ya know what's weird..???

..Oh stop it....... I see you pointing at your computer screen and smirking..

...not me...exactaly..

It's my house.

Weird things happen inside of it. Let me explain..

In an attempt to be energy-conscious, we do try to keep the heat at an appropriate level during the cold winter months. For energy-counciousness...yeah.....uh huh.....oh , and my Mother-in-law's comfort of course...

Mr. B and I like it on the cool side...like waking up and finding snow on the windowsill...inside..

All snuggly under the covers with our noses cold..yepeprs that's us.

So, to be fair to the pups and Mother-in-law (and to keep them alive) we keep the temp at about 68 -70 degrees. It's hard to see them all bundled up for dinner...

"winter attire" at our house..

If we set it at 73 , we'd be hot - no covers for us...Sooo, a warmish 70 degrees...

Then summer comes and it's hot hot hot. So we crank up the air-conditioning unit (the big-ol-tricked-out one we just put in..) We set it at a comfortable 73 degrees. And it's chilly...here comes the covers again...Hmmm..

Our "summer attire"...

The same 73 degrees that would roast us in the winter is chilly in the summer?

Then there's the whole "time-zone" thingy. I set all digital clocks for the same time. But it can be 5 - 8 minutes between the front room and the kitchen. And, in the kitchen I have a digital read-out on the stove top, the microwave above it and the kitchen radio on the left of it. All within a few inches or so...and all different times.

I can just see going into work and saying "well, I was on time when I left the stove-top..but I had to stop by the bedroom to pick up my watch and whadda know, I was 10 minutes late!

Oh, not to worry - the clock in the car is on another time zone altogether.

But that's OK, because in my car, it is a wintry 63 degrees -

..maybe we'll have snow on the window before I get to work...

...probably why I feel so old sometimes. After all I've had several more winters and summers than most....

But that's OK too. After all, I've got the time....at least in some part of the house.

And don't even get me started on daylight-savings-time......

-me - oh, and yes, I am ready for my cheese with my whine....thankyouverymuch...

Hey,it's almost bedtime on a Sunday night.....

.....I remember as a kid not wanting to see the week-end come to a close. Many years later and I still feel that way.


Excpet....this next week is going to be so much fun - so I really want it to start..


First, my sister, Kathy (the one I took to milk the cow) is coming for the night. A sleep -over! She and her husband Bruce are driving through to Idaho to visit his son and family for the Fourth. They'll get here about supper time on Tuesday, spend the night, then finish the trip.

Yes, it will be short. But you have no idea how much fun that either of my sisters and I can have in just a few short hours.

Then, on Thursday, Mr. B's brother, the other Mr. B ( Mr. B version 2.0) and his beautiful wife, Colette, will be coming to stay for the Fourth through our Mother-in-Law's (mine and Colette's - not the Mr. B's) birthday on the 7th of July.

They are the ones from the San Diego area who were all packed to be evacuated in last year's fires- but didn't have to at the last moment - let's pray it doesn't happen again!

So we have a lot of things sort of planned, although we're really not planners - we'd rather just say, "Hey, ya wanna go there..?" or "Let's try that for diner..."

This is last year's Mother-in-law's birthday..

The 2 Mr.s B's - The original (on the right) and Mr. B 2.0 (although Mr. B - original - is younger than Mr. B 2.0......I'm just sayin'.....)

(makes a Momma proud, wouldn't you say??)

We do have one neat bookstore we could go to and a couple of fun eating establishments to try.

There's a beautiful 55 acre gardens (Thanksgiving Point Gardens) that should be spectacular this time of year..they have a Monet garden, a Secret Garden garden.., and many other beautiful ones to see.


Also, most of the snow has melted and we may be able to go for a ride in the mountains.


Oh, and Sacha and I are going to see Wall-E - that adorable little robot from Pixar..I've heard he's really cute.


I'm planning on bringing a blanket to work. Outside the building, there's a little creek with a shady place to sit and watch the Momma and baby ducks swim by. Thought that's be a good place for a picnic lunch right in the middle of the work week.


Well, there you have it - my week's plans from a girl that doesn't plan....


Hope it turns out OK...


-me


ps - here's the galvanized stars I was telling you about - Mr. B is working sooo hard on the backyard! It's really coming along.

In the wee, wee hours of the morning...

...on Friday, I was up and making the two cakes - one for the company BBQ and one for us.

It was finally cool in the house and I had the front door and a few windows open. Perfect time of day - perfect light- perfect cuppa coffee..

There are times when I really REALLY like quiet, but I didn't want it so quite. Being not quite ready for television (I find that to be most of the time lately..especially when it's too early for Animal Planet or HGTV..)

So I turned on the kitchen radio.

Yeah, I have a kitchen radio. An under the counter, a CD playing-remote controlling,-AM/FM playing radio.

And I don't listen to it enough.

As the cake baked and the smell of the pineapples, sugar and pecans went through the kitchen, I was suddenly reminded of my Mother.

Those who know me from this blog know I was never close to my Mother and often resented her. She was what was referred to in the "good old days" as a manic-depressive, which in today's world, would be bi-polar.

And in my youth and ignorance, I never forgave her for that. Yes, I do know better now, but then, I didn't have many good, warm, wonderful memories of our life together...

But hearing that radio, in the wee still hours of that cool morning, drinking my "weak-artificially sweetened and non-dairily creamed coffee-like beverage" I thought about her.

She was never a TV watcher. She wasn't a crafter, nor a cook (she did cook, but I don't think she EVER enjoyed it) didn't like to read or talk on the phone, or play cards...

She didn't smile too much - not like these women, who, I'm almost certain were either drunk or drawn by a male artist..

But I know she did do most of that - I don't remember helping or really if my sisters had any real "house" responsibilities when she was home. ( she was quite often hospitalized for her depression) so...my sisters must have had to bear the brunt of those chores when she was away..

I do remember her hanging clothes on the line...and sometimes I'd help her with that - I loved the smell of freshly-dried towels and sheets...still do, although I don't have a clothes line anymore, sad to say...

And I remember these pins - before the springy-ones - and a clothes-pin bag that was always filled and ready..

I never saw her do anything crafty - can't remember her ever reading a book although she did like Life magazines.

She didn't have any hobbies...didn't like talking on the phone, wrote an occasional letter, but the most vivid memory I have of her is sitting listening to the radio.

How odd is that? I mean, it's not like she passed when I was a child..she lived until my children were adults. Weird, huh?

She did like to dance....

No.... not as a ballerina, but little quick-stepped dance while her radio played. I think I remember her smiling then.

And she did like Lawrence Welk on Saturday nights. Oh, and Ed Sullivan on Sunday nights.

Anyway, it's funny what will spark memories...a smell, taste, or a radio on in the wee hours of the morning....

I'm sorry for the years of resentment. And I know now that to be in her world wasn't easy. It was frightening, disappointing and filled with broken dreams.

And if the radio took her to places that made her smile, I'm glad it was a gift she enjoyed.

And when I'm alone in the kitchen listening to the radio, I hope she sees me and knows that I did love her...

-me

Home from the BBQ and I just gotta say...

...we had a blast! The weather was perfect, the home was stupendous, the drive up there was beautiful, the food was yummy, the kids were well behaved..

..and......

..we saw a camel.....?!?@#?@>??

...yeah.. in Utah...

...in June....

....on a Friday evening....

No, it wasn't one of those parties were you leave and hallucinate about seeing a camel. This is Utah after all...and I am old enough to be most everybody's Mother...

Nope. This was before the party. A Dromedary. I think..

hey,,,,I think he's smiling.... at ME :-)

One hump ?..

...or 2??

One.

Well, I don't mean I know for sure.....about the Dromedary-hump-thing ..it's just that he had only one...

And boy were the horses penned next to him thinking they were hallucinating...

Of course, during the party, when I was talking with the Vice President of the company, I thought I saw a WOLF !! Or a COYOTE!

But he leaned over and said in a very low whisper...."no- that's a German Shepherd.."

Well, it COULD have been a wild beast......

Then we saw cows, beautiful blue skies, lovely gardens, a cute candy store and thought-provoking Armed Forces memorial...

"Moo" (that's how it's pronounced in Utah...)

Out of the blue clear sky....

Front of the candy store..

Look at this beautiful wooden door!
Written on the wall in the candy store..

This is the memorial we discovered in the cemetary..it honored the Armed Forces..

Whew..it was a great night. Here are some quick photos of our host's lovely home..

The gardens were spectacular..

Frogs, a wishing well, purple flowers...

Secret gardens, pool fun, volley ball...

...and of course, FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!

A lovely time was had by all...especiall me & Sacha (my sweet supervisor! She even made Mr. B some of her private-reserve home-made hot fudge sauce!!)

Have a wonderful good night and be safe out there. Watch out for camels....and wolves...and...German Shepherds..............

-me

Let them eat cake.....

..or let me eat cake....

Tomorrow evening we've been invited to the company BBQ - this, I'm sure you know will, be my first...

..company BBQ - not my first ever BBQ - that would be just silly.

Didn't grow up going to too many BBQ's - uber hot in Arizona.

I guess we could've had a BBQ Thanksgiving..

..but again, that would just be silly. Turkey & sunblock..right.

So, I'm making a cake. Actually I'm making 2 - one for us to have here and one to take to the BBQ - you know, so you eat just a teensy smidgen and people marvel at your self-control.

Then, you leave the BBQ, and of course, leave any remaining gift-cake behind..all the while wanting to get home so you can get totally "cake-faced"....

I found this great quote - did I ever mention I love quotes? Well, I do. Usually have one for just about any mood I'm in.

Tonight I'm in a cake mood - and viola! A cake quote:

"A great many thing can be resolved with kindness - even more with laughter - but there are some things that just require cake..."

Hmmm...I concur

-me

Have you ever just wanted to sleep.....

...until you're.....................done?

I mean, the kind of sleep that's delicious. Where you melt into your bed and become one - sweet smelling sheets, cool crisp pillow cases..

"ah master...become one with the bed.."

No interruptions.

No clocks.

No pups that have to go potty ( not that I don't want the pups with me - I do - but maybe with bladders the size of bowling balls..??)

No lunches to make.

No me having to go potty (maybe with a bladder the size of a bowling ball??)

No phones to answer.

No place to be - nothing to do...

Just sweet-non-guilty-totally-absorbed-in-sleep ...sleep.

To feel like you're getting up because you're totally bored with bed...

Ahhh, wouldn't it be lovely!

(can you tell I'm tired tonight? - yeah, I thought so..)

So here are some pictures of where I'd like to be for about a week...

Pure bliss.....

I'm taking my tired old eyes to bed now - maybe they'll be awake enough in the morning to come visit you all!

g'night.

-me

Sometimes I totally amaze me...

After almost 59 years here and who knows how many years elsewhere, I can still surprise me.

I've never been known for my coordination. In high school I tried out for cheerleader. Everyone thought I'd be a shoe-in because of my excitement, energy level, school spirit and enthusiasm.

However, one really reeeeally important trait or talent to have for cheerleading is ....coordination.

Both of my sisters can dance. Kathy even taught line-dancing and performed as a Hawaiian dancer. (a kind of an Irish-Hawaiian-dancer..)

Gerri can dance. Also rides a horse reeeelly fast while going around an obstacle course AND shooting real guns with real bullets at real balloons! (it's some kind of cowgirl-thang...I donno...)

I am the one who "cheers them on". And not very well. But I do try....

So, I realized that, because I have been using the computer so much with this blog, I can simultaneously type with both hands!!!!!!!! AT. THE. SAME.TIME!

I am ambi-dexterous on the keyboard! That takes a certain amount of coordination, doesn't it?

I mean, I still sort of "hunt & peck" my way through life, but I can do it with two hands now. Getting to be a pretty fast "hunter and pecker"..ah..hunt & pecker....?

So that amazes me. As a kid I could never get that whole thing about patting your head while rubbing your tummy.

Walking & talking has proven not to be safe - I get lost in one or the other.

But, I can better use a 10- key that's on the left side, and I am mastering the "two-handed typing" thing.

Huh....I am just...... amazing...

Saw this comic in the Sunday funnies and wanted to share it with you ...you probably have the same funny papers in your Sunday paper, but I liked the artwork as well as the verbiage.

Hope you like it too. The comic strip is Buckles...by David Gilbert

It says:

Sprinkled dew upon the lawn,

a chilly morn but not for long

the rising sun warms the air

spring to life the days affairs.

Slowly moving across the sky

to summits point and seasons high

shining bright to all behold

shower down a rain of gold.

Too hot to staying full-day sun

the heat so bad it stops the fun

a resting break under tree shade

with ice-filled glass of lemonade.

Cooling time late afternoon

the smell of grills ready soon

restless times when sun to rest

fireflies glow for us to catch.

These longer days go by too fast

as though they weren't meant to last

so every day I'll make some time

to hold a moment....and keep it mine.

g'night, sweet dreams and God bless us eveyone...

-me

Ahhh, I do so love the sunrise...

..just wish it didn't start so early.....

..this morning when I got up, the sun just started peeking up from the mountains. It streamed in through the screen on to the flowers so I got the camera out. ...

didja wonder what I was going to do with the Scrabble letters??

This is what I see at the front door looking out - though the screen door.

The rose bushes are really looking good- and the grass is green.

Mother in Law planted some great blooms - I like seeing them through the screen door....

Sadly, George Carlin died today. I really liked some of his stuff - and speaking of "stuff" Google George Carlin's "Stuff" - it's really funny -

Because I have an affinity to quotes - here are a few of my favorite George Carlin ones....

I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death

May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house.

Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit.

Not only do I not know what's going on, I wouldn't know what to do about it if I did.

One can never know for sure what a deserted area looks like.

Think off-center.

What does it mean to pre-board? Do you get on before you get on?

When someone is impatient and says, "I haven't got all day," I always wonder, How can that be? How can you not have all day?

When you step on the brakes your life is in your foot's hands.

There's no present. There's only the immediate future and the recent past.

Weather forecast for tonight: dark. Continued dark overnight, with widely scattered light by morning...

I don't have hobbies. Hobbies cost money. Interests are quite free.

Always do whatever's next.

Dusting is a good example of the futility of trying to put things right. As soon as you dust, the fact of your next dusting has already been established.

Electricity is really just organized lightning.

Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist.

And, finally….

I'm always relieved when someone is delivering a eulogy and I realize I'm listening to it.

Good bye George Carlin - I hope they have room for your stuff in Heaven :-)

-me