Weekend Preview

This is going to be a busy weekend.  I'll have a lot to journal about on Monday.  Today, Dennis and I are driving south to Rancho Santa Fe to meet my sister and brother-in-law.  We will be staying at his parent's home overnight.  The elder Stuart's are off on a cruise and my sister and BIL are babysitting their dog while they are gone.  We are going down to enjoy their company and catch up.  We haven't seen Keith in quite awhile and are looking forward to our time with him.

Sunday morning, the four of us will have breakfast and then drive up to Bryan and Shannon's for an  afternoon BBQ Father's Day celebration.  Cari will be meeting us there, too.  What fun!  All of us together for the afternoon.  That doesn't happen often enough.

I had a dream about my dad early this morning.  I woke up about 5:15 after dreaming I had been visiting him in his hospital room.  It was so real.  He was in bed by the window and the sunlight was filtering in.  I was holding his hand.  I don't remember us talking at all ~ I was just holding his hand while he slept.  When I woke up, I was crying.  Missing him tears.  My first Father's Day without him and it's going to seem very incomplete without the phone call wishing him a happy day.

I am very happy that my family is getting together for a fun day.  That will help a lot!  It gives me a chance to count my many blessings.

 

Oh, My gosh! Am I Still Hep?

I'm listening to Crazy by Gnarls Barkley and I really like it.  Does that mean I'm still hep?   LMAO!!!  I don't think so because I sampled the rest of the CD and there were only 2 other songs that I could listen to for more than about 20 seconds.  This one, however, is HOT.  LOVE IT.   Any hoot, I give myself an A for effort.  Normally I scoff at the new stuff and won't give it a chance.

Happy Birthday, Baby

Today is my baby girl's 23rd birthday!  Happy Birthday, Carianne Elizabeth!  What a joy you are and have been since the day you were born.  I'm so proud of the woman you  have become and I look forward to watching and cheering you on as you finish college and embark on your career.  I can't wait until we can start planning your wedding to Sam. 

So many exciting things are on the horizon!  This next year is going to be magical, dramatic, scary, thrilling and adventurous.  I have no doubt that you will handle it all with grace and a small amount of whining.  LOL  I love you even then.

Hugs,  Mom

Invitation

http://journals.aol.com/kaydeejay5449/ALittleLeftofCenter/

I'm extending an invitation to check out my public journal.  I participated in the Father's Day Scavenger Hunt  over at         http://journals.aol.com/valphish/ThereisaSeason.   Maybe it's something you might like to do, too.

Aloha

I spoke with Bryan this morning for about a half hour.  He told me his first impressions of Maui <hot, humid, beautiful> and we discussed his meeting yesterday.  Things went pretty well.  There are a few details that need to be ironed out and they will meet again on Tuesday morning but it looks like he will make an offer and they will be moving to paradise. 

They got to go snorkeling yesterday.  I guess the kids were so excited because they got to see all the fish from the movie, Nemo swimming around them.  How cool!  They were out in the water for about an hour before returning to their condo for dinner.  Bryan said that he went grocery shopping while Shannon and the kids got cleaned up.  I guess the price of food at the grocery store was very high.  His friend told him that he should shop at Wal-Mart or Costco for groceries.  I guess, too, that some of the markets have cards they give residents which give them discounts so they save money.  He said two bags of salad, a carton of milk and a roasted chicken was like $29.  That would have been about $14 here.   I'm sure they will learn real fast where to get good deals on their basic needs.

We will be talking again soon so if there is more to report I will add an entry.  Right now, I have to get ready to go out.  Dennis and I are meeting friends for dinner this evening.  This is the couple we went to Alaska with last year.  It will be great to see them!

 

 

Joke

My friend, Barbara sent this joke this morning. 

Living Will:

Last night, my wife and I were sitting in the living Room and I said to her,

" I never want to live in a Vegetative state, dependant on some machine and

Fluids from a bottle.  If that ever happens, just pull The plug".

She got up and unplugged the TV and threw out my beer.

She's such a Bitch.........

An Important Conversation

So I'm sitting on the sofa scratching Megan's back.......Nathan walks over and props his elbow on my shoulder and looks at me with those big blue eyes,  "Grandma?"

"Yes, Nate?"

"You promise to come visit us a lot if we move?  I mean a LOT?"

I look into his face and see a worried little boy with the need for reassurance. 

"Yes, Nate."  I stop scratching Megan's back and pull him into my arms.  "I promise to come as often as I can.  I already told grandpa that I have to see you guys a LOT!"

I feel him relax, "Oh, good."

Megan leans into me, "Oh, good."

"I'll even kidnap you and bring you home with me when you're out of school and you can stay with me and grandpa for a few weeks."

They both jump to their feet, faces aglow with joy.  "Yeahhhh!!!!!"

That settles that.

They are in Maui.  Bryan is getting ready for the big meeting this morning.  He'll call us tomorrow with the news.  Believe me, this is far more important than whether or not Paris goes back to jail today.

Busy Wednesday

I'm leaving in about 15 minutes to spend the day with my grandchildren.  It'll be fun for me and a help to Shannon who has a lot to do today.  The family is leaving for Maui early tomorrow morning.  My son has set up all his meetings and he's even found a Christian school with openings so if things go well, they will register Megan and Nathan for school before the come home to finalize things here.  From everything he has been able to find out, it sounds very positive and I think the chances of them going are very good.  

So today I'll be hugging and holding on to the kids a bit tighter and paying closer attention to their little mannerisms and things they do.  I want to soak them up and spend as much time with them as I can.  I'm trying to be brave, positive and supportive but my lower lip is trembling and my heart just aches. 

My Sister's Make Over Pictures

My sister's before and after pictures:

She looks beautiful!

 

Cloudy and Overcast

I was up early again this morning.  I wanted to finish the little bit of housework I didn't get to yesterday.  We are having company for dinner tonight, our friends Greg and Joan, so I need to go grocery shopping early to get fresh stuff to prepare.  I'm going to fix salmon for them and something else for me.  I don't know what yet.  I wish I liked fish but it's just not something I can even think about eating.   I'm looking forward to seeing Greg and Joan.  They are great people.

My sister is having a major make over this weekend.  I cannot wait to see the pictures.  The guy who is doing her hair and make up lives part time in Cambria.  He and his partner have become good friends of Carol and her husband.  Since she has lost so much weight, the hair dresser has been after her to let him do her hair and give her a whole new look and this is THEE weekend.  The best part, he's a stylist to the stars (Sharon Stone is one) and he really knows his stuff.  So I am wondering if I will even recognize my dear Carol or if I will think it's some famous movie star when I get the pictures.   I hope she sends before and after so I can share them here.

I hope the clouds and overcast burn off.  It's pretty chilly outside right now.  It would be so nice if the sun came out and warmed up the day. 

Well, I'm not getting anything done sitting here typing.  I'll add more soon.

 

Looking at Life with New Eyes

 

Spanish Steps, Rome             Coliseum, Rome

              

I got up early this  morning, 6:30 to be exact.  Cari went to work and Dennis has appointments in Orange County so I have the house to myself until at least 12:30.  I started off by mopping the floors, cleaning out the refrigerator and doing a few loads of laundry.  When I took my breakfast break, I got caught up on my journal reading which lead me to make an entry before going back to finish my house work.

I am in such awe of journalers who can lay open their lives and hearts and put it all out there for everyone to read. As I read about someone finishing her cancer treatments and another person writing about coming from a life of abuse to flourish and grow, I thought about the things I write about and realized that there are areas of my life that I never share and it made me wonder why I keep those things so private.  It gives me courage and pushes me to be more open and forthcoming about my own life when I read what these brave women have been through and how they are unafraid to share it and to be vulnerable and open. I wonder if they realize how much they help others by sharing their stories.  I hope they do. 

I am praying for courage, strength, wisdom, discernment, and direction right now.    There is a big door opening for my sister and me and it will require that we really put ourselves out there and on the line.  It will require that we travel and be away from home at least 10 to 15 weekends a year.  It will require that we be totally accountable with our food plan and exercise program.  It's about taking what we are learning from the two books I mentioned in a previous post, our  food program and a few other resources and putting together a weekend retreat for women struggling with food related issues.  It's being sponsered by a large church's associate pastor who is extremely excited about the idea and who will help get this going in churches throughout So. California.  Our first retreat is scheduled for August so we are getting started with the program outline and plans.  I'm excited, enthused, scared, and full of buzzzzz.  I used to think the buzzz feeling was anxiety but now I know it's excitement.  I know we can do this with God's help.

Well, my house isn't getting cleaned with me sitting here at the computer.  I'm going to get back at it and finish.

Byeee for now.

Part II of A Couple of things to report this morning

Posting pictures of the quilt took up so much room that I decided to add another entry for the rest of my entry this morning. 

I'm so excited!!  I got my airline tickets to Italy.  Oh, my gosh...  This is all coming together and it's going to be a wonderful experience.  My sister, Carol, my mom, Cari and I leave on October 4 for Milan with a stop over in Atlanta, Georgia.

Our plans so far are:

Milan for 2 days, Verona for a day or so, and then on to Venice for a few days.   From Venice we are going to Florence for a week.  While in Florence, we are taking a day trip to Cinque Terre.  After Florence, we will head to Rome.  On Oct. 16 we have arranged for a private guided tour of the Vatican.  I am really excited about that!  We are going to go to Positano (if you saw Under the Tuscan Sun with Diane Lane, this is the village her handsome young lover lived in by he sea) and Capri for an over-nighter and then return to Rome.  Cari will head home on Oct. 20 to go back to school and life (boohoo....poor Cari).  Carol, mom and I are staying until November 1.  We plan to visit Sicily, Naples and Pompeii and then the rest of the agenda is sketchy.  We haven't really decided what we are going to do the last week or so but we are coming home from Milan so we will be heading back up to that area. 

We have reservations for all of our hotels thru October 20.  As we finalize our plans, we will make the rest of our reservations.  We have used Rick Steve's Italy  for ideas and as our guide book.  It's a wonderful resource.  Cari is a wealth of information because she lived there for 3 months and we have friends who have traveled there who have given us pointers. 

I am walking to get ready.  My mom is exercising and walking, too.  All of us are determined to shape up and be ready for the adventure of a life time.

Bryan's family is going to Maui on June 8th for their investigative visit for a possible move there.  He talked to the man who is selling the business he would like to buy and it sounds like it's a go if they can work out a few details.  If they can find housing and if everything sets well and it feels right, they will be going around September 1.

I talked to my cousin, Tom, last night who has lived on the main island for 40 years.  He gave me some good pointers to pass on to Bryan and told me to have Bryan call him directly because he knows a man in the same business Bryan is interested in that could give him some good in site.  That would be helpful.

Bryan was concerned that his tow-heads would be picked on because they are going to stick out like sore thumbs on an island of dark haired, dark skinned natives.  Tom said they would be picked on because they are new not because of their skin color/hair color.  He said the quickest way to get over that is to get into the community and get to know as many people as possible.  To present a positive presence and they will be accepted and welcomed.  It's the people that go over there with an air of entitlement and superiority that breed hostility and rejection.  Bryan and Shannon are so sweet natured and easy going and their children are friendly and kind.  I'm sure they will be fine.

There is a lot more to write about but I have to get the bills written and stuff done around here so I'll be back later.

 

Hugs.....

A couple of things to report this morning

I finished Matthew's quilt yesterday.  It's been a long time in the making.  I got it back from the quilter's just before my Dad passed away but I've had so much going on that I wasn't able to clear the time to put the binding on.  I've posted pictures of different sections and the whole thing below:

Hey Diddle Diddle The Cat and the Fiddle

Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater, Had a Wife and Couldn't Keep Her

Four and twenty black birds baked into a pie and when the pie was opened the birds began to sing, wasn't that a mighty dish to set before a king....

And the dish ran away with the spoon..........

Little Bo Peep's Lost Sheep

There was an old woman who lived in a show, she had so many children she didn't know what to do.........

Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep and she doesn't know where to find him.........

This is the small print on the back of the quilt.

This is the front of the quilt.  It does not show the blue border that I spent so much time sewing on yesterday. Darn...  Oh, well, you can see a bit of it on the picture above.  The quilter sewed around each of the figures so when it is washed, they will puff out and it will seem 3-D.  Very cute idea.  I hope Matthew enjoys his quilt and learning all of these nursery rhymes.