Surprisingly, is been a cool spring. It's been warmer in Michigan then here [NC] for a week or more. Spring brings new flowers, baby animals, and thoughts of vacation. I'm hoping to take a two week road trip out west with my first grandson Mack. He is seventeen this year and I plan on letting him do most of the driving. We have never seen the Grand Canyon or other parts of the west. I was in Denver one year to go to a national convention of Square Dancers. I remember we would take a public bus to down town Denver in our square dance costumes and cause a stir on the bus. Then everyday more of our dancers heard about our adventure and want to join us. We were a bright and colorful distraction of the normal bus riders. at the dance there were live bands including one called 'Ghost Riders'. They played my favorite song by Johnny Cash....'Ghost Riders in the Sky'. I must say dancing and listening to that song, was Nirvana. My plan is to fly Mack to here [Charlotte] for two weeks [maybe three] and drive 2000 miles to Flagstaff Arizona. It will take 3 days - 8 hours a day - of pedal to the metal, then 1 1/2 hours to the South rim. I anticipate a wonderful time with Mack.
Growing up poor on ADC - Aid To Dependent Children, I didn't even know what a 'vacation' was. It wasn't until I [19] got married to a guy that had regular family vacations that I learned. One of our first trip was to Acapulco, Mexico a work related event. I didn't even know where Acapulco was let alone want to go there. The five day there felt like three weeks to me. It was beautiful , but I would have preferred to go to the Grand Canyon!
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Cinco de Mayo 2013
Happy 9th anniversary to my son Tom [43] and his lovely wife Jessica. 'Facebook' is great for wishing congratulations, birthday wishes and keeping up on family/friends happenings. And it's a wonderful way to see the latest pictures everyone posts. Mack [17] was tagged modeling a tux for Men's Warehouse. Very handsome...Mack! Beth is keeping us up to date on Aleena [3].
I took 'Peachy's [canary] latest clutch of three eggs out of her nest, because for the sixth time, her eggs were way past due to hatch. She seems to have noticed that the nest is empty. She is making a lot of tweets and keeps looking into an empty nest. There was some indication that her eggs might be fertile this time. Elliot [male canary] took an interest in her before she laid this latest clutch. Sorry Peachy.
Mack has not given me any feedback about our July trip to Colorado to see colleges. He will be a Senior at Groves High School in Birmingham, MI in Sept. "Make it an awesome year, Mack"
Jessica signed up TJ for 3-4 soccer this spring. If you need a good laugh, watch 3 year olds on the soccer field [notice I didn't say 'PLAY' soccer]. Coach Ben has his hands full just trying to get his team ON the field. And when he succeeds, he has his hands full keeping 5-7 toddlers on the correct field! TJ is wonderful at kicking the ball and keeping his hands off the ball, but he thinks the open field is a great place to do somersaults! One boy wants to hold and keep the ball. Coaches son cries a lot [when coach can get him on the field]. Storm seems to be the youngest team, because the opposing team seems to know that they are supposed to kick the ball into 'their' goal. Very funny. Speaking of funny. I watched the first four episodes of 'THE BIG BANG THEORY" [TV Series 2007], laugh out loud funny!
Torin new all [upper and lower case] letters before he was two. Now he is sounding out words and learning how to spell them. PARK is his favorite. We watch him all time looking at signs and asking us what they say. Torin was 3 on April 1st.
I took 'Peachy's [canary] latest clutch of three eggs out of her nest, because for the sixth time, her eggs were way past due to hatch. She seems to have noticed that the nest is empty. She is making a lot of tweets and keeps looking into an empty nest. There was some indication that her eggs might be fertile this time. Elliot [male canary] took an interest in her before she laid this latest clutch. Sorry Peachy.
Mack has not given me any feedback about our July trip to Colorado to see colleges. He will be a Senior at Groves High School in Birmingham, MI in Sept. "Make it an awesome year, Mack"
Jessica signed up TJ for 3-4 soccer this spring. If you need a good laugh, watch 3 year olds on the soccer field [notice I didn't say 'PLAY' soccer]. Coach Ben has his hands full just trying to get his team ON the field. And when he succeeds, he has his hands full keeping 5-7 toddlers on the correct field! TJ is wonderful at kicking the ball and keeping his hands off the ball, but he thinks the open field is a great place to do somersaults! One boy wants to hold and keep the ball. Coaches son cries a lot [when coach can get him on the field]. Storm seems to be the youngest team, because the opposing team seems to know that they are supposed to kick the ball into 'their' goal. Very funny. Speaking of funny. I watched the first four episodes of 'THE BIG BANG THEORY" [TV Series 2007], laugh out loud funny!
Torin new all [upper and lower case] letters before he was two. Now he is sounding out words and learning how to spell them. PARK is his favorite. We watch him all time looking at signs and asking us what they say. Torin was 3 on April 1st.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
A lot has changed..................
I'm back.............a lot has changed [TJ turned 3 April 1 2013] and a lot has stayed the same [I'm in the same apt], since I last blogged [July 2012]. Not sure why I stopped blogging, but here I am again. Tom, TJ and I are going to look at RVs today. I have been thinking a lot about my future. What do I want to do when TJ is in school [Sept 2015] full time? With my Michigan house selling this year in Dec., Where will I be able to afford to live? $826. a month from SS won't cover rent [$700.], gasoline [$100.] car insurance [$50.], food, utilities and necessities. I applied to live in a Senior Housing Apt, but there is a 2 1/2 year wait. The government charges 1/3 of your income for a 1 bedroom apt. I like the idea of living in a community of seniors......more people to play cards with. Will Mack go to college near me and take up residence in chateau GG? I do know that I haven't lived my life to the fullest. Most of reason for that was fear and or comfort and or laziness. I was too lazy/afraid to go to college. I was too afraid to move away from my family/support. Pretty much I've been too lazy to do mush of anything. Thank goodness, I had the motivation and wherewithal to help raise my two awesome grandsons, so I don't think my life was a total waste of resources.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Page 26) July 4, 2000
It's been a long time since I last wrote in this book. Life is good and busy.
Kelli has moved to Brighton. You have grown up to be a handsome boy. You weigh 40 lbs. You're very smart and a wonderful grandson. You are a delight to be with. We play sports all the time. You also like card games, 'go fish', 'Scooby treats' and 'Kings in the Corner'. Also you like 'Splat' a board game and roller blades. You can count to 39 in Spanish, read three digit numbers [397]. You're a happy boy and very precious to me. Grown men are surprised at your athletic abilities.
You played soccer on a team this spring.
Last week GG asked you to put Vasoline on your cats arms for control of hairballs." OK grandma." [Your cats are named 'Kit Kit' and 'Grunt'] Knock knock knock.... on the bedroom door. I open the door and see that your hands are covered with Vasoline making it impossible to open the door by yourself. Then I see two cats covered head to tail in gobs of Vasoline...................half the jar was empty!
7-17-2000
You know how to ride a two wheel bike! You're not even 4 1/2 yet! Richard Stumpf, across the street [Charles's dad] taught you how to ride last week. You were not happy that Charles could ride a two wheeler [he's 5] and you couldn't.... but you do NOW! Your Uncle Tom found out and bought you a brand new blue Shwinn Gremlin and helmet. YEAH TOM!
8-25-2000
[You are in a van about to touch a door button.]
"Don't touch that!" Angela scolded you.
"Why ? will it blow-up the van? you asked so seriously.
Only a 'boy' would think of such a thing.
Wow! WE [mom & I] are very blessed to have such a wonderful boy.
WE [you and me] started college [Henry Ford Community College] yesterday
You at the 'child care' and me in the class room. What a milestone for us.
Kelli has moved to Brighton. You have grown up to be a handsome boy. You weigh 40 lbs. You're very smart and a wonderful grandson. You are a delight to be with. We play sports all the time. You also like card games, 'go fish', 'Scooby treats' and 'Kings in the Corner'. Also you like 'Splat' a board game and roller blades. You can count to 39 in Spanish, read three digit numbers [397]. You're a happy boy and very precious to me. Grown men are surprised at your athletic abilities.
You played soccer on a team this spring.
Last week GG asked you to put Vasoline on your cats arms for control of hairballs." OK grandma." [Your cats are named 'Kit Kit' and 'Grunt'] Knock knock knock.... on the bedroom door. I open the door and see that your hands are covered with Vasoline making it impossible to open the door by yourself. Then I see two cats covered head to tail in gobs of Vasoline...................half the jar was empty!
7-17-2000
You know how to ride a two wheel bike! You're not even 4 1/2 yet! Richard Stumpf, across the street [Charles's dad] taught you how to ride last week. You were not happy that Charles could ride a two wheeler [he's 5] and you couldn't.... but you do NOW! Your Uncle Tom found out and bought you a brand new blue Shwinn Gremlin and helmet. YEAH TOM!
8-25-2000
[You are in a van about to touch a door button.]
"Don't touch that!" Angela scolded you.
"Why ? will it blow-up the van? you asked so seriously.
Only a 'boy' would think of such a thing.
Wow! WE [mom & I] are very blessed to have such a wonderful boy.
WE [you and me] started college [Henry Ford Community College] yesterday
You at the 'child care' and me in the class room. What a milestone for us.
MRSA
Wow! lucky me.......I get to tell about getting a staff infection in my right knee while I was on a trip to Michigan. Landed on a Thursday. On Saturday [My mother's 85th birthday] my knee get stiff, hot and swollen. 11-18-2012. Every thing is well.
"SUPER HUNNY BUNNY TO THE RESCUE!"
The title is what TJ said the other day. LOL My nick name for him is Hunny Bunny. I'm trying very hard to get another blog book published. Frustrated! All is well in NC. This week Thursday will be Thanksgiving. Mack and Sandy are coming for the holiday....WOOHOO! I'm thankful for my family, health, and most important...... the ability to 'day care' my second grandson - Torin".
Tom just turned 43 and Sandy just hit the first 39 mark. Mack has been 16 all year and is now the proud owner of his Uncle Tom's former red Dodge Dakota pick up truck. Tom bought it brand new in 1999. I have been in my apartment for 1 year now and luv it! Speedy and Lily are sitting on the back of the couch, right behind me, while I type this. My seven birds are sing up a storm. The female Canary is sitting on four eggs.....seems to be the wrong season. She hasn't had any success getting her many eggs to hatch. I suspect the male Canary is shooting blanks.
TJ seems to understand many things that are beyond the 'normal' boy 2 1/2 years old. Our 'word' for Tuesday was 'disqualified'. We were racing cars on a track and I was the 'announcer'. He has grasped the concept that letters make words, and will ask me 'what does that say'? We are talking about math concepts '1+1=2', but just talking. Torin is very charming. He says hi to everyone. Yes please or no thank you. He addresses female adults as Miss Diane, Miss Cindy or Miss Jo and men as Mr. Frank, Mr. Ted or Mr. Tom. These are some of TJ's neighbors on Mersham Court, Charlotte NC. 28269. Mersham Ct. is the second house TJ has lived in. The first was 627 Depot Ridge, Garner [near Raleigh] NC.
TJ get lots of hugs, kisses, fist bumps, and hi 5's. He gets 'score!' and lots of approval. Torin accepts that his has done something wrong, apologizes saying what he did wrong [sorry I pushed you and then with his arms out wide, asks the child if he/she would like a hug. He's getting better at 'sharing' and not teasing Lily. Most adults are very impressed with his ability to talk easily with them. All this reminds me of Mack when he was 2 1/2!
Tom just turned 43 and Sandy just hit the first 39 mark. Mack has been 16 all year and is now the proud owner of his Uncle Tom's former red Dodge Dakota pick up truck. Tom bought it brand new in 1999. I have been in my apartment for 1 year now and luv it! Speedy and Lily are sitting on the back of the couch, right behind me, while I type this. My seven birds are sing up a storm. The female Canary is sitting on four eggs.....seems to be the wrong season. She hasn't had any success getting her many eggs to hatch. I suspect the male Canary is shooting blanks.
TJ seems to understand many things that are beyond the 'normal' boy 2 1/2 years old. Our 'word' for Tuesday was 'disqualified'. We were racing cars on a track and I was the 'announcer'. He has grasped the concept that letters make words, and will ask me 'what does that say'? We are talking about math concepts '1+1=2', but just talking. Torin is very charming. He says hi to everyone. Yes please or no thank you. He addresses female adults as Miss Diane, Miss Cindy or Miss Jo and men as Mr. Frank, Mr. Ted or Mr. Tom. These are some of TJ's neighbors on Mersham Court, Charlotte NC. 28269. Mersham Ct. is the second house TJ has lived in. The first was 627 Depot Ridge, Garner [near Raleigh] NC.
TJ get lots of hugs, kisses, fist bumps, and hi 5's. He gets 'score!' and lots of approval. Torin accepts that his has done something wrong, apologizes saying what he did wrong [sorry I pushed you and then with his arms out wide, asks the child if he/she would like a hug. He's getting better at 'sharing' and not teasing Lily. Most adults are very impressed with his ability to talk easily with them. All this reminds me of Mack when he was 2 1/2!
Friday, October 12, 2012
Two and a half
TJ was officially 2 1/2 October 1st. Many things are the same....as to be expected, many things are different. A noticeable change is the new game of resisting getting into the car seat. Ditto - the getting into the car. Torin loves to carry a bag around with some of his toys in it. We [TJ] were talking to a neighbor outside her house today, and TJ started to tell her to 'go inside'. Reminds me of my other grandson. They are not too fond of sharing GG. I told him later it was rude and not to say it again. I don't expect my little guy to be perfect.....many adults drink and drive....knowing full well the consequences. TJ doesn't like the 'play room' at the YMCA. "I'll be sad". Potty training is more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Torin is able to move the mouse/curser and left click. Today we started click and drag. He seems more excited to go to 'story time' at the library and is doing a great job of self play/pretend. TJ is a joy!
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