For Our Freedom...

Today is Memorial Day.  Some people may call it Remembrance Day.  A day to remember those who protect us, our home, the United States of America.  The men and women fighting for our freedom.  They were the soldiers that didn't make it home again from the war.  Or the ones that made it home to live out their lives, but not without the memories of wars fought and friends lost.  I'm fortunate to not have lost any close family members as a result of military action.  My husband is retired Navy Reserves.  I have 2 sons that served time in the Army.  My dad and several uncles have served in the military.  I have many memories of seeing little american flags waving on over the graves of soldiers and knowing my grandpa was one of those who placed those flags there each year.  And I have countless friends who have served or are still in service with the Navy, Army, Air Force and Marines.  So here I would like to simply say Thank You and God Bless You all for a job well done!

Out of the past...

Today, I received a letter...  

It was addressed to me, but the writer wasn't certain I was the person she was looking for.  No, it was a short letter searching for a long lost friend.  Searching for someone who had a baby the same time she did.  Someone who lived in Sandy, Utah and same time she had.  Someone who lost a friend's phone number a long time ago and was trying to reconnect.

It was a letter from my long ago friend, Carol, and she found me!  That was such a wonderful surprise! We had sons that were born 10 days apart at the same hospital over 20 years ago.  I immediately called the phone number that she wrote in her letter.  She had been in the Salt Lake City area on a work assignment and wanted to get together.  Of course, Carol had no idea I had moved to Tucson four years before.  It was so good talking to her once again.  She now has my phone number and (hurray) we are both on Verizon so we can talk, talk and talk some more.  

Some days it's really great to get up in the morning!!!

I think it's working now...

Let's try this again...

After checking my dad's computer, I found I could now access this blog without that annoying error message telling me I couldn't.   That said, I will once again attempt to maintain this blog and NOT create a new blog.   

I'm really happy to see my friend Julie back blogging on her site.  I missed her humor and great photos.  She is my inspiration for doing this blog in the first place!   Here's a photo taken in Rome last year of Julie dancing in the rain with Jack.  After a week of visiting Italy with a bunch of teenagers and not getting enough sleep, all the chaperons began to get a bit loopy.   Of course, some of us started out that way...

Today is a Good Day!

After yesterday's melt down, today is beginning better.  I actually got through breakfast eating sensibly.  Just eggs and tea (no cream or sugar).  Drank chicken broth for lunch with a piece of cheese.  Trying to stay away from the sweets and overdoing the carbs.  I know, take it one meal at a time.  Tonight is soup supper at church before the Advent service begins.  I'm making corn chowder to share. Yes, it does have a lot of carbs, but I'll try to take it easy. 

I only sat and watched one hour of tivo and it's already after 1:00 p.m.  Yeah!

While looking through the ads from the Sunday paper, I started cutting out coupons I will probably forget to take with me when I go shopping.  Then I thought about what I want to do with my life... so I started to cut out pictures in the ads of things to remind me why I have to watch what I eat.  I'm making a collage to put on the fridge door.  Maybe another one for the bathroom mirror.  

So far I have pictures of a bike I would like to ride again, I always loved riding my bike as a kid and continued loving it as a young adult.  Why did I ever stop?  I just don't know.  

I have a picture of clothes I would like to wear.  Not just the shapeless t-shirts, sweats and grandma undies.  (Oh, wait... I am a grandma, but I don't have to wear ugly undies do I?)  Boots, tall boots, maybe with laces and a bit of a heel.  That's not possible right now due to feet as wide as a ducks and necessary support inserts again due to my weight.

I'd like to play again.  Like ping pong without gasping for breath in under a minute.  I want to go hiking in the mountains and along the lakes.   I want to ride a horse again.

I want to travel.  So I have a picture of luggage.  A coo coo clock to remind me I want to see Germany, Switzerland, Norway and especially back to Italy once more.  A picture of a camera because I want to enjoy pictures of me doing things and not getting all gloomy because I look fat.  I am Fat!  That's the problem.  I want to be able to sit in an airplane seat in comfort. Alright, I know airplane seats are not noted for comfort, but if I could remove the extra 150 pounds sitting with me, it just has to be more comfortable.

Julie, thanks so much for understanding.  To answer your questions, Dad didn't watch me make pie crust, but he did help by peeling and slicing the apples.  Had a lot of apples so we made 2 apple pies and skipped the coconut cream (& lemon meringue).  No, I'm not a lunch lady anymore due to the past foot, knee, tendon injuries.  Just can't stand for hours like before.  I'm still on the payroll and occasionally help in the district office.