Thursday, March 15, 2012

I seem to be growing!

Yes, it's scary but true....my jeans are getting tight. I don't quite know how it happened but my fat jeans are begining to squeeze a little. The problem is I refuse to buy a new size. That means if I don't get serious I am going to split out the fanny of a couple of pairs of pants and that could get a little embarrasing. So the big question is...Why am I mad that Jim didn't bring me home some M&M's.

Just can't figure it out!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Welcome Back

I have decided I miss not having a personal blog. It seems with Facebook my blog is getting lost in the daily noise. However, I think a blog is a great history of what is happening in my life. So I have decided to try to post here a little more often.

Our lives haven't changed too much, we are still happy and healthy and working as much as we can. That isn't going to change in the near future. I really can't see us retiring anytime soon. We need to work for financial reasons, it seems our little nest egg was destroyed in the last financial crisis and of course our house is worth about what we owe on it. So we continue on.

Spring is almost here and I can't wait. I am feeling the need to do some redecorating. If I can just find the time.

Monday, January 17, 2011

January in San Diego

Friday's with Jim and Ginger

It was a perfect day in San Diego, clear skies, temperature almost 80 degrees. It almost felt like spring. Jim and Janeal were visiting from WA. so we took their family and Mike and Suzann and headed for the beach. It was packed with people who had the same idea. The water was too cold for me for swimming, but it sure didn’t stop the kids.

It was a perfect day in San Diego, clear skies, temperature almost 80 degrees. It almost felt like spring. Jim and Janeal were visiting from WA. so we took their family and Mike and Suzann and headed for the beach. It was packed with people who had the same idea. The water was too cold for me for swimming, but it sure didn’t stop the kids.


Friday, December 24, 2010

Friday's with Jim and Ginger

What could possibly be better than Christmas time in San Diego? It is really America's finest city! We began the evening with dinner on the embarcadero at Anthony's. All the ships were decorated in lights and the glow on the harbor was beautiful. Next we did a little driving to see the houses decorated and finally ended up in Balboa Park.

Balboa Park is the most amazing place. The magnificent Spanish-Renaissance style of architecture was originally created for the first World's Fair in 1915. It is always fun to just walk around, but it takes on a special feeling at Christmastime. If you only see it in the summer, you are missing the fun of bundling up in coats and enjoying both the lights and displays. Of course, a favorite is the Old Globe with 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas".

Don't you wish Christmas could last a little longer? Maybe without all the hussle and bustle but a little more time to reflect and enjoy.



Merry Christmas!

Monday, November 1, 2010

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE 1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!!

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE 1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-base paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps not helmets on our heads.

As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.

Riding in the back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes made with Lard, white bread, real butter and bacon. We drank FLAV- OR- AID made with real white sugar. And, we weren't overweight. WHY?

Because we were always outside playing....that's why!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And, we were OKAY.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Play stations, Nintendo's and X-boxes. There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms.

WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We would get spankings with wooden spoons, switches, ping pong paddles, or just a bare hand and no one would call child services to report abuse.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them.

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever.

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. What can kids today do besides push buttons!

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.

If YOU are one of them, CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.

Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?

Monday, October 25, 2010

I love Sundays

I had a great Sunday. We went to church with Mike and Suzann and watched their Primary Program. It is always so much fun. All of the kids knew their parts and even all the words to the songs. Really fun.

Next, instead of going to our Primary Program I went to the hospital to see Mom. She is in for a 5th heart attack! She looked very frail and weak. I had to push my chair very close to her to be able to hear what she was saying. I think she is going to be OK, but she is definitely going down hill. She is 84 now. I guess that's old, but I expect to live to 115 so it still seems young to me. I don't think we will have too many more years with her now. She was very sweet. It is sad we have not had much contact in my adult years. I do not resent that since she was a very good mother to me as a child. I would have enjoyed an adult relationship, but she gave me what I needed when I needed it, so I am at peace with our relationship.

Then I went back to church in time for the last two hours. It was excellent and I was glad I was there. It was on the atonement of Jesus and gave me some new thoughts to ponder. Best of all 2 people asked if I had lost more weight. No, I am just an optical illusion!

Ended my day with a big nap and some TV watching, followed by the best candy bar ever! Perfect Day!

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Hi, I'm back!

Well one of my new goals is to blog every week, even if I don't have anything to say. I feel like I have been cheated this summer. First it was such a cold summer I didn't do all the things I love to do. No beach, not enough pool time. Very sad. Then, if that wasn't bad enough I got sick while Dani and Kristi were visiting. I still enjoyed having them here, but wasn't able to go and do the things I wanted with them. It has taken quite a while to totally kick this but I am now beginning to feel more like my old self.

Jim and Mike are now backpacking in the Sierra's. It should be gorgeous this time of year, but I bet it is really cold! Should get to freezing in the night. I miss him but I am planning on getting tons done while he is gone.

Business has been steady which is a very good thing. I have set all new goals for between now and the end of the year so it is going to take putting my head down and plowing through. I am certain I can get some good things done.

Today is 9/11 and I have been watching TV with a repeat of the actual TV coverage on that day. Wow! It is still so powerful. It makes you wonder if it will ever end. Now they want to build a mosque there......don't get me started!

Friday, July 16, 2010

Just keeping cool!

I don't know why I keep forgeting to post. I love having the blog and it is kind of a way to keep a journal for me. Now you know why I don't have a journal, I write once or twice and forget to stay with it. It is finally hot here. Way too hot, actually, but I prefer it to the cold. I am spending all my time working and doing Relief Society stuff. Work has been good, I am very busy and trying to get my website updated and also put together a facebook fan page. I am trying to find someone to pay to do the fan page, I just can't get it. I know it can be done, but I am clueless. When I finish everyone has to friend me on it so I can put extra stuff on it. Hopefully the guy I found on the internet will know what he's doing.

My big RS project is cleaning out Joan's house. She is an older lady who has gone to New Jersey to live with her niece. She is also a hoarder. We are having to completely empty it. What a nightmare! But in two more weeks it should be finished.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Come on Summer!


I am so ready for it to be summer. It seems like I am always cold. I am looking forward to laying by the pool, wrinkles or not, I don't care! I am also going to go to the beach at least once a week and I am stacking up books for my summer reading program. I had so much fun when the kids were small and summer finally got here. We would always have Monday family home evening at the beach with a bon fire and dinner. Tuesdays we would go to the pool. Wednesdays we would go to the park. Thursdays we were back at the beach. Friday was for outings, Wild Animal Park, Balboa Park, Picnic, time with friends, whatever sounded good that day. It was a perfect way to spend the summer. I am going to try this year to recapture some of it. So I need to work smarter and find some spare time to enjoy all San Diego has to offer!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

What no more TV?

This is always the best of times and the worst of times. This is the week of the finale of my favorite TV shows. I guess it is a good thing that I will have a few months free of TV. I am especially sad that 24 isn't going to be returning. That was my #1 favorite show. The really scary thing is I believe there really is a Jack Bauer out there and we just don't know about him. I even think there might be more than one. I am also convinced if we know all the goings on behind the government we would be scared to death since they are all crooks. I will also miss the Survivor, Amazing Race and of course American Idol. Guess I am going to have to find a new hobby. Any suggestions?

Friday, May 14, 2010

Prayer Works!

I have had an amazing few weeks. I don't know when I have been more grateful for what I have than right now. I spent lots and lots of hours with ladies from our Relief Society who have been going though some rough stuff. First my dear friend Billye has bone cancer. She went through a stem cell transplant where they killed everything in her and put new stem cells into her. It was a terrifying ordeal, but she is finally starting to improve. Next was Raquel, who has already had cancer 3 times and just discovered it is back and her intestines had to be removed. It has been a slow and very difficult recovery but she is finally begining to come out of it. Then Joan is fighting breast cancer, COPD and heart problems. She no longer can live alone and it is really difficult trying to figure out what is next. We spent several weeks in sincere prayer on the behalf of each of these wonderful women. Our entire Relief Society both fasted and prayed for them and the results are truly amazing. I never doubt that prayer will work, but I love when the results are so obvious.

These are only a few of the problems I see right now. Also numerous friends are unable to find jobs, are dealing with problem kids and so much more. I also had another funeral this week. Bottom line is, I am not as tolerant of the complainers. I recognise how lucky I am to be healthy and happy. Even though I want to pull out my hair with some of my clients, at least I have a job. And as for family, no one has more to appreciate than I do. They are the very best. It's rare to belong to a family that loves one another as much as we do. My heart is full of gratitute and I don't take it for granted.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Time is ticking on.

I didn't realize it has been so long since I posted. Don't have a lot of time now, but though I would leave a short message. I have been crazy busy at work. Not in a good way. Dealing with idiots! It is just one thing after another and I am so behind in everything because of it. I spent an entire week fighting with an agent who didn't like the way the bathroom shower tile was repaired. It was non-stop, numerous emails every day(insulting my buyer and questioning my integrity). She wanted $10,000 or the shower to be torn out and redone. That was so ridiculous. Finally I went back over to the house to see if I missed something. I looked and looked but it looked perfect to me. As I was leaving I noticed under the soap container some something that did look like a bad repair job, (the repair was at the other end of the shower), I touched it and it was soap scum. Cleaned it off in 2 minutes. Yeah, that was what they were bitching about! Soap Scum! My week was destroyed because of soap scum!!! Can you say irritated? Beyond belief! Just one thing after another. I have another bad week then it should calm down. At least something is closing. I will try to stay in touch. I really love the blogs and it is more personal than Facebook, which I haven't really mastered yet. It seems I get too much junk in it to spend a lot of time with it.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Traditions

It has been a very quiet Easter. Just Jim and I. No big dinner, no Easter basket. When did I grow up? And when did they? Tomorrow Mike and Suzann, Shelli and Rom and families will come and we will celebrate then. But what happened to the Easter of my childhood?
This is the Easter I remember: Lynda, Ginger, Mike, Vicki and Terry(at the bottom)
Our Easter celebrations always started weeks earlier when Nana began making our special Easter dresses. We would spend hours being fitted and hemmed until she had each one of our dresses perfect. Next would come all new clothes, underwear, slip, socks and shoes. Sometimes if there was enough money we would get a hat or a purse, which made it extra special.

The night before Easter we would color Easter Eggs and get a bath. Our baskets were always hidden and the first thing in the morning we would find them. We would then go to church as a family, something we rarely did. But I think that was when I first learned that I loved the Lord. I can't remember a time I didn't believe. I always knew Jesus died for me, although it was many years before I fully understood what that really means for me personally. Today it is the center of my life. The basis for all my joys.

We would then go to Nana's for an Easter feast. Both of the pictures were taken at her home. My memories of Easter is of Love. Love for my family. Love for my parents, love for my grandparents, especially Nana, love for my brother and sisters, love for the Lord. I hope I have passed this tradition on.

Day 10


This is the saddest day of all. We have to go home. The good news is it is cold and rainy. That makes it easier to leave. Even Hawaii is sad to see us go home. There is a great beauty in the rain and stormy sea. I wish I had a cozy fireplace to watch it from. We enjoyed our morning walk although the wind was fierce.


On the way to the airport we had one of our most poignant experiences of the entire trip. It was raining like crazy but we still stopped at the ancient birthing stones. This is considered a sacred place to the Hawaiians. Over 50 generations of Hawaiian royalty was born at this spot. Royal birthing practices were different from the commoners.


When the time came for a woman to give birth she would go to what then was a secret spot and in the presence of 36 male chiefs she would position herself at certain stones and in certain ways to give birth while they watched. Within minutes of the birth the child was taken away and the mother would not see her child again until it was grown. That was to ensure that the child would not be murdered, (common among rival chiefs)

The rocks were different shapes. They were very interesting and looked strangely out of place in the secluded meadow, some even had what looked like hand-holds. The rocks are all natural and not man made. The entire area had a special spirit about it. I was grateful that I did not live in a time where you had to give birth on a rock. I also couldn't imagine not seeing your child until adulthood. You could picture how the women gave birth there. It felt very real and personal.