Am I rushing the holidays by asking for suggestions already? I don't mean to make one feel that way. I see the holidays moving quickly into view (Thanksgiving is next week!) and I wanted to get a head start, as well as, get the best selection. I have had things already mailed ahead.
I am excited about Christmas and Thanksgiving. We will be traveling but we will be able to see everyone this year. Of course, it won't be as long as we want but it will help some in the long run.
We will have a couple of holiday parties to attend here. One will be on a yacht with dinner and dancing.
The holidays in California is very different. No snow and really cold weather to get you in the spirit. Homes are not decorated as much as those back east. We have our artifical tree up but not decorated yet. We want to have time to enjoy it before the trips. At least we won't have to worry about it drying out. I know it is not the same as the smell of a real tree. I can still bake and fill the house with the aromas. Smelling the cinammon, gingerbread, turkey, ham, sweet potatoes, dressing, and even fruitcake, makes one think of holidays past and future.
Enjoy the time before, during, and after the holidays. They just move too fast!
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
The Fires Continue
Some of the fires have been contained and people are being allowed to go back home. It is sometimes just to see what is left of their home and whether they can find anything in the ashes. How sad! Some will find their home OK.
The Irvine/Santiago fire has burned 27,000 acres. It has now moved to the Cleveland National Forest. We just have the smell of smoke around us. Last night and today has been the first time we have smelled the smoke inside the house. We have everything closed up but it still gets in somehow. It is like the smell you get after you have had a fire and the smell lingers. It will be around for sometime until that fire is contained and we get some rain to wash it away.
The President was here yesterday to look things over. He told people that they be feeling bad today but things will be better tomorrow. How sweet was that?! Now he should make sure those people get the money they need to rebuild!
Anyway, we continue to do what we need to do. We try to stay inside as much as possible but life goes on. We were told that smelling the smoke is like smoking packs of cigarettes. Not good. Again, once it all goes away then your lungs can clear. I just hope it is soon.
The Irvine/Santiago fire has burned 27,000 acres. It has now moved to the Cleveland National Forest. We just have the smell of smoke around us. Last night and today has been the first time we have smelled the smoke inside the house. We have everything closed up but it still gets in somehow. It is like the smell you get after you have had a fire and the smell lingers. It will be around for sometime until that fire is contained and we get some rain to wash it away.
The President was here yesterday to look things over. He told people that they be feeling bad today but things will be better tomorrow. How sweet was that?! Now he should make sure those people get the money they need to rebuild!
Anyway, we continue to do what we need to do. We try to stay inside as much as possible but life goes on. We were told that smelling the smoke is like smoking packs of cigarettes. Not good. Again, once it all goes away then your lungs can clear. I just hope it is soon.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
The Fires
Day 3 - The fires keep burning and growing. We have about a dozen fires all around us. The fire for Orange County/Irvine was started by someone. Can you believe that? Actually starting a fire! No one has been found yet but they are looking.
The fires are not that near us. We can see one but again it is not close. We feel sorry for those people who are loosing their homes or having the uncertainty of whether they would have a home to return too.
We are at the mercy of the weather and the winds. It is scary. You want it to end!
The fires are not that near us. We can see one but again it is not close. We feel sorry for those people who are loosing their homes or having the uncertainty of whether they would have a home to return too.
We are at the mercy of the weather and the winds. It is scary. You want it to end!
Friday, October 19, 2007
Traveling ...
We have finished our latest trip to Indian Wells California. Indian Wells is very near Palm Springs which is in the desert. We had a bit of a problem with blowing sand during a portion of the trip but it wasn't as bad as the day before our trip. On that day there were major accidents. Two people had died. We did not encounter anything like that.
The temperature was very nice which was a surprise but a very nice surprise. We only stayed at the hotel, for the meeting that Dad was going to, for a night. The drive was only 2 1/2 hours and the traffic moved very well.
This trip came only one day after we returned from DC and Maryland. I had just enough time to do some laundry before we were out the door once again. Our next trip will be for the two of us going in different directions. Dad will be flying to Oakland and I will be flying to Sacramento. Dad will be helping on a job for Clark and I will be attending a meeting for the Operation of Emergency Services for California.
Once we return from those trips then we will be off to San Diego for a weekend the beginning of November. We will then have two weeks before the trip to Denver for Thanksgiving. We will be checking the area out and visiting.
Then we will move into December. That month will be very busy too. I can't worry about that now. I need Christmas suggestions .... send out cards ... what to take??? TOO MUCH! One day at a time.
The temperature was very nice which was a surprise but a very nice surprise. We only stayed at the hotel, for the meeting that Dad was going to, for a night. The drive was only 2 1/2 hours and the traffic moved very well.
This trip came only one day after we returned from DC and Maryland. I had just enough time to do some laundry before we were out the door once again. Our next trip will be for the two of us going in different directions. Dad will be flying to Oakland and I will be flying to Sacramento. Dad will be helping on a job for Clark and I will be attending a meeting for the Operation of Emergency Services for California.
Once we return from those trips then we will be off to San Diego for a weekend the beginning of November. We will then have two weeks before the trip to Denver for Thanksgiving. We will be checking the area out and visiting.
Then we will move into December. That month will be very busy too. I can't worry about that now. I need Christmas suggestions .... send out cards ... what to take??? TOO MUCH! One day at a time.
Monday, October 8, 2007
New Baby Blankets!
I have finally finished another group of baby blankets for the hospital. It has been fun making them especially trying to use different patterns. I also try to use different colors instead of the pink or blue. The one picture that looks like a dark green is actually yellow. I also tried to make hats to go along with the blanket. That is hard because you don't know if what you are doing is big enough.
Monday, September 17, 2007
UPDATE NEWS
Dad has made a plan for his retirement. He will continue to work full-time for another 3 years and then part-time for one year. After that, he should be 62, he will retire. Where are we going or what are we doing has not been decided yet. We are still looking at the Carolina's, Tennessee. Virginia, Maryland, and Colorado. We do know it won't be Florida. Another 49 states to go!
I have had some tests done because of a problem unrelated to MS. Be very lucky that you don't have to deal with a colonoscopy yet. The prep work is the worst but this is a necessary evil. The doctor did find a couple of polups which were benign but one of them did look suspicious for cancer. Again, they were benign but I need to repeat the test in three years instead of five. I also had another test called an EGD. This test required a tube to be inserted down my thoart to check on things and I have not received the results on that one. The initial result was everything was OK but the doctor did take some biopsies to check on things. Such fun!! At least I did not know what was going on with this test as I was sedated.
We went to look at dogs yesterday (Sunday) and Dad really liked this chihuahua named "Dino". We had a laugh. The dog was cute but not house broken or knew how to walk on a leash. These are things we could work out but we aren't sure about getting a dog right now. I would be the one that would need to take care of the dog. Most days that would not be a problem but I still have meetings to attend during the week. Can I get into a routine of having a dog around? I don't know. It has been nice with Chester because he doesn't require any work except to brush him once in awhile (which Dad does) and to feed him and clean his litter box. With a dog, it will require walking on a daily basis and training. As we don't have a back yard, we would need to take him to a dog park for excersise. Just so many added jobs ... I think we are going to wait until we have made our final move.
Everything else has been going well for us. Dad was asked to be on the State board for the AGC (Associated General Contractors). It will require him to attend more state meetings which he isn't doing now. I will be able to attend also as the wives usually have something planned to keep them occuppied. It is an honor for him to be chosen.
I continue to make baby blankets. I am on my fourth one now. I am also making little hats to match. It is fun and I know that they will be appreciated. You will have to look for new photos later.
I guess that is about it. The weather is great. We are starting to get Fall temperatures. Of course nothing like you will be experiencing. We do miss the Fall festivals and the change of leaves. Enjoy and take pictures for us :-)
I have had some tests done because of a problem unrelated to MS. Be very lucky that you don't have to deal with a colonoscopy yet. The prep work is the worst but this is a necessary evil. The doctor did find a couple of polups which were benign but one of them did look suspicious for cancer. Again, they were benign but I need to repeat the test in three years instead of five. I also had another test called an EGD. This test required a tube to be inserted down my thoart to check on things and I have not received the results on that one. The initial result was everything was OK but the doctor did take some biopsies to check on things. Such fun!! At least I did not know what was going on with this test as I was sedated.
We went to look at dogs yesterday (Sunday) and Dad really liked this chihuahua named "Dino". We had a laugh. The dog was cute but not house broken or knew how to walk on a leash. These are things we could work out but we aren't sure about getting a dog right now. I would be the one that would need to take care of the dog. Most days that would not be a problem but I still have meetings to attend during the week. Can I get into a routine of having a dog around? I don't know. It has been nice with Chester because he doesn't require any work except to brush him once in awhile (which Dad does) and to feed him and clean his litter box. With a dog, it will require walking on a daily basis and training. As we don't have a back yard, we would need to take him to a dog park for excersise. Just so many added jobs ... I think we are going to wait until we have made our final move.
Everything else has been going well for us. Dad was asked to be on the State board for the AGC (Associated General Contractors). It will require him to attend more state meetings which he isn't doing now. I will be able to attend also as the wives usually have something planned to keep them occuppied. It is an honor for him to be chosen.
I continue to make baby blankets. I am on my fourth one now. I am also making little hats to match. It is fun and I know that they will be appreciated. You will have to look for new photos later.
I guess that is about it. The weather is great. We are starting to get Fall temperatures. Of course nothing like you will be experiencing. We do miss the Fall festivals and the change of leaves. Enjoy and take pictures for us :-)
Friday, August 24, 2007
TIME GOES BY SO FAST
It has been awhile since I last posted and the only reason for it has been time. Where did the time go?
I was busy with my MS Support Group in getting a new location for us, making sure notices went out, and having all the supplies needed for the meeting.
I am also on a Government Relations Committee with the MS Society and I was chosen to represent the disabled with the Operations of Emergency Services for the State of California. I was sent by email a document to review which was 483 pages long. After printing it off, which took almost a full ream of paper, I had to read it. It wasn't an exciting paper. The document talked about how California was going to handle floods, earthquakes, wild fires, tusanamies, and any other emergencies. I was to review to make my comments regarding the disabled. The paper did not have much and I had to point that out.
I also had to take care of the house with cleaning, laundry, and other stuff. I had to call and get my cleaning people back as I wasn't doing a very good job or at least I felt I wasn't. It was very hard for me to try and stay on top of things. I would get tired easily and that lead to things being put off until another day. Dad helped some but he has been so tired lately with his job that I did not want to add more to him.
We also had to have a termite service in to take care of a termite problem. Dad had to cut back a beam over the garage as it was messed up from the termites and wood rot. He had to go to Home Depot and buy a couple of sanders for the job but he needed them anyway. Besides he likes going to Home Depot. I guess it is a guy thing! We still have about 14 boards under our eave, that are gone from termites that need to be replaced but this is going to require removing some roof to get to them. They are at the peak of the house. Not an easy job to get too. So this will be a major job and a major cost. I don't know when we will get to that!!
We are also trying to figure out where we are going to live after Dad retires. Now Dad is not retiring for at least another 5 years. We aren't sure whether to buy a home already built, buy land and build later, or stay in California. Where do we look? We are checking out North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Colorado, Oregon, and Tennessee. I am sure there will be others.
Dad and I miss everyone and wish we could make more trips to see everyone. It is that time thing again. Where does this thing called TIME go?
I was busy with my MS Support Group in getting a new location for us, making sure notices went out, and having all the supplies needed for the meeting.
I am also on a Government Relations Committee with the MS Society and I was chosen to represent the disabled with the Operations of Emergency Services for the State of California. I was sent by email a document to review which was 483 pages long. After printing it off, which took almost a full ream of paper, I had to read it. It wasn't an exciting paper. The document talked about how California was going to handle floods, earthquakes, wild fires, tusanamies, and any other emergencies. I was to review to make my comments regarding the disabled. The paper did not have much and I had to point that out.
I also had to take care of the house with cleaning, laundry, and other stuff. I had to call and get my cleaning people back as I wasn't doing a very good job or at least I felt I wasn't. It was very hard for me to try and stay on top of things. I would get tired easily and that lead to things being put off until another day. Dad helped some but he has been so tired lately with his job that I did not want to add more to him.
We also had to have a termite service in to take care of a termite problem. Dad had to cut back a beam over the garage as it was messed up from the termites and wood rot. He had to go to Home Depot and buy a couple of sanders for the job but he needed them anyway. Besides he likes going to Home Depot. I guess it is a guy thing! We still have about 14 boards under our eave, that are gone from termites that need to be replaced but this is going to require removing some roof to get to them. They are at the peak of the house. Not an easy job to get too. So this will be a major job and a major cost. I don't know when we will get to that!!
We are also trying to figure out where we are going to live after Dad retires. Now Dad is not retiring for at least another 5 years. We aren't sure whether to buy a home already built, buy land and build later, or stay in California. Where do we look? We are checking out North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Colorado, Oregon, and Tennessee. I am sure there will be others.
Dad and I miss everyone and wish we could make more trips to see everyone. It is that time thing again. Where does this thing called TIME go?
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