Follow-up back to Nov. 21: “I’m thankful for…reading

  YES, yes, I did receive a Nook for Christmas!  It was on backorder so I didn't physically receive it until early February but one month later I LOVE it!  I had some reservations about reading  not real books and had vacillated  back and forth about getting an e-reader since the Kindle came out. But I’ve found that it does feel very much like reading a real paper and binding book!  (I still have no intention of giving up on “real” books) The page size is about that of a paperback, there is no flickering like I’d expect from a computerized screen and the page turner is conveniently located beneath my thumb.

Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize…isn’t that most every girl’s favorite fashion mantra? So, of course accessories were  my next priority.  I  agonized more about choosing accessories than I do about making major purchases; finally settling on a navy blue zippered blue rip stop cover and a book light so I’m all set.

Our poet is published

Our grandson Jorden writes Slam poetry and regularly competes at a local coffee house. One of the coveted prizes, not even 1st prize, is a rubber chicken! He has three, two of which are shown in this photo. That's Grandma Henrietta in the purple dress and Chicktoria in the black strapless dress. I didn't know about Slam poetry being a genre but was impressed when a young man performed it at the opening ceremony of the Vancouver Olympics.
Last Sunday five Seniors from our local high school here in California were involved in a car crash. Fortunately no one was killed but the relatively small school of about 600 has been pretty shaken. Our grandson Jorden wrote this poem and was asked to recite it at the school board meeting last night. Not a dry eye plus he received a standing ovation. It was also published in the local paper, the Cedar St. Times!


Unbreakable
by Jorden Thomas
Memories spent reminiscing
about the past when things
were different are floating away
now. Reality has struck the
heart of every individual and
silence strikes back with a force
never before seen. Lives have
been affected by the mistakes
of youthfulness and the dreams
of the wise. Yes, our community
has been affected. Yes, we find
ourselves experiencing an
uncomfortable sense of calm,
our breathes deepening and
our eyes filled with tears. Do I
know them well? No. Am I liked
by them? I don’t know. But they
are classmates…They are
people with whom, for the last
four years, I have gone through
the epic journey of high school.
The times are rough for those
who sat in classrooms with
them. The times are even more
difficult for those close to them.
And for family members, the
pain is unimaginable! Tragedies
of this degree always strike in
unexpected ways and at
unforeseen times. This tragedy
just happened to occur on a
rain-slicked highway in the
darkness of a Sunday morning.
Now, our mourning must travel
a road that will end in triumph
over an event that is already life
changing. To my fellow
students: I give you my undying
respect. To my community: I
give you my condolences.

We are Breakers…We are
family…We are strong.
We are unbreakable!

Manicures and Pedicures...ooo...ahh...that feels good!

I've never been much into manicures and pedicures but every once in awhile Gary gives me a gift certificate for one or both which I hold for a very long time. Well, yesterday I decided that I should use the ones dated 12/23/2008 so I took myself over to the Magic Nails shop.

The first thing they called out to me was "pick a color" and I turned to see this rack of literally dozens of nail polish to chose from! Amazingly one color popped out at me so I didn't have to agonize over a color. Then I climbed into the chair which was outfitted with electric message which rolled up and down my back. This is pretty neat! Feet go into the little jacuzzi tub, ahh that feels good! Clipping, snipping, filing, buffing, lotions...pampering feels good! The final step is the polish. I don't like my fingernails to be painted bright colors so I choose clear but the toes, yes, I love the bright Cha-Ching Cherry red!

But the pretty nails part aren't as important (although I admit that my hands and feet do look a whole lot better!) as the wonderful foot and hand messages that are part of the process. Why in the world don't I do this more often?

P.S. Toes really are pretty ugly aren't they...even when they're painted Cha-Ching Cherry?>

"Green" today!

I carry my three cloth "green" bags in the truck at all times but can never remember to actually take them into the store and use them! I really want to, maybe not so much for the environment but they are so much easier to tote than those limp plastic bags (and paper is just too unwieldy for me, plus I never re-use paper for anything!)

So...I am proud to announce that today I really did make use of them! They seem to be a little less efficient for the store clerk to manage but are really worth the effort.

I will continue to try and make this a habit (Isn't there a quote that goes something like "it takes 21 days to make a habit?")

Happy Valentine's Day

Grandson Jorden found this little rock "heart" this week...how timely!


HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Sunrise at Laguna Seca

While the eastern part of our country struggles through snow drifts we enjoyed a beautiful morning sunrise complete with crescent moon. Today Dulee (little white Bichon) and I were treated to this beautiful eastern view of a blue, rosy sky, silhouette of Coast Oak trees and the bright white moon when we took his morning constitutional walk. To be truthful I'm not sure that he even noticed but I did!

Ah, winter in California!

Christmas Eve 2009

Make a Smilebox collage

Countdown to Thanksgiving- Today IS Thanksgiving!-I'm thankful for...

...it is SO hard to narrow down specifics because I have SO much to be thankful for! Today we had good friends and family join us and enjoyed great food for Thanksgiving dinner. The weather was a beautiful Monterey Peninsula paradise-type day UNTIL we decided to set up our table outside and eat on the deck. Then...just as we started to serve our meal the fog rolled in! (This is quite typical of Monterey Peninsula "paradise weather!") We were all cold despite the patio heater, ate as quickly as possible and adjourned inside for pecan and pumpkin pie.

I like the poem that grandson Jorden chose to read before dinner:

MORE THAN A DAY

As Thanksgiving Day rolls around,

It brings up some facts, quite profound.

We may think that we're poor,

Feel like bums, insecure,

But in truth, our riches astound.

We have friends and family we love;

We have guidance from heaven above.

We have so much more

Than they sell in a store,

We're wealthy, when push comes to shove.

So add up your blessings, I say;

Make Thanksgiving last more than a day.

Enjoy what you've got;

Realize it's a lot,

And you'll make all your cares go away.

by Karl Fucshe

Countdown to Thanksgiving-2 days-I'm thankful for...

the chocolatey gooey, ooye butter cookies that grandson Jorden is baking and, as you can see...eating!

Countdown to Thanksgiving-3 days-I'm thankful for...

today I'm especially thankful for... Dr. says my eye is doing great and I can start wearing my contact lens again. Yippee!

Note: I had a ptosis (drooping eyelid) which was affecting my vision so two weeks ago had it fixed! I went well but didn't look very good for about a week!