Q'Ville

MY VERY SPECIAL DAY

2010-02-20T11:32:00.051-05:00

My February 18ths usually begin with a ringing phone, followed by my parents singing me a rousing rendition of some Happy Birthday Song. It is only appropriate that since they were the first to ever share my first Birthday moments with me, that each and every 2/18 begin with the 3 of us once again. Last year was a solo. This year a memory. I miss my mom. In the past several months people have asked what I was going to do for my 50th birthday, a significant landmark day for most who have experienced it. I had no plans, no cruise, no party, no vacation, no plastic surgery, no visit to a therapist. I wanted to just do what I wanted. No accountability to anyone but MYSELF. The week before J-man and I had shared a nice "couples massage", so unless I had a migraine on that day, massage would not be planned. Hmmm..... what shall I do?

I MADE A LIST (I AM A LIST GIRL):

(Actually, the celebrating began Weds with lunch with Robi and Cami, who showered me with gifts, then dinner with Beth (who has a very special day of her own on 2/19), who loaded me up with a "cupcake" themed gift.) J-man presented my gift before he left for work at 5:05am. Beautiful Patricia Locke earrings. I did not wear them until... I'll tell you later. BUT: I purchased some beautiful fabric a long time ago for drapes in my dining room. This was the day I was going to get that done. You will see that picture at the end, tho i did actually complete it that morning, because it was on the list :D. My super cool and adventerous brother called from the middle east. He's a retired Army Spy (I can only say that now because he's retired), but he is doing work for the government in Afghanistan. I didn't have him on the list, but he trumps ink. He'll be 59 this year so he's got some experience and I loved hearing from him on MY VERY SPECIAL DAY.

OK, so on with the list:

I took a private swim lesson. I could swim to save my life, but I want productive laps, so this was my first of 5 lessons. I'll be doin' underwater flips by the time I'm done. (I did have the coach take a full-on body shot of me OUT of the water, but I'll save that to look at on days when I think I'm lookin' good. I'm quite curvey still. ;D

I came out of my lesson to some messages on my phone: SEVERAL FB wishes, and I love that, which lasted all day long). I took my messages, a voice message from Ky saying: "Yer 50!!"
Nora and Smith: Ok, I couldn't copy the audio and video part, but Nora says: "happy birthday, LuLu" and blows a kiss and gives the Princess wave. Darling.

Stopped at Meijer to pick up a few things, 3 birthday cards for friends that share MY VERY SPECIAL DAY and some chips that you will hear about later, but for now, LUNCH with friends. LaNae called me on Monday and invited me to lunch, but this is MY VERY SPECIAL DAY. I told her I would be at Applebees eating a Quesadilla Burger and Fries. I had been planning this for several weeks. So, she rallied the troops and a bunch of fun frineds met me there, to share OUR VERY SPECIAL DAY, ME and Teresa Rowe:

We dressed the same: Black pants, white turtle neck and black leather jackets, not to mention the ever-so obvious "THIS IS MY VERY SPECIAL DAY" SMILE. Here's the rest of the crowd that had lunch:

Then just some quick stuff:

New shoes: I love them. I will wear them often. Black suede pumps with platforms. Kinda sexy for black suede pumps. Size 6-1/2 of course (you can refer to the previous blog posting for my shoe story).

PostOffice: Line too long.

Car wash.

Movie: This is where the chips come in. They say "no outside food or beverages" I think they say that so that we won't sneak liqour in and get too roudy during movies, but i stuck the chips under my shirt and got in without being frisked. Melinda and Debbie took the afternoon off too, and we saw the ever so cute Valentine's Day chick flick. It was a darling show, and still is. I think I'll watch it again on DVD when it comes out. It had something for everyone. I got a free Medium Diet Pop from my frequent watchers card, or maybe they knew it was MY VERY SPECIAL DAY. My list goes on...

COSTCO: Maybe that wasn't on the list, but I needed softner salt and roses and to renew membership, so I did those things.

Quinn was next... She was sick on her VERY SPECIAL DAY. Something I have never experienced and hope she never does again. But she is still darling, isn't she?

Then to Isaac's: He was happy to see me when he opened the bag full of

7 treats. (He and Quinn are both 7 years old.)

It was dark and I knew J-man was at a meeting, so I just went on home. I had more sewing to do, but did not. I just watched Survivor and had a nice quiet evening.

THEN FRIDAY CAME: J-man did plan a dinner party with some family and close friends. I wore beautiful earrings and broach that he gave me. We ate my favorite things with many of my favorite people in celebration of MY VERY SPECIAL DAY. (Andy and Christina, Jim and Ken were unable to make it) Steve and Melinda are sitting (hidden) on J-man's left. Del and Dawn arrived in time for dinner. We had homemade pasta, Linda brought my favorite salad, the bread was perfect, Debbie made her very yummy Heath Cheescake and Kathy reminded me thruout the night that we are now in different decades (she's still 49). I love her.

It swas a fun time and yummy dinner.

After everyone left, it was a beautiful

wind-down from MY VERY SPECIAL DAY.

I got more attention than I asked for and the

thoughtfulness of my family and friends was

beyond what I could dream of.

My children live very far away and I miss them terribly every day.

The past few years have been woven with tragedy and drama.

But I had MY VERY SPECIAL DAY and I'm glad to be 50.

SHOES, GLORIOUS SHOES

2010-01-28T14:55:00.018-05:00

I love shoes. In Kindergarten my Gramma Mattson bought me 2 pair of school shoes. Saddle shoes (I hated them) and another navy that I loved.

I think part of the reason I love shoes so much is because they are loyal. I mean If my rear is a size 8, my shoes are 6-1/2 . If my rear is a 14, shoes, still 6-1/2. It's easy to buy shoes for me, not narrow, not wide, not hard to fit, no 6th toe.

I learned a few years ago, (and am still incorporating this into my life) that if you find a pair of shoes that you love, buy them. Then find the outfit to go with them later. If shoes fit and look good, you're all set. Kind of like good undies.

I like a bargain. I like to buy shoes on sale. J-man calls it cheap, but the hunt is worth it. I got married in a beautiful antiqued ecru lace tierd dress that I made. Lucky me, I found antiqued ecru lace shoes to go with it. They were even ON SALE. Ya know what I said as I paid the cashier the $3.12 ($2.99 plus tax)? "what is your return policy on sale shoes?" Did I really say that? They looked like they were made for the dress. I kept them. (No picture available)

So many shoes are made now in China, but shoes made in Brazil and France are the best.

I have a pair of ankle strap amethyst satin shoes that I got to go with a special ball gown. (They weren't $2.99) I think they look kinda sexy. Dawn calls them "hooker shoes". That's a little trashy for me. I like to think of them more as "baby, take-me-home-and-I'll-do-you-right-shoes".

DSW is a happy place. They have a rewards program. If you are ever there and they ask for your rewards card or number, just give them my home phone number. I'll thank you later. Well, they send coupons. I had one once, and it expired. Ratz. I hate when that happens. It's like free money. I vowed to never let one expire again. SOOO when I got another one, it was only for $10.00, but better my $10.00 than theirs, right? I walked in on expiration date, straight to the CLEARANCE ROOM, 6-1/2 rack and looked for the yellow or purple stickers (those are the ones with the best % off). Picked a pair, stuck my feet in them (of course using those not-really-hose) and knew they were mine. Proudly marched to the register, presented my coupon and the shoes and she kindly asked for FIFTY TWO CENTS. Now THATs my kind of deal. Green shoes, you'll see them below too. I wear them more often than I thought I would ever wear green shoes.

Sometimes no shoes is pretty darn good too, like when you're with your sister enjoying a fresh pedicure. :D

Make sure your shoes are comfey and smart. Check out the sales. Dress from the ground up. Find a good cobbler (that's old talk for shoe rapairman). If he's old with a couple warts and speaks broken English, he will be best, I think. Yes, I guess I am sterotyping. Get fresh heel plates so you don't go "click-click-click" when walking on tile. Clean them up nicely, tops and bottoms, in and outs.

If anyone thinks shoes never changed a girl's life never med Dorothy or Cinderella.

Lillian Ingabourg Jaakkola Mattson

2010-01-22T13:54:00.007-05:00

That's a lotta long names for my

"Gramma Matt".

I love her.

She took me to Mackinac Island the summer I was 8. Here we are.... Great tennies, eh? and... Hey, Gramma, I love that hand bag. (Really, I do. I wish it was still around, I'd use it and be happy about it.)

If I'd had more kids I'd have named them Lilli and Jakk or Jaak. (not typo-s, pronounced yakolla, a Fin from the UP.) Guess I got the double consonent thing goin', nn, tt.

She was widowed in her early 30's with only 1 child, an adolescnet daughter (my mom), so when we grandkids came along, she was luuuuuvin' us up. She loved my dad too. She never re-married. That's a long time to be not married. I admire her for her integrity. She had that.

She died when I was only 10, but in those 10 years we got to know eachother quite well, and I don't feel jipped at all by losing her so young.

I think my mom looks much like her, and I like my mom. I miss them both. They were both fabulous Grammas. I'll see them again one day.

Ok, it’s Tuesday at LuLu’s and I’m all alone.

2010-01-19T21:10:00.009-05:00

Two years ago “Olivia” told me there are 3 children around me. Yep, guess I don’t hide them well… that’s a good thing. And they make me sooo happy. Now there are 4. But they are NOT at LuLu’s. That makes me … uhmmmm, ok, I’ll say it, as selfish as it sounds… so sad.

When the Evans’ moved that was a change.

The timing was less painful, because about that time Marley started fearing me less… maybe even “liking” me. If it was all and only about LuLu, that would be great, but I love each of those kids, for any duration, combination and location, as long and as much as they will let me. I saw Nora every day.. she was a great neighbor. I miss her.

And now that I have met Smith, I miss him too.

TUESDAY THE WAY IT USED TO BE: Ky and Marley would arrive anywhere between 5:30 and 6:30pm. Dinner, usually Mac N Cheese, Mickey shaped chicken nuggets, chocolate milk, and/or what ever the heck else they wanted. They were at LuLu’s and they knew it was all about THEM! Guess we all felt like “it’s all about ME!!” and I think we’re right.

If there was something that HAD to be done, here were my choices: DON’T, or make it fun enough for Ky and Marley. If we were in the middle of doing one thing and an idea popped into Ky’s head, we’d stop, drop and shift.

If Marley wanted to (and she usually did want to)

watch Dora, of course Dora went on the DVD player.

A hat usually came in to play with Marley. We are alike that way: we love hats, and I think I am not lying

when I say we love each other.

Ky and I would do our thing in the TV room, or we’d run back and forth. Papa would arrive about 8:20 with Slurpees. One night he was running late. I hadn’t noticed, but the Slurpee alarm was sounding in Ky’s tummy or brain, or where ever the Slurpees hit. “Where’s Papa? Why’s he so late?” TaDah!!! The sound of the garage door

sent us all into a giddy, screechy, Slurpee dance. Up the stairs he’d appear, Ky was the first to take his part of Papa’s load. Mar toddled over with hands out (kind-a Frankenstein-esque style), grabbed the goods and gave the obligatory hug and cheek lend. Goofey, how Slurpees are even treats in December. Parents would arrive and bring us all back to reality. Jammies, prayer and a ride home to bed.

Many things they would say, do, put on, would be enough to make me laugh all week. Actually, I still laugh about things they did several weeks ago, and even longer ago.

Today at LuLu’s, fun? Not so much.

Memories of Tuesday’s at LuLu’s? PRICELESS

Drops of Kindness

2009-05-11T07:49:00.044-04:00

I haven't seen anyone else blog about this, so I'm taking it on.

In celebration/commemoration of the organization of the Relief Society, the Brighton Ward had a family day where we ran around the community sharing

"Drops of Kindness".

I believe it was the Brainchild of The ever-so-fabulous (and often-so-humble) Wesley Casper and Polly Mallory. Here's how it went:

Calling all families: Meet at the church at 9:00.

(Be sure to bring your rakes, shovels, gloves and smiles.) Get fueled-up with a yummy pancake breakfast.

Get your assignment. (Calls were made earlier to find out where help was needed.) Assignments were based on the need of the "dropee" and the ages and number of people in the family.
Go-Go-Go. Be kind!!!

J-man and I were asked in advance to be the photographers, to follow everybody around and photograph what was going on. I got to use Wesley's really fancy camera. (The pix posted are from my not-so-fancy one tho.)

Care kits were assembled for the children at the shelter. There was some sort of project for everyone to work on, outside, inside, with other people, solo. Just to show that anyone, everyone can drop kindness around them. I think of the Primary song: I want to be kind to everyone, for that is right, you see. So I say to myself, remember this, "kindness begins with me."

Pam and Kent Aeschliman are heading down to Pinckney to spread their kindness.

Potted flowers were dropped off at random locations.

Wes also gave us a boat-load of change to spend. Woo-Hoo!!! Taco Bell here we come!!! Oops, not a good idea.

BUT:
Pre-paying in the vending machines in the hospital waiting room, coins in the laundramat, pre-pay the car wash. (Ya know, the quarter car washes require 7 quarters now!!!) I wanted to buy some instant winner lotto tickets, but J-man shot that idea down.

Challenger Elementary:
There were families with kids. Parents worked, kids worked. This job was to shovel pea gravel onto the playground. Much had spilled off into the parking lot. Good thing there were lots of folks, 'cause that's a lots-a pea gravel.

Opera House: They got a scrubbing, sweeping, spit shine thru and thru. I think they must have been singing as they worked, 'cause they sure did look happy.

Gleaner's Food Bank:

Sorting bags, packing eggs. They were very thankful for the help. Another group from a local church were there also. Nice to have brotherhood in "kindness".

A house on the lake: The homeowner wasn't there, so work got started and carried on. The neighbors came out to see what was going on and expressed their delight.

A house on Spencer Road:

This homeowner was out with her gloves on. She was thrilled to have help. She wasn't looking for a free ride, just a bunch of happy families to help get the job done. There was a lot of work to do, and do, they did. They took a moment to do a little rockin' after their rakin' O-style. Bags were donated by the City of Brighton. It was made known in the community that kindness was being dropped on Livingston County.

A new friend found: This sweet lady is a 2 time cancer survivor. Hmmmm, how did Wesley know to have Theresa Rowe go to her house to help? (Theresa is a 2 time survivor too.)

By noon we stopped for lunch, and hoped everyone else had a great time too.

Now, go be kind today.

The Last of the 25

2009-05-11T07:38:00.003-04:00

23: I'm "Urgency Addicted" That means I work best under a deadline. For example: no force, seen or unseen "makes" me update my blog. In running my business, my clients are my force.

24: I like white. Underwear, kitchen, dining and bathroom linens and toilet paper must be WHITE.

25: hmmm... shux I thought I had this one figgered out. Gimme another 2 days. Oh, yes, I remember!!! Mabeline is my mascara, always, for years. I've tried others, Revlon, Mary Kay (every time they have a "new" formula), Estee Lauder. No thanks: Mabeline is the one for me!!

Endurence

2009-04-19T13:30:00.021-04:00

Ok, maybe I'm a tuff old broad, well, ok, I AM, but actually, I don't think I've changed so much in the past 30 years.

Are you above grief? Do you feel like you don't "deserve" trials? Do you get "mad at God" when crap happens in your life? Mad at GOD? What the heck is that all about?????

OK, a discussion at church today was about enduring. We all need to endure. What we endure depends on what we're given. When crap happens, do you say "Why me?" Buck-up girls. Why NOT you? Why not Me? Because we pray daily for strength, peace and happy children? Because we welcome new neighbors with fresh-baked cookies? Because we have killer hand-outs for a Sunday school lesson?

I came to know in my late teens that I was given trials to prepare me for more to come. In my 20's I figured "this is the tragedy I've been groomed for." and I pulled myself up and sparkled-up the life I was in. In my 30's it was "oh, I guess that last trial helped prepare me for this one. Did I really agree to this?" Go figure. Then another tragedy. I remember J-man and I walking the halls of a hospital KNOWING that something good would come from this, that there was something to learn. DONE. Heckey-naw!! Ok, would you rather have a brick house fall on you? You never see it coming, BAM! OR, would you want see the mountain crack and the avalanche start rolling your way? We can't even chose that. What we can chose is, when crap happens, do we kneel to plead for help, comfort and understanding? OR do we get mad at God? I want to be on HIS side!!

I'll just say "thanks for knowing me, loving me, sending your Son to bear the burden; thanks for comforting me when I am able to be still enough to feel it, thanks for strong lungs that can breath in and out when day to day seems too far away; thanks for gently guiding me when I cannot know which way to go. Thanks for the trials? Hmmm, not really, but "thanks" for the ability to grow closer through the trials, and for having confidence in me, after all, I AM one of the ninety and nine.

Easter.

2009-04-12T19:59:00.013-04:00

Is it different from other Sundays? Is the Lord present in my life every day? Do I daily have an awareness of His atonement and resurrection? Is Good Friday more sacred? Is Easter Sunday more reverenced than any other of the 51 Sabbath days in the year? I guess that is a personal decision. Maybe it is sometimes a new beginning for people who would not usually attend services for any reason, and whatever it takes to bring someone to Christ for regular gospel living? That's a good thing. There was some fuss about the Tiger's home opening game being on Good Friday? Hey, wait, don't they play ball on Sundays? Hmmm.

Each Sunday during our Sacrament, I read and re-read the words to the hymns; hymns of atonement, resurrection, forgiveness, redemption, and resurrection. "I Stand All Amazed" is my all-time favorite. I can still hear my grandma Matt singing it, and it tickles my heart. For that reason, I have read those words probably more than any other sacrament hymn. "...That He should extent His great love unto such as I, sufficient to own, to redeem and to justify" those are the words I have had ringing in my brain today. He love me. How much? "sufficiently". That's a lotta love; enough to redeem ME, enough to own ME, enough to justify ME. am more than just one of the sands of the sea, I am one of the ninety and nine.

Cinnamon Anyone?

2009-03-22T20:52:00.016-04:00

I'm always working on my home storage. Ya know, with all that wheat and honey, we're gonna need some flavoring. Recently I was in the Mexican area of Detroit. There are some great eateries there and little markets. I always like going to little markets in out of the way places. Recently when Jerome and I were in Chicago we went to Devon street. Any Indian who has ever lived in or visited the US knows about Devon Street. We did some fun shopping while there, but this isn't about Devon Street. It's about cinnamon. Well, while in the shadow of the Ambassador Bridge, I bought 5 pounds of cinnamon. That's a LOT of cinnamon. I think I have enough for the entire community for a very long time. I like the sticks. Not the tough little ones that Durkee put in a little bottle and sell for $4.oo. The long thin, multi layered ones that usually are cut down into 4-6 inch sticks and sold in 4 oz packages. But I wanted them uncut. That's about 25 inches long. How do you say "I want the cinnamon, uncut.... about 5 lbs" in Spanish? Well, we got it figured out. I got a bundle and spent about $30.00 for a lifetime supply of cinnamon for ..... like I said, a LOT of people.

Then to process it. Not all of it, just some, but then to store the rest of it. Can't get wet or dusty. Vacuum sealed. Some ground.. by hand, (can you say Micro plane? A MUST HAVE. Robbi Schneider told me to get one, and I think of her every time I use mine.) and some by electric coffee grinder. Yes, this non-coffee drinker has a coffee grinder for.. grinding cinnamon!!!

It is nice, also to take a piece and just suck or chew on it. I'm not sure where this stuff was grown, but I love it. I'll make an attempt to post picture of it. If it doesn't work now, I'll have my "blogsupport staff" help out in the next day or two."

Cinnamon anyone?

Now I only need 3 more Random Things

2009-02-24T06:17:00.006-05:00

This is not as easy as I thought it would be:

10) Jerome is not my first husband. He's the longest, so I guess It's easy to forget the first.

11) I eat plain low-fat yogurt every morning for breakfast.

12) I'm not going to eat a single puncze today.

13) I danced Bollywood style in my hotel room alone in India. They had 2 American TV show stations and a g'zillion MTV type stations.

14) Last time I wore my saree I put it on backwards, and didn't know it. A darling teenaged hostess at the restaurant told me as i was leaving the restaurant. She asked who put on my "drapes". I was so proud to day I did it myself. She smiled and said "next time, put it on this shoulder".

15) I don't watch R rated movies. It makes rentals and theater much easier to decide, and not seeing several award-winning movies is... ok with me.

16) I didn't cry when my dad died. (I'll post more on that later, in March)

17) I lived with my oldest brother and his family for 7 months in Germany when I was a teenager. I met some great people, some I still am in contact with, many others I think of and wonder about often.

18) I spent a weekend in Paris alone when I was 14. (I was with a tour group, but once I got there I was on my own til we got on the bus to go back to Ludwigsburg.)

19) My mother gave me my middle name from Scarlett O'Hara (Vivian LEIGH).

20) The first name came from some sickeningly Sweet cologne mom wore for several years. Tabu by DANA.

21) I used to think I would be just like Dawn (my favorite sister) and said I was 5'3" and even bought size 7 shoes. I figured I would be just like her. I was nearly 20 before I admitted I'm NOT Dawn, I'm DANA.

22) My favorite birthday party was when I turned 17. It was the night of the Bloomfield Hills Stake Valentine Ball. Mom planned a Pre-Ball Ball, invited all my friends from around the stake, didn't mention it was my birthday. She copied a beautiful dress for me that Marie Osmond wore on her TV show and had butlered dors devours. The cake was a huge heart. It was a fabulous way to start off a great dance. It was a real grown up party and I LOVED IT.

Picture-Picture

2009-02-10T14:54:00.002-05:00

Ok, so I'm not so fond of any pictures of myself. Goofy expression, frizzy hair, freckles, wrong view, nose looks too sharp, cheecks look too full, you get the idea. Ya know, when we look at the babes in advertisements, the one picture we see is probably one of a g'zillion taken of them that day. I hesitate to put pictures of myself on the blog. I know, I know. It is what it is. But let me tell you about how I got the one that is there. We were having a Womens' retreat and the ever- so-fab photographer Laurel Hogge was in charge of getting pictures of each sister. So for a few weeks she was showing up at church with one of her cameras. I'm sure she has a truck load of equipment, but this was just a point and shoot camera. We were in the hallway, yukkin' it up and giggling, she knew I was uncomfortable with a lense pointed at me, but she made it fun and I was flipping my hair around and just being goofey. By golly, it's pretty dang good!!! Oh, I see my face is a little shiny, but.. it is what it is. Laurel did a great job.

I hesitate to give too much info online, ya know anybody can read it, but Laurel has a website, I did say she's a professional, didn't I? Enjoy her website. She has a great shoot from a Ford Mansion. She's not from around here, she's from Alaska, so I had to call and tell her what a big deal it is that she got that Ford job.

She's a doll and I wouldn't have been this happy in front of a lense with anybody else behind it.

22 Randoms

2009-02-05T17:10:00.006-05:00

4). I love Cop shows, Dragnet, Streets of SanFrancisco, Law and Order, Cops, The First 48... But I believe everybody's alibi. "I wouldn't lie to you!" I'd say "ok, go home, sorry to bother you."
5). I jumped out of a plane in Lehi, Utah when I was 17. John Holiday was impressed, I was ok with that.
6). I pulled out my first gray hairs when I was also... 17. Then my first dye job; "washed away only the gray". Now I use the real stuff. I always figured I'd get sick and have a bald head and let it all grow back gray. So far that hasn't happened. I may be one of those 80 year old ladies that you look at and say "Who does she think she's fooling?"
7). I love baking and cooking, always have and always will. I often eat something and try to figure the recipe in my mind. I don't follow recipes too often, but things usually turn out ok.
8). I never knew my grandfathers. One died when my mom was a child and the other left the family when my dad was a pre-schooler. My dad was a fabulous grandfather. Darned good dad too.
9). I went to a fortune teller once. She wanted $100. I wasn't THAT interested. We agreed on $35. It was interestin. Not too spooky. She knew some stuff that was not too generic.
...Stay tuned... Is this ego, or what? Like anybody really cares? I guess it's more for me than anything.

25 Random things about me

2009-02-05T07:01:00.005-05:00

It may take me 25 days:
1.) I'm the only redhead in my family. My sister always had soft beautiful blond hair.
2). I had the same kindergarten teacher as my mom and dad. (Miss Eisenberg, also a redhead)
3). My Gramma Mattson made me feel like life was magic.
... more to come...

The New Year celebration

2009-02-01T12:54:00.005-05:00

The last Sunday of the year Jerome was at his parents' house caring for his dying father. I was having a light lunch and the power went out. It happens in the countryside and in bad weather. Ya never know for how long. Soooo, I got out the old phone (the one that you plug in to the wall for phone line, not electricity. Everybody should keep one on hand) and called the electric compay. I know the number by heart: 800-477-4747. The recorded message said that yes, there is a power outage. The recording couldn't even tell us what to expect in terms of how long. Hmm, 2 hrs? 2 weeks? No clue. So, into emergency mode: candels and matches, flashlights, wood for the stove, Pot of water to keep heated on the stove, battery operated alarm clock and radio. All that great stuff that I buy from Emergency Essentials really comes in handy. And that beautiful wood buring stove Jerome hooked us up with last year? Yep, lovin' it now. (I'll learn to post pictures and have them on hand so that you can see not only the beautiful stove, but the fabulouse marble and slate tile work the the men in my life did.)I am thankful for it. Monday: Glad to go to work. Kirstynn, being my neighbor, was out of power too, so she felt my pain. Actually, I wasn't having much pain. We take benefit of the day-light hours and set things of for easy function in the dark. It's dark at 5:30, so we went to the pool. Entertainment, exercise AND a hot shower. Jerome stayed in Dearborn to care for his dad. Kirstynn went to her Monday Girls' Night and Nora slept in my bed with me and we watched a movie until the battery died. I think the power came on the evening of the 31st. Again, I refer you to Kirstynn's blog, December 31st. .

On the afternoon of New Years' Eve, Jerome and I went for a Couples Massage. It was a well-deserved treat. The Om Spa in Dearborn that really does it up nice. OM Spa... Ahhh, another shower!!! New Year's eve was once again Jerome's turn to spend the night with his father. I decided to spend the night too, Pauline was there of course and Aunt Theresa was there too. It was not the average New Year's Eve celebration we would normally enjoy, but it was necessary.

New Year's Day was quite fun, though. Their little house flooded with family, neighbors and well-wishers. It was really nice to see so many people that we love. We went to celebrate MARLEY'S FIRST BIRTHDAY. It's always a party withthose kids, but when BIRTHDAY is involved it means CAKE too, and Alison did a killer job on some ooohhh so yummy foods. See Alie's blog dated Jan 12.

On January 2nd Jerry took his final breath. Kirstynn posted on that event from her perspective. Jerome and I left for a couple of hours to have a long-planned dinner date with a co-worker. We made it a short evening and returned to find the house again, still filled with family. Matt and Alie spent their "date night" there and more family was there as well. The following few days were of course the viewing and the funeral. (I know it isn't right to compare for better or best, but I must say, Chuck Staub spoiled it for everybody who I know who will ever die from his death onward. I'll post more about that later too, so you're gonna get 2 years worth of stuff from me this year.) Once the funeral events were over, we were able to take our winter get-away to Florida. That's the week it was in the 50s in the Sunshine state. So, you see, this is a glimpse of the chaos that I am growing from by February 14th. That's my target date for being "on track". You'll see how that works out for me.

2009

2009-01-31T15:42:00.003-05:00

Ahhhh, January.. Out with the old, in with the new. I hesitate to make New Year's resolutions. I prefer to reflect and visualize what I want to be and make the changes in the coming year. I have had the thought in July... "I think I'll do that next year." It's "next year". So my visual includes BLOGGING. Posting and encouraging. I also see orderly closets in my home and fun, filled scrapbooks to look at on Sunday afternoons with my grandchildren.

I'm quite thankful that 2008 is over. I pretty much missed the last few months of it and the first few weeks of this year, so my goal is that by Feburary 14th I'll be all up to date with life.

I'll take time in future posts to share some of the blessings, tragedies, inconveniences, and detours that I experienced in 2008.

What remains steady, I am so thankful for:
Peace in my home.
The endless game of catch-up I am in with my Father in Heaven. (I am blessed. I strive to be worthy. He blesses me more. I strive to be worthy ... you get the idea.)
A mother who loves me and thinks I'm fabulous. (If she tells me I am, I will strive to live up to that. It works: I keep striving.)
Children that really know me and love me still.
Grandchildren that turn the house to magic when they come. Jump on Lulu's bed? Sure!!
Knowlege that this is but a portion of our existence.

What you'll see from me this year:
Clean orderly closets.
Beautiful scrapbooks.
Healthy, properly proportioned physical self.

Testing, testing...1-2-3

2008-06-29T18:06:00.000-04:00

Can I really do this on my own?

User names, logins and passwords, OH MY!!!

2008-06-24T07:26:00.000-04:00

I remember my mother's first password. Farmer Jack grocery store was making it easier for their customers to write checks and even allowed the password customers to write their checks for over the amount for cash. It was MEL. Her first (and only at the time) grandchild. I remember my first password, my first day working as a transcriptionist for Henry Ford Hospital. I won't reveal it - I still use it sometimes. The next password I got was assigned to my by Dearborn Federal Credit Union. I'm sure my kids still know it, though my money card won't dole out cash with it any longer, however, it will open my car. But I don't know the password to use my ATM now. I do still have the un-opened envelope containing that information.

Do you have just one password on everything from your online banking, your blog site, Lands End online catalog, Travelocity, IM, work email, home email, yadda, yadda, yadda? If you have just one password for everything, and someone finds it out, then you're screwed. If you have a few different ones, then you need to remember which goes with which. Well, there are those times when you need to click on "forgot your password?" and then they'll email it to you. Hmmm, which email account did I register with? Then they have the series of questions, who was your lab partner in 9th grade, or what was the street of the first house you lived in. Dan Frechette and Ardmore. Funny how important it is today to remember those things from the past. I know several numbers, telephone, both home, offices and faxes, logins and passwords for several clients (they are amazed that I know their passwords -- I never tell them I don't know my own, I let them be impressed), birthdates of my siblings, inlaws, children and their families, my best friend from 3rd grade. I know my ssn, my husbands' (not a typo, the ssn of 2 husbands. actually I memorized the first one first, after I married Jerome. I figured if I needed his, I could ask and he'd tell me. If I needed the former, he'd say something like "none of your business") I remember my house number on Ardmore, and my Grandma Mattson's phone number (she's been dead for38 years).

But I forgot my password for my blog. Darling Kirstynn figured it all out for me and now I am on track. I hope she takes as good of care of me (tweezing chin hairs and keeping lotion on my feet) when I am even more old and unable to....

Another funny thing: Today would have been my 30th anniversary, had I remained married to Charles Harrison. Hmmmm, wonder what he's doing.. Still with wife #3? I wish him no ill. He gave me 2 beautiful children, who are reproducing the same. More about that .... maybe tomorrow.

Its a blog-blog world

2008-04-07T11:10:00.000-04:00

Peer paressure does funny things. It made me jump out of a plane was I was 17, and now I'm posting a blog under daughter pressure. ;) I guess I want to stay in the loop.
I think I'll need to put some photos in order soon too.