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Andy

Though the boys no longer live with us, they are here almost every day to visit and share what’s going on in their lives. And we really enjoy their visits – it’s wonderful to be back in the role of grandparents.

After DH’s bladder removal surgery last year we both had some adjusting to do. Mechanically speaking we had to deal with an external bladder and all that that entails and it wasn’t always easy. However, we’ve managed and for some time now we’ve wanted to give back – help others deal with some of the problems and adjustments that we faced. Today DH took a step closer to making that happen by attending a volunteer’s meeting for the American Cancer Society. There is some training involved but I know he will be an asset - he is such a positive person.

Have you ever had frog-eye salad? A friend formerly from Utah says it’s served at every potluck there. She brought some over yesterday and yummm – it’s delicious! I’ve checked and there are many recipes for it online – it calls for a small pasta that tastes somewhat like tapioca, a cooked dressing, pineapple, mandarin oranges, coconut and whipped cream. Isn’t it funny how certain areas and groups have their potluck specialties? For our family it was always a Jello dish. No gathering was complete without it.

DD is working crazy hours. Some days she starts at 8:30am – has a 2-1/2 hour layover – and ends her shift at 7:30pm. She is able to go home during her layover period when she drives in Riverside. Tired but happy – those checks have started coming with some regularity now. :-)

Birthdays, brownies, and bears - oh, my!

Ms Anne Bear - you don't get too old for teddy bears, right? What a fun day. My niece, her dad and two daughters came for a visit; partly to celebrate her oldest daughter's birthday this Sunday and partly for her dad to look at a VW. Jessica wanted to go to the Rainforest Cafe for her birthday celebration but we had no idea the place would be packed with (are you ready for this?) 265 red-hat members. Red hats of every size and hue decorated the place. We were told there would be a wait for our lunch unless we ate in the all-age bar - which we did. DH came with us so we were a party of six. The birthday girl was given a glass full of maraschino cherries because she told the server how much she loved them - quite the charmer. Later they sang a birthday song and presented her with a "birthday volcano" - a huge mass of chocolate brownie slabs and vanilla ice-cream topped with chocolate sauce. She shared that with everyone and there were leftovers. The lunch was good but the best part was being together, sharing memories and making new ones.

After lunch DH and BIL left to look at the car and we girls got to spend time shopping. The girls wanted to get some clothes and accessories for their bears and while at Build-A-Bear it happened - I caught Bear Fever. I resisted for awhile but ended up with a bear of my own which the birthday girl named Anne, aka Annie. We made another stop at the mall before heading back to our place for a quick dip in the spa - the girls are small enough to think it's a pool. A nice way to cool off before heading home. A perfect day over too quickly.

DD had a graduation lunch today at which time she was presented with her RTA uniform. We haven't seen it yet but hope to before the weekend is over.

Celebration Time!

Bouganvillea - one of my favorites but glad I don't have to prune them.DD now has her Class B license! She passed the driving test today with flying colors, including parallel parking the bus which she aced on her first try. She said it was hard to get to sleep last night because she was so nervous. She will sleep well tonight. Guaranteed.

Her first solo will be this Sunday but she won't know what route she gets until Saturday. The buses run seven days a week and until she has some seniority she can be assigned to any RTA shift and route. She knew this going in and is okay with it - for her the benefits far outweigh the inconveniences.

The coyotes are already howling tonight and it's not even dark. They definitely get Andy's attention but Sam sleeps through everything - ah, the life of a cat.

Photo Enforced!

I don't know exactly where our morning glories went during the winter but they're blooming again and growing like a weed. I intend for them to cover a slope so grow!Photo enforced intersections are those armed with cameras that are tripped when a driver goes through against the light. The cameras photograph the car’s driver and license plate and then a ticket is mailed to the registered owner after some sort of verification matching the driver’s picture to the owner’s DL. I’m seeing more and more photo enforced intersections in this area but some drivers have a problem with them because drivers often hesitate before entering these intersections and then speed up to hurry through. They don’t want to get stuck in the middle if the light turns red. Maybe it’s just here in car-crazy SoCal where everyone’s in such a hurry but without these cameras you can pretty much count on three or four cars continuing through an intersection after the light has turned red.

Our list of home-improvement projects keeps growing. DH was telling me of another neighbor/friend who is tackling the same sorts of projects we are. He’s having the work done by a contractor he likes who is reasonable and does good work. I asked DH if we should interview the contractor and have him work us up an estimate. Well, that didn’t go well. DH thought that meant I doubted his ability but I didn’t and don’t. But I have a feeling we’ll be working on some of these projects for quite a while! Painting party next weekend - bring a brush!

How high?

The roses look like they're made of paper on this bush, my favorite.

Regular gas in our area is now $3.81 or more a gallon. It seems to be a case of price creep and we pretty much adjust when the price goes up a few cents, down a cent or so, and then back up even higher. As we were driving, DH said – look, the gas there is only $3.79. Only? Yep, we’ve been trained well and now think $3.79/gallon is a relative bargain. I don't think we're driving less but we are using DH's old VW more often for errands around town. DD can get us free bus passes but using the bus isn't always very convenient. Actually, public transportation in this area isn't very good. So I was wondering, are you driving less? Using or considering public transportation? I remember the gas lines of the 70's. Odd/even days when you could buy gas based on your license number. We were supposed to use that as a wake-up call and become more energy independent, not be held hostage to the oil producing countries. So much for good intentions.

Il Papa

Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict’s visit to the US and all the excitement it has generated reminds me of a very dear client who passed away some years ago. She lived in Laguna Beach, about two blocks from a Catholic church and went to Mass every day. The church was literally her second home and family since she had no relatives.

During Pope John Paul’s visit to Los Angeles, she got a chance to meet him and said that was the highlight of her life. When she talked about it the years dropped away and she seemed like a young kid that had just met her rock-star idol. Sometimes meetings like that are life-changing events but I can’t say that about her; she was very devout before and after. She felt it was a privilege to be able to leave her estate to the church, a way for her to do good works after she was gone. A very nice lady.

History

Panama WWII - WEP's picture. Aquitania, Pier 6, CristobalThese pictures were found in some of my mother’s things. The writing on the back is my birth dad’s (WEP) and re the above picture it says “Aquatania, (sic) Pier 6 Cristobal, ep.” He signed it with the initials “ep” since he didn’t use his first name.

This is what I’ve since learned: The British passenger four-funnel liner Aquitania was launched in 1913 and was in service for a short time. In 1919 it was refurbished and re-entered service in 1920 and remained in service up until WWII when it was used as a troopship and loaned to the US for the San Francisco-Honolulu run. After the war it continued in service until 1948 and was eventually scrapped in 1951.

I wasn't interested in learning much about him when mother was alive (opportunity lost) but it is interesting now piecing some of the pictures of the puzzle together.


The following was sent to the office by one of our more staid associates - approaching 80, sense of humor intact:

"In an ongoing effort to keep you abreast of events affecting our world today, I pass on to you the following bit of insight in hopes you will find it helpful.

Generations are grouped as follows:

-The Silent generation, people born before 1945.

-The Baby Boomers, people born between 1945 and 1961.

-Generation X, people born between 1962 and 1976.

-Generation Y, people born between 1977 and 1989.

Why do we cal the last one Generation Y? I did not know but a caricaturist explains it eloquently below!"

A Walk Down Memory Lane

One of my goals is to get my pictures organized but I spend as much time with my memories as I do sorting. These pictures were taken when both boys wanted to stay up New Year's Eve for the first time. Here they are, starting out strong - there is four years between their ages. Same mom, same dad, different coloring. With DGS's#2 coloring, he attracted lots of attention. Still does.

Going strong - at this point they both think they'll make it to midnight.

Oops, one down. Actually as I remember, he lasted longer than DH did.

Okay, laying down on the floor for a bit - but not sleeping!

Whoo-hoo! Made it. He was sound asleep within 5 minutes.

I remember the first time my parents let me stay up until midnight. I expected something magical, mystical to happen when the next year rolled around and was surprised to see we really just moved from one minute to the next. But I still stay up every year to see the new one in. One year I ate a whole bag of Doritos to stay awake - haven't been able to eat them since. Any special memories of the first time you stayed up on New Year's Eve?

Mothers & Daughters

Our local paper is asking readers to finish this sentence: “I knew I became my mother when............”

When my mother passed away, one of the first things my aunt said to me was, "You know what this means, right?" I nodded. Just to make sure I understood what she was intimating, she said, "You’ve moved up a notch." Yes, I knew that but what I mostly knew was that I’d lost my best friend.

It was many years before that when I wondered if I had become my mother. It happened when I had finished getting ready for work and was about to walk out the door. Taking a quick look in the mirror, it was my mother’s face looking back at me. I froze and stared at the image – in the navy suit I was wearing I looked just like she had some years ago in her navy suit. I’ve never had that experience since but every so often DH will say, "Wow, right now you look just like your mother." It must be a certain look or manner that I’ve unconsciously adopted because our temperaments and personalities were very different.

I’ve often heard women friends sort of groan and complain or laugh when/if they think they’ve become like their mother but I’ve never heard men say or worry that they’ve become like their dad. Wonder why.

So, did you ever say or think: "I knew I became my mother when............"

Studying the Studies

This is going to be a good year for our roses.Did you hear about the University of Michigan study showing that having a husband increases a woman's housework by seven hours a week? However, having a wife saves a husband about an hour of housework a week. Our local TV news reported (tongue-in-cheek I hope) that after marriage a man gets a slave, the woman becomes one. It's better than it used to be though; in 1976 woman did an average of 26 hours of housework a week while a man did 6. It seems that men have pitched in more as more women began working outside the home. My opinion? I think male and female, we all work too much.

I sort of stumbled into the work force when our children were both in school. That necessitated a slight shift in our sharing of household duties. A slight shift because we had fairly "traditional" roles. Since then we've learned what each does best and we divide what needs to be done that way. Funny though, it's still fairly traditional. I handled all of his outdoor chores when he was in the hospital and nearly killed all our plants with kindness - watered everything way too much and had the biggest water bill ever! Now I just help tend to the flowers - a labor of love.

Yada, yada, yada........

Our new computer arrived Friday, I put it together Saturday and turned it on for a few minutes to make sure everything was okay – it was. Today DH had his first lesson. Before retiring he worked for a privately owned company, efficiently run and very productive. It was a good target for a much, much larger corporation that bought this well-run, productive, and-did-I-say-profitable company and changed just about everything. One of the first things they did was bring in lots of guys in three-piece suits and computers for everyone. DH learned a few computer basics but work just wasn’t as much fun for these corporate types and he was glad to retire when he did.

Bad news: DD’s car is gasping its last breath. Good news: There is a buyer for the car, breathing or not since he’s a VW fan who has eyed this car ever since it belonged to DGS. I asked DD if she could take the bus to work but she didn’t think that was very funny. Tomorrow she starts work at 4:00am and will be driving in Hemet three days this week. They bid on these bus routes by seniority and she knows it will be a couple of years before she gets a good schedule. She enjoys it though and the benefits are worth hanging in for.

DH and I are starting to get some things done around the house that had been postponed while the boys were here. This weekend I removed the wallpaper in DGS’s room and we will paint it next weekend. I’d like to add wainscoting in the computer room, and in the kitchen – well, the cabinets need to be refinished. And now that I’m thinking about it, our bedroom could use a new fresh coat of paint.

Want to major in bagpipes? Last fall UC Riverside began a degree program in bagpipes and Scottish drums. The chairman of the music department is convinced that once word is out as to the who their pipe and drum directors are, people will flock to the program. And what do they consider a flock? Ten students in the program three years from now! Apparently music tastes and numbers constituting a flock are subjective.

Just Stuff

Green Thompson seedless grapes - in progress. Our Red Flames are a little slower but it looks like we are going to have a bumper crop of both this year. We (DH) is also growing tomatoes, green and red peppers, and swiss chard which we're already enjoying. The avocado trees aren't doing well but the small meyer and eureka lemon trees keep us and our neighbors in lemons.

As I was driving home today, my phone rang; it was DD. "Did you see me? Did you see the RTA bus? That was me." She was going into Orange Co as I was heading out and had recognized me on the freeway. Unfortunately the traffic was extra heavy through the canyon and I never noticed her bus - too busy watching the fenders in front of me.

Remembering

My mother at 18. Can you imagine an 18-year old wearing a bow in her hair today?

We spent yesterday evening with some very good friends. He had had cataract surgery earlier in the day and wanted the company. Jack was very comfortable and his wife said the surgery only took about ten minutes. Actually, the only sign of surgery was the eye patch that both said was going to be removed this afternoon.

My dad had the same surgery some years ago but recovery took a bit longer for him. He had no complications but was very frustrated at not being able to play golf for a while. During his retirement he discovered golf and was very good at it – even getting a hole-in-one more than once. Something I still haven’t done!

Mother had also needed cataract surgery but kept putting it off until it was too late. When she became bed-ridden during the last months of her life, she said she regretted not having had the operation; her sight was so bad that reading was difficult and her only diversions were watching TV or having visitors. She loved company and people enjoyed hers. After she passed away I had many of her medical records and on one her doctor had written what a gracious and pleasant lady she was. She was.

Though in many ways my mother and I are alike in one respect we are extreme opposites; she loved having people do things for her and was very good at letting them think it was their idea. She never taught me that art – I try to do everything by myself and only ask for help as a last resort. DH thinks I'm stubborn but I think it's more a matter of use-it-or-lose-it.

Where would we be without them?

Do you remember what it was like when you first began using a computer? Were you as afraid of them as I was? Every time I got an error message of some sort I was sure I'd broken the darn thing, my employers would figure out I was a dummy and I was essentially toast. When I did something "wrong" my mouth would dry, my heart would race and my voice get a little higher. I kept reminding myself that you can't get angry or upset with an inanimate object but that didn't always help. Mom gave me a chuckle when in one of her comments she related how a "fatal" error wasn't the best wording in her medical environment!

When DGS moved out over the weekend I told him he could take our computer with him. Then DH said oh, he really wanted to learn how to use a computer and was disappointed I'd promised it away. So, we are about to become the proud parents of another computer in a short while. Yes, I've ordered it from the company with a four-letter name though I hate their support. DH will enjoy having all that a computer offers and the first thing I'm going to tell him is to relax, you really can't break them.

As an aside, when DH was diagnosed with bladder cancer virtually everything we learned about his condition and our options was through our own computer research. It amazes me still that people in small towns in the middle of nowhere have the same access to all kinds of information as those in big cities because of the internet.

The Weekend That Was

RiversideDD and family are now settled in their new home and DH and I are beginning to relax and recover from the move. We started Thursday afternoon and finished up today. Last night DH said just about every muscle he had ached from all the lifting and tugging. But now it’s done and we’re enjoying our new-found solitude. Really enjoying!

We went to see "Leatherheads" Friday and DH was so tired he dozed off intermittently during the movie; I never bother him as long as he doesn’t start snoring. The movie was entertaining but DH expected more football and I expected more romance in this romantic comedy.

“Dodge”, George Clooney’s character wants to save his struggling 1920’s football team and makes an offer to Carter, (John Krasinski) a star college player and war hero that he and his manager (Jonathan Pryce, wonderfully unctuous as CC) can’t refuse. However, a fellow who served with Carter tells a newspaper editor that Carter isn’t the hero everyone thinks he is. The editor then sends Lexie (Renee Zellweger) to get the goods on Carter and promises her the assistant editor’s desk if she’s successful.

The movie then runs on two tracks – one showing the evolution of football from an anything-goes sport to one with rules and a commissioner; the other, the unmasking of a hero. One line in the movie, "The country needed a hero, so we gave 'em one" reminded me of the Jessica Lynch story – a distraction for me.

The movie was enjoyable, lots of good music (Randy Newman, a personal favorite) and beautifully photographed. There was plenty of snappy dialogue between Dodge and Lexie and Carter was the sweet guy from The Office. The fight scenes (there were plenty) were over the top but in a Keystone Cops kind of way. Not enough football for DH, not enough romance for me but all-in-all it was an entertaining couple of hours. We both agreed on that.

At The Bijou

Have you seen the previews for Leatherheads, the football movie set in the 20's starring George Clooney (swoon), John Krasinski (the Office) and Renee Zellweger? It looks like a movie both DH and I will enjoy. We first saw the preview while watching There Will Be Blood. DH laughed loud and hard and has been waiting for the movie's opening ever since. Well, it opens Friday and we plan on seeing it before helping our daughter move this weekend. I owe him a good movie after dragging him to see TWBB. As we left that movie he said something about the movie proving all oil men are *&$$#!*^, including Cheney - which earned him a small round of applause from those around us.

DD is feeling much more comfortable with her driving. One of the more critical drivers rode with her today and told her she's doing just fine. His only criticism was that she drove a little slow which she acknowledged. She thinks her speed will pick up as she becomes more familiar with the different routes; right now it's a new one every day.

Mickey and Me

These pictures were taken in Florida, May 1946 - that would have been just before my sister went to Minnesota with our aunt and uncle and I went to Los Angeles with our pregnant mother.Hmmm - that is some big bow in my hair. The Flying Nun?

These pictures came from an album that Aunt Mae kept. Unfortunately, as is the case with most albums, the first pages are full of pictures that are labeled but then the pictures stop and there are only empty pages. Mae passed away before her husband and it was completely unexpected because he was the one with health problems. Does that happen more often than not or does it just seem that way? Our mother was sick, nearly died, recovered and then dad got sick and quickly passed away. When my youngest uncle Arnie passed away at 44, his wife told me - no one is promised tomorrow. I was just a kid at the time but I've always remembered that.