Friday, February 29, 2008

I attended a memorial service yesterday.

We weren't close. I was very close at one time to her daughter - a part of their family and the babysitter of the daughter's two children. I only met her a couple of times.

Her memorial service was a celebration of a life well lived. Her children respected her, her husband deeply loved her, her friends will miss her, and her grandchildren are better people for having had her in their lives. She had a fun life full of games with friends, travel, times with loved ones, and faith in God. The greatest song that was sung at the service was "Sentimental Journey."

She died as she lived, surrounded by those family and friends she loved the most.

Mother of Suzie Strief McAfoos - a treasured woman who made a difference in my life from the time they moved in next door when I was 11 years old. Grandmother to Travis and JB - two darling boys who brought so many smiles to my life all during middle school and high school.

Barbara Strief.
Rest in Peace, and thank you for bringing so much love in to my life even though we didn't know each other. Your family was my family, and Suzie wouldn't have been there so many times for me if you hadn't been there so many times for her growing up. I will always be thankful to God for your well lived life!

Sunday, February 24, 2008

This Damn Virus: Day 11

OK, I've officially had enough. ENOUGH. Were it not for the invention of Mucinex DM I would have lost my mind by now... although the end may be in sight. My voice is returning to it's normal, nasally sounding vibrato as opposed to the throaty, phone sex, tumbled rock quality that it takes on when a virus invades my chest. (I would sound so much cooler if I smoked - like Kathleen Turner... but without the boozy nuance.)

Plus, why does this darn virus strap your energy so? I CANNOT get enough sleep, am dizzy about half the time I'm awake, and my brain feels short circuited.

I am ready for cold and flu season to be over.

OVER.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Some things in life are just wrong!

Like, when you have family visiting... they unpack their essentials in to your spare bathroom. (This part is fine, btw.)

You have to use the bathroom, and when you are done - while washing your hands you happen to glance over to your niece's make up bag.

When you are of an age where your NIECE has AGE DEFYING MAKEUP in her bag it is simply time to hang it up.

Game.Over.

Our next move won't be to a suburb closer in to the city... our next move will be to transitional assisted living.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

My brother turns 50 today

That means 3 of the 6 of us "kids" are 50 or over.


Half of us.


That is so scary! Thank God I'm going to be the last one to get there!!!!!!


Happy Birthday, Larry!!!!
Larry and his wife, Karen

Monday, February 11, 2008

How do I get on these lists?

…is it just me, or is everyone receiving emails from the school district about The Hispanic Opportunities in Public Education Conference? Not that I mind, but it might be more meaningful for me to attend a conference geared toward opportunities in public education for descendants of those who emigrated from the British Isles. During a potato famine! To escape religious persecution! Because this was the land of opportunity! Blah blah blah!

I’ll bet one of DD2’s preschool teachers is behind this!

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Oh Danielle.... the house behind me is for sale....


OK, so it needs some work... and it's a little overpriced at $265,000 , and we don't live near any great beaches or large bodies of water...
BUT it comes complete with a neighborhood full of pals ready to welcome your family to suburban america. Playgroups, coffee chats, swimming pool for summer gathering, and the occasional mom's night out. What do you say?

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Meme time...

OK - here we go.....

The rules for this meme are:
(1) Link to the person that tagged you.
(2) List the rules on your blog.
(3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
(4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
(5) Let each random person know they have been tagged.


Six Non-Important things / habits / quirks about myself:

1) I didn’t actually know that the spellcheck on Blogger was out. I just thought I was spelling everything correctly all of the sudden. Ignorance is the new black?

2) It is harder for me to make my husband laugh than any other person on earth.

3) I used to be really mean and judgmental. I’m still actually both of those things… but not nearly as much as before I had kids. I could be cruel at times.

4) I HATE it when I’m wearing long sleeves and the ends of my sleeves get wet. I will be in a foul mood until I change in to a dry shirt.

5) I’m an interrupter by nature. I, so far, have been unable to overcome this imperfection. It’s easier to quit smoking than to quit interrupting.

6) I used to have a girl crush on Kat Von D. Husband was a little too excited by this information. I’m over it now.

OK, I’m tagging Martha – who is going to get tagged 5 additional times, so she’s easy.

I’m tagging Rumour, because she is pregnant – and I love her for that. (I could talk to people who are pregnant all day long, it’s just the greatest! She's having a second little girl!!!!

I'm tagging Vanessa, because if she seems really really smart and if she lived in Denver I would want to be friends with her and I lurk on her blog a lot.

... and I'm out of ideas. Except for one. I'm tagging JH. My next door neighbor - who doesn't have a blog. But I think she should start one, because she is wise beyond her years and makes me laugh. A lot. Besides, she has 5 kids... that's a lot of material! (Hello you little lurker!)


Be happy.

Wordless Wednesday (a day too late)


Friday, February 1, 2008

I Heart NY

OK, to ease the inquiring minds... it was nothing as romantic as a getaway with my very handsome husband. One of my sisters was going to see another of my sisters who lives in NY, and asked if I wanted to go too. So, we jumped a flight on Monday and after our return flight was delayed (was supposed to get in around 11pm on Wednesday night) we were back in the wee hours of Thursday morning. (About 2:30am. Still tired and groggy!)

Sister and I did a lot of touristy things on Wednesday, so I'll have a picture post this weekend.

Missed you all, glad to be back! Picked up a new book while on my trip. It's called "Freakonomics." (Non-fiction) I'll let you know if it's worth the read. I'm also going to need a good recommend for my next fiction book, I'm not usually one to read so many works of non-fiction in a row!