My Thoughts

New Immagration Law

2010-05-04T12:09:00.003-07:00

What follows is my own opinion. Agree or disagree, that's up to you. All I ask is that you read with an open mind. If you do disagree with my opinion, please tell my your opinion is right, telling me why I'm wrong serves no purpose. If you want to change someones mind, give them your best argument for your way of thinking.

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Now I'm not against anyone wanting a better life. Everyone who wants to have a better life, make more money, support their families, get away from political problems, what ever the hardship they face they deserve to improve their life's circumstance and that of their family. If they feel that moving will help, then they should move. Yet when moving from one country to another there are rules that need to be obeyed.

America is not the first country to have laws governing the immigrants coming into the country. Ellis Island being the first major port of entry to check that all coming to America had the correct paperwork and were signed in to the country. The law that Arizona put into place enforces the laws that are already on the books at the federal level.

As Americans when we want to go into Mexico or Canada there are certain procedures that we must go through. Showing our drivers license, our passports or whatever is needed to cross legally. If we do not have the proper paperwork we would not be allowed into the country. If were to cross at a point where there were no crossing checkpoints then were caught by the police of the other country, what do you think would happen? Would we be told that it's OK to stay in the country or would we be jailed then deported?

The reforms that are needed for the disenfranchised of Mexico need to happen with the Mexican courts and laws. Making it easier for those that want to come into America to work, live, and prosper. When they are here legally, then they are paying taxes that pay into Social Security, and other benefits that as citizens we all pay into so that we can use them when we need to.

Another long awaited posting

2009-09-03T12:42:00.002-07:00

School has been keeping me busy. I am taking an online Nutrition course, and one of the things that I have to do for class is write in a blog, here is where to find it if you are so inclined: Nutrition 1.

Kyle is back from Afghanistan. He is glad to be back, and I'm ecstatic that he is back. He is on leave right now and goes back to his home port on the 9th.

Greg won't be deployed to Afghanistan until March or April of next year. It will be nice to have both boys home for the holidays.

My sister sent me the Artists Way workbook, and while I'm taking my own sweet time at doing the exercises in the workbook I am doing the first thing that the author suggests, which is to writ every morning three pages of the random stuff that is going through your mind. Things that you would like to accomplish, any worries you may have, any questions that are running around, just anything because no one is going to read it, not even you. It does open the mind for the creative side that I thought was stuck. I am again this year taking the NaNoWriMo challenge, and because of writing these morning pages I have an idea for a story, and an idea for what the main character is like. Thanks to my sister who was right in thinking that this workbook could help me.

It's been way to long.....

2009-07-09T16:26:00.002-07:00

since I've posted anything here. I have been very busy at school, and loving every minute of it! I am now a Registered and Certified Hypnotherapist and a Life Coach. I've started my own business, and a web site: Duir Ngetal:Peaceful Healing. It's still growing and changing. I'm a little more than half way through my schooling, when I'm done I will be certified in Life Coaching and also be a Clinically Certified Hypnotherapist. I am so excited!

Kyle is in Afghanistan and will returning in August. He is doing good. I can't wait for him to come home.

Greg may be deploying to Afghanistan in March or April. He is in the process of buying a home. Its a three bedroom house with an Arizona room on the back. This room has it's own entrance, so this is going to be my office.

Talena is doing good. She has been home schooling the girls. As far as I know Josh will be coming home around the end of the year.

I'll try to post a little more often. Until then.....

Live fully.

Hero Writing assignment

2008-12-15T14:26:00.004-07:00

The following is the paper I started in Portland, and finally finished for class.

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The Hero’s Journey

Adrianne Snyder

There are several people that I admire, yet I wouldn’t say that anyone of them is my hero. Not because they haven’t done anything heroic, all of us have at different times whether we knew it at the time or not. Each of the people that I admire has done things that might be considered heroic, yet they were things that they did because it needed doing.

The ones that I consider heroes are the young men and women that have volunteered for the armed forces. Each of them has volunteered for their own selfish reasons. Some joining for education, for a job, to get away from home, to challenge themselves, and as many reasons as there are people. They know that there is something out there for them to do, so they join the military to start their journey through life. This is the first life changing decision for them to make, and quite possibly the hardest. These young men and women are joining at a time where there is great conflict, and they don’t know if they will end up in the middle of the conflict or not. No matter what job they end up doing, or where they end up serving, the main part of their job is to protect the rest of us.

No matter which branch of the military they choose to go to, there are tests for them to meet. Some are physical tests, some are mental tests. They all must take and pass these tests. Once these tests are passed, the hard part begins. Basic training is where they will be pushed farther and harder past any limits that they thought they had. Once through basic training, they have become stronger, more disciplined and ready to start the next phase of training.

When they get to the next phase of their training for the job that they will do for the time that they signed up for, those in charge are looking to help them become good at their job and more rounded as an individual. These young men and women are getting the training necessary to face a challenge that is bigger than they ever thought was possible. Those that are training them are making sure that they are ready to face that challenge.

The challenges that they face at first are those of a very personal nature. They are facing their own weaknesses, having to learn how to obey without question, and how to work with others as a team. Later the challenges they face will come from others, either through the job they have chosen or because of where they are deployed. When they are deployed to a country that is in the middle of civil unrest, or war, these young people are in harms way. Everyday they have to face new fears, will there be a gun battle, will the natives be thankful for them being there or will there be anger. Yet they get up each day and face the days challenge with determination.

It is because of the training that they receive in an ongoing process that they are able to take theirs fears, misgivings, and weaknesses and overcome them. They have been given tools to gain strength, to face the fears without being scared, and to turn their weaknesses into strengths. In the process these young people go from being teens with a child’s view of the world to adults with a strong vision of what they can do to make the world a better place to live in. They are better trained to handle the obstacles that will come their way as they go through the rest of their lives.

If you were to ask these young people if they thought of themselves as heroes, they would say no. They do not consider themselves to be doing anything extraordinary, they are doing a job. Doing what they have been trained to do, they have a job and they are doing that job to the best of their abilities.

Their home is wherever they are stationed; temporary housing is where they are deployed to. They are stationed far from their families, and deployed even father away from their loved ones. Some will use the time as a stepping off point for the rest of their lives, some will make a career out of it. Either way, these young men and women are making sacrifices as well as preparing for their own futures. These sacrifice help to ensure the freedoms that we sometimes take for granted.

When they are done with their time in the military some will go back to where they began this journey. It is when they return to the home they grew up in, are around friends and family that they realize how much they have changed, how much they have matured. With a supportive family, and friends that care about whom they have become, they will find that home is a good place to begin the next adventure in their lives.

I have been where these young people are. I was in the Air Force, and know what the challenges are that they face. They are my heroes because they have joined in time where conflicts are all over the world and they could very easily be deployed to any one of them. I also find my self know beginning another Hero’s Journey with a new calling. The calling itself may not be new to me, yet I have finally heeded that calling and am now facing the challenge and the demons and fears that have kept me from hearing it. I am looking forward to completing this journey, and am very proud of all the young men and women that have heeded their calling to be part of the military.

I’m especially grateful, and proud of my sons Gregory and Kyle, my son-in-law Josh, my nephew Don, and my almost daughter Christine. They have joined knowing the challenges that they face with a world that is more prone to fight than talk. Right now Gregory and Josh are in Iraq, Kyle goes to Iraq in the spring, I don’t know if or when Don will go, and Christine will be going to basic training in May. They should be commended for taking on the role of protector.

Long overdue update

2008-10-07T19:24:00.002-07:00

I am terrible at keeping up with this blog. Life keeps getting in the way. So here are the latest updates, finally.

I am going back to school, this time I'm following what I want to do instead of what others want me to do. I'm not taking accounting courses, I'm pretty much done with being a bookkeeper. I'm tired of people who have hired me or the company I work for to keep their books getting mad or not listening to what I have to say about their spending habits. These are companies that I had kept books for, and they didn't like what I was telling them about how they spend their money and what they could do to lessen their debt and make their business successful. Anyways, I'm done with that. I will be going to the Southwest Institute for Healing Arts. I am going after an Associates degree in Mind/Body Transformational Psychology. The main topics I will be mastering are Life Coaching, Hypnotherapy, and Chinese Shamanism. I will be starting on the 22nd of this month. I am so excited. I will graduate in April 2010.

Talena has moved to nice home. She is scheduled for a c-section on the 20th of this month. She has started home schooling the girls, Gynesis really likes learning, Lavieya likes part of it. Lavieya is still a little young to actually be in school, so Talena is preparing the way for learning to happen with her. Gynesis is doing really well.

Gregory is in Iraq. He is doing good. He can't really tell me anything else. The best way to contact him is through e-mail messages. I know he would appriciate e-mails from everyone, it may take a few days to answer back. He is scheduled to come home as soon as early March or April. We won't know the exact date until it gets closer to time for him to come home. He did get a promotion to Corpral.

Kyle is doing good. He has his own place in California. He will be going to Iraq in the spring. The good thing about his going is that he is a CB. They don't send in the construction crew if what they will be building is in danger of being blown up right away. He is an E-4, which I believe is a Petty Officer. I will have to ask him if that is right.

As for Jerry and I, that's a little more difficult. I'm not sure what to say about this. We are still talking and are still friendly. It is really weird. That's all I'm willing to say here.

Anyways, that's a quick update. More later.

Live fully....

A long overdue update

2008-08-21T17:16:00.002-07:00

I know it has been quite some time since I have updated everyone on what is going on in my life. It has been rather busy here.

Jerry's brother Chris passed away last month. We all knew that it was coming, he's had heart problems since he was in his twenties. It was still hard. Jerry's Mom and older sister came down from Washington and stayed for a week. The memorial service was wonderful. A lot of family and friends were there to pay their respects. The funeral service was very nice and very simple.

I have taken the opportunity to make money with my crochet. I am making small draw string purses, and there is a little shop that is willing to sell them. I have a couple of friends that set up booths at craft shows that are willing to have them on their tables as well. So I have been very busy making draw string purses.

Gregory is now in Iraq and will be there until March maybe April. I am very grateful that the work he does is fixing computers, printers, and phone systems. He works in a shop where the equipment is brought to him. He won't directly be in harm's way. About the time that Greg gets back Kyle will be going to Iraq. Because Kyle is a CB, the area he will be in will at least be less likely to have fighting.

Talena has been scheduled to have her baby on the 20th of October. She has started to home school Gynesis, Lavieya is picking things up too, even though she isn't really ready for school.

I now that more has been going on, I just can't remember it all. That's just another reason why I should post more often.

Anyway, Live fully.....

My four-legged friend

2008-06-29T18:07:00.003-07:00

Jebo, laying across my queen sized bed. This was taken a year ago.

My dog Jebo was 13 years old, and just within the last year or so started showing her age. She had cataracts, couldn't hear very good, had arthritis in her hip joints, and within the last four months started having violent seizures. We took her to the vet's office, and they couldn't find anything medically wrong with her that would cause seizures. We put her on anti-seizure medication and a medication for the arthritis. I had to crush the pills and put them on a half peanut butter sandwich.

Yesterday we took her back to the vet for a check up. Before we took her to the vet's office she had another seizure. The vet still couldn't find any reason for them, her liver was good, her kidneys were good, she didn't have worms. The only conclusion that the vet had was that she probably had a brain tumor. The tests for that are expensive and she would still be treated with medications.

So we refilled her prescriptions and took her home. She seemed to be doing fine. She'd been eating and drinking, yet she lost weight. Later that afternoon she had another seizure. We had to take her to the Humane Society to have her put to sleep. The seizures had affected how her back legs worked, this last one affected her front legs. We just couldn't see her suffer anymore. We are both wondering now if some times when she would be running in her sleep weren't actually small seizures.

She was grateful that we took her to be put to sleep. She knew that she would no longer suffer as she had been.

Jebo will be missed, she had a very long, loving life.

Helium

2008-06-14T16:58:00.002-07:00

I have joined Helium. It is a website for writers. It gives me the opportunity to write and even earn a little money. If I did it right the title should link you to my site on Helium. If not, here is the link again: Helium.

Please check put the articles I've written, and check back periodically to see what new articles I've written.

Live fully....

An update and a Question....

2008-06-03T13:49:00.002-07:00

Well, I've been let go from my job. Which I knew was going to happen. Looking back on the way things went, I should have given notice when the CPA that had hired me had been fired. I should not have been there without the supervision of a CPA. I was asked to run year end reports, financial reports, and other things that should have only been done by a CPA or at least with the guidance of one. So I am looking for work still, I have also applied for unemployment. I have managed to save a little money so I will not have to worry so much about making the bills.

I have found that while I was not happy at my job and am relieved at not working there anymore, I am also a little depressed that I got fired. I'm keeping busy to help me get past this.

I am editing the one story that I did finish (Dad, if you don't mind, I will be sending it on to you within a couple of weeks. That's my goal anyways). I will be finishing the other three that I have started. I have been investigating self-publishing businesses, if anyone has any recommendations or thoughts, please let me know. I know that I will not be able to make a living with writing, I will be able to supplement my income some.

I have also sent for a program that will allow me to create my own patterns for crochet. It will be another way for me to supplement my income. I will keep you all updated on this endeavor as well.

Now for my question. Do you work to live or live to work?

Live fully....

It's been a long time...

2008-05-22T10:29:00.003-07:00

since I've actually written here. My life has been very busy. Where to begin to get you all caught up.

I've been working for a company that was a good opportunity at the time. Now, not so much. In the last few months I have been made to feel that I am less than adequate to perform my job. Also, that I can not communicate properly. I am in the process of finding another job.

Now for the kids. Talena is expecting again. She is due sometime at the end of October beginning of November. She is eating healthy, she has actually started cooking again. I am very proud of the mother, wife, and daughter that she has become. She will be homeschooling the kids. She is absolutely beautiful.

Gregory is going to 29 Palms for a month for extensive preparation for being deployed to Iraq in August. Because of th kind of job that he does, he will always be on base. He will be less likely to be in harms way. I am very proud of him.

Kyle will be coming home from Korea on the 5th or 6th of June. I will be going to California to pick him up. He is doing so good. He helped to build roads, laid concrete for walls, and did some volunteer work while he was stationed there. I am very proud of him as well.

As for Jerry and I, it's gotten rather odd. He has moved out of the house, even though he says it's the hardest thing for him to do. He still loves me and I still love him. I think that part of the reason we can't live together is that he has never lived alone. With our work schedules he was alone in the house everyday before he would go to work. This made him feel lonely, and made him depressed. He is living with his sisters, and there is always someone there during the day, so he is never alone for long. We still spend time together on the weekends. He's helped repair things for me, including fixing my van. We are better apart than together under the same roof. Like I said, it has gotten very odd.

I think for my future I will follow what the IQ test in the previous post says I am. I am going to try my hand at writing and publishing. I know that I may not make a living at publishing my own work, yet I believe I can supplement my income with my writing.

So, here's my question, am I hard to understand? Please let me know one way or the other.

Live fully....

What is your IQ?

2008-05-20T01:29:00.001-07:00

The Classic IQ Test

My Result: Insightful Linguist

You are gifted with the natural fluency of a writer and the visual and spatial strengths of an artist. Those skills contribute to your creative and expressive mind.

Insightful linguists can take complex concepts and articulate them to just about anyone. You have a gift with words and insight into processes and the way people think. These talents enable you to explain things clearly to people.

Helen Keller is a great example of an Insightful Linguist. Blind, deaf and mute, she was still able to put things together in her mind and to understand complex ideas. She could do that because she was able to conceptualize ideas internally. Though she could not literally see, she had the visual and spatial skills necessary to understand patterns on an abstract level. She learned to read, write and ultimately became a writer on issues of social justice.

You have an uncanny ability to work your way out of sticky situations using your talent with words. Crossword puzzles, debates — you're particularly well equipped to come out on top since you can read people well.

Like Charles Dickens, your verbal skills go far beyond having a good vocabulary. Dickens' genius was in the artful and descriptive way he crafted sentences. Also Dickensian, is your keen eye for detail and your adeptness for identifying the best way to express an idea based on your given surroundings and circumstances.

Your ability to communicate your vision clearly will take you far. So enjoy being perceptive, and make the most of your abilities as an insightful linguist.

What are you?
http://web.tickle.com/jumpto?test=uiqogt&c=50652

November is over

2007-12-01T19:50:00.000-07:00

That means the writing challenge is also over. I didn't reach the goal, didn't even come close to it, didn't finish my story either. The story still needs to be told, so it will get written. Having started a new job was a big part in my not getting it written. I know that it sounds like an excuse, I haven't held a real job for a few years. Raising kids is a job in itself, in some ways more demanding than a job outside the home, yet you can take a nap when at home unlike in an office.

When I started this job, the company I work for had just bought a very successful bookkeeping business. So I was behind in work before I had even begun. I am now caught up for the first time since I started, I will succeed at staying caught up with out to much overtime. I have a hourly pay rate based on a billable client base of $10,000 per month, the clients that were brought in are at a billable rate of $12,000 per month. What this means is that if I can keep my overtime down and don't need any extra help, is that I get a bonus of 30% on the $2,000 over the original base. I am so excited about this.

Jerry and I working at making our marriage work. So far things are going good. We have our own rooms. I know that sounds strange, yet with the hours that we work it makes sense. I don't have to worry about waking him up when my alarm clock goes off, and he doesn't have to worry about waking me up when he gets home after midnight. We are spending more time on the weekends together. We are doing better. We will have to work on our marriage for the rest of our lives, that's the way it should be.

Live fully....

November is almost here.....

2007-10-27T23:58:00.000-07:00

and you know what that means!?! It's time for NaNoWriMo! Yes, once again I'm challenging myself, and any of you who are game, to join and write a 50,000 word novel in one month. See the icon on the side bar to navigate to the official NaNo site.

So, as October 31st turns to November 1st I will be hovering over my keyboard getting ready to type feverishly. I still need a topic for this year. This year I am working a full time job, making it even more difficult to reach the goal, I will do my best though! I will not be defeated! I will write 50,000 words, they may not all be good words, but they will be words!

Any way, the posts will be few and far between, even fewer than normal, just know that I'm still here and writing away. I will try to keep you all informed on my progress. If you decide to join the madness, I mean fun, you can add me as a writing buddy.

Live fully.....

A Quick Update

2007-10-22T20:41:00.000-07:00

I really love my new job. I am working with a great group of people. The company I work for just acquired a bookkeeping service, and I will be the one to take over that part of the business. I am very busy, and like being busy. More on this when I'm not so tired.

Jerry and I are trying to work on our marriage. He has moved back into the house. He has his own room. We are both trying to make it work, we both want it to work. He has even started hanging up pictures, something that hasn't been done for quite some time. I am happy and hopeful. Life is good. I will post more when I'm not so tired.

I'm still trying to get used to getting up every morning, and going to work. I'm tired when I get home, I'm also happy at being tired.

Live fully.....

I've got reason to celebrate!

2007-10-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

I got the job I've been waiting on. I had several interviews with them, and they liked me well enough to hire me! I am so excited! I start on Friday, I am a bookkeeper for several clients. It is so good to know that I will now have money coming in to pay the bills. That is one less thing to worry about. I know that I will enjoy working for this company, they are very nice people. If I get the clients done that I have to do for the week, I can then take an extra day for the weekend if I want, or I can take on more clients. I like the idea of some flexibility in my schedule. It will be up to me to keep my clients happy and sticking to the program that has been set up.

I also cut my hair, and put highlights in it. It is shoulder length, I'm still getting used to how short it is. I will change my picture soon.

Live fully.....

It's that time of year again!

2007-10-04T19:56:00.000-07:00

It's time to take the National Novel Writing Month challenge. I am once again trying to write 50,000 words in one month. The month of October is the time to sign up, November is when the writing takes place. Go to NaNoWriMo to join in on the madness. Take the challenge, I dare you!

Live fully....

Goals made and some acheived

2007-09-19T18:46:00.000-07:00

I've made several goals for myself, and have actually achieved some. Others will take time to reach, that's the way it works though. Last weeks goals were to start getting Jerry's things packed and ready for him to pick up, get Julie's car out of my yard, get Jeff's stuff out of the house, start getting rubbish out for bulk trash pick up, and start the paperwork for a Legal Separation. Last weeks goals achieved: all of them!

This weeks goals are to get more of Jerry's stuff packed (if I wait for him to do it, it may not get done), finish one more item finished for State Fair entry, get a job, get information on going back to school, and get resume written. I have written and sent out my resume, signed up at monster.com, have had two interviews at Temporary services, and have one more interview tomorrow. I have an appointment with a college adviser on Friday, I want to become a counselor. I am still working on the item for the State Fair, I am almost done with it, it and other things will be turned into the fair on Saturday. I will post pictures of these items at some point in time.

I have also been meditating everyday, and doing Tai Chi. I have found that both of these things have helped me to become focused and to generally feel allot better. Even though I am not a morning person I have been waking up before 8 am every morning without using an alarm clock.

I want to thank everyone who listened, gave me a shoulder to cry on, prayed for me, sent good thoughts my way, and was generally very supportive. I appreciate everyone of you, and I will be talking to you all again about how I feel and what is going on in my life. Thank you all for being in my life and for your help.

Live fully......I finally am......

Life changing events

2007-09-10T17:35:00.000-07:00

Life has taken some strange twists and turns in the past week or so. Jerry has decided to leave me. The reasons that he has given me seem very superficial, not that they aren't true, just doesn't really seem to be "marriage breaking" reasons. He says he wants to live on his own, he doesn't want to put me through the worsening of his emphysema, he can't make me happy, musicians make lousy husbands, and other things like this. He can't even look me in the eyes when he is telling me his reasons.

He had a few complaints about me, I'm not a great house keeper, and I've been depressed off and on for several years, so things didn't get done that should have. I agreed that I shouldn't have let the house or myself go, so I started doing the things that I should do. It was a few days after this that he told me he was leaving me. You will all be glad to know that I am still cleaning things up, though it will take time to get the house back into shape.

At first I was very upset, cried for a long time that day and into that night. Then I was angry, very angry because I couldn't believe that he wanted to leave for such simple reasons. I cried some more, after that I was just pissed. I was mad for most of this past weekend. Sometime Sunday afternoon I went from being mad to being frustrated over the whole thing. I'm frustrated that he hinted at others that he would be leaving before he said anything to me. I'm frustrated that he can't face his own demons, denies that they even exist. I'm frustrated that he won't or can't say what the underlying reason he wants to leave really is. I am very familiar with my own problems, and bad habits, and I'm working on them.

I think that a marriage should be worked at, that problems should be worked though. I don't like giving up on this marriage without even trying to work out the problems, yet that's what he wants to do. So, with that in mind, I went to the court house today and filed for a Legal Separation. It is the best way for me to protect myself, get what I need, and I'll be able to initiate counseling. We both could use the counseling.

I feel stronger now than I ever have before. I'm growing as a person, and will continue to do so through this whole separation/counseling/divorce thing that I have to go through.

Live fully.....

New Grandson!!!!

2007-08-16T20:19:00.000-07:00

Talena had him early this morning. He weighed in at 8lbs 10ozs and 21 1/2 inches long. He's a big boy. His name is Gage. I will put more pictures up soon. I took several, I just need to edit them so that they will fit here.

Mother, son and father are doing great.

Live fully.....

They jumped the gun a bit....

2007-07-31T01:18:00.001-07:00

We live in a mobile home. We own our mobile home. We pay lot rent for the space our home sits on. Lot rent is due on the first of the month. Monday (July 30th) we walk out of the gate, I'm going to QT and Jerry is putting his tools in the truck before I leave. On the gate is an envelope. Jerry opens the envelope to see what it says on the note. He reads part of it to me and it says that we are late in paying lot rent. Since it is still July we are both thinking that they are talking about July's lot rent. Jerry hands me the note, I'm looking it over, telling Jerry that I have the money order receipts for the rent being paid. We are talking loud enough , which doesn't have to be that loud in a mobile home park, that one of our neighbors from across the street hears us. He says "Look at the date for payment". I look at the date for the month that they say we are delinquent for, and it's for August. They, the management, are telling us that we are late in paying August's lot rent, and it isn't even August yet.

Have I ever mentioned that I'm not to impressed with these managers? They are good people, just not very bright managers.

Oh, yeah, add us to the list of those that are looking for a new home. We are both of the opinion that the new owners are going to eventually close the park and build apartments. If they can get everyone that speaks English as a first language to move, then they won't have to send out the proper notices of closing, that's my thought anyways.

Live fully....

Guess what I am?

2007-07-26T16:14:00.000-07:00

I'm a Talent!

You're a risk-taker, and you follow your passions. You're determined to take on the world and succeed on your own terms. Whether in the arts, science, engineering, business, or politics, you fearlessly express your own vision of the world. You're not afraid of a fight, and you're not afraid to bet your future on your own abilities. If you find a job boring or stifling, you're already preparing your resume. You believe in doing what you love, and you're not willing to settle for an ordinary life.

Talent: 56%
Lifer: 33%
Mandarin: 49%

Take the Talent, Lifer, or Mandarin quiz.

What is it?

2007-07-23T21:11:00.000-07:00

The sun is not as bright. There are white fluffy things covering it, and some are black. The wind has picked up, and it is cooler than normal. There's thunder and lightning, I love that! Now there is something else coming out of the sky. It's wet, I think it's water. It is! It's raining! WooHoo!

We finally got some rain today.

Live fully....

Some Self Promotion

2007-07-18T23:26:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a lot of editing and adding pages to Pagans Lounge. Go check it out.

There's only a few of us that are members, yet we have written quite a bit. Come add your 2 cents worth, or your own writings at The Written Page. I look forward to seeing what all you've written.

If you like playing D&D but don't want to spend all night at it, come join the action at Kathus. This is Greg's game, he's the Dungeon Master, so the game proceeds only when he can get the time to add to it. Because of this, the game goes very slowly, his school work comes first.

I know you all are curious, so go look these sites over. Join if you want.

Live fully.....

Permanent Station

2007-07-12T17:08:00.000-07:00

When Greg graduates from his school, he will be permanently stationed at Camp Pendelton. Well, it will be his home base anyways. He graduates in October.

Happy 4th of July!!!

2007-07-04T13:53:00.000-07:00

As Americans we celebrate this day with parties, grilling, fireworks, and being with friends and family. And we should do this with pride. We fought for our independence with not much more than the will to be independent from all other countries, and monarchies. We fought, and still fight, amongst ourselves to free those that we had enslaved. We fight for the freedom of others.

No matter when or how our families arrived here, someone in the family had to fight for that freedom. This is the day to remember them, to remember what they did to give us the freedoms that we have today. It is a day to celebrate the sacrifices that they gladly gave to see their families live in peace.

My grandfather was a sailor, my father is retired Army, my husband was also in the Army, I was in the Air Force, I have a son that is a Marine, and his brother is a Sea Bee. When my boys come home for a visit they occasionally bring a friend, when they leave we thank them for serving their country, for choosing to keep all of us safe, for being patriotic, for doing a job that isn't easy.

We should all take the time to say thank you to all the men and women that have served, and are serving their country, for sacrificing their lives and time away from their families, for doing that which many cannot do, for keeping our freedoms intact. If you know a veteran or an active duty military person, tell them thank you. If you don't, or would like to send a card to someone who is in the military now to say thank you, go to this site: Let's Say Thanks. The art for the cards is done by children, and there are several to choose from, there are several messages to choose from, or you can write your own.

We may not like the fact that we have military fighting any where, yet there is fighting and we are there in it. The men and women that are now in the military have chosen to serve their country and we should support their choice.

Live fully.......

Things I've made

2007-06-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

I started making this when I was in Portland visiting Shannon and Kevin. It didn't take me too much longer to finish it. I am going to wear to a wedding in July. The wedding is in Payson where it is much cooler than here in the valley.

I made this 6 strand afghan for the wedding. It will be good in the evenings on the back porch swing and during the winter on their couch.

Live fully....

WooHoo!!!

2007-05-31T17:25:00.000-07:00

Greg is now Squad Leader!!!! Hip Hip Hooray!!!!!

Live fully...

What a great weekend!!!

2007-05-29T17:48:00.000-07:00

Greg and Kyle came home for the long weekend. I actually got to spend quite a bit of time with them, and I loved every minute of it! We went to see Pirates 3 (it was a good movie), Greg had brought his Wii and we got to play games on it. I got caught up in playing Zelda, what a fun game.

Kyle passed the test to become an E-4, the promotion itself happens sometime this next week or two. He's had to get information together to get his passport in order, as far as he knows he will be going to Korea in December. That, of course, could change before his battalion is actually deployed.

Greg's MOS had been changed, it's still electronics, and it's still communications of some sort, he's not even sure what kind yet. His next set of classes starts this next week. He will graduate from all of these classes in September/October. He won't know until then where his duty station will be.

It is interesting to see how they have matured so much more than their friends. A friend of mine who was able to see them this weekend paid them the best compliment, she told them that she felt secure knowing that they were there to protect us all. I am so very proud of them.

Live fully.....

Kyle has a Tattoo!

2007-05-20T12:10:00.001-07:00

This is Kyle's tattoo. It is a memorial for a friend of his that had dies last year. He was helping out someone who needed his help. He was in a car accident. He was a very good kid, he is missed and loved by everyone whose life he touched.

Sushi Night!!!

2007-05-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

Last night was sushi night, Jerry doesn't like sushi so he didn't participate. My friend that I met through my crochet group, and her friend, and myself got together to make sushi. This is the second time that we have done this, according to the note of the first friend it has been almost a year since the last time we had gotten together. A whole year! It didn't seem that long ago.

First I have to go pick up V (the friend from crochet), I have to show the yarn I picked up with my sister in Portland (she absolutely loved it!), show her the progress I have made on an afghan that she helped me find the yarn for, and the progress I have made on the Sarafina poncho that I had started while in Portland (I had a very productive visit with my Sis). Then we gather things together to take over to M's house, this is where we are doing the sushi this time. We get the van loaded and we're off!

We finally reach M's house, it's about a 45 minute drive by freeway. She has a beautiful home. We unload the goodies from the van, sit and get the grocery list made. We then go to the Asian market, that in itself is an experience. If you ever have the chance to go to an Asian market, do so. Most of the labels are in Chinese, Japanese, or what ever the type of people the market is for, there are a few labels with English on them. You can tell if you are in the section that sells soy sauce and stuff because there will be at least one brand with English on the label, the others are not, because of the color of the liquid in the bottles you can tell that it is at least some type of soy sauce or maybe taryaki sauce. The chip isle is easy too, the picture on the packaging is a great help. The sweets are even easier, you can see some of the goodies through the packaging, I got myself something called Pocky. It is really good, it is a thin cookie stick dipped in chocolate. It is really good. There are tanks of different kinds of live fish that they sell, not just a tank for lobster, one had live eel, another had catfish, I didn't look in all of them, there was so much to see. There was even a in store lunch bar, where M bought some roasted duck, they even cut it up. We got everything that we needed, and headed back to M's house.

We made rice, which had to cool first, then seasoned, veggies were cut, fish was cut, wasabi was made. Then the fun began. Discussions on how much rice should be put on the Noori proceeded through the making of them, what should be put on each roll, and how to roll them. We made eight rolls, we had about four left to split between us. along with the rolls we had some other goodies that I can't remember the names of. I will have to have V send me the names of these goodies again. (Shumai, is one, these were very good.)

The food was great and the company was even better.

Live fully...

I'm Back!!!

2007-05-17T00:07:00.000-07:00

I made it home. I had a wonderful time visiting with my sister and brother-in-law. She and I shopped for yarn, I visited the store where she works, learned how to play Mah Jong, and had Thai food for the first time, met a bunch of their friends, great fun was had by all. We all promised not to wait seven years to see each other again.

The plane ride was fairly uneventful, a bit of turbulence coming into Phoenix. I got in about 9:30 and it was still 93 degrees outside, much warmer than Portland. The weather was gorgeous while I was there. I even tried to bring some of the cooler weather back with me, all that came with me was the wind.

Live fully....

I'm here!!!!

2007-05-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

I have arrived in Portland. The flight was uneventful, which is just the way I like it. Both my sister and I forgot to check with each other on where to meet when my flight arrived. With the help of our Dad, we found each other.

It is so good to be here and visit some with my Dad and spending a few days with my sister and her hubby. Yarn shops will be visited, so will the store where she works.

Live fully....

New chapter

2007-05-06T22:52:00.000-07:00

I have added a new chapter to the book that is here. It has been along time since I have written anything on this story. Please check it out.

Live fully.....

Been doing some homework.....

2007-04-27T22:14:00.000-07:00

I have been doing some research in the Mobile Home Tenant and Landlord Regulations. (Not sure that is the correct name of the document, it''s close enough though.) Seems there is a regulation that the owners/managers have to keep the community areas in good working order. This includes the pool, jacuzzi, and the park playground equipment. There is even a recourse that can be taken if they don't do this, unfortunately it is to give notice that we will move if they don't fix it. We don't really want to move, at least not in the short period of time that would have for this course of action. We are of the opinion that the owners of the park are trying to find a way to get everyone out so that they can build apartments on the land instead.

I did find out that if they want to close the park for any reason they have to give a 180 day notice of their intentions. I think they are trying to avoid having to do just that for as long as they can.

Possibility of a move....

2007-04-18T22:25:00.000-07:00

It's like rats leaving a sinking ship around here. For those that don't know, we live in a Mobile Home Community (just a fancy way of saying we live in a trailer park). The owners changed managers several months ago, since then it hasn't been the same. Different people have different ways of doing things, the new managers seem to drag their feet about fixing the jacuzzi and the pool, neither has been open since they took over.

Jerry and I both wondered how long it would be before the park would be turned into an apartment complex. Since we moved in here six years ago, we have seen two parks empty and then become apartments. There are just over 100 spaces here, maybe a half dozen are empty spaces, maybe another half dozen homes are empty. Just on our street there are about four people selling their homes. One family that moved out today. Yet a nice double-wide home came in today.

We don't want to move, we like our little home. We have been getting things just the way we want them. I now have a sewing room. Jerry's getting the front room set up with speakers and other music stuff.

We will see what happens. I will keep you all posted on whether we move or not.

On another note, I would like everyone to consider joining my forum The Written Page. It is for those who like to write.

Live fully.....

County Fair

2007-04-15T20:37:00.000-07:00

I entered a couple of things into the County Fair this year. I did good, I got 1st place on my Mobius Shawl and 2nd place on the Alpaca silk shawl. I know at least one of them is on flickr, go look.

I think I may enter both into the State fair this year, it will be interesting to see how well I do there.

Live fully....

More cleaning....

2007-04-04T20:28:00.000-07:00

I have for the second time in as many years, cleaned out my closet and dresser. I have even brushed the dogs. Jebo has only just begun to shed this year, so I've only gotten a little of the undercoat that will be shed. Hopefully I will be able to get that undercoat before it escapes to cover every bit of the floor in downy fluff. P-Bear sheds single hairs that cover everything no matter how much I brush him. Thankfully I have a good vacuum cleaner.

I'm going to see my sister in May!!!! I'm soooo excited!!!!

Live fully.....

Finally...another posting

2007-04-02T22:53:00.000-07:00

I have been watching the granddaughters for the last three weeks. I love them dearly, they are full of energy, I am not. Yet through it all, the urge to reorganize has struck full force. This weekend I have moved small pieces of furniture, my sewing machine is now in what had been Greg's room. It is now my sewing and craft room. I have even moved some of the yarn I have into the room and even organized it in such a way that it isn't taking over the entire room. I am feeling very satisfied with myself. I still have a lot to get done, a little bit at a time and it will all get done.

I will be posting more pictures of the girls in flickr, so keep a watch on the badge here and you'll soon see them.

Dad, Maryann, Julianne, and Shannon, I was sorry to hear of Margaret's passing. I am glad that everyone was able to laugh and cry together over her memory. I am happy to know that all made it home safely. Margaret was a great lady.

Live fully....

New Forum

2007-03-24T22:58:00.000-07:00

I have started a new forum. It is for those who like to write, whether or not you are already getting paid for writing. It is a place to go to get help, recognition, or just because it's another place to write. Come visit, join, write, help, or just be. Find it here: The Written Page leave your mark.

Live fully.....

Ren Fair and other stuff

2007-03-23T18:50:00.000-07:00

The boys were down last weekend, about ten of us went to the ren fair. Greg brought a couple of his buddies from the marines, Kyle came by himself. It was such great fun! Lots of shows, shopping and just hanging out. Greg found a sword that he liked, Kyle found a practice sword that he liked. I found a great walking stick, a beautiful parasol, a neat necklace, a small woven pouch, and a CD of one of the performers (the singer of the New World Renaissance Band, he has a gorgeous voice). Everyone enjoyed themselves.

Greg passed the first course in his classes, he not only passed he was at the top of his class! He received a book and a certificate.

Kyle took the test for becoming an E-4, he won't know the results of the test until sometime in June. When he passes, the promotion won't take effect until September.

Talena has had the girls for the past couple of weeks, I've been babysitting for her while she's at work. She has a new job now, it's better than working in a coffee shop. She is now the receptionist at a CPA's office, working a 40 hour week and for better pay. I am very proud of her, and very tired from watching two active little girls. Gotta love them though.

This is how I...

Live fully....

Not much of a spring

2007-03-13T22:02:00.000-07:00

This week has been rather warm. It's been almost 90 the last couple of days, if it keeps this up we may hit 100 before the end of March. Normally it doesn't get that warm until May. Haven't even had time to contemplate the cleaning, maintenance, and replacing of things on the swamp cooler. That stuff isn't usually done until April. We may just see record heat this summer, over 120. That's life in the desert.

Hope everyone has a beautiful spring this year.

Live fully.....

Grandparents again!

2007-03-05T13:13:00.000-07:00

We are going to be grandparents again for the 6th and 7th time. Talena is due in August, and Maggie is due in October. Both girls are happy about being pregnant, we are happy about being grandparents again. I will be making more blankies for the little ones.

Live fully...

Old friends found

2007-02-26T11:54:00.000-07:00

I've renewed a friendship with a wonderful person. We first became friends when we were married to brothers, neither one of them was good to us, that is what we had in common then. Now we both have good men in our lives, and are very happy. It was great to go over to their house and have dinner.

We got reacquainted over good food. Not only did we become friends again, our mates became friends as well. I am looking forward to talking to her again.

Hopefully they will join me and all the kids in going to the Renaissance Faire in March. As of right now there is about 30 people going. This is going to be fun.

Live fully.....

The Road to Nowhere...Revisited

2007-02-20T19:11:00.000-07:00

Greg came home again this weekend. It was good to have him here. The only bad thing about the visit is that I had to drive that road to nowhere twice this weekend. His dad was supposed to take him back yesterday, and then backed out. That meant that I had to take him back. I noticed though that while there are no homes on that last part of the trip, there are buildings, and burnt out shells of buildings along this road. Not many, but a few. It can be amazing what is in a desert when you take the time to notice it, and sometimes all it takes is repetition to see it.

Anyway, Greg and Kyle will be back in March for the Ren Fair. That will be fun! Greg will either be picked up by Kyle or will be getting a ride with one of his friends in the Marines, this means I don't have to drive! There will be a bunch of their friends and hopefully a couple of mine going to the fair.

Live fully....

The road to Nowhere

2007-02-12T22:56:00.000-07:00

I now know where the road to nowhere is and where it actually leads to!

Greg had come for a quick visit this weekend, he came to pick up his computer. Well, he needed to get back to his barracks at 29 Palms. When someone tells you they live out in the middle of nowhere, unless they live at 29 Palms, they are living near somewhere. The drive is about four hours long, not to bad really. From Phoenix to Parker, there are the usual little towns and homesteads, places to stop, sights to see, things of that nature. Parker is a little town just inside the Arizona-California border. Once you cross the border into California there is an Agriculture check point, this is where you stop and are asked if you have any fresh fruits or live plants that you are bringing with you, they also ask where you are coming from.

Across the state highway from that is a gas station/convenience store, with a sign near it that states that there are no more services for 100 miles. Even when you see a sign like that you think that there should be homes, farms or some sign of civilization along those miles even if you can't get gas or something to eat. Most of the vehicles that have crossed the state line are either turning left or right to other towns, few keep going straight. The state highway that goes straight leads to the highway that leads to 29 Palms, it goes through the high desert. There is absolutely nothing on this road. There are no houses, no farms, no signs of civilization of any kind, the only other sign that it isn't totally empty are the railroad tracks. There weren't any trains either. There aren't even any billboards, no advertising of any kind for anything.

As you keep driving down this road, you have to marvel at the number of people that are also travelling down the road. After quite some time, you finally arrive at another road, this is the road that you have to turn down. This is the only turnoff since leaving the little gas station that there is, no other roads or driveways were passed along the way. Once you turn down this road, there is still nothing to indicate that you are anywhere that people have been or could be other that the road you are on. After a while you begin to wonder if you missed a turn or if you are really going to see a town or any kind of civilization ever again. Then just as you think that you're lost, you go around the last foothill and you finally see in the distance a few man made structures.

Then as you get closer, there are a few abandoned homes, some homes that are actually being lived in, a sign that says you are entering the Joshua Tree National Forest. When you finally get to the town that is next to the base, it is actually a very busy little town. A lot busier than the surrounding desert would lead you to believe.

This is truly the road to nowhere, and it leads to 29 Palms. Yes, there are palm trees there, there are none anywhere else, just there. I drove this road on Sunday, I will be driving it again on Friday when I go to pick Greg up for the three day weekend. It is roads like this when a car that can drive itself would be really great.

Live fully.....

Book update...

2007-02-06T13:32:00.000-07:00

I have taken out the red pen and have started the editing/rewriting of this past years NaNoWriMo novel. This is going to take a while, have only managed a page and a half so far. I only started last night, so I figure I'm doing pretty good. When I get this first editing done, I will send a copy to you, Dad, for your help and suggestions. Thank you for offering your expertise.

Live fully....

A visit from the boys

2007-02-04T21:55:00.000-07:00

Greg and Kyle came for a visit this weekend. They are doing good. Kyle bought himself a car. It's a 2004 Ford Mustang. It's so cool!

They managed to hang out together, and with a bunch of their friends. It was really neat to see them all together. Some of the kids don't really like each other, but they all wanted to hang out with Greg and Kyle, so they put aside their differences for the weekend and behaved themselves. All of them had a lot of fun together.

It was great to see them.

Live fully.....

Another step to being published.....

2007-01-30T16:26:00.000-07:00

I have taken the next step in possibly getting a story published. I'm still a long way from even submitting it to any publisher. I printed a copy of the rough draft of the 2006 NaNoWriMo story that I finished, I then mailed it to myself. That way I can prove that I wrote it myself, not that I took it from anyone, and so no one can take my ideas from me. Now I'm going to start the long process of editing and rewriting.

At some point in time I may even have someone else read it, and help edit it. I'm not sure when that will happen, though. This is a big step for me.

Live fully.....

Ramblings....

2007-01-27T20:13:00.000-07:00

Quiet is good.....just makes for boring posts.

Maggie's job is sending her to California temporarily. They are opening new stores there and need people that know what they are doing to work until they can get others trained. She is very excited about going, and she likes that she will only be there for a few months.

Kyle bought himself a car. Both boys will be here next weekend. Kyle will be picking up Greg on his way here.

I keep calling them boys, they are no longer boys, they are young men. Young men that I am very proud of. Young men that are starting their lives serving their country.

I taught my first class on runes and ogham sticks last Saturday. Everyone seemed to enjoy the class, and maybe even learned something. Next week is my next class. When I first thought about doing these classes, I had set them up to be very organized with little room for surprizes. Thankfully those plans got tossed, the classes are now very free-form. That works out very well. I have even started putting them on the Pagans Lounge website. Just go through the divination page, then through the runes section. My pages start with Runic Oracle Introduction. I'm still working on adding more information to these pages, and adding pages to the ogham sticks pages as well. I know that I have enjoyed these classes and have learned more myself while putting these classes together. Look at the pages if you want, don't if you don't want to.

Live fully......

Hhhmmmm.....

2007-01-12T23:07:00.000-07:00

Ever have the feeling that there is something that you should be doing, yet can't quite figure out what it is? I've been working on some pages that I'm putting together for classes that I'm going to teach, and put on the web, I've even worked on some crocheting of sock edgings for grand daughters and niece, even been looking at stuff online. Yet none of it seems quite what I should be doing. So I sit here and write this hoping that maybe I'll figure out what it is I should be doing instead of this or anything else I have been doing. Oh well, it's getting late, I should be getting to bed, then again that may not happen either as I'm not sleepy.

Live fully.....

It's quiet here, sort of...

2007-01-09T22:19:00.000-07:00

The granddaughters have gone back to their Dad's in California, so it is quieter now that they are gone. The big girls are still here, Kyle leaves in the morning. With both of the girls working it can be kind of quiet during the day, with Jerry working nights, it's kind of quiet at night. I am very rarely alone in the house. Someitmes it would be nice to have the house to myself for a couple of hours a day.

Any way, everybody is doing good, working hard, and living fully.

I found the perfect Thank You card for Grandma Sam!

Live fully......

Opininions and Thoughts wanted

2007-01-01T19:34:00.000-07:00

I would like the opinions of anyone who uses flickr. I use flickr myself and have enjoyed the free photo sharing and storage. Unfortunately I want to add more sets, and to do that I need to upgrade to the pay service. If any of you use the pay service, is it worth it? If you don't use the pay service, why don't you or would you consider upgrading? I've got a bunch of pictures that I want to share through the site and would like to keep the various photos in their own albums.

Tell me what you think, whether or not you like the pay service, whether or not you would upgrade. Thank you for your thoughts on the subject.

Live fully.....

Christmas time

2006-12-27T23:40:00.000-07:00

Both of the boys were able to be home this year for Christmas. It was good to have them home this year, I didn't think that they would be home at the same time for a while. Talena has moved back in with us, which is a good thing. We've also had the two little girls as well, they'll be here for at least another week. To say the least, we have had a very full house, it makes for a very warm home.

Because Kyle has leave until the 10th of January, he will not be going to Kuwait. He misses the cutoff date by one day. I am relieved that he won't be going.

Gregory may be able to come home next month to be a recruiters assistant. His schooling doesn't start until February. I received a letter from his Commanding officer letting me know that he had arrived, and would be looked after while he is there learning about electronic communications and stuff. I'm still not exactly sure what his training will consist of, just that it will take about 18 months to complete.

I've put a few new pictures on flickr, these were a couple of crochet projects that I've completed. I will be adding more pictures of the grand kids as I get them edited, and I've started putting them into albums so that you can pick and choose what you would like to view.

Live fully....

Empty Nest!?!

2006-12-16T22:58:00.000-07:00

How can I have an empty nest when there are still kids at home? Yes, it is kids with an "s". Talena has moved back in with us. So instead of haveing boys around the house, we now have girls. It is a very good thing that she has moved back in, she needs to be with us. She is trying to get herself back into gear without the distraction of a boyfriend. For about a week over the holidays we will also have the little girls too. I can't wait to see them again!

Kyle will be here for Christmas as well. Right now he is stationed in CA., and doing some combat training. He graduated from his tech school third in his class! Yay Kyle!!! He is now officially a Seabee! After the holidays he will then be assigned to his battallion which is right now stationed in Kuwait. He will be joining them there, it is kind of scary. They will be coming back at the end of February. Being a Seabee means that he builds buildings first, fights second. He will not be on a ship while he is a Seabee, he will be flown to his different deployments. When they get back from Kuwait, they will be at their home port for at least 11 months before being deployed again. The next deployment might very well be Okinowa, I've already told him if he goes there he will be sending me there for a visit. As soon as he gets an address I will forward it on to everyone.

Greg is stationed in 29 Palms, CA. He will be there for at least six months, and could be there for up to a year. This is where most of his tech training will be. He is training to do electronic communications of some sort. School for him doesn't start until the middle of February. The Marines know how to keep them busy though. They have several different programs for them to sign up for, lots of volunteering, and a program called Single Marines. Seems they have lots of things for them to do. Over the holidays there is even a program called Adopt a Marine, it's for those who can't go home for the holidays. He is going to try to get home for Christmas, he has to put in all the proper paperwork to request a four day pass. Phoenix is close enough for him to come home on a four day pass. If he doesn't make it for Christmas, he is trying to get Recruiter's Assistant for the month of January. Since his classes won't start until February, he is very confident that he will be home for that month at least. I finally have an address for him, I will be sending that on to all who want it.

Well, that's all for now. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year to everyone. Remember to always...

Live fully....

I did it!!!

2006-12-01T18:29:00.000-07:00

I actually finished my novel for this years NaNoWriMo!! I didn't meet the challenge of 50,000 words, but my story is done. I'm not sure how it will read, it seemed to come out rather confused, yet that's how the story unfolded. I'm not going to look at again until after the first of the year. As it is, I'm already making plans for next years challenge.

A Different Christmas Poem

2006-11-22T15:19:00.000-07:00

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,

I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue...An American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.

Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

I'm alive! In CA, will post pics later!

2006-11-08T16:37:00.000-07:00

You are The Moon

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Moon is a card of magic and mystery - when prominent you know that nothing is as it seems, particularly when it concerns relationships. All logic is thrown out the window.

The Moon is all about visions and illusions, madness, genius and poetry. This is a card that has to do with sleep, and so with both dreams and nightmares. It is a scary card in that it warns that there might be hidden enemies, tricks and falsehoods. But it should also be remembered that this is a card of great creativity, of powerful magic, primal feelings and intuition. You may be going through a time of emotional and mental trial; if you have any past mental problems, you must be vigilant in taking your medication but avoid drugs or alcohol, as abuse of either will cause them irreparable damage. This time however, can also result in great creativity, psychic powers, visions and insight. You can and should trust your intuition.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

It's almost November!

2006-10-30T20:06:00.000-07:00

A lot of things happen in November. Greg graduates on the 8th, National Novel Writing Month begins on the 1st, Jerry's birthday is the 4th, our anniversary is the 14th, and of course there is also Thanksgiving.

This time next week we'll be in San Diego for Greg's graduation, and afterwards he'll be coming home for a few days. He may even get to stay through Thanksgiving, if not we are having it early. I will be taking pictures and will post them to flickr as soon as I can. I am so excited about seeing him. We have been getting the van ready for the road trip, today it got new tires, which was the last thing that needed to be done to it. So, hopefully we will have very little mechanical problems on the way.

I am taking on the challenge of writing a novel in a month again this year. Keep checking back here as I've added a counter to the side bar so that everyone can keep track of my progress, or you can go to the site and read excerpts. I still don't know what I will be writing about yet, I'm sure that I will figure it out in time to start.

The rest of the things will happen as they are supposed to. All with happiness and merriment.

Live fully.....

Lots of good stuff

2006-10-26T23:12:00.000-07:00

Greg called today. He sounded so much better than he did the first time he called. He will be graduating in a little more than a week from now. After graduation he will be home for a few days, and maybe even for Thanksgiving. I want to thank everyone that wrote to him, He asks that anyone who would still like to write to wait until after he gets a new address. Any mail sent now may not get to him until after he gets to his new post. It will be good to see him.

Kyle is doing good in his tech school. He'll be home in December for about a week, maybe even for part of Christmas. It will be good to see him again.

Congratulations to my sister and her new husband. I hope your reception goes off without a hitch and that the two of you have a wonderful life together.

Live fully....

Greg has conquered the crucible!

2006-10-18T19:36:00.000-07:00

He toughed it out and made it through. He made it up the reaper, and had a hug breakfast. Here is what he ate: a cinnamon roll, French toast, eggs w/cheese and ham, steak, bagel, cake, and 10 bowls of cereal. The only bad thing about the breakfast was that they ran out of food before he could go back for seconds.

He has about three weeks to go, then it's on to graduation. He'll have a few days off, ad will be home. Then he goes to combat training, then on to his tech school. He'll know more about when and where all these things will take place. As soon as I know, so will all of you.

Live fully.....

Greg wrote!

2006-10-13T19:48:00.000-07:00

He finally had a few minutes all at one time to write. He's been very busy, learning all kinds of things, like sleeping in a bed is much better than sleeping on the ground even with a sleeping bag, that shooting a gun according military specs isn't easy (it took him three times to qualify), that participating in the crucible means that basic is almost over (after the crucible is a warrior breakfast which he is looking forward to), he is looking forward to a couple days of rest after they get done with the crucible. It is only about three weeks until his graduation, we are all excited about seeing him, and he is excited about seeing all of us. He will have at least a few days off and will be at home for a little while, he may even be home through Thanksgiving. It all depends on his next schooling, which is combat training.

Kyle will be home in December for about a week. It will be good to see him again. He is really doing well in his training. He may be stationed in California when he is all done with his training. That will mean more chances to see him.

Live fully.....

It's almost time...

2006-10-08T14:36:00.000-07:00

For writing. I will again this November take the challenge for National Novel Writing Month. I will try again to write 50,000 words in one month. I would like to challenge the rest of you to join me in this madness. It is a great deal of fun.

Go to above to sign up for the challenge, check on my progress, or to donate to the library fund. It all starts November 1st. Thankfully I have a laptop this year as I will be oing to Greg's graduation in the midst of the challenge.

Live fully....

Photo Updates

2006-09-30T16:28:00.000-07:00

I've updated the flickr site with the photos from Kyle's graduation and some of the surrounding area. Kyle is now in Gulf Port, MS. He is doing good, and has bought himself a cell phone. If anyone would like it, let me know. He is very happy. You can see it in the pictures and hear it in his voice. He is very happy with the choices he has made for the beginning of his life. He enjoys the training so far, and is absolutely in love with Rachael. He has made some very good decisions concerning his pay, saving for the future, and for college. It looks like some of the things I had hoped he would learn he has, he was listening after all. I am so very proud of him.

Finally got a letter from Greg. He has been very busy with his training, and was unable to write. I've always understood that he may not be able to write much, so when he does get a chance to write, it is always a good time for a "happy dance". He is doing very well. He is now looking forward to the things he has to finish before graduation. In a couple of weeks they will be going through the crucible. The best way to describe it is this, it is a very difficult obstacle course. ("Difficult" is putting it mildly.) Then there is the practicing for the graduation ceremony itself, then it will only be a few more days and he will have leave before going on to combat training. He sounds happy, no more aches and pains of muscles that are growing from all the exercise. He will have some time to come home for a visit, and hopefully will be able to stay for Thanksgiving. I am having a hard time waiting to see him again.

Will update again when I get more news.

Live fully....

Kyle Graduated

2006-09-26T21:20:00.000-07:00

It was a fantastic ceremony. A military band, flags of all the states, other flags for the divisions, and marching. All the sailors looked good, they all did themselves proud. I will be posting pictures to flickr when I get them edited. There are other pictures of the sites that we saw as well. He has managed to get taller, and to gain muscle without really gaining weight. He graduated as an E-3 and will be taking the test to become an E-4 in February. He hadn't gotten his orders before I left, he believes he will be going to Gulf Port for his "A" school. He will be learning how to build buildings. He as a 50% chance of going to Iraq. There was always the possibility that this would happen. I'll know more when I here from after he's at his tech school.

On a lighter note, he did ask his girlfriend to marry him. She said yes. They will not be getting married anytime soon, she's in college and wants to finish before they even think about a date. Even if Kyle doesn't go to Iraq, he will be overseas for a while, which is another reason to wait. Just so you all know, I do like her, they will be good together.

Anyway, it was a wonderful weekend. Lots of time spent with Kyle. It was very good to see him.

Live fully......

High speed

2006-09-19T12:54:00.000-07:00

We now have high speed internet! I am so happy. Now I can get online whenever I want without having to wonder who's going to call, and I won't be booted off anymore! I am so happy!!

I'm leaving on Thursday to go to Kyle's graduation. I am so excited about seeing him graduate, and spending some time with him. He has worked very hard to get this far, and this is just the beginning. Will let everyone know how it went. Hopefully I'll have a new camera before I go so that I can take video of the ceremony. (Keeping fingers and toes crossed that child support will let the funds go before I leave.)

Live fully.....

More letters from the boys

2006-09-14T23:55:00.000-07:00

Got letters from both the boys today. Kyle is getting ready for graduation next week. If anyone is planning on writing to him, don't write to him after this Sunday, he may not get it before he leaves for his tech school. I can't wait to see him at graduation.

Greg is doing good. With all the exercising that he has been doing has had some unexpected results. He has had some pain and numbness that is associated with building muscles and repetitive movement. Hopefully it will not be bad enough to keep him from graduating. I think that he will get past it and continue on stronger than ever. Everyones thoughts, prayers, and letters are much appreciated.

Live fully....

Today is a good day.

2006-09-07T21:02:00.000-07:00

Today has been a very good day. Michael (ex-hubby) paid in full all the back child support that he owed. What a relief that is, now I don't have to listen to any of his excuses any more! Received letters from both Greg and Kyle. Greg's graduation date has been moved to November 8th, with family day being November 7th. It is because the 10th of November is the Marine Corps anniversary. Kyle graduates in two weeks. Where did the time go? He is doing so good, he sounds so happy.

We've even had rain off and on for the last several days. I love thunderstorms, and the rain. Have another storm coming in now, so I have to go.

Live fully......

Travel plans complete....

2006-09-05T23:36:00.000-07:00

hopefully. I have my travel plans to see Kyle graduate on the 22nd of September. Now to figure out what I'm going to pack, what I will take for those times when I have to sit and wait, and other stuff. I can't wait to see him. His girlfriend and I have been making our plans together so that we will meet at the airport in Chicago, she is coming from college. We are both very excited for Kyle.

I have gotten more mail from Greg than I thought he would be able to write. If you have written to Greg and not received a note back, he's been very busy. He has been learning martial arts, marine history among other things. He was unable to do the pugel sticks because of the heat. He misses everyone, and I knows that he appreciates all the mail he gets even if he hasn't written back. He will be graduating November 10th, with family day on the 9th.

Live fully.....

Letters from the boys

2006-09-02T01:01:00.000-07:00

I've now gotten letters from both of the boys. They both sound really good. The homesickness is leaving both of them.

Kyle has been doing more physical training, which he loves. And there have been other training exercises, something about launching ships and pulling them back into port, and other fun stuff. He just sounds very excited in his letters. It seems he has a little more free time than Greg.

Greg is doing really good. He's been very busy. He seems to be adjusting fairly well. Because he is s thin, he's been getting double rations. His only complaint about it is that he isn't getting enough bread and grains. He definitely sounds better than he did in his first letters.

Live fully....

Heard from Greg

2006-08-28T21:46:00.000-07:00

I finally got a couple of letters from Greg. He is doing good, he's a little homesick. Everyone that I've sent his address to, please write to him. He will graduate on November 10th. His letters sound like he's a little lonesome, he can't call home. So letters are the only contact he has with the outside world.

I will keep posting as I hear from both of the boys.

Live fully....

A Navy Seal!?!

2006-08-25T14:06:00.000-07:00

Kyle is trying out to become a Navy Seal. I don't know what all is entailed in the testing and entry requirements. Needless to say, he is going for it, and I know that he will make it. Hooray for Kyle!!!!

Haven't heard from Greg yet. So I called his recruiter to find out if it is normal for the first letter home to take so long in getting here. His recruiter is very good at calming anxious parents, he said that it doe take a while, that they are very busy the first few days, and because the base is so big that the on base post office is rather slow. Then he gave me Greg's address. I have e-mailed it to those that are interested in writing to him. If there is anyone who would like to write to either of them, or has misplaced an address, let me know and I will give it to you.

I am very proud of both boys. There is some fear of either one of them being injured or killed in the military, especially becoming a Navy Seal, I am more afraid that they will not do what they are passionate about. I would be more upset if they didn't go after their dreams, and whatever they need to do to get there.

Live fully....The boys are

Heard from Kyle

2006-08-20T22:18:00.000-07:00

Finally got a letter from Kyle, not just a form letter. He's doing good. Lots of physical training, lots of good food, and the time to eat it all in. Seems he keeps his locker so well organized that his is used as an example for others. He is also a Section Leader, which isn't the same as a Squad Leader. Maggie asked someone at work who was in the Navy what a section leader is, and was told that a section leader is over the whole company. Yay Kyle! Evidently they look at the recruits record and that's how the different leaders are picked. So, Kyle is doing great.

Have not heard from Greg yet. When I do I will e-mail his address to those who want it.

Live fully....

Kyle called today, he is doing good, slightly homesick. He likes all the mail he gets. Boot camp isn't nearly as bad as he thought it would be. He gets up early to do physical training with the seals, otherwise the most exercise he gets is marching. I asked him exactly what a section leader is, well he told me that a section leader is leader of a few guys, and that there are six section leaders. So there we have it, straight from the horses mouth so to speak. It was good to hear his voice.

Live fully....

Empty Nest

2006-08-14T19:59:00.000-07:00

Greg left early this morning. I didn't sleep last night, haven't slept much today either. My role as Mom has changed, what it will be, will defined by each of the kids and what they need from me. The question then becomes, what do I do for me? What do I do each day to live fully? I don't have an answer yet. Home is no longer a hub of activity for the kids, it is very quiet.

When I get Greg's address, I will everyone know through e-mail.

Live fully.....

Letter from Kyle

2006-08-07T21:16:00.000-07:00

I got a form letter from Kyle today. It gave me his address and a few other bits of information that I will need to know when it gets closer to his graduation. I have e-mailed my family with his address, if there is anyone else who would like to write words of encouragement to him while he is in boot camp, let me know and I will e-mail his address to you. He was able to write a short note at the bottom of the letter, he is doing well.

I am so happy that I have heard from him. Now I can send all those daily letters to him.

Live fully.....

Feeling Better

2006-08-02T20:23:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyones for all the kind words and thoughts. I feel much better now. It is now a week and a half before Greg leaves, I won't panic until a couple of days before he leaves. He won't be able to call when he gets there, and probably not at all while he's in boot camp. I will have to settle for the first letter he sends, he may not have the time to write too much after that.

Kyle called the night he arrived, then called his girlfriend yesterday. She called me right after they were done talking. He is doing good, and boot camp isn't nearly as hard as he thought it was going to be, but then again he's only been there a few days. He won't be able to mail anything until Sunday, so it will be next week before I have an address. Never the less, I have been writing a note to him everyday in anticipation of the coming address. His girlfriend is hoping that he will be able to write to her before she leaves for college at the end of the month. I'm sure that we will all get something from him by the end of next week. I sent him off with five postage paid postcards, so we should get them by then. I will let those who are interested in writing what his address is in a separate e-mail.

Thanks again to everyone.

Live fully....

Life goes on

2006-07-29T00:28:00.000-07:00

Kyle left for basic training at 5 am Friday. He just called at midnight to let me know that he made it ok, and that he needs another phone card (I got him one that didn't have very many minutes on it). He sounded tried, and confident. I cried after he left, I feel better now that I've talked to him. When I get an address for him I will e-mail anyone who will write to him what his address is.

I am finding that I need to redefine who I am. I have been a mom for so long that I'm not sure who I am as a mom with grown kids. It is going to be interesting figuring out that new definition.

Greg leaves for basic in a little more than two weeks. And, yes, I will cry after he leaves. He will not be calling once he gets there, he will only be able to write a quick note of what his address is.

I have tried to prepare myself for this eventuality, yet you can never be totally prepared.

Live fully....

Thunder and Lightening....

2006-07-24T22:19:00.000-07:00

Not much rain though. I love the way the thunder rolls across the the sky. The lightening has been spreading itself across the clouds. The dogs though don't like all the noise. They are now inside away from the horrible noise.

Just had to let everyone know that we've had a slight change in the weather here. It's still over 105 during the day, but the storms are moving through the valley. Maybe we'll get more than a few drops of rain out of this storm.

Live fully...

AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

2006-07-19T11:42:00.000-07:00

Ok, now that I've got that out of my system. The worry wart mom in me is kicking into overdrive. Kyle will be leaving in a little more than a week. MY BABY IS LEAVING!!!!!! Ok, so he's taller than me, can pick me up and carry me around, and has made a very important decision about his future. He is no longer a baby, he is a young man. I am very proud of him and I support his decision of joining the Navy. I will be fine once the day of his leaving has come and gone. That doesn't mean I will stop worrying, it just means I won't be so freaked out about it.

Now that everyone has gotten a glimpse of how my mind works, I will see you all later. Just had to get it off my chest yet again.

Live fully....

A declaration of intent

2006-07-07T20:45:00.000-07:00

I have done it! I have done a rune reading for someone other than my family. I did the reading for the lady that owns the shop Incantations. This was the bump in the road that I needed to get over before doing readings for others could begin. It is in this shop that I will be doing readings. It's a neat little shop that is conducive to doing readings.

Here is my declaration of intent: I will do readings, runes and ogham, for those that would like them. I will create bind runes for these that need them. I will do these things out of love and concern for all who ask.

If any one wants to contact me to ask questions about runes, ogham, readings, or bind runes, please contact me at my new hotmail address. I welcome all questions.

Live fully.....

What a great weekend

2006-06-26T23:01:00.000-07:00

The party for the boys was this past Saturday, and it was great. My Dad came from Kansas to be a part of the celebration (Thanks Dad). My Mom was there as well. Talena came for the party with the babies, Emery and Elizabeth and the boys came for awhile, and of course almost all of Greg and Kyle's friends. The food was simple, an eight foot sub, chips and dip, and potato salad. Jerry had set up a pool table, an air hockey table, a juke box, a couple of trivia games, and a shooting game of some kind, and later found a driving game that was working. the kids ate and played games, and even came up with a couple of games themsevles.

They discovered that wheeled chairs roll really good on cement. So they devised a course and had a couple of rounds or so of chair racing. Then there was the version of tag that was played throughout the entire shop. Some of the kids were zombies, some were human, and there were safe areas, and somehow there were markers involved in this game, how I'm not sure.

The party started at three and went until ten. We ended up having to take several of the kids from the shop back to our house so that they could get home from there (I believe that there were about 13 in the back of a large truck). Once we did get home they all took off to make sure that everyone got home safely.

Everyone had a blast. Some of them even helped to clean up before we left. It was a fantastic time, everyone was able to get together and enjoy themselves. Which was the point of the party, as well as saying congrats and good luck.

I will post pictures when I can, hopefully soon.

Live fully....

Good news

2006-06-22T01:35:00.000-07:00

Kyle passed his GED tests with flying colors! Way above average in everything. I am so proud of him. This means that his entry date will probably change again, will keep all posted as to when he will leave for basic training.

Live fully....

Summer has begun

2006-06-11T14:21:00.000-07:00

It has been very quiet since the last post. Greg and Kyle have been off enjoying their freedom from school, and the last summer that they will have as boys. Kyle has been taking his GED and has one more test to take. The testing is only one afternoon a week, so it's taken longer than I anticipated. I have been trying to get a few things together for the party for the boys, still haven't decided on what food to serve. Thankfully they are easy to please, just having all their friends together one last time is all they really care about.

I am trying very hard to come to terms with an empty nest. Have been trying to find different things to do, most of what I have done and planned has been around the kids. Now I won't have them to plan around. After they are gone, their friends won't be around either, that will make the house even quieter. I am very proud of them and what they have decided to do to start their adult lives, and I am sad that my babies are leaving home. I know that everything will work out for the best, and I will get through the sadness.

Hope everyone has a good week.

Live fully.....

It's been longer than I thought

2006-05-26T23:18:00.000-07:00

The last couple of weeks has been crazy around here. I didn't realize it had been so long since I had last posted. I had to change my routine slightly for a bit, other wise I get stuck in the rut I've created for myself. I haven't been online much, barely long enough to check my email. I was playing Myst V, and I won! If you like puzzles, this series of games is great.

Gregory was able to walk with his graduating class. We knew that he would be graduating, we just weren't sure when the credits from the online courses would be added to his transcript, thankfully it was in time for him to walk with his classmates. So this last week we have been running around to get his cap and gown so that he could participate in the ceremony. When you get your cap and gown now you own it. So we now have a lovely purple cap and gown. The ceremony was one of the best organized ones that we have been to. Once the ceremony started they kept on track. Gregory's recruiter was there to watch him and a couple of others graduate, Greg even turned over his certificate to him before we left. The recruiter needs a copy of it in Greg's file. Greg is so excited about going into the Marine's.

Kyle is going to take the GED test on Tuesday. We had to get a letter from his school councilor for him to take the test. The Navy recruiter told him he had to wait until after school was out before he could take the test. It takes three weeks to get the results back, we should know before the party what his results are. He is very excited about going into the Navy as well. The GED test is just one more step closer to his goal of getting into the Navy.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day.

Live fully.....

Happy Mother's Day

2006-05-11T23:04:00.000-07:00

Mothers

If you send this to just one person, it should make it all the way around the world by Mother's Day.

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It's okay honey, Mommy's here."

Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted.

This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.

For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.

This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging ontheir refrigerator doors.

And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers atfootball or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of theircars. And that when their kids asked, "Did you see me, Mom?" they could say,"Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead,but realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children andexplained all about making babies. And for all the (grand)mothers whowanted to, but just couldn't find the words.

This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat.

For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year. And then read it again. "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home -- or even away at college ~or have their own families.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomachaches, assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only toget calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them.

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14year olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TV's in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips?

The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?

Or is it in her heart?

Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time?

The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby?

The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home?

Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation. And mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.

Single mothers and married mothers.

Mothers with money, mothers without.

This is for you all. For all of us..Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can. Tell them every day that we love them. And pray and never stop being a mom.

Happy Mother's Day to every mother and every woman.

Immigration

2006-05-01T21:11:00.000-07:00

It may be difficult for those who do not live along the border with Mexico to understand the frustration that we have with illegal immigrants. There are laws that describe who is illegally in the country, what a person needs to do to be in this country for work or school, and what paperwork employers and educators need to see in order to hire or enroll as a student. There are jobs that the immigrants do that some Americans don’t want to do, the biggest problem is that the jobs that the illegal immigrants are taking are jobs that legal immigrants could be doing. The illegal immigrants are taking the jobs of legal immigrants.

The legal immigrants that are hired have the same taxes taken out of their paychecks the same as the rest of us, the illegal immigrants are paid under the table. Because of this, those of us that are paying for services that the illegal immigrants are using without paying for. Yet the illegal immigrants want to use the services that they are not paying for, mainly medical services. There are other people who could qualify for any of these services, yet because the illegal immigrants are using them there is no money for those that have paid the taxes that funds these services.

If they want to come here to work or go to school, we already have legislation in place that addresses this desire. Now what is in place on the other side of the border doesn’t seem to be working for their people to find work elsewhere. When people are working then the economy is better for it, even if they are working outside their own country. Most of the immigrants, legal and illegal, send a good portion of the money they make back to family in Mexico so that they can live. I don’t think that there is any need for more legislation on this side of the border. There are rumors of corruption in the Mexican Government, whether or not this is true I don’t know, there has to be a small bit of truth in it as there are so many stories that point to pay offs to different officials. What should happen is a change n policy in the Mexican government pertaining to working visas and educational visas.

What concerns me the most is that if we cannot keep people from crossing our border whose biggest crime is just crossing the border illegally, how can we keep those who are coming here to commit crimes from coming across?

County fair

2006-04-25T23:48:00.000-07:00

The county fair was this past week. It was smaller this year than I have ever seen it, which is a shame. I entered three items in to the fair this year. I ended up getting a ribbon on each one. A third place ribbon on the green afghan, a second place ribbon on M scarf (both of which are on flickr), and a first place ribbon on a rolled neck poncho (which I will add to flickr soon). It is so neat to have someone that doesn't know you to like what you have made. I am also going to submit a pattern to the Crochet pattern a day calendar, I hope that it will be added for next year.

Live fully.....

Family problems

2006-04-25T23:33:00.000-07:00

Now normally I wouldn't post about such things, this needs some special attention because it involves small kids, namely my granddaughters. Talena and Mark are going through a rough time, they're living in separate homes, aren't being very nice to each other, and are using the girls as pawns. Talena has requested mediation through the court system, which is a good thing. I know that she would rather work things out with Mark even though right now it doesn't seem like it will work out. What I would like is for those who are inclined to do so, is to put the four of them in their thoughts and prayers that everything will work out for the best, especially what would be best for the girls. Gynesis and Lavieya are the ones that are being hurt the most through this, and they need all the help they can get. They need all of us to put them first in our thoughts, what would be best for them, whatever that may be.

Thank you all for reading this, and doing what your heart directs you to do.

Live fully....

Still alive and kicking

2006-04-21T00:03:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't posted in a while, just wanted to let everyone know that I'm still here. Greg's been working on school work online, so getting on for me has been done fairly late at night. Just past the time when I can put my thoughts together and have them make sense. So I am writing this in hopes that it will make some sense, and at the very least let everyone know that I'm still alive and well.

I have decided to take the opportunity of doing readings in the little shop that just opened near me. I haven't worked out all the details yet, it is something I've been wanting to do for a while. I'm looking forward to all the people I'll meet.

Live fully.....

What famous leader are you?

2006-04-12T23:06:00.000-07:00

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Live fully....

What Movie are you?

2006-04-11T23:49:00.000-07:00

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

The more questions you answer the better. This was a very interesting quiz. Here is another site that is full of quizzes, it's called quizilla. This is one quiz site that is popular with the kids.

Live fully....

Personality Test

2006-04-06T23:38:00.000-07:00

You are a Considerate Inventor.

You are an Inventor

Your imagination, self-reliance, openness to new things, and appreciation for utility combine to make you an INVENTOR.

You have the confidence to make your visions into reality, and you are willing to consider many alternatives to get that done.

The full spectrum of possibilities in the world intrigues you—you're not limited by pre-conceived notions of how things should be.

Problem-solving is a specialty of yours, owing to your persistence, curiosity, and understanding of how things work.

Your vision allows you to identify what's missing from a given situation, and your creativity allows you to fill in the gaps.

Your awareness of how things function gives you the ability to come up with new uses for common objects.

It is more interesting for you to pursue excitement than it is to get caught up in a routine.

Although understanding details is not difficult for you, you specialize in seeing the bigger picture and don't get caught up in specifics.

You tend to more proactive than reactive—you don't just wait for things to come to you.

You're not afraid to let your emotions guide you, and you're generally considerate of others' feelings as well.

Generally, you believe that you control your life, and that external forces only play a limited role in determining what happens to you.

You are Considerate

You trust others, care about them, and are slow to judge them, making you CONSIDERATE.

You value your close relationships very much, and are more likely to spend time in small, tightly-knit groups of friends than in large crowds.

You enjoy exploring the world through observation, quietly watching others.

Relating to others so well, and understanding their emotions, leads you to trust people in general, even though you're somewhat shy and reserved at times.

Your belief that people are generally well-intentioned contributes to your sympathy regarding their problems.

Although you may not vocalize it often, you have an awareness of how society affects individuals, and you understand complex causes of people's behavior.

You like to look at all sides of a situation before making a judgment, particularly when that situation involves important things in other people's lives.

Your close friends know you as a good listener.

This was a fun and easy one to take. I think it describes me quite well.

Live fully....

Ren Fair

2006-04-03T15:05:00.000-07:00

The kids and I went to the Renaissance Festival this last weekend (the date on the picture is wrong). We had a blast. If you ever get a chance to go to one, do so. There are shops, and shows, and jousting. The food is great. This picture was taken as we were leaving the fair, we were all tired and very happy.

From left to right: Kyle, Paul, me, Greg, Maggie, Roger, and Andre. Yes, I dress for the festival. A lot of people that go frequently do dress up for it, it just makes the experience that much better.

This is part of what I like to do to live fully.

A neat new shop

2006-03-25T22:15:00.000-07:00

This is a neat little shop that I've finally been able to get into. I've gone at the wrong times, and also they were closed for remodeling. It is a cute little place for those who are looking for different ways to find their own spirituality. I talked to the shop keeper for a couple of hours. It's the first time I've gone into a shop like this and felt like I was at home. I might even do a few readings in the future ( for those that don't know or remember I read runes and ogam sticks), I may even do a few crocheted bags, and who knows what else I might be able to do there. I am very excited about this opportunity. I had hoped for awhile that something like this would present itself, and now it has. I will have to be patient and let this work out in the time it is supposed too.

Live fully....

Spring has sprung

2006-03-22T00:02:00.000-07:00

I'm hoping that because it rained on the first day of spring, that it will be a wetter spring than our winter was. 144 days without rain is way to long. Even the people were getting snappy and contrary, now that it's rained everyone seems to have calmed down. The only good part of not having rain for so long is that it happened during the fall and winter months and not the spring and summer months. It could have very easily gone up to 120 degrees during the summer without rain. I love living in the desert.

Everyone is doing good, and nothing unusual or exciting has happened since I last posted. Which is not a bad thing, routine is a good thing when there are 5 people living in one house. Soon it will be emptier. Once the boys are at bootcamp, they will be able to send me a postcard with their address, if you want to write to them let me know and I will forward their addresses. They will not be able to write back, they will be kept very busy, they will need all the love that they can get through letters.

Live fully....

It rained today!!

2006-03-12T00:02:00.000-07:00

This dry spell lasted for 144 days. So, yes, we are all overjoyed at the fact that it's cold and wet! Greg not so much because he wanted to go and do things with his friends for his birthday, he hasn't driven in the rain and I wasn't going to test that without my being in the van with him (He didn't really want to drive in the rain either). He did have fun with all his friends and Mom driving them around. He was able to find what he wanted to spend his birthday money on.

Back to the rain. Because of the rain the dogs have spent the whole day inside, well almost all day. They had to go outside when everybody left the house. They do dumb things when left inside by themselves. Coming home and letting them in is a rather big project, P-Bear can pretty much stay on the porch so he isn't to bad, Jebo won't stay under any protection and is usually soaked. She has her winter coat and is very difficult to get dry, it takes about three towels to get her dry enough to be inside, and several hours for her to be completely dry. So now we have damp dogs in the house, at least they're warm.

Live fully....

Check out Greg's site

2006-03-02T22:51:00.000-07:00

Greg has an animation class at school. What they are learning in class they put into a design of their own web site. Here is Greg's Site , it's still under construction, yet it shows some of what he has already learned in class. Keep checking back to see how his site is growing.

Live fully.....

Yay Greg!

2006-03-01T20:29:00.000-07:00

Gregory has finally gotten his drivers' license! It took him a year to do, but he finally did it. Now he tries to find reasons to drive.

Every Wednesday he goes to the recruiters office for the DEP program. They run, do exercises, and help them to memorize different things. He comes home a little sore, and with the biggest grin on his face, he really enjoys all that they do.

June 25 is the day for their going away/graduation party. If you can be there for it, let me know and I will send along the address and time for the party.

Live fully....

Tag, Your It!

2006-02-24T22:30:00.000-07:00

My dad started this on his blog, Life In Lansing, KS (I figured out how to do links! Yay!) So now that you have come here to read this list, it is now your turn to do your list.

4 Things I need every morning:
1. Glass of water
2. Warm robe (You wouldn't think I need one in AZ, but I do)
3. News
4. Jerry sleeping still

4 Things that turn me off:
1. People who don't listen to others opinions
2. Cigarette smoke
3. Inconsiderate snobs
4. Anyone who doesn't take responsibility for their own actions

4 Things I believe in:
1. Love at first site
2. A creator
3. The strength of family
4. Spirits, ghosts, angels, and guardian spirits

4 Things I am afraid of:
1. Growing old alone
2. Losing my memory
3. Egomaniacal politicians
4. Being taken for granted

4 Things I do everyday:
1. Read email, blogs
2. Watch way to much TV (It's on even when it's not being watched)
3. Crochet
4. Read books

4 Things I want to have/do:
1. Live until I'm 104
2. A complete understanding of my abilities (Psychic, metaphysical, paranormal, whatever you want to call them)
3. Respect and acceptance
4. Travel

4 People I want to see:
1. George W. Bush
2. Sylvia Brown
3. Condeleeza Rice
4. Stephen King

4 Numbers that rule my life:
1. 7
2. 104
3. 3
4. 6

4 favorite colors:
1. Deep purple
2. Navy blue
3. Magenta
4. Silver

4 People to do list:
I'm not sure what is meant by this category, so I'm leaving it blank until I know what is to be put here.

So this is my list of fours, when you have made your list, either post it on your own blog and let me know where to find it, or post the list in the comment section under this post.

Live fully....

Nothing Unusual

2006-02-23T01:11:00.000-07:00

There hasn't been anything unusual happening around here, which is a good thing. Everyone is busy with school, and work. It looks like Maggie will be off probation (or is it parole? I an never keep it straight) by the end of April. Yay! She has been doing so good. Kyle's Drill Team has been doing good. He's on the junior varsity team, this last week they didn't get a trophy, the varsity team did walk away with the most trophies though. Greg has been exercising every night, running a couple of times a week, his recruiters are giving him a hard time about losing weight, all he's losing is what little flab he had and turning it into muscle.

I had a telephone survey group call the other night, I like giving my opinion especially when someone is asking me for it, the survey was about fast food restaurant's. One question was, what is your favorite fast food place? I answered Fazoli's. There was a pause on the line, I don't think it was on her list of possible answers, I love Fazoli's. Then she went on about other fast food places, which were all burger places. It got me to thinking, we have been to a lot of fast food places, thanks to Maggie, none of them have been burger places though. They have been Chinese, subs, Italian and the like. All of them good, all of them fairly good for you.

Live fully....

Quiet Observations

2006-02-11T22:11:00.000-07:00

As Greg and Kyle get ready to go to basic training, their friends are not handling their transformation well at all. With all of them being boys, they have been well programmed not to show their emotions, the friends have started doing dumb things. I'm not sure exactly what they are doing, all I know is that both Greg and Kyle are finding them annoying. To be fair, not all of their friends are acting strange, just some of them. When they told me which ones were acting up, I realized it's the ones that don't have a goal, or a plan for their future. It seems they didn't think that anything was going to change and now that it is they don't know how to handle the inevitability of time and change. I can only hope that these boys' will find their way, both Greg and Kyle are good models of setting a goal, and finding a way of achieving that goal.

I haven't set a date for their party yet, still working out which weekend will work best. So far it looks like it will be towards the end of June. Will keep everyone posted as to when it will happen in enough time to make plans for those that can make it.

Live fully....

My Thoughts

New Immagration Law

Another long awaited posting

It's been way to long.....

Hero Writing assignment

Long overdue update

A long overdue update

My four-legged friend

Helium

An update and a Question....

It's been a long time...

What is your IQ?

November is over

November is almost here.....

A Quick Update

I've got reason to celebrate!

It's that time of year again!

Goals made and some acheived

Life changing events

New Grandson!!!!

They jumped the gun a bit....

Guess what I am?

I'm a Talent!

Talent: 56%Lifer: 33%Mandarin: 49%

What is it?

Some Self Promotion

Permanent Station

Happy 4th of July!!!

Things I've made

WooHoo!!!

What a great weekend!!!

Kyle has a Tattoo!

Sushi Night!!!

I'm Back!!!

I'm here!!!!

New chapter

Been doing some homework.....

Possibility of a move....

County Fair

More cleaning....

Finally...another posting

New Forum

Ren Fair and other stuff

Not much of a spring

Grandparents again!

Old friends found

The Road to Nowhere...Revisited

The road to Nowhere

Book update...

A visit from the boys

Another step to being published.....

Ramblings....

Hhhmmmm.....

It's quiet here, sort of...

Opininions and Thoughts wanted

Christmas time

Empty Nest!?!

I did it!!!

A Different Christmas Poem

I'm alive! In CA, will post pics later!

You are The Moon

It's almost November!

Lots of good stuff

Greg has conquered the crucible!

Greg wrote!

It's almost time...

Photo Updates

Kyle Graduated

High speed

More letters from the boys

Today is a good day.

Travel plans complete....

Letters from the boys

Heard from Greg

A Navy Seal!?!

Heard from Kyle

Empty Nest

Letter from Kyle

Feeling Better

Life goes on

Talent: 56%
Lifer: 33%
Mandarin: 49%