TIS THE SEASON !!

Thanksgiving just ended and Christmas season is upon us. What do these holidays mean? Yes, those that work get days off, & stores get a boost in sales, & our waistlines grow from big dinners with lots of deserts. But what is the true meanings of these holidays?

Thanksgiving is about family time that I love .... the laughter & talking, the time with my grand kids, but mostly I love the opportunity to reflect on my blessings. I love my children & the children they married & brought into our family. Each is so different, each is very strong willed and protective of their families. Their Dad & I like to think we taught them to protect their families. As we get older & families are within families, it is hard to organize the family structure ( the church teaches a patriarchal order - to help organize us). Who decides, crowd control, & usual family squabbles.... our hearts know the way or if not oldest rules.. ha ha ha! Love & forgiveness strengthens our love & brings holiday spirits around us. The grand kids bring smiles, laughter & a reminder of who & what is important. Afterwards, Mark & I reflected that our love started this strong family but our love is even stronger as we watch the love of each family grow. The Circle of Life ... we started as a couple and here we are as a couple most of the year. Thanksgiving & Christmas give us the chance to be "our family" group again. I love it.

The food was great & a huge surprise with Dale cooking everything. It reminded me of my Mom's meals (okay he cooks healthier than she did) and the love that food represents sometimes. We missed Stacey, Richard & the kids, but understood that between tight school schedule & Richard's early flight on Monday made it the only choice. :( The time with Dale, Shalene, & kids was shorter than we liked but thoroughly enjoyed. We decided between lack of money & desire for sleep killed off an early Black Friday. I did not miss it & I went to the pharmacy so technically I did shop...ha ha!

Christmas will be small this year but filled with love. Christmas is about love... the love of our Savior, the love of family, the love of friends, but mostly the love of strangers who need help. This year I am collecting food for the Food Bank from 11/29-12/13/2009. So far it is slow with 48 lbs of food but I am optimistic that those numbers will increase. I am donating to Coats for Kids - I do not need that many coats so it is clean out my closet time. I plan to work the Food Shuttle & the Soup Kitchen. I may lack money to give but I have time to give. I want to show my love for the Savior and my respect for my family by helping those who are less fortunate than us.

So "tis the season" to love one another, show that love, & share than love.

Yes, it is time to decorate, laugh, spend time with family & friends, forgive one another, and this year I am getting a special gift..... a new grandson. I have a cold thingy a.k.a. flu that must be gone before my grandson comes into the world. I am looking at it as a blessing & as it will be over it before the birth, or the visits from my children & grandchildren.

Fair Time & Texas Hold Em Showdown

The weather is changing quickly - 90s last week & high of 52 tomorrow - yep, that is a sign that the fair is only a few days away. The photos were some taken at the 2008 State Fair with that ever cute Peed family. We all eat our way through the fair with the usual pickles, milk, hush puppies, funnel cakes, steak sandwiches, corn on cob & etc plus always something new last year the fried pecan pie (Dare & Mark loved it) , look at the cows & sheep (no swines for us). The boys rode a few rides - some went better than others hehe. So I look forward to another 5 pounds - maybe not thanks to the strictness of the new diet from the doctors (they are ganging up on me I think). Fun will be had at another North Carolina State Fair.

It has been beautiful weather during the last 3 weeks (mostly) but rained every Saturday so Mark is really getting antsy to sail. I stay light headed enough that sailing makes me a little nervous but I will adapt. Mark loves sailing & has really enjoyed driving around making lots of sales calls in the cool weather. His sales are up & so is his spirit.

Mark & I are still enjoying our Texas Hold Em tournaments. We continue to learn and improve while meeting some nice people, some interesting people, and some real jerks. Hey, just like every where you go in life. The people range from College Professors & students to people we do not spend anytime with. We get to pick where to sit so we avoid the jerks & strange people. We usually avoid sitting at the same table unless we both make the final table of 10. We start with 50-70 usually and take people out one at a time. Each with 10,000 chip points - 2 hours later one person has every one's chips. We usually at least make the top 20 & sometimes better. We have both finished 2nd but that 1st place keeps eluding us. We have been playing less than 6 weeks & some of these guys have played for years many in Vegas for money. No money involved for us but it keeps the mind working.

Mark is off to the Calloway Golf Resort next week for their annual sales convention. He has a sales award coming this year & hopes to repeat the 1st place golf tournament placement. He has the same golf team - the others want a chance at revenge. haha!! I hope he wins but mostly has a great time smooosing the bigwigs. The company is owned a French company who is taking control from the American division that were running it for them. They are a great company to work for ... benefits, insurance, holidays & etc. Mark loves working for them.
I will be home alone - staying out of trouble. No plans...I will have to think on it.

Doctors are still poking & prodding but some good news & some not so good & some retesting. Today I got 5 new prescriptions like I do not have enough already, but the tissues came back benign. The cardio doc agreed on a 3 month reprieve on the heart Cathe if I would walk 30 mins a day, lose 10 pounds by Jan 5th & 30 lbs all together (he says within the year) , no caffeine, & etc. Add prescriptions for high everything including a 2nd blood pressure medicine to help the 1st one work better. It still sounded better than letting him as he calls it take a look inside my heart. The exercises from the physical therapy has helped my left hand a lot - they helped me learn to shuffle cards with one hand stronger...haha it helps with the poker games & was only $200 an hour for the insurance. I quit going & work at home on hand & trying to standup with my eyes closed, then I will go back for the next set of exercises working on my balance(that $30 copay twice a week was killing me... well when added to $15 copay doctor & $30 co cardio & neurologist). Our insurance is great... they have billed $29,200 in 9 weeks so far our part has been copay only about $800 & all has been paid by them. That included having the benign cyst removed from my ear & the $324 mousse for my head that in less than 2 weeks is 95% better. The prescriptions are $15-$40 a piece & they are killing us but I do feel better & Mark's physical with his new doctor was great only minor issue. His blood workup was super good. We both love our new doctors & are grateful the Lord directed us so our health problems could be taken care of. Other than balance issues & occasional chest pain I do feel much better.

Well, I miss my family and am looking forward to Thanksgiving & Christmas with some family visits. I got worried I may never see any of them again, but I feel better and am impatiently awaiting visits. My Dare comes over usually weekly & we see the Peeds at the boys soccer games (this is a post unto itself...too cute). Take care & remember who you are. I love you!

First Time Ever - wow what an experience

As discussed in the last post, Mark & I joined the Texas Hold Em Tournament. 2-3 times a week we get together with 50-80 people (mostly men but about 10% women) and play Texas Hold Em. This is the poker tournaments like on television but no betting allowed. Every starts with the same amount of chips and sits at a table of 10 people. Two cards are dealt & then you bet (no real money involved) or fold (throw in the crummy cards I keep getting - haha). Then the dealer flips over 3 cards & you bet or fold again, then 1 more card, & bet or fold. So you have 2 cards no one knows & 5 on the table. You play to the last person with chips (the minimum bid keeps going up every 10 minutes)
We have played 5 times so far - I lost on a misread (by me) hand the 1st time, then I placed 14th next, then 2nd, then 3rd, and then 3rd again. Mark is amazed that I can keep up with everything going on. I think my mind has so many thoughts running through it that I see everything happening. It also does not hurt that a lot of men underestimate women. One more "little woman" comment & I am punching someone out. Not really but I do put them out of the game.
Anyway this is about last night - 78 people played & the card sharks were out in full force. I stayed in until 3rd & went out on what should have been a safe play - they are the one's that get me. Afterwards 2 of the guys that Mark & I have played with a couple of times, came up afterwards to congratulate me. I said thank you and smiled. Then it happened, a FIRST, he said "you are my hero". hahaha! It was so funny but he said no really, these guys have played for years and you made the top 20 4 out of 5 times and the top 3 - 3 out of 5 times. You only get points if you make the top 20.
Who knew it would take poker to be a hero but it felt good anyway. Mark is so proud of me but stays nervous after he gets out of game. I find it lots of fun whether second or 28th. The company is fun & not offended if I do not talk to them.

Making New Friends - Sometimes you have to be CREATIVE!

Mark & I have been talking for a while about ways to meet new people. Our families have grown up & we rarely get to spend time with them, so we decided to look into ways to mingle with others. Church for older couples is basically a Sunday meeting, so we are looking elsewhere. I am looking into Bridge lessons at the city, quilting for the hospital babies, even a yoga for older people if I can get the age limit waved (I am too young - finally for something I am too young). But still we want things we can do together - sailing is great but a long drive & the weather has to be almost perfect in wind & temperature because of health reasons. So we started going to shag music concerts & learning to shag but still it is hard to shag dance & talk to others.
So we finally found a fun group of people who get together & play Texas Hold Em poker. No betting allowed, no smoking allowed (yeah, I can breathe) - it is all on points system- if you place in the top 3 in the area you get a trip to the real Texas Hold Em Tournament. No chance of that but we can refuse the trip as we have no money to bet & do not bet. We decided since members play hearts, pinnole, solitary & other face card games, no bets no issue. As you know I am very competitive & Mark is competitive too. Mostly men but a few ladies play & the sisterhood to beat the men is strong- haha!
You have to be 18 to play & 21 to go to Las Vegas. About 65% is over 40 yrs old with
about 1/3 of those being over 55 yrs old. Now keep it mind this is a 7 card poker game and their are sharks & fishes - I am the fish food. I know very little about this game but watching those nuts on tv. New game, lots of little rules and 50-80 people playing at a time at tables of 10 people. Everyone starts with the same number of chips & you are off trying to stay away from the sharks.

The 1st night, I forgot to take my anxiety medicine that my hands were shaking so bad that the nice guy beside me would stack my chips & shuffle the cards for me. He was about 35-ish so I think I reminded him of his mother :) When we condensed tables, a really nice girl took over for him. I jumped in slow & all was going well until I went all in (bet all my chips) on a great straight. I was so excited until the really nice guy who had been helping said the words every player dreads - "No, you have no 9" I had looked at my cards wrong & I was out & felt stupid until everyone at the table said don't worry we have all done it. Some told the funniest stories on their experiences - I still lost but they were so nice to me. When Mark got out we ate & watched the others play. They are held at various restaurants, pubs, & game places. The food is great.
2nd night - No mistake tonight of forgetting my anxiety medicine (the testing has made my shaking much worse) I identified myself as fish food but was thrilled to finish 17 out 70. I got ranked with points - woo hoo! Mark & I only played at same table a few hands before he got sent to fill another table. So I do not know when he went out of game.
3rd night - Mark & I decided to play at the same table as there were 70 people in the game - it is hard to play against your husband. I hate to take his chips & it is hard for us to bluff each other as we know each other too well. He had a killer straight went all end & the guy drew 4 of a kind to beat him. Stunned the whole group. We continued the play & every time 10 people are out, we condense tables. I was so excited to be in the top 20 again but at a table with sharks with HUGE teeth (the leaders in NC) I have that kind of luck. I got down to 6 chips a few times but they see a nice little old woman who looks confused alot. Mistake, BIG mistake. When we got down to the last 10 people I wanted to make top 5 but had 1/10 of everyone else's chips but I am competitive, so I finished 2nd against the #4 player in the state. I might have won but the crowd gathered around my end of the table trying to figure out how I managed the top 20 in only 3 plays. They told Mark it was because I was good - I think it is because I had no expectation to win at all. But the crowd got the best of my nerves & anxiety and a much better player than me won. Oh well, big points for #2 rank out of 70.

Well I am moving up the ranking fast or at least until we play again. I told Mark that is the most times I have ever had my hand shaken & told good job. Then we played a game of pool & ate nachos on the restaurant for being 2nd. I like the game, I like the no smoking, I like the no swearing or berating other players but mostly I like how many really nice polite people I have met and I like spending time & being encouraged by my loving husband.
Mark loves the game & I enjoy not watching tv or playing games by myself on the computer. I really enjoyed not thinking of medical test or doctors or anything except trying to keep up with the fast game occurring in front of me. My health has pulled me out of most activities I can do - no heat, no exercising, no dairy, no spicy foods, no Dr Pepper, no BCs & blah, blah, but this one fits my health. I doubt I will every make it to #2 again but it happened & it says so on a national computer site - haha! And Mark was not only more nervous than I was (he was pacing) but he was so proud that I overcame my fears and did so well. We will never place high because the real shark players play 6-7 times a week at different pubs, restaurants, & game places - we are not looking for that much involvement & will not play at smoking venues.

We are still looking at other options to meet people with like interest & standards but the rules of this tournament forces at least like actions (standards) or they get evicted. To be honest, I do not want to bring them home & be life long friends - the church & my family gives me those people in my life. So who knew - Jewel - the card shark of the day. LOL

HAPPY IS WHAT WE MAKE IT

HAPPY IS WHAT WE MAKE IT, Always has been and always will be.

Today I hung my new sign on the wall across from the couch where I sit on the laptop.
I was walking along browsing on what to buy with the last of my birthday gift cards & this sign jumped out at me. It did not scare me but made me smile. All weekend Mark & I have discussed that we make life harder than it needs to be. This discussion lead us home to our own Ward as we know we should be. During Sacrament meeting Mark turned and smiled & said "this feels like coming home". I agreed that when we do what we believe if right then our soul is at rest.

I decided that when we wait to ask the Lord for help, his blessings are left unused by us. I do believe the Lord blesses us everyday but if we have a specific need He may wait for our bowed head & bended knee. I needed rest for my soul and the answers to my prayers were so clear. My fear of the doctors' appointments this month is gone. I am at peace that I can be happy with the struggles that come. I pray for good health but will live the way the Lord wants me to. And obviously as long as He chooses as only Heavenly Father controls life & death.

But even more than that - we are taught that "man is that he may have joy" Joy is even more than happiness. I believe in this life we are meant to have struggles and learn to find happiness in spite of the struggles. Once we learn "happy is what we make it" then we find true joy in our lives.

I am happier serving others, going to church, singing badly (ok, I would rather sing good but I find happiness in singing badly too). I have tried to make life fit into the "happy box" that I had decided on. Happy is not about money, a high paying job, eating out, wearing great clothes, or entertaining oneself. It is not even a sailboat. Happiness is sharing love, laughing over stupid things said, smiling at a newborn, awaiting my 9th grandchild. Happiness to me is awaiting visits from my children & grandchildren for the upcoming holidays, holding hands with my love of 37 yrs, seeing friends & families, helping others & being able to turn to our friends & special family members on those dreary days of life and then call them to share that funny joke or good news.

I know many people with more "things" than I have & less happiness and I know people with less than I have but are able to find joy. I will look at my sign every morning and every night - and try to remember that I can let money, health issues, my children living a distance away from me make me unhappy or I can make myself happy that I have a home with my loving husband, I live another day, and I have beautiful children who make me proud & made me a grandmother of almost 9 funny, loving grandchildren (and they are all grand). I choose to make "happy" my new mantra until that final JOY occurs and I go home to my Father in Heaven and see my Mom's beautiful face again.

So BEWARE - there is a smile breaking out on my face :)

Dallin Came A Visiting with Wisdom !

Dallin came to spend a couple of days with us & during it Grammer learned a lot from him. We picked him up at McDonald's at Brier Creek from his Poppy - a few hours later than planned. Dallin was smart enough to call Grammer & ask if he could play Wii at his Uncle Paul's house - well he actually said he wanted to show Uncle Paul who was the master of Wii. haha! of course Grammer said yes, I wanted him to have fun & he did.

As soon as they drove up at McDonald's, Dallin said Grammer, "you tricked me - your hair is different" I said yeah I cut it & he said it is a different color too. I love his honesty. He did say he liked it too. Then Dallin hopped in the back seat & started talking up a storm - I love that about him (someone who talks to me). So we left Papa & Poppy to move the 50 pound suitcase (we are very smart too). He talked all the way to the house with a captive & very interested audience of Papa & Grammer.

We got home & gave him his birthday gift, he opened the card & said thank you very nicely & ripped into the gift (I rip open gifts too - like we use old wrapping paper). He was so excited to get the Wii game with the control sensor & immediately wanted to play. Why are the yound so quick to learn games? Dallin was great & I watched him look for symbols in the airplane game for 3 hours before I noticed the time. OK I let him stay up too late the 1st night but I was excited to visit him & he was excited to play the new game. haha - I quit being delusional about family waiting to hear me drone on for hours last year. LOL

I completely enjoyed every minute of my time with Dallin. He was great company, well behaved and funny too! It was hard to sit downstairs while Papa took him to the airline gate. My heart monitor made it hard to get thru security so I asked Papa to go with him. (no need to create problems) Because of a 1/2 hr delay from weather (lightning) & Papa having to stay until the flight was airborne it was about 1-1/2 hr wait. Dallin was on the plane & completely unconcerned about flying alone. I can not believe my first borne grandson is 11 yrs old & flies alone without any fears. When did he get so wise & grown up? He takes after me ;)

The Results are Coming - big deal! Dallin was here!!!

Tommorrow is the day for the last of the major testing. So far including EKGs, MRI, numerous blood test & the Carotid Doppler Flow - the insurance is over $6300 in payments. I have grumbled over the $380 for co pays & med co pays at least we have great insurance that pays within 2 weeks. Tomorrow I have my EEG that requires needles in the head to see brain activity. EEG prep includes washing hair, rinse 3 times, no conditioner - I will look like a dufus. EMG & NCV requires needles in the muscles with electrical currents shot through the needles to see if the muscles properly contract. Prep includes bath & no lotions, deodorant, or perfumes of any kind - I will smell bad & have dry skin & still have hair that is standing out. haha!

Afterwards, I have an appointment with the cardiologist & hope to rid myself of this stupid box ( Dual Alert AFIB ) that catches irregularities in my heart EKG & records 2 minutes of each one. After 6 recordings,it must be called in & downloaded on a land line phone. I know of 2 landlines one at Jean's & one at Dare's - both of which I have used but usually it means a pay phone. Since it screeches like a load fax machine, it needs to be private or it scares people or they give me looks like I am up to something. I sometimes must download twice a day so Dare's & Jean's are too far. I found a outside payphone at a service station not too far away but must admit as it records automatically if I did not feel symptoms I will "fake" download & just clear it. I am tired of it , so I hope the Dr will remove it tomorrow. They are looking to see if I have a irregular heart beat or an irregular heart beat that is normal. No clue how they tell the difference. I like Dr Parsons a lot but the walking and 25 lbs weight loss & change in foods mini discussion leads me to believe this is not going to be an enjoyable discussion. haha

Next comes the GI testing, colon test, and whatever he called the light into the stomach thing. Can you tell I am tired of the testing? I delayed these because brain & heart, plus MS testing seemed like enough for me. I will come back to them after the results are in for the other tests. The no milk, no aspirin, no bc's, no caffeine - Dr Pepper, Coke & even chocolate, plus cut back on spicy foods has made a huge difference in my stomach issues. I have adjusted but even when out I never drink Dr Pepper but a very occasional coke if the food is spicy. I drink more water than I have in the last 30 years - I do like a little lemon in it though.

So far, we know a heart murmur, my left ventricle valve leaks a couple of drops backwards, left ventricle has some thickening & systolic function issues, the carotid bulb has plaque (they call it discrete) & should not require treatment at this time, my triglycerides & LDL cholesterol are high, my Vitamin D is so low it is off the chart, Vitamin B12 is low, TSH is high, & something called Amylase Serum is pretty high (but since I do not know what it is I am not worried about it- haha). A couple of other low items but already treating with meds so no problem. BOY, it sounds worse written than it is. The MRI - neurologist is withholding information until he sees me - has not even sent to my family doctor (Internist). The neurologist thinks a lot of himself - might I say. For the $2700 they charged for them, I would like the results of the MRI before 9/2.
Oh well, no news is good news for me. My Internist doctor was not amused to be out of the loop & plans a phone call to neurologist. These guys are territorially :)

I am a little nervous about tomorrow but only because the EMG is suppose to be slightly painful but causes muscle pains for a few days. Like recovering from a hard workout. Mark & I have plans for weekend & I do not want to whine & complain all weekend, LOL I grateful to have great doctors, friends & family who love me & have shown it (you know who you are) , a super insurance company, Heavenly Father that gives me the peace of mind of what is = is meant to be, and a loving husband who supports, cares, and loves me with all his heart - the constant worrying he does we could both do without. My nights of crying and fearing the results are over.... if the worst happens then it was meant to be & as Mark says we will sell everything we have & spend of last time together with the same joy we have always had together.

HIGHLIGHT!!!!!!
A short visit from Dallin was a great pick me up & reminds me of what is important to me. We picked him at a McDonald's about 8:30pm on Friday from his other grandparents - sadly my MRI could not be moved so he spent most of Saturday with Dare & the boys while Mark & Ryan moved the boat (it had to be moved that day or pay $375 more), then Dallin & I drove to Lowlands to pick up Mark & Ryan thru the nowhere lands lol. Sunday we spent a while alone with Dallin some of it playing his new Wii game (he is very good) & then Dare, Ryan & the boys came over, on Monday Dallin & I went to Chuckie Cheese & hung out shopping, then a drop in from the Peeds & off to the airport by 5pm . A small thunderstorm with lightning held the plane about 45 mins so Papa waited upstairs & Grammer waited downstairs for about 1-1/2 hrs - now do I look dangerous to you???? LOL Boy that 2-1/2 days went by way too fast - I am ready for another visit from Dallin. So are the twins - they adore him. I lost the 1/2 day but they gained from my loss.

Life is good & I am trying to enjoy it!!!!!!

Life Is Eternal ??

I have been thinking about several issues - my health, Noah, My Mom, Jerry, strife around me and about my beliefs that life is eternal. How can life be eternal? The obvious answer is and always will be through Jesus Christ, but I was thinking on a even more personal level. It did not seem logical to me and then the light bulb finally went off and what a surprise to me - I already knew the answer. Life is eternal through love. We can lose our bodies and even our memories but our love lives on through those we love. My love for my family is eternal and I am sure of that because I feel my mother's love every day even after more than 10 years of death. I think of her advice, fun times & even times she made me so mad but her love was there no matter what she thought of my actions. Mark is the same way - an unconditional love like the love of a child or the love of the Savior. I know life is eternal because of unconditional love.
Thanks to all who have and will show me unconditional love & thus making my life eternal.

36 YEARS OF MARRIAGE - & Jerry said we would not last 5 years

On the 19th of June, we will celebrate our 36th anniversary, It will be a quiet celebration - very different from last year & our trip to St Criox. Thanks to an unexpected job loss that was with no warning, in fact the words told were " your job is safe for at least 6 months". Big fat liar comes to mind oh danny boy! But quiet works well as the break in my tailboat is not healing according to the new x-rays ...car riding is out of the question so look out Raleigh here we come.

We have gotten used to a less flamboyant way of life. No cable causes us to talk more, play more games & why would anyone need more than 22 channels (I miss HGTV & PBS) but the others no so much. Doing in the home phone is peaceful & other than Mark & Jean no one ever calls me anyway. Eating at home is definitely more peaceful - no strangers around me. The boat is cheap to visit as wind is free & we eat on board - play games & sleep early. Whether we will keep our boat, Mulligan, is up for grabs....the slip fee is higher than we may justify. Things have made a huge change this year but our love for one another has grown. When things get tough, love has bound us closer together.

Our anniversary is always around Father's Day.... an accident. We obviously had no kids, my parents were divorced & Mark's Dad did not go to Provo with us, so we did not even realize it would be Father's Day weekend usually. It was not a problem when the kids were young as we took them with us, then last year it was an issue as we went to St Croix but this year we are alone again. The weather is being predicted at 98-99 degree .... not sailing weather. A lot of work to get ready to sail & clean up afterwards. Hoping a good movie maybe or shagging is I can physically do it. We will spend the time together talking about that time 36 years ago.

A short synopsis of 36 years ago.... We left in our Javelin with Mom & Jeff in tow to drive from NC to Utah. Jeff said he did not want to go until 3 days before the trip, so this means my special "temple ready" wedding gown was left in Raleigh. No room in car for Jeff luggage & dress. Jeff was "way" more important than a dress. I did get to wear it at the reception. It was really hot driving out & cars then did not have air conditioning - Mark said it had 460 air - 4 windows down doing 60 miles an hour. Mom spent most of her trip saying "rolling up the windows as it was messing up her hair". By Texas, I said "Mom I do not care if it blows your head off, we are not rolling up the windows". I was hot , cranky & she had pink rollers in her hair - not exactly a fashion statement. I later felt bad to fuss at her but seriously roll up the window in 106 degree weather. We arrived & stayed with Dorothy Paramore Deaver's parents. He was ex dentist - they were sooo nice but announced we were getting married everywhere we went. At 17, it was soooo embarrassing. He made Mark sleep in his office - he was very proper about appearnaces appearances ;) (I think he & Mom were cut from the same cloth). Sister Paramore fixed us hot chocolate the morning of the wedding (yeah it was 90 degrees but the cocoa was yummy) & Mark was so worried we would be late he dumped his out on her lace tableclothe. On the morning of June 19, 1973, we arrived at the Provo Temple. Mark's family Minnie, Mary & Fred & a friend of Minnie's went through with us. Because of the unknown (a.k.a. cocoa) , we missed out wedding but the wedding party did not. They went through without us & we waited & waited. The blessing was by the afternoon season meant Br Paramore could attend - he & Sister Paramore were scheduled to work in the temple that morning. It was a beautiful ceremony. They did a lovely wedding breakfast for us. Jerry came over & played around with Jeff while we were in the temple. Afterwards Jerry took Mom & Jeff back to North Carolina in his van. Kissing the love of my life (did I mention I picked him out when I was 12- he did not notice me then) was like coming home for me. I knew he was the one that Heavenly sent me to - he is my best friend, my love, & too often my caregiver. When I grow up, I want to be like Mark !!
36 years & we have only just begun .... I planning for 70th year anniversary. I would be 87 (that is not old as it is the average age for women).

Misc photos are posted.The photos of Mom, Jeff & Mark was traveling there & the house was the Paramore's, the sad pocked out lip was for Mark who was making faces beside me. We played during the photos at the Rose garden. He in shorts & me in my gown. It was a blast. My Mom always believed we were meant to be.

8-1/2 HOURS

8-1/2 hours - But who is counting??? I am! We went down to the boat this weekend - between the heat, & my broken tailbone we did not get to sail, but it was a good weekend. OK maybe good is not the right word - it was great. I slept for 8-1/2 hours straight. Between the gentle rock of the boat, the sound of the rain & the sound of the lapping of the water on shore, add a sleeping pill & pain pill and I was out like a light. I read 2 pages in my book before I was gone. I have not slept 3 hours straight in the last 18 months so it felt wonderful.

It was Summer Festival in Washington weekend, so we went down to the waterfront & looked at some cool but overpriced vendors (no problem as I did not need any of the stuff), listened to the band, watch the young (or crazy) people ride the carnival rides, planned to eat a funnel cake but got sidetracked by the free entertainment. The different law enforcement agencies ticketing & arresting the many drunks out driving in boats. Part of the festival is a boat parade where you drive by the waterfront one after another - this is like a feeding frenzy for the law enforcement. Check out my photos of the event - they include the Beaufort County Sheriff Department's Fountain boat, yes a Fountain boat. No outrunning them - this $400,000 boat was donated by Fountain (pretty classy of them). It was the US Coast Guard - they look like they have a tugboat but I guess they could call in planes, boats & whatever they needed. My favorite was Parker's Wildlife Officer - I took it for Parker to see, Washington had it police department boat too. I think they all found a way to balance their budgets. In one photo all 4 have some they are writing tickets for or arresting.
Mark & I were laughing so hard - drunks are so dumb. We could hear alot them & see them all - I thought they were going to fall in - they could not touch their noses or follow his finger with their eyes but explaining they were not drunk the whole time. Some did not know you could not drive a boat drunk - well duh! I do not want to be run over by a drunk. There were 8 women on a 16ft boat (over the limit for safety) who were so drunk they all sat on the same side of the boat - there had their knees in the water. I thought they were going to swamp the boat. Mark thought he was going to have to jump in to rescue them but instead they decided to go for a ride in the boat. They were so drunk they would stand & fall on top of each other while trying to toast the people on shore & singing the Love Boat theme. hahaha! Maybe you had to be there. We watched for 2 hours & I forgot about my funnel cake. That takes a lot. Ended with a super fireworks display. For a small town, the Summer Festival is a huge event. Come go with us next year!

We went back to the boat played poker - I fleeced Mark out of $1.32 (hey that is all the coins we had). No worry, I gave it back & we picked up chips at Dollar Tree - no money but you get to win. He fleeced me the next night - we are evenly matched in any game. Friday will be our 36th anniversary, so I guess we just know each other too well.

Saturday was our mistake - we rode to New Bern. We lived there when Dale was born & I had heard how it had grown. Wow - it has grown. We rode by our old homes & then back. The mistake was riding that long on a broken tailbone. It caused such pain that I called an end to the weekend. Well after eating at Mayflower- yummy flounder. We always split a meal as they serve way too much food. Had a great waitress so I told her manager what a good waitress she was. Usually I just complain. It was a fun weekend - lots of chatting, restful, fun, met some really nice boat owners in our marina & opportunity to laugh at complete idiots too & even got a little work on the boat done (very little for me). Mostly undivided attention of the love of my life - no tv, no phone, no computer - I loved it. Does it get better than that?? We are thinking sailing away to a small island. Nothing is more restful that being rocked to sleep - no wonder babies stop crying when you rock them.

Today, reality reappeared. I got my 2nd X-ray & painful exam. If you press once & ask the patient "Does that hurt?" & the patient gasps & says yes. Why repeat it 6-7 times. I did at least get stronger pain medicine to help me sleep & ride - no driving while taking it. I argued with my insurance company & then apologized for no reason other than she could not change their policies. Side note - why can an insurance company their size have a web page that is user friendly. I know 16 yr old that could design a better site. I did get a short visit from Dare,Ryan, E&O, & Hudson since I was not up to our usual dinner. I had a bowl of Cocoa Crispies for dinner - no standing needed. The drive to the doctors was all the movement I was up to today.

Check the photos - 8-1/2 hours changes your outlook but seeing others being completely stupid makes he feel better & smile. ;)

Where on where did my little blogs go??

I had blogs that were like diaries & were very important to me on here, Dallin's baptism & our visit, Parker's also, the feeling's I had the day Dale left for Iraq & then the day he came back. The excitement when Dare of telling me we were having twins. Our buying out sailboat, Mulligan & the hard work to restore it. My posts of my sister in law & FRIEND Jean & our friend.
It has been heartbreaking to lose my thoughts & some special feelings, & photos that since my computer board was fried meant the pictures were gone from my computer.
Stay in touch for new posts!!