Reading!!

Ok, I got hooked!! I had been hearing much too much about these books from friends on Facebook, and the commercials on t.v. that my interest was piqued. The day we went in search of my "rice pan" I came upon the first book, "Twilight" in a bin close to the checkout counter at half price. I can always read the first couple of pages to know if a book will be of interest to me and sure enough I was intrigued. The writing style was easy to follow and introduced the character, Bella, using the first person. I liked that very much. It made it personal like I was seeing and experiencing everything through her eyes. Silly, huh? But then I'm the type of person who really gets into a movie. Forget taking me to a theater, I'm the one who screams or laughs out loud at the screen. Oops! In otherwords, I get involved in the plot :).

I read "Twilight" in less than a week. It was excellent! Went to Target and they had the next two books on sale (paperback) and the best part was that if I bought one (on sale) then I got the other one at half price. LUCKY!!! Ha! Every chance I get, I'm reading - a third of the way done with the second book. I think I liked the first one better. Maybe because I'm more of an "Edward" fan than a "Jacob" fan. I'll see how the story develops.

It's been a nice little vacation already ~ we had a wonderful memorial jam with loving friends and family, my house is CLEAN!!, I'm reading great books, and we are so blessed with all that is good in life. :)

Dear Dave . . .

The "Memorial Jam" went beautifully. Lots of family and good friends came together to celebrate the memory of our good friend and brother.

Rest in peace dear Dave. We miss you and we love you. Our hearts broke to see this empty chair knowing that you should have been sitting with the band playing your music. Maria said some beautiful words about you ~ I know you heard them.

You will be forever in our hearts ~ give my sister a hug for me.

The Stage is Set . . .

It has begun -the stage is built, the tables and chairs are here. Tomorrow is the day for our memorial jam for our dear friend, Dave. His mama and family will be here - I'm thinking flowers in a vase for her table.

I think of everyone who will be here to play in his honor. It will be sad because he won't be here. We do it for his family. It will be nice to see old friends and family and miss the ones who are no longer with us.

Until tomorrow.

Happy Birthday to My Mama!

Today is my mama's birthday!! My daughter and I met her at the Ontario Mills, a big shopping mall, on the quest of finding nice dress shoes that would go with the dress she will be wearing for our niece's wedding in July. When we didn't find any there, we drove over to Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga. She had never been there and was amazed at how big it was. We didn't find the shoes, but we will keep looking :).

After shopping, we stopped to have lunch at Famous Dave's. We had a very nice time talking, reminiscing, and laughing. I love my mama. She is a very strong woman. My heart hurts for her because of the sadness she carries with her constantly, but again, she is strong and makes it through each day with God's help.

Happy Birthday, Mama ~ love you!

My Son's Room!

I ventured into my son's room today to see how I could straighten it out a just a little bit~put away the socks-check! Put away the undershirts-check! And then I saw the dust, the papers strewn about, the empty water bottles under the bed, and the final straw were the board games that had tumbled out of the closet!!! No!!!!! Grabbed the dust rags, the vacuum cleaner and began working.

Our youngest son is 19 years old. He has been away from home for about two weeks attending a video game convention and visiting with his girlfriend's family in the Los Angeles area. Before he left I said, "Son, clean your room before you leave." He replied, "It's clean, mom. Besides, I'll close the door for the "party" on the 26th - no one needs to come into my room." "Ok, son." And he was gone. :)

This morning I opened the door and shook my head... ARGHHHH!!!!!.

Let me tell you about my son. He is our youngest and I'm sure we spoil him to a degree. He is very respectful to us, rarely gets mad, and loves talking with his brother, his sister and brother-in-law. He has written for a video game website since he was a junior in high school. He is an excellent writer - amazes me. In return the website sends him to Comic Con in San Diego on a press pass and recently send him to the E-3 convention in Los Angeles. He attends college (received all A's and B's his first year). Has a part time job as a math tutor at a junior high during the school year and budgets carefully. He is a good son, like his brother and sister. He really looks up to them.

BUT he can not keep his room clean! The least of my worries. :)

Back to work!! (His girlfriend is very tidy, there is hope :)

Happy Father's Day!

We had a very nice Father's Day celebration yesterday with our children. We spend the weekend (mostly my husband) working on the yard in preparation for a memorial jam we will be hosting this next weekend. The yard looks very nice. :) We were thinking of grilling, but then I remembered the brand new rotisserie still sitting in the box in the garage. On Saturday night, I asked my husband if he could put it together for me. "Sure, I can." What a sweetheart. He brought out this big box from the garage and we carefully took it out and voila! It was already put together! HA! It had been sitting in our garage for about a year because we hadn't had time "to put it together" - so funny. I made a rub with different spices for the chickens and let them sit in the fridge over night and we "rotisseried" them for two hours - OMG! they were delicious. We ate every little bit. What a success :). Thanks son for a great present (He was happy to see that we had finally used it :). I love my family ~ I am so blessed.

Ummmm. . . rice

We went out early today in search of the perfect pan to make my rice in. My old pan is getting too old and I'm almost embarrassed to use it. My mom commented on how old it was and she's right - I need to get a new one. We stopped at Ross on our way to Denny's for breakfast. Had a nice breakfast with my sister-in-law (love her!).Then we made a few other stops, test drove a Sonota (nice car :), stopped at Marshall's - too pricey, stopped at A.J. Wright - nothing, so we came home. Ahhhhhh ...nice to be home. But now looking at the picture of the rice up above, I want to make rice! A taco of rice with a little bit of salsa -- I'd be in heaven -- yum! I need a new pan!! (I'll keep using my old one till I find one).

My first day of vacation -- loved it! Thanks honey :).

Summer Vacation Is Almost Here!!

You can tell I have time on my hands when I can blog daily :). Ha! Two more days of school and I'm so excited at all I'll be able to do during my break. I want to clean my house thoroughly, help my honey with his flowers and plants, catch up on my photo albums, visit with my mama and take her shopping, sleep!, read a good book or two, blog :), watch shows I missed on the "On Demand" channel, AND train our parrot to talk!! Right now he's staring at me wondering why I'm looking at him :). I'm trying to teach him how to say "Hungry!" or "Hello" or anything really. I think he is beginning to say "Hello." I will say hello to him and he responds with a sound that sounds like "hel-lo."

He's beginning to squawk loudly during certain times of the day, especially when he hears my voice. Talk to me, Bird!!!! Don't just squawk!!

So my hands are full this summer -- I have a lot to do.

And so I begin by saying "Hello" to our parrot ~ "Hello!" and he remains quiet ~ for now. :)

Our Beloved Parents

My Rememberer

My forgetter's getting better
But my rememberer is broke
To you that may seem funny
But, to me, that is no joke

For when I'm "here" I'm wondering
If I really should be "there"
And, when I try to think it through,
I haven't got a prayer!

Often times I walk into a room,
Say "what am I here for?"
I wrack my brain, but all in vain
A zero, is my score.

There was a time when our parents were very much alert and ready for anything. We went to them for advise and friendly conversation. Time has taken much of these qualities away from them and the sadness is left behind. Confusion reigns. I am perplexed at the outcome of a life which was once so full. All I can do is reassure and comfort. I am left to wonder if someday I will be there, also. My hope is that I will not ~ I will try to keep my mind busy and ready. Although the poem up above is somewhat humorous, it gets the point across.

My mind is tired now. Sleep.

Two more days of school left with my little ones -- I sure am going to miss this group. They have been a joy to have.

On a down note, however, a child who had been placed in my room for discipline problems was send home today for slapping another child, also in my classroom, during recess when I could not monitor him. He almost made it. DARN!! I was disappointed to say the least. I feel bad for him because he is just a child. The psychologist has said he doesn't stop to think of what he is doing. Kind of hard to explain that to the other child's parents. Too sad.

BUT -- we are almost on vacation -- WOO-HOO!!! So excited to know I'll be able to sleep in at least for the first couple of days, then I'm hitting the gym and walking as much as I can. Time to lose all this excess weight :). Wish me luck!! And I'm going to read ... I have my books lined up. And I'm going to enjoy life... yes.

A Year Gone By ...

I think about a year that has come to an end and wonder where has it gone? Many a day I have driven home in tears missing the sound of my sister's voice calling me to ask if I was on my way home from work. A little chit-chat ~ enough to touch bases with each other ~ nothing major, but sufficient.

Today we gathered in her memory to look at pictures, to talk of her life, and to hug each other. We miss her dearly and we realize she is in a good place now with our Lord. Our lives are not the same anymore and never will be, but we are good, continue to heal, have our moments, but we move on with life. I finally feel a peacefulness if only for a moment, but a peacefulness just the same. She loved me, this I know and I loved her ~ dearly.

I think I will begin to look at life in a different way now ~ I will look everyday for something to make me smile and be happy ~ again.

I miss you, Sister, and always will. God bless us all.