goodness...and good news..

from 2 peas: Define Goodness...

I think goodness is ultimately practiced when we truly do put others before ourselves. When we think of someone elses needs, both physical and emotional and seek to fulfill those needs, even without reward to ourself.

Goodness is also in the first taste of fresh baked brownies, the smell in the air after a rainstorm, the feel of my cat's fur in the morning, the sound of genuine heartfelt laughter and the sight of a package delivered to me!!

Good news...

It's official, my son is a new recruit for a Bay Area police dept. Because he values his privacy, I'll only say its a town South of San Francisco and North of San Jose. Orientation starts Dec 10, the acadamy starts Dec 17...YIKES!!
I'm happy for him, because this is his dream...but...a police officer!

So, son and dil are making plans to move into an apt closer to his location...so I can turn the suite of rooms into my library/crop room, right...But this morning I got the news that my sister is engaged!! Soooooo, my mom wants to move back to Ca with us!!!

My mommy is coming home!! poor Michael...

and I get to buy a new Christmas tree, Michael went to pull it out of the garage for me, and says it reeks of mouse urine. a reason to shop! oh, I never need a reason, do I?

one skill...

What's one skill you've wanted but don't have?

Only one? I wish I could sing, dance, draw, paint...budget my spending, eat well and exercise... how do I pick just one? hmmmmmmmm

Above all, I wish I could 'say the right thing', I have a friend who is going thru a painful time...and I wish I could say something to help. (this is her first holiday since losing her 18 year old son over the summer) I leave her unanswered voice messages, I just don't know how to reach her. should I give her space, should I show up at her door...should I keep calling?

Usually, I'm comfortable with my social awkwardness...but sometimes...I wish I just knew the right thing for someone who is hurting.

I know how much it meant to me to receive the comments from yesterday's post about my dad.

Thank you to those who did.

a tough day,

Today is a tough day, Today would have been my dad's 71st birthday.
He was killed in a car accident 16 years ago on a Nevada highway.

He was an IBM computer programmer during the 60's and 70's,you know when a computer was a whole room of machines and they used punch cards to key info and got those big green and white computer reports...we kids had so much fun when he brought those reports home.

He was contracted by IBM to work on the NASA Apollo Projects...he was one smart cookie. You know, in the Apollo 13 movie when those guys pull out slide rules..my dad was one of those guys.

I remember when he said that he buys "on the obsolete edge of technology", because even 16 years ago, once you get the new computer product, there was a new better one coming out. I wonder what he'd think today with the laptops, ipods, usb key fobs, digital cameras...and that KIDS have these things.


My dad was also the kind of guy, that if he found out you were passionate about something like politics, he'd argue the other side, just to get a 'rise' out of you.

I do miss him,
Happy Birthday, Daddy.
I Love you.

holiday tradition

from 2 peas:
If there was one holiday tradition you could share with someone other than your family. What would it be and what does it mean to you?

I thought of 2... First, I send out family letters with Christmas cards, I would LOVE to receive some from friends and family (with pictures) . I love getting these (maybe thats why I blog)..maybe the why is because I am nosy.

And the second, is each year we participate in Operation Christmas Child


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and Angel Tree

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and both are a simple reminder of what Christmas should be about,
as opposed to getting swept up in the materialism...
(though I do love to shop, so I tend to overshop also)

I do want to decorate, but with our naughty grand-kitty, the consensus is he will climb the Chrismas tree.. the above pic was taken when he was a kitten (not a tree, but you get the idea) , he is now 3 years old..I am hoping he's outgrown the habit. Am I being naive?

I have the day off for a dentist appt, I think I'm gonna put up the tree (undecorated) and see what happens.

friendship essential. and a lesson learned

from 2 peas:

What is the essential core of friendship for you?

Honesty, I always appreciate honesty in a friendship...I find that I am drawn to people who are even very blunt in their honesty...some people are put off by that, may see it as rude, but I find it refreshing and delightful. Maybe because that is how my mom is. But I'd say my closest friends are those who will look me in the eye, and tell me when I am wrong. Some are subtle (like Michele) some are godly (like Lucy) and some are just blunt (like Francine). Even my dd and dil are honest with me, and I appreciate it.

well, I learned a little lesson yesterday.
We have 6 people living at the house for now. 2 over 40, 4 in their 20's...we are sharing one set of washer and dryer...and those machines were busy all weekend.

Well, I had a load to put in the dryer..so when the dryer buzzer went off, I went to check..I thought it was dd's laundry (so no big deal). I see these red/green/white nylon shorts, so I thought, she got herself some shorts from Italy...so I pull them out to see...

Oh, they were shorts from Italy, from Florence...yeah
there was a picture from the statue of David, a picture of his male-ness,
placed at the anatomically correct place on the shorts!

It wasn't disgusting, just surprising, so I let out a loud gasp!!
who should run in to check on me? DD and Chris! They thought I saw a mouse or spider. As soon as he realizes what is going on, Chris tells dd, 'she saw the shorts!' and started laughing so hard, he was doubled over. DD tells me, 'it was
just a joke....' in between her own giggles.

Lesson learned, when sharing a washer/dryer with young people..and the buzzer goes off, yell out 'the machine is done', do not open the door!!!

last movie...and...

from 2 peas:
what was last movie you watched?
does High School Musical on Friday count? as far as going to the Theater...ummm, last May, saw Georgia Rules...or DVD, would probably be Transformers.

So, yesterday DH met 'the boy'(Chris)...he did very well, kinda.
He introduced himself and told Chris,"mi casa, tu casa"..then supervised while Chris worked on his brakes and rotors. DD and I had to leave for an appointment,
so by the time we got back, Chris and DS were in the "back forty" shooting at targets...DH was reading a paper in the garage. The rest of the day was spent with the 3 of them fixing a section of fence and Chris rode the horse. By the end of the day, the boys had bonded. DH even told DD, "when do you bring him back?"

We have a nice dinner, and right after everyone eats...DH pulls out his "Application to Date my Daughter"...Chris was a good sport and verbally answered each question.
We were laughing so hard..there was one question that said something about "What part of Don't Touch My Daughter don't you understand", at this time DD had her hand on Chris's leg..so DH gestured at her to move her hand...she responded, "it doesn't say I can't touch him!!"

After dinner, we are standing around talking and DH says, 'hurry up and have babies"
DD and I were so flabbergasted, we left..then he says, "I sure do know how to clear a room!" Chris simply explained he wanted to finish school before babies.


Just too much fun.. Watch out mothers of daughters!! Your Hubby's can become goofballs (oh, my dh already was one) when their 'princess' brings home a boy!

creativity is important

from 2 peas:
Why is creativity important?
I think creativity is important because it takes us outside of ourselves, it is a way to express what is inside..I cannot imagine a world without the arts, without music...it would be a very cold mechanical world.

My feet are still hurting from yesterday's shopping!! DD and I got up at 2:30 am to be at Mervyn's opening at 4 am. YIKES!! Then, I was so stupid, went to Wallyworld a li'l after their 5am opening...CRAZY-NESS...but some good doorbusters...but there was NO getting into the electronics dept. Then off to the mall, Macy's, Sears, Borders Books...C tried Victoria's Secret, but there was no way to even get in!!
The worst line was Express, curved throughout the store. So while C was in the dressing room I got in line...and their sale was only 20% off!! BUT we were done by 11AM...and had a nice Olive Garden lunch, our waiter was J's best friend in high school, so we gave him a mega-tip...and went home and napped!! Pulled out my credit card and told dh, 'its melting!!, see the smoke coming off this thing?"

I was so tired, my own snoring would wake me up a couple of times!!

I watched High School Musical, I wanted to see what the hype was about...
it was cute!! and the tunes were catchy...I just might get a cd!!

and around midnight, the 'boy' arrived, but it was so late, we have not officially welcomed him yet. DH (completely 'egged on' by DS) was going on about how he would step out on the driveway with his wife-beaters and boxers, pretend to have chewing tobacco and of course, his shotgun...but he slept.

I told dd that 'I'm sorry, I probably should have had 3 more daughters so you wouldn't be the only one, and they wouldn't carry on like that" Geeeeeee