Good Monday Morning!

How was your week-end? Did it fly by like mine did? I'm not even working and the days seem to pass by in a blink of an eye. Did you have projects going on or was it a time for family and fun?

Mine was a day of working and a day of relaxing. Saturday I started cleaning our side porch. I say started because it's only half way done. Usually every Spring I clean it, but it's been almost 3 years since it was last done. Two years ago there was so much going on with family and work. Last years I had surgery and then my Spring, Summer, and Fall were tied up with chemo treatments. I an grateful that my energy level has increased and I am able to do more things . . . just at a slower pace. I will be happy to sit out there in the early mornings, enjoying my coffee and hopefully some wildlife.

Sunday, hubby and I spent the afternoon watching movies on Amazon. Before I tell you what they were, let me stress, I enjoy movies of ALL kinds. I look at movies as entertainment, not as literal things that could happen. Of course, there are movies that are fashioned after "real life" experiences. I just feel for me, I try to take things with a grain of salt and enjoy the moment, with not too much thought put into it.

Movie #1
The first "MAD MAX"
It came out in 1979, produced by Warner Brothers
What were they thinking?? I have seen "Road Warrior" and "Thunder Dome", but I was in my early 20's then. I am in total awe that after the first movie, any more would be produced. And based on that movie, the lack of  . . . so many things . . . I would have not believed that Mel Gibson would have made a career out of acting.

Movie #2 "A Walk in the Woods"
This movie was released in the summer of last year. Robert Redford and Nick Nolte are 2 older men who attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail, some 2,000 miles long. It's lighthearted and you'll get a few chuckles out of it, but most of all the scenery is breathtaking.

Movie #3 "Terminator  Genisys"
This movie was also released last summer. I have not seen all the "Terminator" movies, but I'm sure this one lived up to all the action of the previous ones. And YES, I'm sure Arnold will be back.

I hope you leave a comment and share a part of your week-end. Have a good week!

Returning back to normal . . .

Over the past couple of months I have wanted to post things, but life keeps getting in the way.
Finally, at least for awhile, things might calm down a bit and I can concentrate on making posts
a habit.
For the last month, our sweet little "Biggie" has been visiting. He is our youngest grandchild, 3 almost 4 yeas old. He lives on the west coast. We live in the mid-west.

                                             
 He and his Mother lived with us his first year of life and then lived again with us for several months
just before he turned 2. His Father is in the Army and had been stationed out of the country. As a result, he is very attached to his "Poppy Pop Pop" (hubby). This past year "Biggie" has been here 3 times, a month at a time. And, that whole month is all about him.
Only the basic necessities get done. Laundry, meals, grass mowed, (because he likes to ride the mower) and almost everything else is what he wants to do. At this time (3 years old) that really isn't much. Just being out doors, picking berries, eating berries, playing with a foam airplane, taking walks and shooting "stomp rockets" are high on the list.  

                                               
Our hearts break a little when he leaves and the house is pretty much silent, but the memories are wonderful and we plan for the next visit.

Life is slowing down ...

Well ... no not really. BUT ... tomorrow is my last day of work for a couple of months. That means no more 3:30 mornings! :) That also means I will be blogging more. I have missed you and confess that even though I have tried to peek in on you over the past couple of months ... 3:30am is really early and sleep was more of a priority.

There are several irons in the fire for the couple of months while I will be on layoff. Vacation ... baby showers ... kitchen remodel. These things will be filling my blog.

In looking for ideas for baby showers (Baby girl is expecting a boy, her 1st., in July) and kitchen ideas, the biggest let down has been that very few blogs, websites, etc., actually tell you how to do things or where to get the products they show. That is something I intend to provide. If you see an idea or a product and need more info than I give on my blog feel free to contact me and I'll try my best to get it to you.

Looking forward to your comments!
See ya soon!
~Vicki~

Never a dull moment ...

Here it is Friday morning. I am getting ready to post the Coffee Klatch Friday meme that should have been posted last night. I had my night all planned out. I would order pizza. I would watch " Person of Interest" and then be on the computer for awhile.  . .
THEN . . .
My oldest Daughter called. " I am at the hockey rink. I have been sitting in the car for about 45 minutes, listening to music and reading. My car won't start." ( Really??? I wonder why?) " Can you come and give me a jump?" Sure . . . isn't that what a Mom is for.

First I have to clean out my car. Luckily, I had no photo equipment to clear out, but I did have extra supplies and fans. Then a half hour drive to the hockey rink. My Daughter, 2 Grandchildren and their Chocolate Lab are all waiting for me. We take the kids and dog home, go to the auto parts store ( of course she has no jumper cables) and the proceed back to the car to jump the battery.

Has either one of us ever done this?? NO! Daughter gets on her phone and calls a friend who is out of town to get advice. I approach the first guy who comes out the hockey rink and ask for help. He shows us what to do, hangs around to make sure everything is ok and gives some advice about how long the car should be kept running, etc.

As, you may know, my youngest moved out about 2 weeks ago. We have seen her a few times and each time she says " Do you  miss us ( her and her dog) yet Mom?"  With work, being sick, getting phone calls to run here and there . . . Do I have time to miss anyone?
NOW . . .
to "COFFEE KLATCH FRIDAY"

Well, this certainl is a nice way to start . . .NOT!

Today I am not feeling well . . . WHY??? Because my husband has not felt well for 6 days. It is not the flu. It is some other yucky illness. I have the chills, so that means I have a temp. My throat is . . . well not really sore yet, not scratchy, not dry. . . it just IS. My tummy is ok. In fact, I had chilli for lunch. This certainly is not a nice way to start a new year!

Those 2 "dirty little words"...

Diet and exercise. Why do we have such a hard time with them? Diet is defined as; What a person or animal usually eats or drinks, daily fare. Exercise is defined as; Active use or operation, performance. So, basically; diet and exercise are anything you eat and drink . . . AND . . . any movement you make.

I have always done both, as I am sure everyone has, but am concentrating on them more at the moment. I had decided that exercise would help build my endurance to lug around my 1o cases of equipment that I need for work. These rang from 15 - 65 pounds. It has helped me immensely.

Diet was more for the vacation that I will be taking soon. Going to warm places and shedding clothes always feels and looks better when you are firm and trim.

So next time when thinking of diet and exercise . . . it may be a little easier if we all realize that we always are in process of those two things. We just adjust them to the purpose that we need. :)

Friday, March 13th

I must say that today was not what I had expected. So now, you are asking yourself , What did she expect? I'm not sure. You see, today would have been my Mother's 68th birthday. The last birthday she celebrated was 19 years ago. In all that time, this is the first year that the thought of her birthday has been more than a fleeting thought. In fact, I found myself, on several different days thinking about my Mother and her birthday. My Mother had many friends. Would any of them remember that today was her birthday? Would any of them think of her? What about her family? Would my Grandmother and Uncles think about her today? And , what about her children? Am I the only child that remembered this day? I also thought about how my life would be different if she were still here. I know that I would not live where I live, this was her house. I would not have the job I have now. OF course, I'm not sure what job I would have. It could be the same one, just in a different city. Other than that, I'm not sure how different my life would be. What about my siblings? If my Mother was still alive, would the 5 of us be more involved in each other's lives? I have 2 siblings that I am talk to on a regular basis and 2 siblings that I rarely have any type of communication with at all. It is their choice and it took me a long time to except that they could throw away what was so valued by my parent's . . . FAMILY.

I guess, I thought today would have been a more emotional day for me. Maybe even a sad day. I have never really been emotional about my Mother's death. We were raised in a Christian home. We were taught "Absent from the body, present with the Lord." We prayed that she would be not be taken from us. But I think that was selfish of us. She was in great pain for several months. She was no longer the vibrant, do-it-all person that she had once been. I feel she went through a lot more than she had to because we were praying and God was giving us what we wanted.
My Mother was a wonderful woman. She loved her family. She loved her friends and she loved little children. She was always eager to lend a hand and help in any way she could. I was privileged to have her in my life and even though she is no long her, she still influences me in many ways. I am a stronger and more caring person because of her.

But I have also learned that people make choices and sometimes you need to let those choices direct the relationships, to let go. It does not mean that you have stopped loving. It just means that you no longer allow yourself to be hurt. I hope the impact that I leave on others will equal the impact that my Mother left on me.

We have always been told....

Writing out events, thoughts and feelings, ie blogging, will get you through what's going on in your life. Not to say my life is more important or more eventful than anyone elses... it's just nice to share... and maybe learn a thing or two. Kind of a "What or What Not To Do" from someone elses experiences. If nothing else... you will have a better idea of who I am. :)