Lifes funny twists and turns

I can't believe it's been so long since I have had anything important to write about. Sometimes, I wonder what I have done to deserve the blessings I have received in my life. When I was young and knew it all, my Dad and I were constantly at loggerheads (does anyone besides me know what that means, if so you are probably old like me). Anyway, because I knew it all, I totally blew off high school but I graduated. Then I figured I knew it all and college wasn't going to teach me anything. Then when I was 25, with two kids and bills we couldn't pay, I went to job service for help finding a job that paid more than JCPenney. But the kind lady at Job Service informed me that they couldn't help me, I had no marketable skills. Looks like I had been hoisted on my on pertard (another one of those old words). Anyway, I made the decision then and there that I had screwed myself, it was up to me to make something of myself. Going to college, now that I realized how important it was, was not an option because I had two kids to raise and a husband who was gone all the time.

In my job at JCPenney, I had done a little bit of filing, nothing noteworthy, but it counted. So I got a job at IRS and that little bit of filing got me in the door as a GS3 rather than a GS2. In the last 24 years at IRS, I have hopscotched my way around the service, working in just about anything, but picking up those little skills along the way. My guardian angel has been watching over me all these years, putting me in the right place to learn skills that I had no idea what I would do with them down the road. I guess being willing to do any job put in front of you pays off in the end.

Now I am not the most intelligent person on earth, and the theory of accounting and algebra is just beyond me. I have taken just enough accounting classes to know that I hate working with numbers, and I can work an algabraic formula, as long as there isn't an X or a Y in there. But go figure, I work for the IRS. Anyway, I have no idea why things seem to work out for me but I am doing things I never thought I would be able to, and making more money than I ever thought I would.

It frustrates me that my kids don't understand how important college is. I don't want them to have to make the same stupid choices I did and learn their lessons from the school of hard knocks. But considering who they have for a mother, I can see that they will do things the hard way the same way I did. All I can do is pray for them and hope that they have the same blessings in their life that I have.

Welcome Spring

We finally made it. I think spring has sprung. I got the yard cleaned up from winter, pulled the planters out from under the deck and got the new mulch spread in the planter out front. Trimmed the roses (man do I miss Virginia, she used to do that loathsome chore), sprayed the weeds in the garden, mowed up three months of dog #@!%$# (trying to remember why I like them so much--oh yeah they're cute) and got rid of the tiller. All that's left is to dispose of a few old yard machines that no longer work.

Then I need to decide what flowers I want to go into my planters. By the way, they multiplied under the deck this winter (has to be it because it seems like more came out than I put under there).

Also, got the trailer home and the basement storage put back together, fixed the light switch, put all the stuff back in the basement storage and now all that's left to do is wash the bird !@#$#@! off.

I am so glad that I get to work tomorrow, I really need the rest. What a weekend.

Good Times, Good Friends and RAIN

So once again, for about the 20th year, Mike and I spent Easter vacation with our best friends Jeff and Jolene. Now Jeff is about a close as Mikes "brotha from anotha motha" as you can get. It's weird how they think the same thoughts and can finish each other's sentences. But I digress.

The title of this little ditty should actually be Good Friends, Long Drives, Rigorous Hikes (that I survived by the way) and Road Side Surgery.

We spent the weekend in Windsor California, a nice little slice of heaven north of San Fransciso. Left the snow for rain and came back home to snow. While we were there, we saw tons of "happy cows" from California, the ocean and some beautiful redwoods. Then off to San Franscisco for the day to ride the cable cars and eat seafood.

While in the Armstrong State Park, we decided to hike. Unfortunately, I let everyone else pick the hike. We went straight up for about 10 miles, then straight down the same amount. But they saw some wonderful scenery. Me, I was too busy trying to catch my breath and make sure I didn't trip over something to see anything. It had rained the day before so everything was fresh. The problem I have is I spend too much time jockeying a chair and not enough time outside hiking. But unfortunately Mike likes the $$ I make too much to let me trade in my pencil for hiking boots. Top it off with 70 year old knees in a 50 year old body and it's lucky I didn't have a heart attack and have to be life flighted off the hill. But I made it, whining all the way.

Then it was off to some of the most beautiful ocean scenery you have ever imagined. What an inspiration to see all that God has put here for us to enjoy. After we drove the coast we were driving back to the condo on this little two lane road, in the middle of no where, when Jeff notices he has a tick buried about halfway into his arm. Even after he made such fun of me on the hike, I still took pity on him and provided the instruments for a little road side tick extraction. And doctors think they need sterile operating rooms and razor sharp instruments. Funny what you can do with matches from Joe and Angie's wedding (10 years ago almost), the file from a pair of fingernail clippers (luckily TSA didn't confiscate the dangerous instrument) and a little bit of hand sanitizer. But we burned his little butt (the ticks, not Jeff's) pulled him out, cleaned it off and went on our way.

I have to say that I am grateful to have very special people in my life. I have never had a brother but Jeff is as close at it could come the way he gives me a hard time. They are a wonderful couple and are very easy to travel with. No drama, enjoys quiet time and a lot of humor. Jolene is very gullible and keeps falling for Mike's pranks. I keep telling her that if his lips are moving, he lying. But she keeps getting sucked in. Oh well, if Mike's giving her a hard time, I'm safe.

The Wedding

Well, it's been a month since Brandon and Becca were married. I have been looking at the wedding pictures (all 1014 of them) and they are wonderful. Brandon looked so relaxed and Becca, when that girl laughs, she laughs with her whole body. I think the thing that struck me the most, looking back, is how relaxed everyone was, no stress, no drama, just good friends and good fun. The smile on Brandon's face reminded me of when he was little and I haven't seen that look in about 20 years. Thank you Becca for putting that look back on his face, I could never repay you for that.

My Mom was the Matriarch of the affair. She was so proud to see him married. It was good to have my whole family together, I just with Katie's kids had been there. They were the only ones missing. It was a small intimate affair with good food, good friends and great memories.

Life goes on.

I can't believe it's been so long since I updated my blog. Since my last post, Mike and I (with some help from our sons and some friends) have completely gutted and remodeled the bathroom in our house. Includes a new jacuzzi tub, new tile on the walls and floor, new cabinet over the toilet and a new sink and counter top. I am so excited it has turned out wonderful. But I have to say, it was a lot easier 26years ago when we were doing the tile in there for the first time. It sucks to get old and worn out. One thing I do have to say is I have a lot of respect for my mother and father in law. When we built this house, they spent a lot of time here during the summer helping us do the lawn etc. They were out there sweating in the sun all day while Mike and I worked and then still helped in the evening when we got home. I don't know how they did it without whining all the time like I have been doing.

I will try to have Dave help me put some pictures here so you can enjoy it also (the bathroom). Have a great day. And Happy Spring.

Sunday's Update

I can't believe it's been so long since I updated my blog. It has been a very busy 2 1/2 weeks. Thanks to a wonderful family friend or two, I no longer have a bathtub in my frontroom or on my deck. The jacuzzi is in the bathroom, sheet rock is up, paint is on the ceiling and walls. Tomorrow is tile. I can begin to see the end maybe. It has been a difficult week, alot to do at home, alot on my desk at work and THE BATHROOM. To top if off, Mike is on call again. And I feel so sorry for the guy, he has worked 41 hours of overtime (on top of 40 hours of straight time) in 6 days. And still 1 1/2 days to go. That is pretty tough on an old dude. One day ended up being 20 hours long.

Today is Valentines Day and a Happy Valentines day to everyone. My sweetheart had big plans for Friday night, dinner out and flowers. Well, he dropped the flowers off at 2am on his way from one call to another and I had cheese and crackers for dinner. Am I disappointed, not really because I know the place I hold in his heart. And he works so hard for our family. Plusssssss, this week just paid for our vacation in two weeks. Yippppeee can you say Vegas Baby. Not that I love Vegas that much, but it's warm there (usually). And work isn't there, we can sleep in if we want to and do nothing but rest.

Brandon is getting married in 6 days. This has been a very bitter sweet time. I have tried to keep a low profile and mend my steam roller mentality and ways. I am trying to be a better mother-in-law this time around. I am going to try to live up to the example of the best one in the world. My mother-in-law Virginia was a stellar example of how to be. For the first few years of our marriage, she was very intimidating to me. Not afraid to attempt anything and accomplished at just about everything she tried. She worked full time and managed a house and a family in a way that I could only dream about. But as I grew to know her and love her, it became apparent that she had her own worries about being the best at everything and being afraid of failure. She taught me so much about patience and perseverance. And a lot about home arts and how to fake it when you are doing homemade stuff like pie crusts etc.

I was so blessed to be able to care for her in the last years of her life and to be able to give back to her a little of the love and caring she gave to me. If I can only live up to her example as a mother-in-law, I will be blessed yet again. She has been gone for 2 years now and I still do things and find myself reaching for the phone to call her and tell her about it. I know she is watching over me and I can't wait until my test is done and I can be with her and my Dad again.

Remodeling

Mike and I have lived in our home almost 25 years. We started building it in November 1984. Mike drew the plans and built it and then we have spent the last 26 years changing it. First taking out the kitchen window and putting in a deck. Then adding a bedroom and bathroom in the basement. Then taking out the bedroom in the basement and adding a master bedroom in the basement. Then adding a garage and familyroom and a second deck. And landscaping and changing landscaping. Then a new kitchen floor. And new carpet. And a new driveway and front porch. And a waterfall (when all I really wanted was the weeds pulled from the flowerbed). But it's beautiful and I am lucky to have such a talented husband. Now we are remodeling the bathroom. So out goes the tile and the sheetrock. And now I have a tub on my deck (the old one) and a tub in my frontroom (the new jacuzzi one) and nothing in the bathroom but a toilet that isn't connected to anything.

Tonight my wonderful hubby was sitting at the kitchen table figuring out the plumbing for the new taps and showerhead in the bathtub. I love how he just sits there with this far off look on his face because I know he is drawing a picture in his mind and that is one thing I can't do.

We thought we had the tile all picked out and the colors and everything but then there is a picture on the box the shower head came in and it is really awesome. I like that tile better and hope he does too. And the jacuzzi tub, man I can hardly wait. I never figured he would go for it because it is so much more work than we had planned on.

And the down side to the remodel? The timing. Our son is getting married on the 20th of February and we are having some family for breakfast the day after. And it looks like we will be a one bathroom family still. I PRAY THAT I WON'T STILL HAVE A BATHTUB IN MY FRONTROOM!!!!!!!!!