it's pouring

its raining, its time for all the daffodils to be out and the hills are so green. Mustard is starting to bloom in the fields, it's really pretty.

I taught 3rd grade today, a really nice class. They are old enough to understand and still young enough to want to please.

I was glad to see that Helen Miren won an Oscar for the QUEEN along with Jennifer Hudson for Dream Girls.

Drug seeking

It makes me crazy that the pharmacy treats you as though you are drug seeking when you ask for a refill before it's time.

I lost the second bottle of my meds. I looked for 5 days and was without during that time. Finally, I got in touch with my doctors. They called in another prescription yet when I went to pick it up I had to fight with the pharmacy staff, wait 30 min. then talk with the pharmacist before she would fill it. This is not a narcotic or class 3 drug. You'd think they were protecting the vault in accusation to a addict.

I finally found the other bottle under the bed.

My friend had major surgery and she had to go from Safeway to her Dr's to turn in her drug that was not strong enough then back to another store that had the dosage and have her insurance co. called before they would fill it. She was barely walking. They think she's gonna OD or sell them? She was in pain.

My other friend is at the Mayo clinic and since her dr's haven't found anything they think she's drug seeking too and want to report her dr to the drug control board.

Aye......

There's snow on them there hills

After a rain on the flats I look out my window to the hills in the distance and there is snow. They say 2 inches. Everyone is taking their kids up to play in it. It beats a 5 hr drive to Tahoe.
I haven't been up there to ski in a couple of years. I remember driving up listening to Dad's tapes while at the Pritikin Center and having the snow come down and people slip and slide all over. I was glad to get over Donner summit and start heading down lower. I hate to put on chains. Usually, thank goodness, there are people to put them on for you.Then, hopefully I can figure out how to get them off again.

I went to look at granite for the kitchen counters. There is a lot to choose from.

I made steel cut Oatmeal. It beats Quaker Oats. Then I add rasins and cinnamon and vanilla...yum. I used to make it for Gwen and Michael when they were little. The I would pretend yogurt was like ice cream to get them hooked. worked!

Ah, the webs we weave when we practice to decieve.

House ownership

Its always something. Houses require upkeep.

I need to paint the outside.

Having redone one bathroom and part of the kitchen the rest remains.

I got a quote today on kitchen cabinet refacing. I also want to replace the counter tops, sink, faucet and put in recessed lighting. Then I've just got the ovens to replace. All it takes is cash.

I know resale will increase but in the interim....ouch.

I also want to demolish my existing fireplace and replace it with marble and new mantle.

Fat Tuesday

and now Lent starts. One of these year I will go to New Orleans. I've been close to Baton Rouge and on the coast where they gamble bit it was on business and I was with someone and although we were 2 hrs away it was his car and I didn't rent one after dinner of shrimp and craw fish and drive down. I love the Parishes though. We stopped in several throughout our day and the Cajun names and towns like Natchoches. It was in Feb. right before Mardi Gras too. Gaberdine suits, silk blouses and nylons were almost too much even then with the humidity.

I got to visit with my friend Kim yesterday and her daughter Breanna, 9. We finally exchanged Christmas and birthday gifts. Hers is in Sept. and mine Dec. She's so busy with her work at Cisco, Breanna and life that we visit by phone mostly. She's been out a lot for medical issues this year and last so ironically we've had more time. They have this amazing, 4 story home in the hills with turrets on acres with sauna, wine cellar et al. We met over 21 years ago when she and I worked together. Her family shared many a holiday with me. Her mom who passed 2 years ago was very special. We miss her a lot. She was so loving and never had a bad word to day about anyone or anything. A gentle soul.

After working 3 hrs, I came home so exhausted. My back and shoulders were killing me, it's usually my feet. We were very busy.I stopped by Trader Joe's for some of my favorite French Onion soup, took a bath, had bowl and read until I passed out at 8. I wanted to get up and watch something at 10 and although I opened my eyes it was for a moment and back with Morpheus. My girl Lacey came to snuggle up too. Now at 4 we're up.

After the wedding

After Michael's wedding I'm going to go to Charlotte, maybe the Outer Banks, perhaps to see my friend Jane in Chapel Hill, Charleston, Columbia, St Simon's Is. and Md all in a week after Thurs. in No. VA Fri. and Sat. in Williamsburg for the wedding. I'd like to see Savannah too.
Hopefully I can see Gwen too.

I fly in Thurs. to Dullus arriving at 3:30 and will stay with my friend of 39 years, Karen.

Maybe I can see Michael. Once the wedding hoopla gets going it will be more difficult to visit. All family will convene from MD, NY, NJ, VA, IN and CA, and CT. Over 33.4 in all not including our Iowa family.

There will be over 150 at the wedding. I'm looking forward to going back to Williamsburg. I love the place. I always intended to go back for the kids graduation from Wm. and Mary but I never heard when it was until after the fact.

When I sometimes feel so issolated I realize that. I'm just on the l coast. Fortunately , I have good friends as a surrogate family.

It was 70 and sunny all the trees are fruiting and the plum blossoms petals floating off in the breeze. The tulip trees are beautiful.

When I was traveling a lot in sales I used to kove having spring here then again in Salt Lake, Seattle and Denver.

La dia de Presidentes

Had a nice two hr. breakfast with some friends from the library this morning.

I got there 1/2 hr, early misunderstanding the time.

I had just convinced myself it was the wrong day when they arrived.

It was good to catch up.

We are the birthday club and meet respectively on each birthday 4 times a year.

Afterwards, I went to finish my taxes. It sure helps to have a good person help.

Mine are quite complicated and it takes some work to come up with a refund this year.

My dear friend Carolina fortunately is quite skilled. Caro and I met in business school.

She's got quite a little tax service run out of home.

Then I met my friend Karen. She has a 9 y.o. son.

I often spend passover Seder (we eat but don't do the reading or have the horseradish, but she does have the traditional plate) and Thanksgiving with them.

Last Thanksgiving I made the pumpkin pie while visiting and forgot to put the sugar in!

We like to cook and have a lot to visit and catch up on.She's an immigration lawyer and we used to work together.

Communication

Why is it that Communication is so difficult.

I have always wanted to know what's going on with people.

(Maybe noisy, but I don't see it that way) I'm interested. I want to have a relationship. I care.

I want to share.

Guys don't share as much I guess.

This may be a generalization but my experience has been unless I ask the questions and pull information out I remain unconnected and uninformed.

Frustrating.

It is especially curious to me that family can be spectacularly unconnected.

People can get hurt or ticked and go for years and not talk to one another.

Sometimes they don't even know why.

I have a person who has not talked to me in 12 years and although I've asked, I don't honestly have a clue why she has chosen not to talk to me.

At one time I thought we were close I still love her and always will.

Then there are acknowledged family feuds.

It seems like a waste of time and love and connection.

Why can't we just get along.

Isolation is not good.

Exclusion hurts.

Why can't we just love one another.

Ironically, I think that under the hurt and hate there is still love?

Oye

Started taxes today. I even have a preparer. I'll go back Monday.

I was sure I had all my stuff together. Then, there is always something else.

I even had my stock capitol gain calculation done from the sale of stock!

They stopped giving carpool stickers for hybrids 2/14.... Happy Valentine's.

Now all I need to do is find the transponder and the stickers.

Went on eBay to find baby coupons.

I used to get them and send them to Gwen and she sold them.

Now, these new parents of Brianna are supplementing with Silmilac, so even at 6 days they are looking for bargains.

Death and Taxes

My dear friend Tommie Lei died of asthma. She leaves behind a beautiful daughter AJ.

I'd change placed with her if I could.

She was so young at 54.

Tommie gave love and light wherever she was. I was lucky to have her in my life.

She is the second death of a friend.

My boyfriend Bill Brown died of a heart attack at 37.

All that's left that we're sure of is taxes

Reading

I'm reading John Grisham's new book The Innocent Man, not to captivating so far and I'm 1/2 way through.

I went over and saw Brianna a new 4 day old baby about the size of Brandon. She was so tiny. I'm looking for that breast pump of Dad's.

I saw it recently, just can't find it again.

I finally have a new mom to give it to. I was saving one for me but that's most unlikely.

She's feeding every 4 hours.

I told her dad not to give her honey. (Saw that on ER)

I'm making up a list of my financial assets and account numbers for my estate et al.

Taught 5th grade today. There has to be an easier way to make a living.


Next, I'll do some monthly expenses and retirement calculations.

Selling

There is a law that can save 125k on your house if you turn it over after 55.

I'm looking at it and thinking about it and reverse morgages.

Michael says I need to look at the laws.

The internet info is outdated.

Now the level is 250,000. one time deduction at any time. No longer do you have to wait till 55.

It was 72 sunny and warm today.

We have a new cousin from Tina and Denzil, another boy, Brandon, born before Valentine's Day.

How great! Congratulations to you all! We're thrilled and happy to hear of your new home in Clarksburg, MD.


I'm also looking to sell my engagement ring. I need to figure how to load pictures on the computer from the camera.

I think I need to run some software.

I've been exploring ebay.

Valentine's Day

I need a Valentine.

I had breakfast in bed.

I had a nice bubble bath

The day was sunny and warm.

All the trees are in bloom.

Like cupid I went out and delivered my Valentines.

I got some in return too.

Had some chocolate.

Now for dinner.

To sleep perhaps to dream....

There are foods that promote sleep: oatmeal, bananas, turkey, whole wheat toast but I'm still up to 3 a.m. or so on the computer or reading.

Fortunately I can sleep in, most of the time.

Now I like staying up late and I know I shouldn't nap during the day but sometimes after work I just fade out. I can't keep my eyes open another minute. Then I wake up and I'm ready to go until 2 or 3.

If I had my way, all grocery stores would be open 24/7 along with movie theaters like in NYC. I need a city that never sleeps and a schedule that can accommodate my body rhythm.

Today is my friend Gloria's birthday so after work I'll go join the celebration. Knowing how they go on for hours I'm sure they will still be there.

After a day of rain today is beautiful, the sun is out and it's about 70, no coat needed today.

The city of San Jose just sent me a workers comp. form for my doctors visits and mileage.

Glad to know they will reimburse my mileage and deductible. I just hope I will get use of my L arm again.

Pho

On these rainy days there is something comforting about a big bowl of soup or pho, vietnamese broth that you add bean spouts, mint, other herbs and sometimes chicken, pork or beef.

It took me a while to realize that restaurants called pho never served anything else. My favorite lemon grass chicken had to come from another source. I live in a town that had a large Latin and Vietnamese population.

Their markets are very different.

We have out meat sealed in plastic. No smell everything sanitized....

Their fish is on ice and the guy plucks it or swimming out of the tank hits it in the head, guts it and cleans it. No cost.

I checked out some books today: A bird's-eye view of Jewish history, Against Silence: the voice and vision of Ellie Wiesel and Ancient Judiasm. (that one may be beyond me)

Maybe I'll learn something.

Walking

Exercise starts one step at a time...at least I'm walking. Then my aerobics class and tape.

There is also the Avon Susan B Koman Breast Cancer Walk a thon coming up.

I'm not so sure I'm up to 32 miles.

I'm investigating....

Think I'll make some beef stew.
I remember mom putting in a pot roast every Sunday before leaving for mass.

Then it was a wonderful meal when she got home.

She even knew how to make gravy which I haven't gotten down completely.

The part I didn't like was the cold roast beef sandwiches for lunch the next week. To this day I won't eat a roast beef sandwich. I think there may have been Velveeta involved too.

Hers were a lot better than the deli too!

Our comfort food was grilled cheese sandwiches and tuna casserole with potato chips and cream of mushroom soup and Salisbury steak t.v. dinners and mashed potato's; and meatloaf.

Now I like macaroni and cheese a la Martha Stewart not Velveeta. I also like meatloaf and mashed potato's.

Now I make beef short ribs from Bon Appetite.

Isn't it interesting that short ribs, flank steak and other cuts that used to be cheap now are so expensive.

Then again in 1968 gas was .29 a gal.

Physical therapy

My therapist was not happy with me. I was not doing my exercises correctly.

I put my arm in a warming chamber for 30 min. while ground corn husk granules blew round it . Then parfin dips and ultrasound. I got a brace and instructions to ice it.

Then I went for my walk. It's a shorts day, warm and sunny.

I made a nice feta, basil, sundried tomato pasta salad add parsley and tiny grape tomatos, red onion to corkscrew pasta. Add a little olive oil and white wine vinegar..yum

Stopped by the falaffel drive in today for a salad with extra pitas it makes 3. Those balls of ground chickpeas/garbanzo, and spices are good along with cucumber, tomato, lettuce and white yogurt sauce in a pita.

The place is packed all summer but not a sole was in sight today.

I registered to sub again for Evergreen school district.

You'd think they'd tire of taking my fingerprints but ever district requires it for an additional dollar fee. They all want their piece of the pie.

ebay

I was looking on ebay last night for the first time.

I found baby stuff: diapers and a car seat for cheap.

Babies are so expensive.

Too bad Gwen doesn't remember Grandma Jean and Grandpa George.

They showered her with love and living so close by attention and care.

I remember Dad reading her book over and over and over again with more patience than my friend Penny and I thought possible.

I've got this great picture of Mom and Gwen on her 1st Christmas being up on grandma's knees while mom was on the floor.

She was so delighted with her granddaughter.

Mom bought Gwen her 1st honey colored teddy bear with a plaid bow around his neck.

I went out walking the the beautiful sunny CA weather.

Baby food

At the baby shower we tasted the baby food and guessed what it was. I got 5 out of 7. I likes sweet potato and apple sauce. Those peas and green beans were nasty. Bannanna was mixed with something sweet. I like carrots raw but those were icky. No wonder Alexis used to get it in her hair and babies turn their heads yuck.

Diapers are expensive. No wonder Gwen took to making them. I may try to show the mommmie to be how. She's a seamstress. I'm not. We need to make a receiving blanket too.

Did you know they won't let you take the baby out of the hospital without a car seat?

It's interesting that the baby is due next week and they don't have a name for her or a bed. There is a lot to do nesting has not been high on her list. Amazing.

It was really nice this weekend and the sun was old sweater weather again thank goodness.

It's so dry I've been watering and the paperwhites smell so good. Thank you Bob and Pat!

This 4 hr. sleep cycle is getting old.

Latin parties

Boy do the parties Latinos give go on and on....like 8 hrs,,,, I'm usted to 2-4 hours.

Latino time also reigns. They say come at 2 and some come by 4, some at 5 and finally by 5:30 there is food,

I've gone to a number of events by my Nicaraguan friend Carolina and also my friend Gloria from Bolivia.

Caro's parties start in prep where I come early to visit and help prep as cocinera. They 2 hrs. later as the guests drift in they visit and drink and dance and finally eat and dance and drink some more. Sometimes they go on to 5 a.m.

Today there was a baby shower and Gloria said 2. No-one but me and her son were there and he and his girlfriend, novia, because they were doing prep.

By 4 Gloria and her son Richard showed
By 5 her sister and cousin arrived,
By 5:30 another friend came,,,then the food
finally,,, the expectant mom and her husband. We ate and played games and opened presents and at 10 after visiting and trying to come up with names for her daughter I bailed after 8 hrs.

I finally have some one to give one of Dad's breast pumps to after 35 yrs.

Little girl's clothes are so cute.

I came home and passed out I was exhausted!

I'm reading for one more day by Mitch Albom, author of Tuesdays with Morrie

I DID IT!

I STARTED MY ExERCISE REGIME FINALLY ONLY 23 DAYS INTO THE NEW YEAR!

I ALSO PRUNED MY ROSES AND LEMON AND ORANNGE TREES.

I'M POOPED, especiallly after only 4 hours sleep again.