About 2 years ago, I learned about the history of the Candy Cane. Did you know it was supposed to represent the shepherd's hook? When I was young, I remember my mom made the cooolest candy wreath! It was a plastic frame and it held 4 rows of christmas taffy. I think we ate the candy after the fourth year we had decorated with it. I wonder where that candy wreath 'frame' went? My mom used to put out the weirdest candy. I loved the peanut shaped hard candy with the peanut butter inside. Also in the dish were those layered licorice candy squares! Yum. It's so tough to watch calories at Christmas...eggnog is the best! My mother-in-law gave me the best recipe for the EASIEST Christmas bars. She calls them "Hello Dollies" Here it is:
In the bottom of a 9 x 13 glass dish melt 1/2 cup of butter (1 stick) and once melted, shaked over it 2 cups of graham cracker crumbs combined with 1/2 cup sugar and press it to the bottom of the dish. Then in layers, 1 bag of chocolate chips, and 1 bag of butterscotch chips and 1 bag of coconut flakes. Pour 1 14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk over the whole thing and bake for 20-30 min on 325 degrees. Let rest and cut into 1 inch squares. I swear it is the easiest, richest, bar you will ever make! Try it!
I had a friend that celebrates 'Hannimas'. It was a made up holiday just for thier family. They didn't believe in Christmas but they loved the gifts and gatherings, so they decided to marry Hannukah with Christmas and celebrate the 12 days between Hannukah and Christmas by giving Hannimas presents to each other. Now, I liked the idea and I didn't. One 'Hannimas' I said (we were at my house) "We are celebrating Jesus' Birthday"!. I didn't know about thier Hannimas and I had just heard about the whole Birthday thing and I thought that was a fun way to look at our gatherings as more of a Birthday Party than a Holiday Party.
Well, I guess I offended them. She told me later. Hmmm. That reminds me of the time I was working in a restaurant and it was December something and I said to my clients, "So, how is your Christmas going?" They looked up at me and said, "We don't celebrate Christmas". Wow. I was stupid to think everyone was Christian and was in the same world that I was in. I was also so inexperienced and young to ask them, do you celebrate Hannukah or Kwannza...? Live and Learn. This year, Hannukah begins on December 12 and ends on December 19th (according to Dr. Barry Winn.) Each year at my work, we gather at 'the holidays' to share time and fun with each other, but NEVER, EVER do we call it a Christmas Party. It is always a 'Holiday Party'. We can't be politically incorrect or insensitive or anything! There is one girlfriend that I have that always lays it on the table by announcing she is Christian and Christmas is for Christ at work. While I respect her bravery and want to be more like her, I think this season when I declare my celebration purposes, I will also ask my colleagues to tell me what is in thier hearts and allow them to feel and share with me in the same excitement I always feel. I am not discounting my religion, but want to welcome all to see there's more to this whole 'Holiday Season' than just presents or religion....
It's my brother's Birthday tomorrow! I want to tell him Happy Birthday and I love you.
Steve has always been like Albert Einstein to me. He is smart! I know that he loves knowledge and loves family. I have so much respect for him. Here are some fun memories I have of Steve:
1. I once found a journal of Steve's in his room that read:"Yum! Yum! Chocolate Milk, I love Chocolate Milk!" (I wonder if he still loves chocolate milk so much?) [Yes, Of course I read it!]
2. I remember Steve taking apart his "See and Say" Film toy to see what was inside.
3. I remember sneaking into his room and "borrowing" his 'Peanuts' Cartoon books.
4. I remember Steve squishing our dogs face into his food and saying "EEEEAAAT IT"!
5. I remember playing football with Steve and asking him what I was supposed to do and he would say "Just get the guy with the ball".
6. I remember using clothes pins and rubber bands to shoot at the birds in the sky in Virginia.
7. I remember my brother giving me away at my wedding!
8. I remember him helping me learn about computers and telling me that 'Don't worry about the computer, you can't break it"! (That made a difference for my learning about PCs).
9. I remember Steve being so excited about his photographs and the bathroom was our 'darkroom' at home.
10. I remember taking his hair brushes at home because I could never find my own hair brush.
I love you my dear brother - you inspire me in so many ways!
Now the man to whom I'm going to introduce you was not a scrooge, he was a kind, decent, mostly good man. Generous to his family, upright in his dealings with other men. But he just didn't believe all that incarnation stuff which the churches proclaim at Christmas Time. It just didn't make sense and he was too honest to pretend otherwise. He just couldn't swallow the Jesus Story, about God coming to Earth as a man. "I'm truly sorry to distress you," he told his wife, "but I'm not going with you to church this Christmas Eve." He said he'd feel like a hypocrite. That he'd much rather just stay at home, but that he would wait up for them. And so he stayed and they went to the midnight service.
Shortly after the family drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He went to the window to watch the flurries getting heavier and heavier and then went back to his fireside chair and began to read his newspaper. Minutes later he was startled by a thudding sound. Then another, and then another. Sort of a thump or a thud. At first he thought someone must be throwing snowballs against his living room window. But when he went to the front door to investigate he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the snow. They'd been caught in the storm and, in a desperate search for shelter, had tried to fly through his large landscape window.
Well, he couldn't let the poor creatures lie there and freeze, so he remembered the barn where his children stabled their pony. That would provide a warm shelter, if he could direct the birds to it. Quickly he put on a coat, galoshes, tramped through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the doors wide and turned on a light, but the birds did not come in. He figured food would entice them in. So he hurried back to the house, fetched bread crumbs, sprinkled them on the snow, making a trail to the yellow-lighted wide open doorway of the stable. But to his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs, and continued to flap around helplessly in the snow. He tried catching them. He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around them waving his arms. Instead, they scattered in every direction, except into the warm, lighted barn.
And then, he realized, that they were afraid of him. To them, he reasoned, I am a strange and terrifying creature. If only I could think of some way to let them know that they can trust me. That I am not trying to hurt them, but to help them. But how? Because any move he made tended to frighten them, confuse them. They just would not follow. They would not be led or shooed because they feared him. "If only I could be a bird," he thought to himself, "and mingle with them and speak their language. Then I could tell them not to be afraid. Then I could show them the way to safety ... to the safe warm barn. But I would have to be one of them so they could see, and hear and understand."
At that moment the church bells began to ring. The sound reached his ears above the sounds of the wind. And he stood there listening to the bells - Adeste Fidelis - listening to the bells pealing the glad tidings of Christmas. And he sank to his knees in the snow.
-- Author Unknown --(Shared by Paul Harvey on his radio show)
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“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God .... The Word became flesh and dwelt among us ....” (John 1:1, 14 KJV)
Pat's Personal Note: I sang with Jeff Jenkins' Church Choir (As did James Stanton) this Christmas Story in December of 1984. What a wonderful story I was introduced to. I hope you liked it.
Last December I went to visit my Junior High School Choir teacher. He is teaching at a different Middle School, but still working with young people as I remembered all those years back. I listened to him teach a guitar class. If you look very closely in this photo, you will see the chords to "Silent Night" on the whiteboard. Not only did he want them all to be able to play something for thier families during the school break, but he wanted them to know 'about' the song "Silent Night". He told them (us) about how the song was born from necesity--that a small village church in Austria needed a Christmas Hymn for the Mass, but the church organ had broken. In 1859 Joesf Mohr was asked to write a song that could be played on the guitar instead.
I watched as he taught his class the chords. Wonderful! What is even more amazing is that I have maintained my friendship with Jeff Jenkins since 1977. His daughter is fully grown and married now. I remember us singing a Christmas Carol called "Give me the Love of the 'Beth'lehem Child. That was always fun to sing, because we all smiled knowing he had just had a little baby daughter named Bethany. I got to sing my first solo with that group in "The Christmas Waltz".
Music is a big part of my favorite Holiday Memories - just last year we found mp3 recordings of organist Eddie Dunsteter online! Huge Music Memories there with his "Christmas Candy" album. Top Christmas albums for me:
1. A Charlie Brown Christmas (There is no other than the Vince Guaraldi Trio to top the chart!)
2. Nat King Cole 'The Christmas Song'
3. Eddie Dunsteter 'Christmas Candy' My absolute favorite Carols of all time are:
1. Ed Ames - The Ballad of the Christmas Donkey
2. Barbra Streisand - Jingle Bells
3. Nat King Cole 'The Christmas Song'
4. Good King Wenceslaus - Narada
5. The Carol of the Bells - instrumental
6. Do You Hear What I hear - Johnny Mathis
7. The Marvelous Toy - (A Carol we sang in Jr. High School - Thanks Mr. Jenkins)
8. Still, Still, Still
9. T'was the Birthday of a King
10. Blue Christmas - Elvis
About 10 years or so ago, my dear friend Louise gave me a Christmas card with the following words on the front: This Christmas...Mend a quarrel, Seek out a forgotten friend, Share some treasure, Give a soft answer, Encourage youth, Keep a promise, Find the time, Listen, Apologize if you were wrong, Be gentle, Laugh a little, Laugh a little more, Express your gratitude, Welcome a stranger, Gladden the heart of a child, Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth, Speak your love, Speak it again, Speak it still once more. ----
I have saved that card all these years. You could tell it wasn't the kind of card you buy in a pack of 25 at the Sav-Ons. It was a Hallmark card she picked just for me. I loved the saying so much that I have copied it and used it in my own greetings. Christmas Cards are fun...and stressful. I remember when I was a newlywed, the tradition of sending Holiday Greeting cards began. Ah, the Christmas Card list! I would tape the cards up on the wall and look at them as prizes! It was so cool when I could cover a large section of my apartment wall. I haven't hung up Christmas Cards on my wall in a long time. Now-a-days, they just get tossed in a box, then tossed at the end of the season (after checking for address corrections of course). Maybe this year I will read them more carefully and then hang them on the wall again, and enjoy them more than ever!
I remember my Mom's handmade ornaments when I was young. She had those old 'silk' balls. The kind you could press fancy pins with beads into on. They were beautiful...until they unraveled.
How come the sound of a glass ornament breaking or an outdoor Christmas string light bulb popping on the sidewalk as it breaks...are interesting sounds? How come I like to squeeze the corn starch box and imagine it is the snow under my boots as walk in the Virgina snow with my brother? I loved playing in the snow. We made lots of snowmen. I loved the absolute magic of watching snowflakes drift past my second story window and peacefully land on the frozen ground below. I love the silence of a snowfall.
I found this poem at Greg's grandma house after she passed away. She had it tucked away with her Christmas stationary. I think of it as a prayer she might have been saying as she was writing her cards.....
The door is on the latch tonight,
The hearth-fire is aglow
I seem to hear soft passing feet-
The Christchild in the snow.
My heart is open wide tonight For stranger, kith or kin;
I would not bar a single door Where love might enter in.
Some of my favorite holiday memories include watching Television specials when I was young. You know, the kind that came on only once a year? Yeah. No VHS or DVD then kids. We had a big 'stirring popcorn' popper with the glass dome that could be turned into a serving bowl. Yes! Popcorn! Yum. I remember once (after I moved out) stringing popcorn for my little rinky-dink apartment Christmas tree. I kept stabbing myself [OUCH] with the needle because of all the oil on my fingers and on the popcorn. Hmmm. Yeah, I figured out later that 'air-popped' and stale popcorn strings A LOT better!
A classic TV special is “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. This story is special to me, not just because of the message, but because of a couple of things unique to our family. The little girl whoo that wakes up while the grinch is stealing her tree? Cindy Lou, right? Well my dear sister is like the little Cindy Lou Whoo in so many ways. I always think of her when I see that part of the show, and of course the refrain...Da-hoo Forest, Da-Hoo Doris, Welcome Welcome Christmas Day...I love you MOM! Your famous! Enjoy my favorite part of the show:
…And the Grinch with his Grinch feet ice-cold in the snow, Stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so?”
“It came without ribbons! It came without tags” “It came without packages, boxes or bags!”
And he puzzled for three hours till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, doesn't come from a store. “Maybe Christmas. . . perhaps.... means a little bit more!”
Welcome Christmas, bring your cheer. Cheer to All 'Whoos' far and near! Christmas Day is in our Grasp- So long as we have hands to clasp!
Christmas day will always be -
just as long as we have we.
Welcome Christmas while we stand
Heart to Heart and Hand in Hand.
Exerts taken from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Ted Giezel a.ka Dr. Seuss
I have a friend at work that told me about their family putting up their Christmas tree this week. What gets me is the reason why...she's very sick and may not make it to Christmas. How awesome that the Christmas season is beautiful that one could dismiss even death from robbing the chance to feel the emotions, smell the smells, hear the sounds and feel the love of the Holiday Season!
The last week I have been cooking. Yes, it’s not too often that I cook full meals, after all, it’s only the three of us at home. One thing I cooked this weekend was some apples. They were good gala apples when I first bought them. Crisp, thin skin, fragrant. Well we ate quite a few of them but they had past their prime. I decided to just cut them up and put them into a sauce pan with lemon juice, sugar and cinnamon. Wow, our house smelled like the holidays! This morning, I cut up some cheep round roast and put it into the crock pot to simmer all day with some broth and tomato paste. When I got home, the whole house smelled like happiness and Greg was right there making a sauce from the drippings! Inspired! I definitely associate, pine, pumpkin and cinnamon with Christmas and I love the way those smells make me feel inside.
I was thinking about Christmas a lot this week. Have you ever heard of 'Kris Kringling'? We learned about it at Marriage Encounter. The idea is that you visit the houses of people you care about and leave them little gifts without telling them it’s from you. You get to become 'Kris Kringle'. Greg, the kids and I loved playing Kris Kringle. We would fill a gift bag with chocolate pretzels and a card with a Christmas Carol or scripture on it and drive by. Then in stealth mode we would send a kid up to the door with the gift. The idea was to ring the bell and run back to the car and drive away. (Most the time the kid wasn't even in the door and we would be driving away...hah haa!) Of course we would circle back and see if the gift had been received. How much heart-pounding fun that was! Even better, than that...we did it to a couple of houses in our neighborhood of people we didn't even know. For me, as a mother, doing that is the ultimate demonstration of unconditional love. I expect nothing in return (they can't return the favor) and I teach that to my kids and I hope their hearts are changed for it. We usually would spend part of our 'Kringling' night driving around a bit and looking at the lights on the houses in our part of town while listening to 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'. These memories are such treasures. I think I need to put on my Kris Kringle hat right now! Join me won't you?
The last 2 afternoons, right at dusk, I have enjoyed listening to the sweetest sound. It is a flock of tweedy birds just singing so beautifully I had to stop, listen and just enjoy the music of the night.
This afternoon there was another beautiful sunset, the sun was in the most gorgeous position as I was driving home; brilliant orange, a large lazy globe of light casting a lovely glow across the terrain. It made my drive home a bit mystical.
Here's some more things I am thankful for:
An understanding lab partner who is the 'yin' to my 'yang'.
Watching "Dancing with the Stars" with my family
Having a band tournament this weekend that is made possible because a lot of generous volunteers in our community that all love music
For the day-light savings time change (I'm an early riser)
For my cell phone
for rice and raisins "Indian Style"
For a family that is quick to forgive and forget
Have a wonderful 'dusk' and enjoy the harvest moon!
It's hard to believe that these are my college and High School kids
It's hard to believe that doctor's know how to open us up, fix things, and close us back up and we can live like nothing happened.
It's hard to believe that there are people in the world who could take the life of their children.
It's hard to believe my husband is mine.
It's hard to believe that tomorrow is Friday again.
It's hard to believe that we could endure such pain and shock and still function somewhat normally.
It's been a long week. Monday...well it set the tone for the week. It has been one of prayer and shock. I get sick to my stomach sometimes when I read the news. In the quiet 20 minute drive to work in the morning I have a chance to pray and sometimes - like this morning, my prayer is: Dear Lord, it's going to be a busy day. Stay with me and keep me from saying anything mean. Stay with me and help me to praise you in everything I do.
This Saturday - Poway Band Tournament - Go Sapphire Sound! (First one of the season!)
Sunday - football!! 'Nuf said. Have a great weekend everyone.
There's a couple of songs running through my mind. Ya know the Beatles tune "She's Leaving Home"? ...Wednesday Morning at 9 'oclock as the day begins...silently closing the bedroom door, leaving the note that she'd hope would say more...She's leaving home...bye-bye.
Also, earlier, the song "Leaving on a Jet Plane" ...All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go, I's standing here outside the door...
The actual 'taking of Ben to the dorm' was not hard. The weeks leading up to it and the coming home, was. I didn't cry. He gave me a kiss on the cheek goodbye (at Dad's prompting), I got to make his bed and helped move the boxes of stuff into the room. I got to meet his roomate. Everything was good. No tears.
It's when I got home and found his headphones that he was looking for, that is hard. I need to send them to him. Of course, I wanted to call right away and tell him I found them.
It's going into his empty room, that's hard. It's looking at what he decided not to take with him, that's hard. It's seeing his door 'open', that is hard.
I miss him so much already.
UCSC is a beautiful place. It will almost be like camping while going to school. It is in the middle of a redwood forest. There are huge trees everywhere. You cannot see the whole campus or any large part of it at once because of the trees and hills. I took some video of walking into his dorm. It shows artwork painted on the stairwells that really reflect the aclectic culture of the campus. It has a 'kick-back' camping-type of atmosphere. His roomate is from Ventura and is a Biology major. His name is John. There was supposed to be 3 in the room, but one guy bugged out. So, it might just be the 2 of them which is great because the room is small. Ben will have a bunch of meetings and orientations for 'Crown College - Gauss House' this weekend and his first class is on Thursday. His next 'holiday' will be Thanksgiving. The next free day he will have is 2 weeks beginning December 21st. The Resident Assistant (RA) Teji, is right across the hall.
The drive home wasn't so bad. We stopped in Gilroy, the garlic capitol, and bought some garlic! The drive gave me a chance to reconnect with Greg. We have been 'Mom and Dad' so much, that rarely do we enjoy being a 'husband and wife'.
I am looking forward to being home and being with my little girl. I still got ONE home, although she is a busy-busy person. The colorguard this year maybe going to OHIO and that will mean an extra $945 in fund-raising. Fund-raising isn't so bad, but here's my gentle rant: Why doesn't all the money I fund-raise go towards my daughter's bill? For example, we sold these discount cards for $20 each. $13 goes to the band and the other 6 to the company that makes them. Each kid was required to sell 2. After the first 2 card, $10 goes towards my kid and $3 to the band and $6 to the company. Like, I would rather just give my kid $20 towards her account, right? I dunno. Speaking of fund-raising, one is that I am allowed to 'go to work' at Qualcomm stadium selling food or beer and that money will go towards my daughter's band account. I did my first 'job' last weekend. I showed up at 1pm and worked until 10:30pm for about $50. Everyone that does this has to attend the 'Food Handlers' meetings to be certified to work with food. There are regular employees at the events too. At the last Qualcomm event, there was this employee guy that was working the 'grill'. He had this big long nastly looking beard. I mean it was curly hair sticking right out from his chin at least 2 inches long.
Did he wear a 'beard net'? NOOOOOO! Did I want to say something about it? YEEEEEEEES.
Did I? No. It just goes to show that Qualcomm cares little about who serves the food. I will probably not eat at the stadium ever again. I see how much care goes into the proper preparation and storage of the food. I guess I am really greatful that Qualcomm allows us to come in as volunteer to raise money, but several 'managers' came through our area and only said that everything was 'great'!
I know this is getting long but I haven't blogged in a while. The whole beard thing brings me to another thought. When do you draw the line between 'ANGST' and 'PASSION'? If I was bitchee about the beard guy, I could have said something to someone. What would have happened? They probably would have done nothing. I have run into many situations lately where my core values are challenged and I have stuffed them down for fear of being called 'cranky', or 'anxious', a 'worrier' etc. I don't know how to deal with that. I guess I am just getting old. I had a funny feeling about the president's speech to all the kids. I felt chastised for questioning the format the president chose to encourage our kids with. (Not necesarily the message itself.) Was that 'angst' or 'passion'? I pray about it and ask for wisdom - and mostly try to turn my thoughts to others. But here's my angsty question: am I only building apathy in my heart when I do that?
Darrell Murray once said to Greg when we first started dating: 'she's a diamond in the rough'. I have always remembered that. I think about it today and try to figure out whether or not I am still 'in the rough'.
Me thinks, yes.
I don't think I will ever be the beautifully faceted, brilliant stone, that he thinks I should turn into. What makes me shine? It certainly is not a clean house, perfectly couffed hair and nails, nor fashionable clothing. That's just not my bag. It never will be.
What is important to me is to be loving, thoughtful, forgiving, humble and organized. Okay, the last one there doesn't really align with the others, but it is really important to me. I try not clutter up my fridge, my garage, my car, etc...it doesn't mean I am organized or totaly clean, but it is something that am constantly reaching for; it ranks high on my list of priorities.
Lastly, I was so blessed to hear my boy sing at church. He has done well. I pray that his guardian angel, (I call her Ariel) helps him get to Mass on Sundays. There is a beautiful mission church in Santa Cruz...Holy Cross.
May you all find your brilliance in everything you do and shine like the diamonds you are!
Well, I haven't made a blog entry in a while, but I thought I would share the sad news that the tomoto plants didn't make it. They just got eaten too much by the caterpillers. I had to dig them up. I'll try again next Spring and I will plant them in a space that will allow me a 360 degree view so that I can monitor all the leaves.
In other news, the little league world series was awesome - a big heros welcome is planned here in San Diego - so cool! We all sat around and were transfixed on the TV as the Chula Vista team finished up an amazing game!
I must tell you that I really do love football. I love hearing the sounds of the TV on Monday nights, the feeling of 'must relax and join the team' feeling I get - no matter who is playing on Sundays. It ushers in with it that certain Autimn smell in the air - fireplaces and crunchy leaves. Did you see those cute flag football photos of Samuel? What a tough guy!
The weather has GOT to cool down...it supposed to be Fall - well, tomorrow it is September, and after Labor Day, really, Summer 2009 will officially be over.
Veronica got her classes. They include, Video Production, Chemistry, Theater Technician, Color Guard, Algebra II...and I think an English Class. Sounds to Artsy to me! I thought they were cutting Visual and Performing Arts? She starts her sophomore year on Sept 8th.
Welcome September...I have had a wonderful Summer. I am ready for the beautiful, peaceful seasons coming next!
Imagine for a moment...close your eyes and quiet your mind. Imagine that you are everything you wanted to be, you were perfectly happy with your life, your body, your past, your future... and completely content with where you were in this very moment -having absolutely no wants, no regrets, no guilt. Imagine that feeling and dwell on it for a few moments. Feels good doesn't it?
To me, that is what it will feel like to be in the presence of God.
That is how God feels about us. He is not ashamed. He is not mad. He forgives us perfectly. To him, we are perfection. At times, I indulge myself in this feeling. To live with nothing to hide, nothing to prove, and nothing to lose, is the definition of life. It is real living. Death is unresolved guilt. Death is shame, is self-loathing, is the very denial of love and condems souls to death.
This weekend took me many places emotionally. I reunited with my teenage self. I reconnected with people. I understand better how much my heart desires approval and love. I felt love, I felt admiration, I felt approval. It was magical.
This next week our semester starts. Another 16 week cycle of busy-busy. I am always busy-busy, but I must say, education is the very core of our society. Most of our values and principles revolve around the educational ladder. How do I rank? Not that high I am afraid. I am okay with that.
Still, I seek to educate, even if it is just to grow my very own heart. My heart's on fire! I burn with a passion for truth, love...peace. What lights your fire? Sometimes it is called friendship, sometimes it is called survival. Keep refueling that flame of inspiration. Very often, it can be found in ordinary places. Gift yourself with personal acceptance, and the ordinary will empower you like never before.
Today I blew it! We had this workshop for staff, and like, I made lemonade because it was sorta during some of the peoples lunches. No one drank the lemonade, so instead of throwing it away (I spent all of $5) I thought it would be cool to walk around and deliver it to random people and offices. My lab partner and I took it around and everyone really seemed to be enjoying our visit, but I was running low on cups. I looked into one area and saw our vice president. I like him a lot and really wanted to give him some lemonade, but I was out of cups. That should have been my first queue to go back to work. But noooooooooo. I had to make him (my lab partner) wait for me while I ran all over tarnashion to grab a couple more cups. We made it back and handed out lots more cool, refreshing lemonade. Just, lemon juice, sugar, water and ice. So we finally run into the VP again and I shout - Hey, do you want some lemonade? He says, sorta quietly, 'no'. We kept walking and I asked again, you sure you don't want any? The VP is looking a little anxious at this point and says, Pat, let me introduce you to our "Food Inspector". UGHHH! So I say - 'I have a food handlers card, and then more confidently, 'I even have a food service managers card.' The guy says to me, ohh, I think you are on my list! No..I don't see your name. "You sure you don't want a cup?" The guy says, don't worry, I am not going to bust you! UGH!!! How embarassing! I was just trying to be nice...was I breaking any rules? I bet the VP just wanted to run and hide! -anywhoo, sorta a wierd day....Lemonade anyone?
In this photo: Veronica and her friends along with Stephen, at the 'head table' for Bunko. OK. It was a pretty busy weekend. It all started Friday afternoon with Darrell's Birthday dinner at Buca di Beppo. Then, Saturday I was off to the races for BUNKO fundraising. The event went okay, I am sure more money could have been raised by simply asking for donations, but I belong to a Women's Club and they wanted to see us try to fundraise, and they would help organize it. It was pretty cool seeing the diversity. One funny thing was watching the 'older' players plug thier ears when the 'younger players' scored BUNKO. The kids were just going crazy screaming and yelling. It was hilarious! I went home and summarized all of the dollar amount and then...I couldn't sleep. I was just going over and over it in my head. I thought maybe we had not turned off the stove. I finally had to take the night-time tylenol to get some sleep! Oh, for dinner? I had hotdogs. Then....Sunday. We slept in a little and went dashing off to Mass. Then off to Susies for a goodbye to Samantha. I was the lucky one, I got to swoop her away for a trip to the theater! For dinner? Hotdogs. At the play I really got caught up. I mean, we had been waiting for this musical for a while. We listen to the music every day! I spent a few dollars (Ha!) on a T-Shirt for Missy and Programs for both Sam and her. The show was just phenominal. We waited outside for autographs. We got 4 of the main characters to sign our Playbill. Sam got her autographs on the program. A very emotion-filled evening...still, I was pretty wound-up and didn't get to fall asleep until after midnight. Then... This morning was our annual welcome back day for faculty. The semester starts next week. We opened a new parking structure and I had to be on campus at 7am. Next week, I'll need to be there at 6:30a. I have to get my body clock turned back. I had to read some names of staff members in front of a big group today. I tried to make a joke about the photo they used of me...its my blog profile photo. Needless to say, my hair is NOT short and blonde. It is long and brown these days. No one laughed. Okaaaaaaaaaaaay . After that I just didn't care anymore. I was d-o-n-e. My busiest day is over. .
I still have a few things going on during the rest of the month, but the biggies are over. Now...I think Ben should start packing!
I just love Hallmark's "Hoops and Yoyo"! Those little cartoons are sooo cute. Yep - just a few days for me and the summer will officially be over. Lucky Ben doesn't have to face the school reality until September 24th? Who ever heard of staring a school year on a Thursday. What can I say? I had a good one anyways! Tonight I spent 3 hours learing how to be a beer wench at Qualcomm statium. It is a fund-raiser project for all the sorry parents out there considering getting a second job to support the kids extra-curricular activities at school! Outrageous! Veronica better appreciate it! HA! They have 'hell-week' next week! Band practice and marching for hours and hours mu-ha-hahahahhhhahhhaaa!! Payback! Gotta love it! Looking forward to the next Holiday....Labor Day!
This week was an up and down. The boss was back. I feel behind even though I also feel like I run out of things to do. The full moon occured Thursday. I just feel blue. I am nervous about all the events scheduled in the month of August.
Today was a big adventure-Ben and I drove to Long Beach for a concert. My nephew was playing in a 'Mosh' band called "Until Blood is Drawn". Veronica had a birthday party to go to and Greg needed to help her get there so it was just me and Ben and dozens of bands playing back to back. Stu's band was pretty good! I was more amazed by the 'moshing'. I have never seen that before. The kids wail thier arms around like they are going to fly away and then the do kicks and throw punches in the air and you better back up because they 'bump' into each other on purpose! OKAY...anyone know what the 'spike' earring is? Just fashion? Fascinating. I would like to design an earring that goes from one ear all the way around the back of the head to the other ear. I think that would look as cool as the spike - Huh?
There was a 'Stray Cats' band that played after Stu that had a Bass, you know, not like a guitar bass, but and orchestra bass. That kid could play! It was still Punk-Metal, but he could play. He climbed ontop of his bass at one point and still played. Then his lead electric guitar buddy climbed up and he played the bass through his buddy's legs.
Tomorrow is Rosarys forPeace...maybe I won't feel so blue once I pray...
Happy Birthday to my sister! Enjoy your special day - don't let any butterflies surprise you! Here are some of my most treasured memories and sentiments about Cindy:
We used to look in the Avon booklets and have an imaginary shopping spree. She would total up all the things I wanted just for fun - and we would laugh because it was usually some hundreds of dollars!
I got a snap bowling toy for my birthday once and I remember her playing it after setting it all up and instead of knocking the little pins down with the ball in the 'snap' she shook the whole blowing lane enough for the pins to all fall down. This incident made her laugh so hard she peed her pants and I'll never forget the wet footprints in the carpet going down the hall!
I remember we once cleaned up a bunch of trash that blew all over the High School grounds...just because.
She used to do a lot of cleaning and cooking for us, and was an expert at late night Christmas packaging.
I know she loves watermelon.
She loves to garden and can sew really good.
She has a wonderful way of telling 'stories' and there is no-one on Earth that can make accompanying sound effects the way she does.
Her grand-daughter calls her 'orange' !?
She has some funny ways to say 'necklace' and 'nightgown'.
She has some really cool kids and one of the biggest hearts in the world.
Friday! (Well, its the weekend now!) I am looking forward to lots of fun in the sun. Tomatoes anyone? I have a bunch and the plant is doing good. We might transplant another 'tree' out of the garden this weekend. Greg wants to move both palm trees to the front of the house. Yay! That means more garden and flowers for me! I haven't seen much of Ben lately....its called 'laptop computer'... He did get registered for all of his classes and we are now waiting for the roomate assignment. We haven't finished all of our loan paperwork...boy, I can't imagine how our credit score will look when Veronica goes to college. Speaking of Veronica, she has been such a busy girl. She can't go one day without having to socialize. Yesterday she hung out at the SD zoo, today its at a friend's poolparty and tomorrow....SURFING?? Yes, surfing. I guess one of her friends' Dads is gonna take them both to surf. Hopefully she will stay safe. As for me, I am up and ready to go exercise. I promised myself 2000 calories worth of exersice. With the Jazzersice class today, I will have hit my goal. I did hik up to the top of Cowles Mountain yesterday again! Today I have a Gratitute List to share: I am grateful for.....
Fresh tomatos to eat from a home grown plant
A job to go to that I enjoy
A daughter that makes me laugh
A husband that only laughs when I am really being silly
that I can be really silly sometimes...(handie sez....)
Ben's Wii console and the weather channel
Music from the show "Wicked the Musical"
Singing songs from "Wicked the Musical" with my daughter in the CVS parking lot.
