Getting old.......

What is getting old?

-Osteoarthritis in fingers
-Staying awake to all hours of the morning
-Getting lazy
-Bored easily
-Stiff after sitting
-Friends dying
-Staying sick longer
-Waiting for kids to call
-Visiting even older relatives
-Not remembering half the events of your life

Need I say more?

I LOVE Fall!!!!!

I really love the Fall of each year.  It seems the weather is great (in sunny California) and I get many visits with my family and friends.  My birthday is end of summer/beginning of Fall so how can I go wrong.

So in September Julie came for the weekend before my birthday and we had a really fun trip to her cousin, Heather, 's wedding in Oakland.  Then we went on to sightsee for the afternoon in San Francisco. It was really fun and the weather was great.  We went to places we had never been in San Francisco.  I believe Julie would say the highlight of the tour was when we were in what is considered the "gay" district of SFO and the driver was describing how SFO has NO nudity laws and right across the street was a nude man (except for boots) who turned around to face us and then strode off across the street.  The cross dressers were also quite interesting.  The grafiti walls in one section of town (actually a lot of alleys) were also amazing to see.  And then we went to the top of Twin Peaks (NO, we had never been up there) and were absolutely amazed at the view of the entire area (and the wind)!!!!  Damon and Craig  also celebrated their birthdays.

In October we went to visit Sherri (and family) and Julie in Washington.  Had a relaxing and wonderful visit with all of them and celebrated Carter's birthday.  In spite of Dave and Julie having a knock-down-drag-out fight, it as a good time.  I love my girls and my grandson (Graham, too).  I miss seeing them often.

We went to trunk or treat as usual with Craig's kids (minus Joanna who was out at a Mud Run) and it's fun to see them enjoying dressing up a lot.  I am glad we can see them often.  Yesenia celebrated her 12th birthday in Utah, but we did not go.

We are now anticipating a great trip to Hawaii/Kuai next Saturday.  Yay!!!  Jacob and Anna are meeting us there.  I hope the weather is nice and peaceful.  I hear this is a very laid back island and I am looking forward to relaxing and seeing the sights.  Can't wait!  BUT we are missing Julie's and Bekah's birthdays.  :(   Jacob and Anna will be celebrating their anniversary right about then.

So then we're gearing up for Thanksgiving!!!!  Everyone is coming.  So first Dave asks me around 5 times if I have ordered our "free range turkey".  Then Graham reminds me to order my "special turkey".  And Joanna informs me that Braden has asked if I am ready for Thanksgiving and have I ordered a turkey.  What's with all that?  Have I ever forgotten to order a turkey?  We are all planning on doing the run for the hungry here in Folsom.  Last year we watched Anna and the boys run down our street and I thought it would be fun if we all participated this year.  Need to find sign-ups.

We will be spending Christmas in Washington with our girls and visiting Leavenworth -- a Christmas community there.  Should be fun.  The end of the year will be great.  Celebrating Sherri's, Dave's, and Braden's birthdays all around that time too.  (Joanna's is coming, too.) 

Maybe I should tell more funny grandkid stories, but I always forget them when I sit down to write.  Oh well.  They're funny when they happen.

Life is........

Sometimes life is.......boring.  After quitting one big twice a week client and getting fired by another once a week client, I have a LOT of time on hand.  I have sewed and quilted 3 Thanksgiving aprons, 5 Christmas nightgowns for my granddaughters and now am working on 2 aprons for granddaughters' Christmas presents.  I have taken up indexing (genealogy stuff).  I think I am now going to add trips to the temple on my days off. 

So what else can I find the time for now?  Some suggestions have included working out (done), dieting (doing), and volunteering (been there done that don't want to do it again right now).  Any suggestions?

That's not to say I havent had fun or not planning fun because here's what's on my list for 2012:
1. Visit in February of 2 granddaughters flying to Washington and visiting family (including Carter) there.

2.  Visit from Anna and kids (from Utah) -- April?  We went to SFO and surrounds.

3.  Visit to Jacob and family in June.

4.  Visit most of family (not Jacob) in Oregon for wonderful time.

5.  Plans:  8/10-12 Fechter brothers reunion in SFO.

6.  Plans:  8/30 - 9/3 vacation in San Diego.

7.  Plans:  9/3  Shaltes sibling BBQ (not really, BBQ not working)

8.  Plans:  10/17 - 22 visit Julie/Sherri/Graham/Carter.

9.  Plans:  11/3 - 11 tour Israel and visit Dave's family there.

10.  Plans:  surprise

11.  Plans:  Christmas with Julie in Washington (maybe a bit of Sherri and family too)

I guess live isn't boring, just seems so on weekdays sometimes.

2012 Changes (I just can't call them resolutions!)

My daughter has posted her New Year's Resolutions so it made me decide I need to set some goals for 2012 too. So I used hers as a jumping off point (see howcouldyounott.blogspot.com).

1. Stop telling every random person/friend everything that happens in my life. (Some things are better not shared or possibly it could be really uninteresting to them.)

2. Invite others over for activity or dinner. (I just hate to cook, though.)

3. Kiss Dave every single day.

4. Try not to hold grudges.

5. Actively seek the spirit's guidance.

6. Work out at least 3 times per week. (This could mean lose 25 pounds......)

7. Don't yell at Dave. (Even though talking loud is not yelling.)

8. Visit or Skype out-of-state grandchildren/children often. (I miss them anyway, so this is a good idea.)

9. Read scriptures daily.

10. Say couple prayers daily.

Well, some of hers just didn't seem right for me, but I think this is a pretty good start.

Humph!

I resigned from my biggest client Friday. (I actually call it firing the client; that seems to make me happy inside.). When he got the letter, he called me and was actually very nice and ALMOST made me sad to leave. He said I had worked very hard for the company and they would miss me. That was the ONLY time in five years that he ever said I did a good job.

So today I look on Craig's list to see what he's advertising. And this is what it is: Full-time full-charge bookkepper; good communication skills, etc etc 10+ years of experience and 45 - 55,000 per year with benefits. I figured it out to be $22 - $27 per hour plus benefits. But he assured me that I would NEVER get a pay raise ar $21 per hour (no benefits). I assume he is expanding the scope of the job to make it full time because I did it in 10 hours per week. I am SUPER irritated by this whole thing even though yesterday I felt great after he called.

But I'm done with him. I did a good job for him and could probably have done this "new" job but he is difficult to work for . I'm moving on, but somehow this is grrrrrrrrrrr.

One of those weeks

Do you ever have weeks where you're just plain glad they're over? Such was last week for me. It started out with a busy work schedule (for me that's working every day) and then adding on too many things. I LOVE all my family activities, but why do they have to all come together?

Went to gym. Went to work Monday night Michael's car broke down in Galt and we had to tow it to Elk Grove where I then had to drive and pick him up and drop him back off in Carmichael and then back to Folsom.

Tuesday went to gym. Took Michael out to rent a car to get to work. Went to work. Go get car loan pre-approved at credit union. Look for car. Go to Braden's Three Piggy Opera. (see picture above - before he put on his pig nose).

Wednesday went to gym. Went to work. Got nails done (and ruined 1/2 of them before I got to my house). Picked up my mom to take her to lunch for her birthday. Picked up loan papers at dealership. Went to lunch. Took mom home., Went home to wait for U-verse repairman.

Thursday went to gym. Went to work. Went to Maren's Suisical (see picture above), McDonald's, took them home and then home late to Folsom.

Friday went to gym. Went to work. Went home to wait for another U-verse repairman.

Saturday went to gym. Got MASSAGE. Stayed in pj's the rest of the day until time for the movies where we saw The Adjusment Bureau. Interesting.

I'm just pooped for no good reason. This week weather will be wonderful and life will be better.

My baby

Well, Happy Birthday, Julie! I can't believe my "baby" is 25 years old Tuesday 11/8. Time hasn't flown, but it's just hard to believe. I have loved you since the day you were born and you will always be my baby. I have enjoyed watching you and first Maren and then Emma "fight" about being the baby. I have enjoyed watching you playing with the newest baby -- Carter. You are beautiful and talented woman. Never forget that (but don't brag either). Your whole family is here for you whenever you need us.

Love, Mom xoxoxoxox

Baby Carter

Just trying to get a little video up for everyone, since our family website needs to be replaced.

Apple Hill follow-up

I'm just going to have to blog about my grandson B. He says the funniest things. So when his mom picked him up from school this week he started asking her about making a jack-o-lantern from his pumpkin (the one he picked out at Apple Hill). She was telling him that would be fine when he said "I just didn't have a lucky day at Pie Hill." She said uh-huh and he said they ran out of cheese. hahahahahaha He was just stuck on the fact he couldn't get his grilled cheese sandwich. The rest of the day was just wasted I guess. And then to call it pie hill -- too funny. Maybe you had to be there.

Wow! Fall is here.

I'm loving this time of year. It's cooler here in Folsom (not that we had a particularly hot summer) and beautiful. I have been working way too much for my liking -- 4 and 5 days a week, until last week -- 3!!!!! Love those weeks. Not taking any new clients that require me to go to their workplace.

Anyway -- new babies on the way!!! Sherri is due in only 17 days and Joanna is due March 1st. Sherri is expecting Carter and Joanna is expecting Brynne/Jack. How exciting. Seriously. New babies to love and spoil a little. I have decided to visit Sherri/Graham/Julie/Carter? on 10/29. No pressure to have that baby on time!

Another great point of fall is Apple Hill. Joanna and I went with the kids (it's getting to be a tradition, although it was not Dave's fault he did not go). We had apple pie, polish dogs, caramel apples, and fudge. The kids rode the horse/pony, went through the hay maze, went on a little train (car kind of pulls it), and we shopped for crafts and pumpkins. We went kind of late in the day and by the time we went in to eat they were out of -- just about everything (chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, cheese sandwiches, and french fries). How distressing for B! He just kept saying (after he stopped crying when they didn't have a grilled cheese sandwich) that it was not his lucky day!

All in all, a great outing! These kids are great! I love them all. So M is in a recital in December and best of all (according to Craig) she gets to dance in the main parade Christmas parade at Disneyland. So off we go! We found a REALLY cheap flight if we start in Stockton and go to Long Beach ($110 for 2 people round trip) with Allegiant Air. Hope it's safe. Anyone familiar with this airline?

Jacob and Anna are celebrating 10 years of marriage by actually staying in OUR Waikiki condo. Can't wait to hear about it. They had a friend/couple come out to stay/watch all the kids. Anna has never been to Hawaii so hope she enjoyed it. I heard the weather was pretty nice.

Julie is becoming adjusted to actually working a real job. It's great to hear after all this schooling that she likes what she does. Although she is looking forward to planning and going on a big vacation to Europe next year. I'm going too. Dave is not complaining so far. Let's see how long that lasts.

I redecorated the guest bathroom this past month and that has kept me a little busy around the house. Nights can be boring watching TV. Love to change the house a little at a time. Other small changes coming up. I've now made the following plans: 1. Trip to Seattle 10/29. 2. Trip to Seattle 11/23. 3. Trip to Disneyland 12/11. 4. Trip to Utah 12/22. 5. Trip to Europe 5/20. 6. Trip to Greece (?) 9/11 sometime. 7. Trip with Dave's family next summer (not sure where).

Do we like to travel? Duh.

Tax Season is Crazy!!!!!

We're about half way through tax "season" and life is hectic -- more for Dave than for me. Isn't life weird that there is actually a fifth season of the year to celebrate paying money to the government??????
Dave works 6 days a week and I'm still averaging 4. It makes life and work bearable to be able to count on a few days off. But he only does it for 3 months so........workable!
I'm taking off next week to go visit J before she starts an externship that is full-time in a hospital setting. That's the one she really wants to shine at because she wants to get a job (but first that pesky 9 month training stuff) in a hospital setting. Here's hoping it's everything she thinks it will be (and that she gets the job after the externship).
J sold his house and now gets the pleasure of immediately packing everything up and then finding a rental to live in for 3 months while they build his house. Lucky guy! I'm visiting them next week in Utah too.
So even though my dad died and tax season is crazy, I'm enjoying the time spent with friends and family. My grandkids and kids are the light(s) of my life. I can't tell you all the funny things they do and say that make me smile.
What can I say?

Life goes on.......

My dad died 9 days ago. I can hardly believe that I won't see him if I go to his house. It all seems unreal. My kids all came home to "grieve" with me. They have jobs that allow them to have paid time off. I took off TWO hours this last week. I even worked the morning of the funeral because rescheduling regular clients is just plain too tiring to want to even attempt it. I just can't seem to grieve properly. I can only get weepy. Nothing more. What's wrong with me? I want to sob and sob and I can't. I will miss him even though we were not super close. You just knew he would be there. I can't believe he's gone.

HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!

We went on a fabulous cruise to New England and spent a day in Manhattan and a day in Brooklyn. What fun! It was our first ever cruise by ourselves. Almost scary! When we came home, we worked and then spent a weekend with Sherri and Graham in Washington. We went to two movies (yes, Twilight II was one of them) and had massages (not the guys) and shopped all day at Bellevue (is that spelled right?) Sherri's birthday was last week so we bought her something for her special day and their anniversary is in 12 days so we bought them something for that, too. Such a fun time! I miss my kids that don't live close.

I'm actually just blogging to say how excited I am for the holidays. EVERYONE is coming home (except possibly my Dad -- but that's another story). So starting with Thanksgiving -- Sherri and Graham were the only ones not home (they went to his family's dinner celebration). We had 46 people to dinner: 2 turkeys, 1 roast beef, 1 pork tenderloin, 20 pounds of mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, green salad, green fluff, jello salad, dinner rolls, and PIES. My mom was too sick to come as was my cousin. We all had a great time with lots of good food.

The day after I got up at 6 AM and went shopping all day with Anna and Jacob and B. We totally shopped until we dropped. And then G and Y helped me decorate the tree. Gosh that was so nice. Shon and Christopher put up the outdoor lights (the stupid fuses go out every other day now) and by the end of the day (Saturday) everything looked great! We all went out to Lucille's for dinner and then Jacob and family left for Utah.

But NOW: Julie coming home on 12/16. Going to Nutcracker on 12/18. Channukah and Dave's birthday on 12/19. Fred and Dave's birthday dinner on 12/21. Braden's birthday and Sherri and Graham coming on 12/23. We're having an Italian dinner for 12/24 with tons of family and I love it all.

In the midst of all this two sad posts (not to be equally sad, but sad nonetheless): my dad is just barely hanging in with pancreatic cancer eating up his insides; Julie and her boyfriend of 3 months are no longer together.

But Christmas is coming and so is my family. Happy, happy times!

Countdown

Well, it seems that Julie had a whole list of things she is counting down the months/days/hours to. I really only have a few:

1. Months until Julie is off the parents' dole: 9 more!!!!!
2. Months until my car is paid for: 13
3. Weeks until we go on cruise: 4
4. Months until tax season starts again: 4 (give or take a little)

But #1 is #1!!!!

My new bedroom

Rate my space -- or just tell me it's beautiful now!

Well, after months of planning, ordering and paying, my bedroom is almost finished. I'm showing pictures now so Julie can tell me it's beautiful. I still need a few things, but I'll probably post a new picture "all done". My friend Sheila helped me. She is away now so I've sent her pictures so she can keep up.

Julie's list of life experiences by Sue

The bolded things are things I've done; The italic things are things I'll most likely NEVER do.

1. Started your own blog (duh)
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (Nova Scotia & Scotland)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (one of those guys on the street... still counts)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (all my books)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
101. Learned to play an instrument

Gosh, there's still places to go, things to do!

Good Times

Well, this is just a funny story from when Julie was last here over the summer. The title is something she would say. I had my car (Sequoia) in to check/fix the brakes and had just gotten it back. I kept complaining to Julie as we were driving around (yes, she let me drive) that they just didn't feel right. We decided to go to Sacramento to visit Joanna and the kids. I complained some more about the brakes. After visiting, Julie demanded the keys and said "Let me drive." She said the brakes seemed OK to her. We drove down Watt Avenue and went on Highway 50 East. We got off the freeway on Prairie City Road, no problem. The speed limit there is 55 MPH and we were probably doing that as it was around 11 PM. We came up to the intersection of Prairie City and Iron Point Road and the light was red and we weren't slowing enough for me. I said "Julie, you can slow down now. Julie, JULIE!!!!!!" And we both screamed halfway through the intersection as the brakes FAILED!!!!! Thank goodness it was so late and on a weeknight so no traffic or we would have been killed. She looked both ways; no one was coming. We kept going home at a VERY slow pace. Good times in Folsom.

I admit it!

Well, I admit it! I watched the world premiere new Brittney Spears video. Yep, there she was in all her glory repeating "Womanizer" (in song of course) and chasing around a quite handsome young man. Showing her roots (and other parts of her body). Interesting. Catchy tune. Now (according to 20/20) the most looked up person on the internet thus upsetting Paris Hilton. What are we thinking? At least I don't look her up.

Kind of reminds me of my husband watching a movie and then comes home, looks up the actors/actresses in the movie and finding out all sorts of information about them (on the internet). Does the same thing for those based on "true stories". Then can even quote the cost of the movie and for the next few weeks gives me a running total of whether the movie broke even or not and what was #1 at the box office last weekend. (We all have to have hobbies and this just happens to be one of his.)

What would be one of YOUR more interesting hobbies?

Yay for Fall!

Well, summer is over and I have officially welcomed Fall by removing my spring/summer flowers on my porch and putting out my fall leaves. Finally, the weather will cool off . My pool will be cold and the spa will be hot. What an interesting life I lead.

I just found out that I'm a bigot. With this Proposition 8 thing all around us Californians, I am in favor of passing it and leaving marriage to heterosexual couples. This doesn't mean gay people have no rights, just that they aren't legally married. So I was listening to young radio station last week and this DJ does a commentary on the news and his last comment was on those backing Prop 8 and something about those bigots. Hmmm.

Still reading a book on autism written by an autistic adult woman. It is very interesting and informative but I'm almost on information OVERLOAD and I'm only half done. I think it is so good information wise that I think I'll get one for everyone to read so they can know what makes Braden tick. He is so cute and he needs so much help/loving. I pray for him each day (seriously).

Well, Maren's cheer is progressing, but I don't know into what. She knows her motions but when she actually performs sidelines her motions are all over the place. Joanna (and I guess a few other "cheer moms") mentioned this to the instructors last week and they asked her what they should do. She told them to practice the sidelines. What a novel idea! Here are samples of the sidelines (that no cheerleader in her right mind would do): Boom! Boom! (we did that one TEN years ago); Shake that skirt (how stereotypical); Bounce, bounce (something or other and they jump up and down with each time they say bounce); Explode! (but not ignite, our team is dynamite -- something else equally dumb); Rowdy! (again old school); and the list goes on. Seriously, Joanna (the cheer mom) needs to get on them. haha

I am seriously having problems at night -- not enough quality of things to do. I worked one night last week, watched the grandkids 3 nights (kids were sick) went to movie two nights. Seem to be in kind of a rut. So I'm trying to widen my horizons and get back to finishing Craig's scrapbook and working on my genealogy stuff, and ..... any ideas?

BUT then again as I was leaving to go to work at 10:30 AM on Wednesday I was thinkings "Hmmmmm, life is good when YOU get to make the work schedule and no one cares if you work early or late." And it is. Good, that is.

Spring was fantastic!

Well, no cheer this year -- just the stupid bookkeeping part! Ugh! But the best thing this year was my visit (short as it was -- 9 days) to Scotland with Julie. Yep! We actually had a great time together (driving on the wrong side of the road etc) and saw LOTS of the countryside, castles and way too many abbeys! I stayed in my first hostel with a rude English woman. Whatever! The country is beautiful and it was just long enough to relax. The problem with overseas vacations is that you want to SEE EVERYTHING there is to see, so it's not really too relaxing. But I kind of count on that. So here's the very best thing to ever happen in my life (OK, maybe my wedding day, and OK maybe the birth of my kids) -- the flight from JFK to Edinburgh was overbooked and they UPGRADED ME TO FIRST CLASS!!!!!! Can I tell you how wonderful this was/is??????? Wow! I wish I could do that every time I go overseas.

Dave stayed home to work (and miss me). Now he knows how tax season was with no one home most days and the other days sometimes I wished I was alone. Too much talk or no talk!

It seems I live just to go on mini-vacations. But my just is such that I can do it and as long as we can afford it, we will continue to do these each year. I'm hoping for a big vacation/cruise next year though.