Yardwork Weekend

The house looks so different with the maples gone!

Does anyone know how to get rid of a 500 pound mole? Ha ha! This is the aftermath of replacing the french drain for the washing machine. And center left, the mound is from having the maple stump ground up; it is not a termite mound :-)

The sundrops sure are pretty!

Profoundness

"It is funny what you do not see, when you are not looking." My sister, the philosopher.

Our other fav saying: "It is what it is...and it ain't what it ain't." Our mother the English teacher would be appalled!

Fortune Cookie

I don't put too much thought into the message that I get in my fortune cookie...but this one really is true. It said: your surrounding friends will take good care of you. And they have!! I'm blessed to be able to call some amazing and astounding women my friend!

Cutie pie

My nephew is growing up so fast. He was so cute at lunch the other day...feeding me french fried and giving me high fives. I loved playing with him, spoiling him and then sending him home :-)

Memorial Day

George Orwell (1903-1950)said:
"We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who do us harm"
We owe these men and women past and present a huge debt of gratitude. It is for their sacrifice that we can live in peace. THANK YOU!!

A Night of Baseball

(Buddy, Me and Tdawg)

(Buddy, Cletus and Tdawg)

(Stars Player and Buddy)

(Buddy with his game ball)

(Miracle League members)

Miracle League sponsored a night under the stars with the Stars. The Stars are the local farm team for the Milwaukee Brewers. The kids got to meet the players, stand on the field during the National Anthem and eat hot dogs. We had quite the turn out!! And the kids loved it. We could not have had a nicer evening!

Thunder Mountain

While in Denver, we went up to Thunder Mountain Harley. They were having a really cool car show. Sure would have liked to treat myself to the Mustang...maybe one of these days. Although, I think I would have to get a convertible.

Alumni Donation

Most of the trip to Denver was sad and depressing...mixed with a lot of hard work. We had to go through my Dad's things. Since he had lived in the house since 1958, he accumulated a lot!! He was an avid golfer and love to find treasure...that is lost golf balls. So, we had plenty to give away. I called WRHS (my alma matter)and asked the golf team if they would appreciate them. They naively said "Yes". So Sissy and I put them in hefty sacks as full as we could lift and drove them over. As I was going into the high school, the principal was coming out. It turns out that I know him! We graduated the same year. He was the star quarterback. It was a little surreal to see him there. You should have seen his eyes pop when Sissy and I unloaded at least 12 hefty bags of golf balls! Sadly, we still had more! I don't think that they will be calling on this alum for any more donations!!

Thanks

Just a big old fashion THANK YOU to all whom have prayed and called and sent cards and flowers and goodies. It has been a really tough time and it really helps to know that y'all really do care!!

New Nickname

So, I had a nickname at work: "Crash", from when the van pulled out in front of me. Since being in Denver I have developed a nervous twitch above my left eye. So, they have fondly nicknamed me "Twitchy". Apparently my nerves are shot. No wonder. On top of regular family life, and losing my Dad...I have a new job. There was another (3 in a year!) layoff at work. I am still employed there...and moved to do the payroll. So far there have been six people in that position in three years. An average of six months. Hmm. Well, the job doesn't seem to be too bad thus far. I may change my mind on that. At least everyone at work seems pleased that I took over that position. And I'm hoping that the long holiday weekend will take away my nickname. My twitching is getting on my nerves...literally.

One year later

One year since receiving it, my digital camera is still the best gift ever. (Thank you Sweetie!) It kept me somewhat sane in Denver. I love the Ansel Adam-ish aspen trees in Dad's yard.

Final Resting Place

We picked this place to leave Dad. I still can't type this without the keyboard getting wet. The reality has not full sunken in. I picked up the phone to call him the other day. I knew to dial 1...but then what. I stared at the phone for awhile. It just does not seem real.

Memorial

Dad's Memorial service was really nice. We had a good mix of family, friends, clients and golfing buddies. I think Dad would have been touched. We were most surprised by the clients. Dad really went above and beyond in helping his clients. We just never knew. I was proud of Sissy for getting up and giving a fitting tribute. Her description of Dad as "high spirited" got a few chuckles. Dad was nothing if not passionate. Nothing was undecided in his mind; he had a strong opinion about everything. My oldest brother read from Dad's first hand account of Pearl Harbor. It was fascinating. I will post the narrative at a later date. There was also a great slideshow. Dad had personally autographed pictures of several of the high ranking Navy officials of the time. They including Admiral C. Nimitz, the Pacific Fleet First Admiral and who signed for the US when Japan surrendered on the USS Missouri.



Afterwards, we had a reception and took lots of pictures. I don't think that a picture of all four of us had been taken since my college graduation.

Then and Now

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Yes I'm still a blinker. This is me and my brother, Little Ricky

A little knowledge...

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. I was trying to customize this page. I flipped out a few minutes ago when the whole blog was blank! I panicked and called Mrs. Goofy. Who goes shopping at 8:30pm?? That's ok. I finally got the pictures, text and my old format back. Whew. I think that I will quit while I'm (almost) ahead.

Cousins and Traditions

One nice thing about going back to Denver, was to see extended family. This is me and Lainie, my cousin. She and I are only a year apart. Whenever we got together we would talk non stop and share secrets. Before going home, our parents would always line us up back to back to see which was taller. Yes, I'm still taller, even without heels. I took off my heels and bent my knees for this picture.

Catch Up

The Saturday that I learned of my dad's passing...I was with Cletus and Buddy. Their was a day of fishing for special needs kids. It was really cool. These kids teamed up with a fisherman and his boat for a day on Lake Guntersville. Danny was Buddy's guide and he wants to fish professionally. We could not have been paired with a nicer guy. Of course, it rained buckets and the fishing was delayed. But Buddy just had the best time ever. The sponsors gave Buddy a fishing pole, a supplied tackle box, a life vest, a trophy plaque and a bag full of goodies. Buddy's smile says it all!

I'm Back...sort of

Hi all. Sorry for the interruption. I have been completely out of sorts. It is going to take awhile, I fear. Yesterday, I forgot my pin for the debit card. I'm usually so good with numbers...I am an accountant after all. I know that grief affects people differently. Mine seems to be slowly losing my mind. If men are like waffles and women are like spaghetti...my spaghetti feels hopelessly tangled and about 15 feet high. Yes, there is a lot on my plate right now. The message that our pastor spoke about this morning really spoke to me. He asked how we respond to the adversity that comes into our life. For me, some days are better than others...

Upside Down

My world went upside down with the trip to Colorado. I did not recognize my Dad in the care facility. He had obvious and not so obvious changes...but I was slow to see the bigger picture. A week after I left town, he died peacefully in his sleep. I'm glad I got to see him one last time, even though the man I saw was not how I remembered. I know he thought that he would have more time. I guess we all think that we have more time. Time truly is a thief. I'm flying out for the memorial service. Probably will journal the old fashioned way and type up the best when I get back. I keep waking up in the middle of the night hoping that it has all been a bad dream...needless to say, I have not been sleeping much.