC 2 .............. yeah, I've heard the hype. I've heard the reviews. It's just a movie ..... NOT a documentary. Nobody expects it to be brain science. So, with regard to comments about the costuming or "fluff" of it ..... GET OVER IT!
funny ......... yes
edgy ...........un huh
racey .......... of course
realistic ........ not even
silly ........... at times
sexy .......... by the nature of the chicks AND the guys in it!
as good as #1 ..........TOTALLY diff - apples & petunias
suggestive ....... give me a break, Samantha is in it!
fashion conscious ..................... ONLy if you're a New Yorker
touching .......... a couple times
entertaining .......... worth my 8 bucks!
IF YOU WENT expecting an academy award winning storyline- then you walked into the wrong theatre. But if you just wanted to laugh (out loud a few times), have your jaw drop open, or shake your head with an eye roll .... then you had a good time! It's not a date movie by any means- it is a CHICK FLICK and only a chick with a sense of humor (& chocolate & diet pepsi & popcorn) would really appreciate it! I did. OF COURSE the company I keep might have something to do with it too!

on the bright side ..... there was pretty lights!!

Last night I wrote about the crash or ?? that had taken place a stones throw from our lanai (ok, so you had to be Goliath to throw it but still ...) The pics aren't professional quality but then ... hey- you ain't payin' me for this either!!!

Things were hapnin' & lights & sirens were blazing. Don't know the story yet (we small towns don't know how to get the word out before breakfast I guess).

so then .....

I thought it would be cool to have that same view this morning - when it is crisp & clear & GORGEOUS!!! THIS (for the millionth time) is why I love living here!! our very own slice of heaven :o)

I got up around 2 am and caught a pic of the moon on the water too! Waiting another couple of hours would have made a better shot with the moon lower but who (in their right mind) is going to set their alarm for 4am??!!! UNLESS they are leaving for Hawaii. (think I might do just that Oct 1st)

what a diff !

a love letter to my Captain

minutes ago .... I was locking up, tucking in the kittys & saying my nite-nites to my travelling Captain - with full intent of hitting the sack & reading a bit. My brain is a little more tired than usual tonight. My cool pillows & Kindle sounded REALLY good. But as I entered the dark bedroom, I could see some flashing lights outside, and remembered hearing some sirens a few minutes earlier- so I went out on the lanai to check it out. There is something big (and maybe messy) going on with traffic. THIS is when I noticed how spooky the moon looked. It's full, round sphere was interupted by jagged threads of dark clouds, and there were spotlights created on the ocean surface. How beautiful. So, off I go to get my camera .... without luck of catching it before the next collection of clouds covered it's glow completely. I waited patiently ...... and with some time, the traffic was also beginning to thin out. The red lights stopped blinking. and then ..... crunch, crinkle, crash and all the noise & flashing started up again. Only this time, yards from our view (except that there are trees & such between us & "it") .... So I have been out a few times to see if the cloud cover has thinned, still hoping to take some moon shots, and I find that the sandman must have left to keep another appt. Sitting here, I started thinking about my absent hubby and how, with all the excitement & in particular .... the groovyness of the moon, he was the first one I wanted to share it with. It makes me miss him even more. So I titled this my love letter to him but I suppose it's really just the written note of ANOTHER time I have thought of him today. One of many. and I had a LOT of many. I miss him & I love him !!! (aren't I lucky?!!!)

there are actions that result in consequences!

BECAUSE curiosity has been known to kill the cat (?) We find it best to NOT take the chance of these two R-E-A-L-L-Y curious ones ...... "sneaking" out. So while part of the idea of the retractable screen was to make it virtually invisable, we have taken steps to keep them safe. (well it worked for the grandkids??!!!)

Life in the fast lane (NOT)

TODAY (weds) is a day off for me (most of the time) ...... It can often begin with a kiss from my Captain, before he scurries off to feed the kitties. I often dose off, til I hear the pitter-patter (?) of the Captain returning to the bedroom with a latte creation to start my day. By this time, Monkey has already parked herself upon my legs for her (first) morning nap but playfully jumps up & takes off for parts unknown when he nears the bed. SINCE the Captain is away on business .... the "routine" was a little different this morning- but not too shabby!!

I doooo miss the Captain, but life (and scrapping) must go on.

Memorial tribute to all .....

so, as you can see, I have re-designed the banner to reflect the upcoming Holiday. It's a 3 day-er for most people, although I don't notice the diff because I don't work on Mondays. BUT- besides a great reason to go all American by BBQ'ing a cow or a pig or something .... It is a perfect time to give more thought AND respect to those who have died so that we can have the freedom we sometimes take for granted. There are those who are still in harms way on our behalf. SO ... to some people- who are still doing stupid things that screw up their lives, & those who say stupid things to prove how stupid they REALLY are .... keep in mind that YOU ARE ALLOWED to says those (stupid) things because you have freedoms that literally no other country has!!! (and some people DON'T deserve it!!)

keep safe!!!

time DOESN'T ALWAYS fly!

THIS really says it all, so I have NOTHING to add!!

I miss you already my Captain.

a little pizazz

it's always fun to play with the images when hot pink is involved!

We rolled on over to Skateland yesterday!

Anthony & Addyson skated right into their birthdays with flying colors!!

It was a noisey, but fun filled party!!Anthony, like everything else he does, was speeding EVERYWHERE on those skates of his ... like a pro. Addy, as the fashion princess she has become, was more timid at first. Yet even when she fell ... she was ll smiles!

Best of all- both of them had a great celebration with lots of friends.

It was a little belated for he & slightly early for she .... but it worked out great for all.

too cute kids .... too long-a day!

suffice it to say that a 2.5 hour drive over ..... hang for a bit & drive back- is a little tiring. SO, as much as I would like to spend some time on my pics tonight- I would actually rather go to bed & read a bit. BUT- I shall share this pic of my sis LouLou with the birthday girl!! a couple of cutie pies, I say.

I'm Maude, I'm Miranda, I wish I were Phoebe

A friend and I were chatting today. Flitting from one subject to another. Losing our place, continuing on as if we hadn't- & eventually stumbling onto the fact that Golden Girls is "Sex in the City" for seniors!! Then we started talking about various shows that could fall into that same category for one generation or another. It brought up other topics as well and we lost our train of thought another time or two but like the rain in Hawaii .... if we waited (or in this case continued to talk) for 5 minutes, the subject comes back around (and the rain has passed). Spikey (my travelling companion for the morning) made the very astute point that in every one of these sitcoms- most of us "normal" women are really a little bit of each of the characters they have created. And the more I thought of it, the more true it held for me. I am not all of any one, but a smidge of this, a pinch of that, a dash of another. And, quite frankly, I prefer it that way. It leaves a little bit of mystery for the Captain !!! He soooooo does not have me figured out. But it keeps him on his toes & entertained too :o)

wha .... huh ....uh ....what tha .... "whatever"

THIS ....

turned into this

which resulted in me looking a lot like this

so I decided to have this & forget about it!

Life's too short to worry about figuring out the reason for EVERYTHING!!

I forgot to take my memory pill ....

and I quote a patient from today ...... it's probably a case of "halfs-heimer", since I'm not ALL the way there yet!! Case in point; I logged into my work computer, then comes the password. Oh, I must have got too fast. try again. Oh, maybe I have the caps on. uh .... try again. (paying close attention this time). darnit. what the heck am I forgetting? try again (lock out will happen any time now) no, that's not it. try again. This is ridiculous. what the? I'll come back to it later.
LATER (well, 5 minutes). I'll try this one from home. HEY, it worked!! (and of course a moment later I ALSO realize it is NOT a password I use at home it is .... simply .... the right password for the right log in. MAYBE, I am a little closer than halfway ?! I suppose (at my age) it's a little less embarrassing than when it last happened 15 years ago with my ATM card!!

my card shoppe is temporarily closed

I may not have gotten a LOT done on my afternoon off .... BUT, the most important was to make sure the 4 cards were completed that I'm taking to Bako on Saturday.


I got to play with my embosser a little (getting better with each attempt) and I am getting faster at over all design, layout & completion. Which is a good thing .... since I get kinda picky at times & start all over!! I'm finding that I like incorporating glossy paper sometimes. It makes embelishments JUMP off the paper!!

VERY GROOVEY. Having all this completed ALSO means that on Friday, I can play with some other things I've been thinking about. (of course by then other ideas will probably crop up too) for now ..... CHEERS to humpday.

I have to go where???!!

.... this is a fine mess I have gotten myself into Ollie. Well, actually - not really!! I volunteered to do tech appts this morning and of course ..... once I get there, I will give it somewhere between 100 & 125% but at the moment ..... I can think of a half dozen things I could do if I had my day off!! (yeh I know, poor me)

The Captain's book is "at the printer" (so to speak) and I have already gotten a couple of nice comments about it (although crafters, by nature are usually sweet about this kinda stuff anyway) I poked around at a few sites but ended up back at Shutterfly.com for it. It's user friendly (important) and had a coupon running that put it in my current willing (ie: ABLE) to spend price range.

Not normally the commercial coerced consumer .... I purchased a "Song Bird" seed sack recently. According to SCOTTS .... their seed attracts a higher percentage of colorful song birds. Since it is pricier .... I will have to decide if it's worth it. The sock is a good test, as it is a minor purchase in comparison to the 20# bags we've been getting!! WE'LL SEE

fear of the unknown ... and how we punish ourselves with it

THIS POST may sound a little like psyche 101 and maybe it is .... as much for myself as anyone else who chooses to read it. A couple of things have happened lately that remind me (again) what we put ourselves through as a result of fear. Primarily, how we will continue in a toxic relationship, rather than face the fear of starting over. I'm not referring to the personal kind, although I have done that myself (more than once)- but rather a work or social environment. You can admit to yourself on some level that you are unhappy, unappreciated, unfulfilled and yet- you trudge on. You see others successfully taking steps in a metally healthy direction and yet ..... WHO GAVE US this "restart button" we use?? INSTEAD of re-booting or re-routing our life ... we just start another day or week of the same ole-same ole. PLEASE don't panic, I'm not going thru this stuff at the moment- but people I love & care about are and that hurts too. As an armchair mentor/counselor, I try to encourage & say the right things at the right times but I DO KNOW what they are going through & how it feels & how my words might be soothing for the moment but the reality is- we gotta do it ourselves. for ourselves. in spite of ourselves. Cuz you know what?? That rich pizza man ain't showing up at your door if you ain't placed an order!!

a visit, a visitor & getting ready to visit

the past couple of days- we've had an early addition to our bird population. He (?) didn't appear to be interested in the feeders. He was pacing back & forth on the fence (and chirping)

NEXT weekend we will be going to Bako to help celebrate the grandkinds' birthdays. At 5&3 .... they are combining the party at the skating rink. I gotta be there just for the fun pictures!!!

I started Anthony's card today ... & during this week, I will be working on Addy's (and the finishing touches of my Dad's too). THERE ALWAYS seems to be something I am creating (or thinking about creating!!)

SO I have plenty to keep me busy ..... & yep- gotta go to work a couple of days as well.

It's also a count down to our trip back East .... I have some homework, as the "boys" agree that it would be fun to stop at some authentic or vintage type diners if I can map some out ! :o)

a little tweek to the banner UNTIL Memorial Day

a new banner was in order until OLD GLORY takes over for upcoming holidays (theoretically, I could use the same one for Mem Day & Independance Day .... but probably won't happen!)

Here we are for the moment. I have to go get ready for McClintock's now! (Fuzzy Navel .... here I come)

where have I been you ask?? (hopefully)

We have company .... but even THAT is not keeping me as busy as the underwater book I have been working on for my Captain's birthday. We leave on a 2 wk trip on "his day" so I am taking it with us to present him on the plane :o) I think he'll love it (and it only took me about 8 hours!!!) Other than that .... I got the magazine subscriptions ordered for the grandkids' birthdays .... a few things done for work, & the laundry. So I gotta say- I did pretty much what I thought I would?!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANTHONY

Happy Birthday to this beautiful, not-so-little, smart, funny, lovable, bundle of energy!

MY GRANDSON :o)

PUT ME ON the do-not-call list!!!!!!

I am so sick of the NUMEROUS times everyday that we are getting the political "commercial" phone calls!!! As the Captain would say- it's not bad enough that we have to listen/see them constantly on TV, but they bug us 6-8 times a day!!! It's costing someone money- take that money & put it to better use than interupting me at dinner time!! IF YOUR MESSAGE is soooo important- then unblock your caller ID for one thing, & give me a real person to talk with. Then I can ask questions. AND, I can tell you right now, I am not a big fan of anyone telling me (over & over & over) all about what the other guy did wrong .... just tell me YOUR plan!

riding in the car with boys (my version)

I remember riding in the car with my kids (both boys), like it was yesterday. I have to say- if they weren't asleep, they were funny!! (commonly they would be asleep within 10 minutes). Individually or together ... they were a near-constant source of entertainment. Have you ever had a 5 year old tell you a joke (?) that makes absolutely no sense at all & yet they laugh so hard you gotta join in!! These days, my instant replay of some hilarious memories is my grandson, Anthony. NOW THAT I can understand every thing he says .... he is his father's son (and his uncle's nephew)

them are guh- ooood Clark!

I'm not sure exactly how the actual movie line goes (Randy Quaid to Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation) but we quote stuff from that movie all the time and when the Captain said this one is was spot on!! We hadn't had ribs in a good while and certainly not from Alex's -so when the Captain suggested it so I (he) wouldn't have to cook on Mother's Day ....

I had my order placed & the table set before he got out of the driveway!! This place has been around since the 40's and even though it can be a little rough on the weekends (when the bar is more popular than even the food) .... it's a yummy as the first time I was there the first time (probably 1988).

We chose to bring it home because we were concerned that it might be crowded, & also because we have a much better view from our place than theirs. And as you can see .... it allows "some of us" to eat the way ribs were meant to be eaten!

YUM

BROTHERS & SISTERS ..... are not relative

I love the show, but even though brother's & sisters are relatives, these people aren't. They are all actors pretending to be relatives ... not that it has anything to do with what I have to say at the moment. that is to say - they are not relative to this post! Other than the fact that I was watching it & it made me ponder on what they were pondering about.

ok, OKAY .... I'll get to my point (eventually). The characters were talking about what "Ojai Foods" (as a family company) meant to them. Since working there was the first (and in some cases only) job they ever had .... their experience was far different than us normal folks but it got me thinking. As humans, we quite often measure ourselves by what we do. Which at least is more appealing than being what we eat!! And though I don't (think that I) identify with that, I do believe that we can take a certain measure of ourselves - not necessarily by the job itself but perhaps our approach to it or our reasons for choosing it (or allowing it to choose us). Even as children, choosing to wash cars or mow lawns or walk dogs is not as important as choosing to figure out a way to make money for a purchase. And even then ... those who work & save the money for a goal VS those who run out and spent it as soon at it hits the palm of their hand ... must mean something as well. And on top of that, those who worked, saved, & still stayed on top of school work & sports .... well you get my drift probably. For some, there may be a pattern that was stepping stones to bring them where they aimed, for others "just a job" that turned into a career. AND STILL others, even as middle-aged adults .... just a job. (those are probably the grouchy, clock watching, non-contributory ones)

I babysat as a pre-teen (because I had sooooo much practice at it, it was easy), then I worked a tiny bit at a 5& dime (boy that dates me doesn't it?!), but I didn't make much money, cuz my mom made most of my clothes and I could buy fabric there. And what I didn't spend on fabric, I was spending on Easter baskets (and such) for my sisters, and 25 cent a gallon gas. THEN I was married and I went back to babysitting- only by this time it was called child care .... and it was for my own parents. I got my sisters off to school, straightened up the house, picked them up from school, started up dinner & got them going on homework- then went home myself. THEN we moved out of town and I went to work (the first REAL job) as a secty in a church rectory. That worked out well because priests have to be patient & forgiving while you are learning right?? THEN, a secty at a furn & appliance store. Then back to child care in my own home while I was pregnant with #1, through pregnancy #2 & then onto what blossomed pretty much into my current career in "eyes" ..... I can tell you all the STUFF I learned, or did, or know ... but it really isn't important. What is important is that over the past 30 years of doing it, I gained confidence. I gained maturity. I gained 20 lbs. I gained friendships. I gained insights. All those jobs- important & not so important .... well paid, & not so well paid .... interesting & not so interesting, are part of who I am today. AND I LIKE ME. (most of the time anyway). I am not what I do so much as what I do with what I have learned from what I do.

if ALL current entertainers were to walk a mile in her shoes .... MORE than just their feet would hurt!!

Lena Horne (among many others) ............ pure talent, near unmeasurable beauty. Gifted & unappreciated for far too long. There are a LOT of jobs that are thankless. There are those jobs that people complain about even though they know not of which they speak. I see them, I buy from them, I interact among them .... everyday. And since I have not done the job they do, I would like to believe that I appreciate what they do to make my life easer, my food tastier, etc. Some of these jobs I KNOW I would not be good at- others I know I would not want to do anyway .... but. With most any job, there is an element of understanding we cannot begin to have if we have not "walked in their shoes". Our lives- in general- are far easier than decades ago. Not necessarily better, or healthier, or more rewarding.
In hearing of Lena Horne's death, it reminded me (again) how difficult our own people (if you will) can make things. Civil rights. It's sad that we even have to have laws for them. WHO THE HELL has the right to think/feel they are better than another person? I know I am naive to think it .... but why can't people just live their own life & stop compairing or judging others? I just don't get it. I never will. And although there is a much bigger picture (KKK, white supremacy, gangs, etc) .... the fact that somehow, someone, would deprive another from making a living, being treated fairly, RIDING ON A BUS ..... the logic (or lack of) just defies all common sense for me. And going back to Lean Horne .... what she must have seen around her, the changes she must have experienced over her years .... the sadness she must have endured at times. It's another instance where people who often make obscene amounts of money, complain, have tantrums, are rude, don't pay for services due, & walk about with an aire of entitlement because they feel they deserve even more .... & OMG, don't even get me started on professional athletes! It's ugly, & it's embarrassing.
And, sadly ..... it continues.

oh Happy day ....

what can I say? I have been blessed with a pretty great life and a holiday just solidifies that for me. I think I deserve it- but just in case .... I'm gonna continue to do things that show how much I appreciate it all!

Happy Mother's Day

With the appropriate banner in place .....
it's officially a time to celebrate ALL moms!! I know- it's the most difficult AND important job I've ever had.

It's (mostly) a thankless job.... and it is never-ending as well. Once a mom, always a mom.

and to MY mom, who struggled at times against some major odds ..... she may not have been perfect, but she ALWAYS made me feel loved.

Thanks mom, I love you too !!!

thanks Pa- ya really know how to treat a girl !!

Pa .... you sweetie pie you!! Ever the gentleman & ever so thoughtful :o)

You ALWAYS make me feel greatly appreciated & special. THANK YOU ( l love you)

BABY ..... this one's for you

The last couple of days have been intense .... (well, at least by "my" definition)

BUT- it's roughly 12:45am and I am finally SURE that I am ready for the baby shower that all this effort is going into. Little miss Iryie Marie will be arriving in the next few days, so it is fitting that a few friends gather to let her mama know how special SHE is too!

With some creativity & a LOT of patience .... (and Spiker's help) we turned out a few baby carriage cookies .... and the rest of my time was devoted to wrapping her gifts to make them look totally fab.

Mama Ann is looking forward to shopping for PINK as she currently has 3 boys (yikes)

tomorrow will be full of friends & laughter (and maybe some silly advice too)

a tribute to Chicago (well, actually, the "guests")

GENERALLY .... my Starbucks cups are reserved for the long weekend- but when the Captain heard that my sister & brother-in-law were in Chicago (and brought me my latte in bed on Saturday)..... he recommended that I continue to use my CHICAGO cup until their safe return. And I am. On her first day there, LouLou text'd me to ask if I had one :o)

so .... even as I working up my creative juices to make my mom a special card ... my sister is here in her own way. The only thing missing is one of her fabulous cocktails!

HUGS to LouLou & Richie!!

p.s. the plate on top of my cup is to keep little kitty out of it!!!

the toddler giggle from within ..... priceless

I love it when dads are "cool" enough to make their kids laugh! When they can be enough of a kid themselves, to be a little silly sometimes. There are a lot of absent dads these days (and I'm sure there was a time when even my kids didn't feel like they had one), so THIS kind of dad is all the more rare & precious. My grandkids are very lucky! And that makes me very happy too.

Days like this can't be rewound & played again ... so you gotta enjoy each one of them for all the memories they bring. Good families are waaaay too rare. Appreciate & protect it like a wildcat.

page 2 .... the smiles continued!!

A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL .... IT WAS AS PERF AS IT GETS!!

life is good (and so was the corn)

PAGE 1 of 2 (and I could do more if life weren't so short)