Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Pictures from Hollywood


A few weeks ago you know, if you are a reader of my blog, my partner, DJ went to LA for two weeks for work. I had to stay home, all alone with the cats, while he was enjoying the one place I really want to visit. But I'm not jealous...


Anyway he did bring me back some gifts, and some great pictures, if you get a chance hop over to see them and dream as did I of what it would be like to visit Hollywood. (just hit the link)

Friday, October 10, 2008

4 Years and Counting



Sunday is my unofficial 4 year Blogiversary! I say unofficial as I started the blog about a year earlier on another blog service and the deleted my content. So this is my 4th year blogging on blogger!

Let's see what was happening on my blog four years ago...

Well I was having the HUMP DAY BLUES here...

Looks like I was Enjoying a Weekend on this particular blog post...

Also four years ago a certain presidential election was coming to an end and we were at the Home Stretch...

And it looks as though I was Getting Over a bad cold...

But actually a lot more than those things have happened in the last four years. DJ and I have moved five times, I have had a son get married, three grandchildren, lost and started a new job...twice, added three cats to our family, diagnosed with diabetes, lost several family members, met new friends, lost old ones and put up with GWB for the last four years!

So now for the next four years...

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Life is Short


Life is short. We hear that all the time. Sometimes as a kid I heard that and thought, how could life be so short? It seemed as though life moved so slowly as a child. Remember how your four years in High School seemed to be an eternity and you didn't think graduation was EVER going to happen?

Now I look back on those days and I realize that it has been 30 years since I graduated and I say to myself, "Where did it go?, Life is so short."

Today was another one of those days when I said those words. Back in the early 90's I became close with a very dear family. Two sisters. One was married with twin sons, the other sister was single and devoted to God and her church. My wife, at the time, spent a great deal of time with this family. The unmarried sister became a surrogate mother to our children, as she was with us almost ever day. Many times staying overnight.

The other sister, we were not as close to, but we still were close. Her husband and her boys were her life, and she worked very hard at trying to make sure that her family was taken care of. She never worked outside of the home, and her husband didn't make a lot of money, but they always seemed to manage and you could tell that they enjoyed their life. Their twin sons were polar opposites, one was out going, active and always working, the other was a backward, introverted young man that stayed close to mom and home.

A few years ago, the youngest sister died after a hard fought battle with cancer. My kids were shaken by her death, as she was such a vital part of their growing up. About two years later her sister died, both died young, not even in their sixties yet.

Like most, life went on for the father and two sons. The outgoing son married had children, divorced and continued to work hard. The introverted son became more outgoing, worked hard and made a home for himself and also eventually married. The father also re-married and began a new life.

This afternoon my mother called me at work and reminded me how short life is. The outgoing, active, gregarious son had died. He was only 33. Thirty three years, so young and so much life that should have been ahead for him. He had two small children and was soon to be remarried. His entire life he struggled with juvenile diabetes, and even though I am not sure, I would assume it finally took it's toll on his body.

Yesterday it seems I watched that young man be baptised, start driving, grow into a strong hard working young man, and today he is gone. Yes, life is short.

For some even shorter than it should be.

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Change is Going To Do You Good


Transitions can be good. However, I am one that does not deal well with change. Case in point...DJ's new job. Him being gone on the road is not something that I like. It upsets my way of life. My security...my rut! I like my rut damn it! Now I have to readjust.

Well my rut at work is now going to be filled in and and in a few weeks my job duties are going to change as well as my immediate supervisor. Not that this is a bad thing, but it is also not a good thing. My whole pattern and daily schedule will change not to mention the focus of my work. Previously my position was one in which I was constantly busy. Not that this new position is going to be any less busy, but the type of "busy" is going to change.

As for now I really do not know what it is that I am going to be doing. Some of what I already do I am sure, with a different focus and mind-set.

Change can be good. Change is sometimes needed. Change is inevitable. That does not mean that I have to like it.

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Starting Now


I have been a smoker off and on since I was about 17. So that is roughly 30 years, give or take a few years here and a few years there. Actually I've probably smoked for about 21 years as I did quit for quite a while while I was married and when my kids were little.
But today starts a new chapter. A chapter that does not include cigarettes. I finished my last pack and now I will use the nicotine patches to assist me in my goal. I've wanted to quite for sometime, as I know my health is paying for this nasty habit. I actually don't even like the taste of cigarettes, but apparently the nicotine receptors in my brain are thinking otherwise. I need to stop, I want to stop and quite honestly I have to stop! I want to live to see my grand kids have kids. I also want to be around for DJ as long as I possibly can, so hopefully this will allow me to do that.
I am about a pack a day smoker, so I know it could be worse. I have friends that smoke two packs a day! With DJ out in LA I hope that this will be a good time as any to put this beast behind me, and then work on him when he returns so we can beat this together.
Okay all, I am counting on all of you remind me of the dangers of smoking and make sure I just continue to say NO!
So starting now the countdown begins....

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Does She or Doesn't She?

Gosh Darn it I don't think she knows, or does she? Only her hairdresser knows for sure.

Four Generations

 Spent a little bit of time yesterday with my youngest grandchild, Lizzie. She doesn't look very comfortable in this picture, but she wa...