On the road overlooking Malibu..the Pacific Coast Highway

I have been busy

I can't believe I haven't written here in a long time. I have been busy, and I also have a facebook page.
So, we had a great time at Brian and Heather's wedding on the beach in Malibu. First time for me to fly that far, so obviously it was my first time in California. We did some sightseeing the days before, driving along the Pacific Coast Highway, eating at a biker bar on the beach in Malibu, visiting Ventura, California.
The next morning, before the wedding, we went to the Getty Center, a gorgeous place in LA. Art museum, famous architecture, gorgeous gardens looking over LA, absolutely breathtaking.
The wedding was wonderful. They had lots of problems ahead of time, the at the end of the day, it was absolutely perfect.
We got up at 4 the next morning to head home. The red-eye. Long flight, and I survived!!!!

Home from Florida

We got home this week from Florida. It was a wonderful, relaxing time...wearing short sleeve t shirts and short pants for a chage is so refreshing. We went boating with Rudy, Alan did a lot of golf, we did a lot of reading on the beach...it was a great time. We got to see Art Garfunkel in concert. That was wonderful. We are glad to be home, but we came home to some snow!!! Big snow!!! David cleaned up the driveway for us; that was a huge break.

Getting Set for Florida

We are leaving on Friday for Florida. We plan on staying for the month of February. It will be fun. Jerry and Carol are coming over for a few days. Sherry is coming. Tom and Peg are trying to come, also. Sherry will come again. Margaret may come over, and maybe Cathy and Frank. You can never tell!!! Rudy and Sandy will be there when we get there, so we shall have lots of fun.

Notes on a Sunday

Well, today is a sunny cold Sunday. The cove is frozen. The air is crisp. I have to begin packing today for Florida. I have been packing, mentally, for several days...making lists, revising lists, etc. There is a lot to remember. Fortunately we are not locking up the house. Dave and s. will be here to take care of things. Good!

Snow Today

Today is Christopher's birthday. Happy Birthday, son. They are returning from the Bahamas today. I hope they had fun!

Cold in New Jersey

Well, it is very cold here today. The snow has stopped, the sky is blue with big fluffy clouds. But, it is freezing. It is 15 degrees out here.
I worked on web work today, learning how to solve a problem, and got that all squared away.
Alan had to go shovel the track so the kids could work out. Unfortunately, one of them fell last night in the Millrose trial race. They were doing a great job, the anchor leg, pumping as fast as he could, and in his attempt..he fell. What a disappointment for everyone there. But, the season is still young.
Tonight Alan and I are going out to dinner after driving Trevor to CCD for his mom.
Tomorrow, off to the cinema with Joyce Rose to see Slumdog Millionaire. It is, after all, the Golden Globe winner. I want to see it.
C, M and C had a delayed flight to the Bahamas, but they are there now and probably swimming away!!! I know they will love it.

January 2009

I don't know today's date, perhaps the 8th or ninth? When you are retired, if you don't have a doctor appointment coming up, the date doesn't matter much.
It is pouring today, just pouring. Joyce Rose and I are heading out to the movies today to see Doubt. Meryl Streep in anything is great. Well, maybe Mama Mia was a stretch. She was good...movie was so-so.
I did phones yesterday afternoon since Liz had laryngitis. She sounded awful. I did hospital in the morning (too many very sick people there yesterday) and then phones in the afternoon.
C sent me an article about a fire he worked on. He had to go to the attic and send water through the walls, or some such. It makes me nervous but very proud of the man.
S is going through the usual frustrations and joys of coaching. Good thing he has his dad for advice. They talk every day about coaching.
bye for now

Happy New Year's Eve

Nice windy blowy weather here today. I did the food shopping and I am getting the wash done and put away. Christine is coming over for dinner and champagne. If any of us stay awake past ten, that will be a miracle.


I put a video up on the web of the snow falling today. Fun to do.
S is bringing me my new laptop today. I am psyched.

Sadness today

Today, while I was volunteering, I met a woman and her mom who were visiting the dad. They were both very upset, since the doctor told them it wasn't good. They said that he looked terrible. After I chatted with them for a little bit, I went on to other jobs. A while later, the wife walked by, I asked how it was going, and he had passed away. I went to see the daughter in the family consult. room; I hugged her and talked with her for a bit. Just then, her husband and daughters arrived all upset. What a morning for that family. Very sad.

Family Gathering

Well, C and M and C left on Saturday; I immediately took down all the decorations inside the house. Sometimes they make the place feel crowded and messy, so I just remove them. I bought a new tree for next year, lower than half price, and it is taller and nicer.
We spent yesterday at Joe and Ann Marie's; their home is lovely; new deck, new bathrooms, and of course the gorgeous kitchen. C got a set of Power Ranger action figures and he kissed the packaging, he was that thrilled! Very cute.
Rich and MM came over and there were fun, serious, funny conversations going on all over the place. Very nice day.
The drive home felt fast and furious, the parkway in the evening is just so fast moving. I guess I am getting old. Older than old.

Christmas

Christmas was a great time. Everyone was here, and we had Aunt J and Uncle D, also. The child was thrilled with everything Christmas...gifts, relatives, friends. The food was good and the time was great.
Brian put up photos from the past. The attached one surprised me. Did I ever look like that???

A Day in the Big City

Today, Joyce Ann, her sister in law and I went to New York. Joyce got a last minute invite to attend the show at Radio City. We arrived early in the morning, checked out the Christmas tree and the skating rink, and all the area around there. Then we wen to the eleven o'clock show. It was wonderful. They have added 3D things to the beginning of the show and lots of huge video graphics on the back screen to add to the effects of the show. It was great! The hundreds of dancing Santas was a hit.
Then, we walked through Saks Fifth Ave, the NBC Experience store, Rockefeller Center, and we dined at Ted's, right across the street from Radio City. I had a bison burger...and I may never have one again. Ugh.
The Christmas tree, from New Jersey, was almost a perfectly shaped Christmas tree. It was beautiful.

Friday

I think that C finishes fire school today. Congratulations, we are very proud of you.
I had a very busy Friday. First, mass for Yiv's mom's memory, next breakfast with JR and Yiv, next shopping with our Bayville B. money for the foodbank, next deliver it to foodbank, and help put it on the shelves. Then, in the evening, we headed to the O Wreck Divers Christmas party, Rose, CD, and I. It was quite nice. Good food, fun people, good time. My grab bag prize was a giant jar of pistachios. At least I can eat them!
My sugar numbers are so under control that I am ecstatic. Even after a party, with more than a couple of bloody marys, I was 125 today; good number for me! The doc is pleased if I keep it around there. So am I!
Here is the view in California where S and A are staying.

California

A and S are in California to watch GG run in the Foot Locker Championship. Big time. They have called me three times already to tell me how great it is there. Alan broke his glasses so he had to go get drugstore glasses to survive the weekend. I am heading out to din din with Doe and Pat for our annual eat out for Christmas. Doe has had neck surgery and she is healing very slowly. Pat is going through some major life changes, cleaning the house of some deadwood (haha), and listing the house for sale...to lose all ties to the dead wood! Good for her. This is long overdue...long overdue.

Big News

Yes, big news...a new hot water heater! Yahoo. No, really, we weren't getting enough hot water from the old one, so I am happy about it. Not about taking that from my paltry savings account to pay for it, but, oh well. That is the kind of thing you save for, isn't it?
Today I did phones and email for work. Not too busy, so I can crochet while answering phones, to finish up M's gift.

New Truck

S has purchased a new truck. Here it is!

A December Week in New Jersey

Today, I went to my second diabetes class. I learned about snacks, lunch, and about all the different types of meds available. I learned about how they work, each one serving a different purpose. I am learning much more than I thought I would from this class. I feel bad it is only four classes.
I am working phones and email all day tomorrow. I can get wash done, maybe do some decorating around the house, things like that. Then on Wednesday I head to the hospital to "save lives" as I like to say.
C has become interested in fractions. I will put up a worksheet he did with his mom.

Cold Day Today

Today it is quite cold and windy out. I just synched a lot of Christmas music onto my ipod; I also added lots of photos so they will play while music plays. Nice! Some days I feel like such a techie and other days I think I know nothing about technology!
We lunched with S today. I gave him his first Christmas present, a carry-on bag for his trip. He and Al will use their new bags for the trip to CA on Wednesday.

San Diego, here they come....

Alan and S. are heading to San Diego to watch G G run in the Foot Locker Invitational. They are leaving next Wednesday. So, I have dinner plans with Doe and Pat on Thursday night. I may go to the hospital to work a little more that week, to keep from boredom. Of course, I have to work for zumu on Tuesday all day. That always turns out to be pretty busy. I have a party to attend that Friday night, then I am helping setup for the Jingle Bell Classic on Saturday and then help with the race on Sunday. It will be a very busy weekend after all!
This weekend, party with the B'ville B tonight at Patti's, then nothing all weekend. Just housecleaning, I guess. Yawn. Maybe we will decorate the tree and things like that.