All our snow is gone in this area. There is plenty at the higher elevations but not here. Plenty on the mountain range right by us. There was never really enough to make a good snowman -- maybe later in the winter season. Always loved to make snowmen - so cute, depending on how you decked them out. Hope you all get a chance to make a snowman this year.
There are many areas in New Mexico that have huge amounts of snow. I am sure there are a lot of people out there having a blast: skiing, snowboarding, sledding, etc... Such fun for them. All the ski areas are thrilled to have so much snow so early in the season -- they should have a great year! If you have snow where you are, go outside and make a snowman or have a snowball fight. Enjoy!
This dad is like the original Scrooge; bravo for ruining a kid's Christmas. We loved watching our girls open their gifts on Christmas morning. The eyes lit up, smiles, just awesome! We always had a big present for each of them from Jesus (Santa when they were small) - lots of fun when they received that one. When they were small John and I went to great lengths to have them believe in Santa. John even got on the roof once to make noises so that Krista would believe 'one more year'. Once we had granddaughters watching them open their gifts was 'the best' - Bekah and Roxie's eyes would get big a saucers when they saw all the gifts under our tree for them. Next Christmas we hope to have the same experience with Marcelle -- we are planning on sharing Christmas with them. Children and Christmas -- the best!
When I was a little girl, the best part of Christmas was when my mother would bring my stocking to me in bed. It was such a treat opening each little wrapped, in white tissue paper, gift while warm and cozy in my bed. A whole bunch of little surprises! Opening gifts under the tree with the whole family gathered around was super fun and exciting too but there was something very special about getting my Christmas stocking on Christmas morning. Memories.
I have to admit, sometimes, Christmas letters can be fun. However, they can also be, uh, boring or filled with, uh, bragging. We stopped sending them a number of years ago because we did not want to end up in the second category. We don't get nearly as many of them as we used to so I think, perhaps, others have the same feelings as we do. We love to hear from those we are not in contact with very much, so, even if there is a letter included --- we are happy to hear from them.
At one time, when he had time, John decorated the exterior of our house, trees, bushes, etc... for Christmas. He always did it on Thanksgiving Day with the help of Danny and/or Alan. While that was going on, all the girls: Krista, Misha, Bekah, Roxie, and I would decorate the entire interior of the house. We would usually buy our Christmas tree the following weekend and decorate it as well. It was a lot of fun. I sure do miss that.
Happy Birthday to our baby! We love you and miss you so much. Have a wonderful, special birthday!
It would be awesome to be like elves; no ill health and no aging. Wow! What a treat that would be. However, the aging part could be a problem. If you don't age do you still grow in experience and wisdom or do you continue to be young and naive? I would never want to be ageless unless I still gained wisdom. I would not go back to my youth, even to get that body back, unless I kept what I have learned over the years. Oh, to be 30 and still know what I know now!
It's that glorious time of year again. Everyone is out spending money they don't have. Buying gifts for those they love (and don't). Always with a smile on their faces (right!). Being gentle and kind to all (you saw the video of the woman pepper spraying people on Black Friday, didn't you?). Ah, yes, the Christmas season.
Seeing as I am definitely not writing the great American blog, I have decided to post only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays starting next week. I enjoy the actual blogging but I do not enjoy the pressure of having to come up with a topic five days a week - this, also, is not great for my condition - stress is a no-no. So, you will have me, to read, two days less a week - a blessing in disguise, no doubt.
I have never been fond of the story of the Princess and the Frog; I'm not sure why but I guess, even as a child, I thought it was silly. 'Real' princes do not wear capes or have feathers in their caps or ride white horses. 'Real' princes love your child, like his own, even if the child is not his. 'Real' princes play with that child, and with his own, on the floor with their toys. 'Real' princes are there, through thick and thin, even when you are ill, hurt, or...dizzy. I found my prince and..I did not have to kiss a frog to find him. Thank you, John, for being my prince.
Tiggy, our dog, is no 'spring chicken'. He turned 13 in September. Over the last couple of years he has really aged and has some medical issues. Thankfully he is not in any great pain. We give him medication for the arthritis so he is quite comfortable. But, these last several days, with the wind, snow, and very cold temperatures plus windchill he is not happy outside. Now, he loves being outside - it's his favorite place but not recently. So, we have been bringing him inside to keep warm and comfy and just keep vigilant in case he needs to 'go out', if you get what I mean. Yesterday I brought him back in after a short first trip outside and he didn't go out again for 14 hours; he was so happy snoozing on the living room floor -- cozy, happy dog.
This is just one of the thousands of photos that are out there of the damage caused by the terrible storm that has crossed from California to Arizona to Nevada to Colorado and to New Mexico and it moves on. We, personally, had sustained winds of 40 mph for 24 hours -- gusts 60 to 70 mph -- a little scary as the whole house would be shaking and it sounded like a freight train coming through. The roof of Valencia High School peeled back - that's a couple of blocks from us. Yikes!!! You think that's bad -- Albuquerque had gusts of 88 mph and parts of southern Colorado up to 123 mph -- Is this hurricane season?
Two family birthdays this week: Peter, Connie's husband, turns 79 today! Wow! Bekah, Krista's oldest, is 14 tomorrow! Time goes by so quickly. Can hardly believe it. I have known Peter all my life (that I remember). He was dating Connie when I was 4 or 5 years old. He is like the brother I never had. He has always been there. Love you, Peter. Bekah is our first grandchild - a brilliant, talented, and lovely girl. She has a great future ahead of her. Hugs and kisses, Bekah!
Playstation, XBox, Wii---Whee! We do love our games, don't we? We can play them on our phones, computers, you name it. Some even play them at work and some employers don't seem to care. We are a people who need to be entertained and if "Angry Birds" does that - great! I just find it funny. I'm really not a "game" person and so it tickles my funny bone to see all these people, young and old, playing games all the time.
Note to self: why do most "green" companies go out of business? Because people will not pay the high prices for the product. 
I, too, would like to know how he did that. I think it would be very cool to know how to do it and...then...do it! All joking aside...our men and women in uniform have to do some pretty difficult stuff and some things that will stay with them forever. Just a reminder that we should thank them for their service.
For those of you who are Dancing With The Stars fans - this is it! The final week -- the mirror ball will be won. We actually do not watch much of it but when we have a chance to watch any of the dancing it is fun. I can't say who I think will win but it will be fun to find out. Not sure we will have a chance to watch any of it but 'Good Luck' to the final three couples.
This cartoon is a real hoot. Laughed out loud when I first saw it. Is it true, perhaps?
I think that life is an internship. We are all learning, every day, something about why we are here and what we are meant to do. If we are not learning something, daily, we are not living. I was never the adventurous type but I admire those who are. My learning has always been more cerebral and emotional; hey, as long as I'm learning. It is amazing that there is so much to learn that it never ends. Hope after we leave here we learn all the rest.
This photo of Marcelle was taken about a month ago at their nearby Pumpkin Patch. Misha and Alan are so good about taking her to so many interesting places; she is very well-rounded. We miss the three of them so very much---someday, someday we will live nearby.
Music wherever you go. Not just music but only the music you want and love. Amazing really. I do not have an IPod but I certainly love music; always have. When I was a kid it was the music of The Platters, Patti Paige, Glen Miller. As a teen it was, of course, The Beatles. I just love music. John, however, does have an IPod and loves it. He is very musical: played drums from the time he was a kid until very recently. He is always adding/changing what is on his IPod. Music wherever he goes!
For the many years that I was interviewing potential employees I saw it all. The above cartoon, unfortunately, is very true. It is wise to check all references, not because the previous employer will tell you the truth about why the former employee left the job (they won't - they are afraid to break some law and get sued) but to make sure the potential employee even worked there...ever. The lying that goes on is incredible. Sometimes employers only find out about the lies months later; sometimes even years later. What has our society come to? We protect liars. Amazing!!
Two bucks 'jousting' last winter near Edgewood - about an hour from here. We had a lot of snow last winter in New Mexico, even here where we live. Normally, we might get a flurry or two with the snow lasting part of a day or until the next day. But last winter was a beaut! We had snow that lasted, on our street, for five days and in our yards much longer. It was very cool to have the snow as I have lived in the Southwest since 1972 and snow is not something I was used to anymore. We are not sure what is in store for this winter but we are starting off early with the freezing temperatures: in the 20's at night and in the high 40's daytime. Brrrr!
John does a lot of things but this is definitely not one of them. In this time of economic instability, some people are doing whatever they can, or have to, to make ends meet. John is not alone in having a full time job and part-time in addition (well, he actually has several part-time jobs). Some people work very long hours (John is gone, most days, from 4:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. or later), some work extra days a week (he works 7 days a week and takes one Sunday off per month). This is the American way. What really bothers me are those able-bodied people who put out their hand and never even try to find work; even in this difficult time there are many jobs out there to be done but some don't seem to want to work. I say, "Bravo!" to those who do what has to be done. I wish it were not necessary but John and all the others who do what they must are my heroes.
What is with the ADD diagnosis being given to every other child and a lot of adults? I mean, really? If you daydream while looking out a school classroom window (if there is one), you have ADD. If you squirm in your seat (I always did that and still do), you have ADD. If you are an active kid, always on the move and distracted easily, you have ADD. Normal kids are being diagnosed with ADD on a daily basis. Is it because the teachers and parents can't handle a normal child? What I worry about is all the medication being handed out to these children - can't be good for them. 
I hate that when it happens, don't you? Whenever I park in a large lot I always try to remember to focus on exactly where I park. It is a little easier, I guess, for me as most of the time I am parking in a handicapped spot but still I have to focus. One of the "side effects" of my vertigo is that my brain seems to zero in on what it wants to and not necessarily what I want it too, leaving me a little unfocused sometimes. I do the best I can and, so far, have not lost our car. Ha! Ha!
I'm not sure why, in this country, no one likes broccoli. I, personally, love it (as long as it is not soggy). There have been many jokes made about this vegetable -- even the first President Bush talked about how he hated broccoli. Funny. Don't really understand but... to each his own.
We have not been able to landscape our back yard yet. But this is what I would like it to look like. We are in the high desert so we need to do the 'xeriscape' thing as is our front yard. I hope that we are able to do this in the near future; it would be much more pleasant to look at than our sand with a few rose bushes.
We had first snow here in New Mexico. Not at our home but north of Albuquerque. A little early this year. All the ski area owners are happy as clams. We went from 75 to 55 degrees in one day. Good thing we had our evaporative cooler turned off and our forced air heater turned on earlier this week; good timing. Looking forward to the cooler weather; it has been a long hot summer.
Let's face it, we all want to be rescued. We all want our investments, if we even have any, to be super successful. Well, let's not hold our breath because I don't think there is a White Knight big enough to come to our rescue and carry us all off on his White Horse. But... we can dream, can't we?
Hilarious! Love this cartoon. 
Well, it's over. There will be no lawsuit for Long Term Disability. Lawyers will only take on this sort of lawsuit if they can win it (95% or more certainty) as they only get paid if they win. This is the third (maybe fourth?) lawyer I have taken my case to and he spent money getting doctor's (not mine) opinions and said he would take the case if the two he contacted, and got reports from, agreed. They did not entirely agree so he will not take on the case. So, that's it. So, we are letting it go. We hope my hearing for Social Security Disability Insurance goes well but there are absolutely no guarantees. That should take place about January in an Albuquerque court.
Feeling somewhat better today.
Has been rougher than usual (multiple bad days in a row) lately. To add to this, twice I have not been able to sleep, for hours, because every time I closed my eyes it felt like I was going to fall off the bed and be sick to my stomach. Will be contacting my neurologist today and postponing any of the few things I was supposed to do this week.
The last week, or so, has been a roller coaster. I always have vertigo -- every day, all day. However, there are times when the "bad days" run together and that is how it has been lately. Kind of a pain in the neck. Have not been out of the house since last Tuesday morning. Hoping to make an appointment this morning. Will try very hard but if the unfocused vision/mind kick in or the occasional double vision does then it's a "no go". The vertigo, itself, is not worse -- it's the same as always. I have always had "bad days" and "mediocre days" and then, what I call, "normal (for me) days". It is just that lately there has been a string of "bad days". I am used to it - just want to get out of the house. John has four days off in a row for us to be together (starting tomorrow) so I really want to have a string of "normal (for me) days". Pray for me.
So, here's logic for you, employers are now not interviewing/hiring anyone that does not have a job. They are discriminating against the jobless. What craziness is this? The most common job seeker is jobless! What are they thinking? Are we going to need a new law that says they have to hire the jobless? I mean, really?
We are all thrilled to see more rain. I can hardly wait to see if the Rio Grande will be running again the next time I go across the bridge. The only bad part is a high wind is coming with the rain and that is not a good thing. Between the rain and lower temperatures it's really nice to have the curtains open and no cooling running. I plan on a nice day today.
