Still have no word from attorney but should know something today. Will keep you posted. John works on July 4 so he is taking tomorrow off so we have a 3 day weekend together - Costco here we come! So, I will not be blogging Friday. Weather has cooled down a few degrees into mid-90's - whew! That's a little better. We are all praying for rain -- to counteract the 6 month drought and help put out all the fires all over the state.
This beautiful photo was taken a few years ago in the Czech Republic. Good looking family, don't you think? We ask, all the time, for a new, updated photo, but so far no luck. Bekah is now a very grown up 13.5 and Roxie is 10. They have changed a lot since this photo was taken; we see that when we Skype with them. Thank God, again, for Skype!
Great photo of Alan, Marcelle, and Misha. Not sure who took the photo but it's really a good one.
Off to the doctor early this morning for a regular follow-up appointment. Everything is pretty much status quo (for me, anyway) with no big changes. Weekend ahead, John has to move his e-mail to a new area (no change in e-mail address - just new site) -- plus move all his folders, of which there are scads, contacts, etc... change password. Other than that, a quiet weekend as he has been working over 12 hours a day all this week; he needs rest and peace.
Because of the Independence Day holiday on July 4, many people will be taking vacation time over the next week or two. Hot weather here, reaching 100 today and for a few days, so most are heading to the mountains, where it's cooler, or to rivers and lakes to cool off in the water. Many accidents happen on the roads at this time of year so I am praying for safe travel for all vacationers. Have Fun!
This photo was taken on their Mexico vacation. They had a blast!
We are now into the fourth week of this immense fire. Over 500,000 acres have burned. It is now 51% contained (Praise God!) due to the heroic efforts of thousands of firefighters from all over the country. Saturday night we could smell the smoke and there was ash falling in our yard. Really peculiar and scary. Yesterday there was no smoke just a little haze. As they get this fire under control the smoke will not spread as far. The amazing thing is that the smoke has gone as far as Iowa. Crazy.
Misha, Alan, and Marcelle recently spent some time in Mexico. They had a really great time. The stayed at a family-friendly resort that has lots of fun things to do with children. Marcelle loves the water and was truly in her element. Misha and Marcelle will be here soon to visit us for a four day weekend. We can hardly wait!
Aleve is amazing! John's pain is under control most of the time. He somehow cracked a molar all the way around, horizontally, below the gum line. This calls for serious care: possible are -- root canal plus crown -- better is an implant -- awaiting insurance and what they will cover at what %. In the meantime, his dentist did some work to alleviate some of the pain and set appointments to take care of it. So, he will be ok. He's just happy to know what's going on and have less pain.
Life is full of surprises, new things, fun things, scary things, wonderful things. Many of us seem to be afraid of something new. I know that I am a little wary of something new if I don't know someone who has already "tried" it. I was raised to be extremely cautious. Now, this is good in some ways; it has kept me, especially when I was young, from getting into deep trouble. It can also be not so good; I have not tried a lot of things that I am sure would be so much fun and now that I am in the state I am in I will never get to do them. There are only a couple of things that would be so awesome to try that I still think about them: swimming with dolphins, being a professional singer (Folk singer in the 60's and 70's), acting for a living. Seems weird to actually put these in writing and share them with you all -- have never really told anyone before. At any rate, these are a few of my dreams that are now to be laid to rest. I have a wonderful life - not one regret. I have the most amazing, loving husband, two lovely, intelligent, loving daughters, two sons-in-law that my daughters and we love very much, and three gorgeous, adorable granddaughters. I cherish each one of them and would not trade one minute with any of them for anything. I am blessed.
Lately, on the news, the TSA has been under fire for going overboard on their pat downs. I watched a tape of a man going through this; it was embarrassing to watch so I can't even imagine what the man was thinking and feeling. I know that the TSA are doing only what they have been train to do - their job - but I think there should be a "rethink" about what that should be. It is, for sure, a very difficult problem -- how to keep us safe and keep our dignity at the same time. It is a conundrum. 
So, both my lawyers for my Long Term Disability lawsuit and my representatives for Social Security Disability say that I am able (in accordance with my doctor) to work part-time. Now, I know that I can work from home and perhaps up to 8 or 10 hours per week out of the home -- the problem is finding a job of 15 to 20 hours a week with only 8 - 10 hours of it outside the home. I am working with a state agency here in our county which helps those with disabilities get back into the work force. Praying that I can soon find something that works with my limitations and work experience.
This photo of the sun was taken at the end of the day yesterday and is being shown on a local weather forecast. Due to the two fires, near the New Mexico state line, in Arizona we have had huge amounts of smoke and it has changed the sunsets dramatically. Albuquerque even has ash falling on homes on the West side of the city. We can see the smoke and haze but have had no difficulty in breathing. One of the fires is absolutely immense, some 195,000 acres, and there is no control of it imminent.
John and I feel so blessed to have Danny and Alan as our sons-in-law. We know that our daughters and granddaughters are loved and well taken care of. There is peace in knowing this. We thank God for these two wonderful, loving men.
