Wednesday, May 31, 2006

a rose is a rose

My two loves....Disneyland and roses. Together;-)

http://www.cottagegardensofpet.com/rsdisneyland.htm

I finally got my Disneyland rose. We went to Oregon this past weekend to see Roy and Eleanor (and Steve, Roberta, et al) Saturday we went out to breakfast with R & E, then did some shopping, before meeting Steve and Roberta at Roy's for dinner. We went to the Jackson & Perkins store (Harry & David) They were having a rose sale. I got my Disneyland rose for $10! W00t. Color me happy:) I think this makes close to 20 rosebushes now.

It was good to see everyone this weekend. Both Roy and Eleanor seem to be going downhill though:( Roy is back to using his walker, and Eleanor just seems weak and tired. I think we need to make a concerted effort to get up there more often this summer.

Sunday morning before we left, we stopped at Elycia and Dan's for a few minutes before we went to Steve's. I finally got to hold Gabriel. What a cutie he is. (He's our newest grandnephew) He's 6 months old now. I was sick the last time we were there so I didn't get to see him... I got baby snuggles this time though. *sigh* It's a good thing this baby factory is out of business. Holding Gabe gave me baby lust;-)


Still nothing on the Santa Maria job front. The guy down there really wants Chris and is willing to do a temporary thing. It's back in MK's court now. Chris told them about my concerns about Kaya, and why we can't/won't sell this house and move permanently. Right now they are doing the budget at work, so all energies are on that.....*Sigh*
This waiting is slowly driving me crazy.

Thursday, May 25, 2006


Your Birth Month is December



You love life and exude an outgoing, cheerful vibe.

Blessed with a great sense of humor, you can laugh at adversity.



Your soul reflects: Celebration, success, and wealth



Your gemstone: Blue Topaz



Your flower: Narcissus



Your colors: Indigo, green, and blue-green

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

midweek smiles

This information is for Catholics only. It should not be divulged to non-Catholics. The less they know about our rituals and code words the better off they are.
The only exceptions are possibly Episcopalians and Lutherans---you know, the Catholics who moved to the suburbs and started voting Republican.

GLOSSARY OF TERMSAMEN: The only part of a prayer that everyone knows.

BULLETIN: Your receipt for attending Mass.

CHOIR: A group of people whose singing allows the rest of the parishto lip-sync.

HOLY WATER: A liquid whose chemical formula is H2OLY.

HYMN: A song of praise usually sung in a key three octaves higher than that of the congregation's range.

RECESSIONAL HYMN: The last song at Mass often sung a little more quietly, since most of the people have already left.

INCENSE: Holy Smoke!

JESUITS: An order of priests known for their ability to find colleges with good basketball teams.

JONAH: The original "Jaws" story.

KYRIE ELEISON: The only Greek words that most Catholics can recognize besides gyros and baklava.

MAGI: The most famous trio to attend a baby shower.

MANGER: Where Mary gave birth to Jesus because Joseph wasn't covered by an HMO. (The Bible's way of showing us that holiday travel has always been rough.)

PEW: A medieval torture device still found in Catholic churches.

PROCESSION: The ceremonial formation at the beginning of Mass consisting of altar servers, the celebrant and late parishioners looking for seats. End of Mass led by parishioners trying to beat the crowd to the parking lot.

RELICS: People who have been going to Mass for so long, they actually know when to sit, kneel, and stand.

TEN COMMANDMENTS: The most important Top Ten list not given by David Letterman.

USHERS: The only people in the parish who don't know the seating capacity of a pew.

Monday, May 22, 2006

books, books, books

Joseph and I went up to Sacramento today to the Scholastic Book Warehouse sale. They have these sales a few times a year: http://www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/warehouse

I got over $150 worth of books for less than $70. What a rush;-) I picked up a couple of books we can use for school next year, a few novels Joseph wants to read (and a few books for me too)
I also picked up some beautiful journals. 10 of them in fact. I am giving them as graduation gifts to a couple of special girls this year, and will put the rest away to give as gifts later. I love to give journals as a gift, along with a pretty pen:)

As we were coming home, we were going to stop at In N Out for a burger, but the shopping center we wanted to go to was surrounded by police cars, and all entrances were blocked. There were news vans all over the place. First, I thought maybe Dick Cheney was there, as he had been in Sacramento today. Nosy thing that I am, I changed my radio to a news talk station. I can't stand not knowing what is going on;-) Apparently, there had been an armed robbery, and a shootout. Wow, I'm glad we didn't go for lunch before we went shopping. We would have been right in the middle of all the excitement. They wouldn't let cars out....people were stuck there for hours:/

Saturday, May 20, 2006

happy birthday kaya michelle

Happy Birthday, Peanut.

You are 7 years old today. What a big girl! I hope you are having a wonderful birthday, wherever you are. It is another birthday that we are missing. Nana, Papa and Uncle Joe miss you a whole lot, and we love even you more. I am broken hearted that it has been so long since we have seen you. Since your mommy took you away, we don't even know where you sre, or if you are safe and healthy:*( I sure hope you are doing ok. Has your hair grown? It was starting to grow when you were last with us. Have you gained some weight?

It sure is hard today, Peanut. Papa and I went shopping, and I saw so much stuff that made me think of you. I wish with all my heart that I was buying a birthday cake for you, and lots of presents for you to open. Most of all, I just wish your mommy would bring you back to us, or at least let us know you are alright. I worry about you every day. We love you more than anything sweetheart.

Remember the doll you wanted for Christmas when you were with us? I stll have it in your bedroom, along with some other gifts.

Always remember how much we love you, Kaya Michelle.

With all our love,
Nana, Papa and Uncle Joe
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
(Those hugs and kisses will have to do until I can give them to you personally again)

Friday, May 19, 2006

tgif

Chris called and talked to his Dad today. Roy is doing a lot better. Those antibiotics work fast! He may get to go home Sunday. He wants to leave tomorrow, but I don't know if they'll let him out that soon.

He also talked to Eleanor. She said that the doctors told her that if she had waited a half hour more, that Roy would have been in big trouble. Thank God she got him in when she did. He is definitely a tough old bird.

We got a little bit of rain today. Just enough to water the garden and lawn;) It smells so good outside after the rain.

Dinner tonight was too good. Pizza and beer. Yum!

Oh! Joseph has decided what he is going to sing on Sunday at youth group for the parents... One, by U2. He sang it for Jo and the girls yesterday, and they loved it. He really sounds good:)

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

ugh

Well, I don't know that we will be going to Oregon or not this Friday....or whether we will be going sooner, or what.

Steve just called, and Roy is in the hospital with pneumonia:/ Eleanor took him to the coast for a few days for his birthday, and he got sick.

For Steve to call at 10 pm, it must be serious. Of course, this is the night Chris isn't home. I hope he calls soon, so I can tell him.

Its a bit scary. Roy isn't in good health. Pneumonia is NOT a good thing for him to have. I hope he can fight it off:(

If you're a praying person, say a prayer for his health, please.

midweek musings

It has been bloody hot here for the past few days. We've gone straight from a prolonged winter to summer. I need a gradual buildup from 60s to 90s, not 2 or 3 days:/ It is supposed to cool to the mid 70s later this week.

My garden is exploding! Everything is growing like crazy. The corn is already thigh high. We should have a good harvest this year:) My flowers are all blooming too. The roses are spectacular.

Chris has a big 'face to face' thing this week with people from all over the world. Tonight a bunch of them went to theA's game after their meeting. Since he wasn't going to be home, Joseph and I made an IKEA run this afternoon. I bought a couple of little chairs and a small table to put out under the big tree in the yard. They look very cute. I put a citronella candle in a bucket on the table, and hung some tiny wind chimes in the branch. Voila! A perfect place to sit and have a glass of wine in the evening....or a cup of coffee in the morning.

Friday is FIL Roy's birthday. I *think* he'll be 81, but I'm not sure. Chris is going to take a half day off (I wish he could leave even earlier) and we're going to drive up to Oregon to see the ILs. We have to leave early Sunday morning though, so we can be back for youth group. It is a youth led meeting so the parents and parish memebers can come see what it's all about. Joseph is going to sing....but he still hasn't picked out a song:/

I'm feeling sad and upset at the treatment I am getting by certain people at a certain forum (which shall remain nameless) Things (untrue things) are being said about me, and I don't even have the opportunity to defend myself from the *attacks* (I feel they are attacks. The women making the statements don't, I'm sure)
~~Enough whining for one day.~~

I think I'll go sit in my new chair under my tree with a nice glass of chardonnay. Hopefully it will help:/

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

what's goin on

The Marvin Gaye song has been going through my head lately.


Chris got a job offer in Santa Maria. I haven't been sleeping well since then. I don't want to move. I really don't want to move. There are many reasons, lots of them selfish. I love my house. I love where it is (ok, I don't care much for the politics here in cow town...but other than that) We are close to everything we like to do, and it is easy to get to anywhere we want to go.

If we moved down there, we would have to add 5 hours travel time to most anyplace we go (except for Disneyland) I can get to Reno/Tahoe in less than 3 hours. It only takes 5 to get to the ILs in Oregon.

Our life is here. Chris, God love him, goes to work and comes home. That is it, unless we go somewhere. Joseph and I OTOH, are very involved. He is a youth group leader, and he is in a band with his best friend. I am a parent leader at YG, a catechist, and a Eucharistic Minister at church. I don't want to start over. I am very shy IRL, and it is difficult for me to make friends.

There are lots of reasons I don't want to move, but the one that is most compelling to me is Kaya Michelle. I can't move away. What if her mother decides to abandon her like she did before? What if she comes to find us? I can't leave this house. I can't. It may be irrational, but that is the way it is. I am her Nana, and I have to be here for her.

Why couldn't they have offered him this job 5 years ago? There would have been no qualms about moving then:(

Luckily, they are now talking about making the job a temporary assignment....maybe a year. They would provide living accomodations for Chris, and Joseph and I would spend time there....most likely every other week or so. That would be doable.


*Sigh*

We'll see...

Thursday, May 04, 2006

!fiesta!

In honor of Cinco de Mayo


You Are a Strawberry Margarita
You're so sweet it's a little overwhelming, and people are a little afraid of corrupting you...It's a little difficult to imagine you with a margarita. And you're truly a different person after you've kicked back a couple!

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

6th grade graduation

Yesterday was the last CCD of the year. We opened the partition and had a pizza party with the 5th graders next door in Ana's class. Between Ana and I there were 9 large pizzas, and they were all eaten. Holy cow, can those kids put food away;-) She and I both brought cookies, and various students bought stuff as well. One kid in her class brought burritos and chips/salsa from a local restaraunt (her mom works there) I liked that, LOL. She will be in my class next year;-)

It was a fun day. I brought games and the kids just ate, had fellowship and had fun. I loved hearing thank you from some of my students. A few of them really surprised me. One boy came up, gave me a hug and thanked me for teaching him about God this year. I was really touched. He was one I had doubts about whether or not he even paid attention. I guess he did:)

I got end of the year teacher gifts too. I will be able to keep up with my Starbucks habit thanks to gift cards:-) I also got movie passes, and the most beautiful necklace. It is a heart with a cross inside it....like a Sacred Heart. Gorgeous. I'm wearing it now:)

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

cute, cute

So, Sunday we went to Petaluma to the antiques fair. I got a few cute things, including the coolest skirt ever. This lady makes clothes for kids from vintage table cloths, and she has made some women's skirts. I bought the first one on this page:
http://www.poppylarity.com/collectionwomen.html

I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but it is a print of Adam and Eve. SO cool! After looking at the web page, I'm glad I got it there, lol. She sold them at wholesale prices. $54 was a lot better than $90! I love the skirt, but I won't be wearing it to church;-)