Merry Christmas

I love you all and wish you were here.

Too much to do

I think I just haven't felt like Christmas. You can't tell it by our house, whose halls have been decked for some time now. But no presents. So I'm gonna go shopping today and tomorrow. Crazy huh?

Grandma Candy and Papa might come up on Christmas Day. They are going to Emma's for their usual Christmas eve dinner. I hope they come up. Otherwise we'll be alone most of the day since Sheldon and Amanda are working, now. We'll go to the LaVictoire's church in the morning (Paul and Susan) because Su and the kids are singing that morning. Then we'll come home and cuddle by a fire -- we're gonna have a fire I don't care if it's 80 friggin' degrees outside.

Then we'll have dinner when the kids get home. Sheldon wants ham. But we're having beef tenderloin? Why? Because I'm cooking and in charge of the menu. I have made about six dozen tamales and will likely make more before New Year's -- they turned out fairly good considering I don't make them often and have no idea what I'm doing.

The first batch needed a little more flavor. Sheldon called them "junior tamales." The second batch was better.

I think I'll back some muffins and bread and make some green slime too. I'm making Buenelos on New Year's, which I think we're supposed to have a party. Not sure about that. Gotta call some folks.

Well that gets ya'll up to speed.

It's cold here

I'm really not liking the cold weather as I get older. Playing in snow is overrated. I never have figured out why people pay so much money to go to ski lodges and slide down an ice-covered mountain. I'd rather be on the beach.

Really. I'm think North Carolina, Florida, (not Arizona, the whole cactus thing doesn't appeal to me at all.) Heck maybe even Georgia might be good. Not California, although that might work better for my plan to be a t.v. or movie star in my 60s -- you know they always need the cute old ladies in Hollywood.

I'm looking forward to 2006. This past year brought too many changes that I'm not happy with. So 2006 has got to be better. I miss reporting, so I imagine that I'm gonna really hit the job hunt hard after the 1st of the year.

I'm annoyed

Today, U.S. House of Represenatives opened the way for oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge bringing their legislative year to a close."

It was a bit hard for a lot of lawmakers to vote against this measure. Why? Because it was attached to a major defense spending bill, and had the $29 billion hurricane relief amendment in there too.
Convenient isn't it? Lumping a whole lot of things together like that. Vote against it, and during your next campaign your opponents can say you voted against the war -- it will be done, just watch. Vote against it and your opponents can say you voted against hurricane relief.

Again, the Dems were asleep at the wheel when that amendment was added.

697 miles

That's how many miles we logged on our car the last couple of days. It's been a wild week.

We went to Texas Wednesday for Sheldon's dad's funeral, and drove back.

On Thursday afternoon, I get a graduation announcement. My "baby" sister is graduating from college. The postmark said November, but I got the card Dec. 15.

We both found out at the last minute that we could get off, so we both left the office, packed in 30 minutes and drove to Canyon Texas in time to see my sister graduate. Heck, Anita flew in from Dallas for the big event, and we all still beat Armando to the graduation and he lives there. We had a very nice time, ate mother's great cooking and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. No regrets about the last-minute trip.

So today, we drove from Canyon, 3 hours to another town in Texas to pick up our daughter and then headed back to OKC. Whew. Tired, and the weekend just got worse.

Roy lost his battle with cancer. My prayer's are with Sylvia and Jim in Arizona tonight as they deal with the pain. I'm tired of people dying.

Working on this blog

I'm trying to jazz this up a bit. So it will be an ever changing process. I'm know that I can create my own logos etc. I just haven't quite figured out how to use Publisher -- now if I had Pagemaker that would be a different story. Can I ask Santa for that.

Hey, have ya'll paid attention to the news? There's geysers erupting in Oklahoma near Kingfisher. (Check out the Red River North site, there's a link)

We're going down to Texas tomorrow for the funeral. It's so sad. I hate funerals.

Update on our life

Ray's party went off without a hitch. He was truly surprised, which is truly amazing, considering all the people who knew about it. Last night -- a whole 24-hours after it happened, he's still trying to sort out what was true. He says, "Oh, that's what Amanda meant."

Apparently after Sheldon's dad died, he heard Amanda tell me I'd better not cancel Friday night. He thought she was talking about dinner out with friends.

Sheldon's dad's funeral is Wednesday. We had thought it was Monday, but they are waiting for some family to come to Vernon, so that means Wednesday. It's a tough deal. His dad was only 42. Puts turning 50 into perspective doesn't it. Not so bad to get old, considering the alternative.

I go from being busy and enjoying the holiday events with friends, to getting downright depressed about not having the grandkids around. But we'll see them in January/February. So expect Christmas to be a little lighter than planned. We're saving money for the plane tickets. For three of us, it will be about $700 (because we've already told Sondra we have to take Mason with us.) Those kiddos are really close. So we all need to decide where we really want to live long term and then all move there. Me -- I'd like somewhere warm. Florida? Ok, not necessarily warm. I'd be happy with Colorado. Heck, I'd even move to Arizona. All those have fishing spots (important to Brian, Shane and Ray).

So let's here it. Where do you guys want to live? And we can all focus on getting jobs there this next year. I'm not kidding. I'll move if you guys do. -- MOM

Happy 50th Ray!

Ray turns 50 today. Wow. 1955 was a very good year. The birth of The Maneater. The birth of my Ray.

A 1955 chevrolet is a classic.
So is Ray.

Happy birthday!

Sheldon's dad

Sheldon got the news this evening that his dad died today. He had been in the hospital since Thanksgiving, but had gotten a little better and was released from the hospital yesterday. Today everyone was out of the house except for Sheldon's 16-year-old brother. He went in to check on his dad, and found him not breathing. He called 911, but the paramedics couldn't revive him. Sheldon's dad was only 42 years old. He had really bad asthma and his lungs just failed.

Everyone's in shock. I don't think it's hit Sheldon yet. He hadn't had a chance to tell his dad that he had officially joined the Naval Reserves (Sheldon's first drill was to be this weekend.) I'm sure he will be excused from that this month. It's heart wrenching to watch him. It just hasn't sunk in yet, I don't think. We had just talked this evening about how proud his dad was going to be when he saw Sheldon in his uniform (his dad was retired Navy.)

Still don't know when the funeral will be, everything is in a bit of chaos. No one was expecting this, so it's been crazy. We're all still in shock.

Somebody's getting suspicious

I think maybe Ray's getting suspicous, or he's figuring to find few clues about his upcoming birthday. He's actually dropped a few hints about what he wants this year - something he never does. Anyway, he was actually reading my blog yesterday, and I caught on just in time to pull it down before he got to any revealing information. Now I think he thinks I'm having some online fling. Ha ha. So, I've edited any other mention of his birthday. And, I don't care if he actually reads this ...

Still decorating -- really pictures soon. This working full time interferes with my life.

23 days and counting

Wow. Where did this year go? Not that it's necessarily a bad thing, 2005 was not exactly a great year. So, I'm looking forward to 2006. We plan to ring it in downtown OKC - probably freezing our tushes off as we see them drop the ball.

Well, I understand not liking the inconveniences of snow. But heck, we would love to have moisture. Oklahoma is 6 inches short this year, and that's a lot. The last rain we got -- not much -- was on Halloween morning. Last year if you remember we only had a dusting of snow during winter. It's dry dry dry.

Ray's already looking forward to spring and working in the yard. I swear he ought to just give up accounting and go into landscaping.

Well, got lots of work to do. I'm baking all weekend.

Christmas

Wow. The lights look great at Brian and Robin's place. And as always we are thrilled to see Kayla and Chloe in photos -- even if we can't see them in real life. I hate that job of Robin's though, and I can't wait until the kids move closer to home. I think they will because it's just too hard to be away -- particularly that far away -- from everyone.

I have cousins there in Washington, I hear. So tomorrow, I'm calling Freddy and asking him where the cousins are so that maybe the kids will have "family" there. But I think they are in Vancouver, which is still a ways from them.

Can't believe Robin went shopping for Carharts... the first time I ever heard about those was when I took a press tour of "ag" Missouri, and we were stopping at a country store off the highway between Columbia and St. Louis -- great store by the way. Anyway, everyone kept talking about how it was the best place in the state to get carharts. I thought they were saying "car parts" I was a little surprised when I went into the store at what they were talking about (yep, the lights came on in the brain about then.) And, yes, Rev. Black - you are right. It ain't cheap to be a redneck. Heck, do you have any idea how much it cost to spend a weekend in a travel trailer at the Texas Motor Speedway for a Nascar race? Out of my price range.

Jazzing it up

I think I need to jazz this site up. It's rather dull, don't you think? Oh well.

Christmas cards in the mail today -- that's my goal. I was going to wait until Dec. 1, but I just want to get 'em out. Maybe it will signal the start of the holiday season for someone who's not in the mood yet.

In the meantime, I still have 20 pounds of turkey in the fridge because Amanda and Sheldon had to have a turkey, and then decided last night that they were sick of turkey. Hmmm, "turkey and dumplings" "turkey enchiladas" "turkey alfredo" might have to get creative.

Have a good weekend all.

Thanksgiving

We had a great day. Lots of folks over at our friends, Paul and Susan's house. There were about 35 people there. Variety of folks from family to Susan and her sister's old nanny from when they were little, and Bill, otherwise known as "Watermelon Slim," a blues musician we all like.

Lots of good food. I feel like I might explode!

Turkey

Hmmm...turkey. Can't wait for dinner already. Dang, it's tomorrow.

Lazy cat

Actually, it's a crazy cat. We've had this cat nine years now. She knows the rules, and yet lately when I'm working on the computer in my office (aka the jungle room). She lies on the bed in here. Not beside the bed, ON the bed. I yell at her, she moves -- slowly -- and gets off. I get busy and turn around and see she's back on the bed. She opens one eye, if I don't yell or move, she closes it again.

Anybody want a cat?

Thanksgiving

Well, I guess I'm going to go out and buy some "Thanksgiving Food" today. Don't much feel like it. I think we're going to be by ourselves, so we were thinking about going out to a restaurant and a movie. Though, now I guess we might just go to a friend's house.

Though Ray is already bemoaning the fact that we won't have leftovers, so my mission is to go out and find the smallest turkey possible.

That's a change!

Second summer

It's still like summer here, or at the very least a warm spring. People are still wearing shorts. It's great. Well, except for Ray's obsession with the yard.

As those of you who have seen the yard know it's huge. And in need of some major work. There's more dirt than grass in the front, which makes mowing the yard a major pain and a very dirty task. Ray's mission? To have grass. So we're planting winter seed and today we're fertilizing and watering again. And, we have bulbs. Lots of them to plant today.

I've decided the best thing to do is save money for the spring because I know it's going to be expensive. We've already spent $100 on the grass stuff and bulbs. Oh, and did I mention that we got a new lawnmower this year? Now he wants a riding one -- it takes about two hours to mow the lawn with the walking one.

But it will look nice when it's done! And, it makes Ray happy.

So today we'll spend another day outside, up until about 3 p.m. then we decided it's time to have some fun, so we're going to Galileo's for a blues competition (to watch, not participate.) We really like blues and jazz, and are really getting into that music scene here.

Sad

Autumn. Fall.Whatever you call it, the season with it's warm colors and temperatures that migrate from cool to cold, and warm to downright hot -- at least in Oklahoma -- always makes me a little sad.
The epilogue to a chapter. Maybe I'm sad because this year, I've seen the last of my children get married...my precious grandchildren move far away...another year slipping quietly into history.
I'm sad also because I know this might be our last holiday with my dad. I'm sad because my sister's hubby's brother is now in hospice -- his last stop before moving on to the next world. He wants to be cremated. I don't know how I would act if I knew this was my last chance to see the leaves turn golden and orange.
For all of this I'm sad, but I know like autumn my sadness will pass and I'll laugh and dance and cry a little longer.
I'll be glad for Spring.

Movie Monday

Went to see Zathura (free sneak peak, of course). It was awesome. Kids are gonna love this movie. We loved it, and I had to drag Ray to it. It has great special effects -- now if you're a sci-fi nerd (Brian, Robin) don't go in expecting Star Wars. This is a kid's film, but it's good and fun. Exciting, imagination and good lessons for the kids. It's great.

Now the crazy part of my week. I actually have a job interview tomorrow. Really. It's nuts, I know because I have a NEW job. But they called me and made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Well, at least not refuse to go talk about. Now, the clincher is if they get me what I want and that is a signing bonus (hey, I need a extra car -- sharing is getting more and more difficult!) Wish me luck!

And, yes, I know it's Tuesday instead of Movie Monday -- maybe I should have done Showtune Tuesday -- RENT is coming out on film after all.

Now the pressing question of the day. Are the Rocketts dancing yet?

Television addict - I admit it

Wow, I didn't have much time this week to write -- at least not for leisure. But it was a great week. We actually stayed home last night and tried to catch up on some missed television shows. This morning, I got up early and watched E.R. and Grey's Anatomy.
If you didn't see this week's episode (actually last Sunday's episode) of Grey's Anatomy -- you should. Since I was in the living room alone and everyone else is asleep, I watched and blubbered through most of it. It was a good show. I know -- guys don't undertand that. But my guess is that this show will make them cry too. Watch it.
But I had enough of television when I flipped over to "But Can they Sing?" Think American Idol with celebrities. I watched as Morgan Fairchild "sang" Nancy Sinatra's "These boots were made for walking". Not good. Antonio Sabata Jr. sang "I'll be watching you." Painful. But the final straw was some psuedo-celeb Bai Ling singing -- and I uses this term loosely -- Madonna's "Like a Virgin." I shut the television off.

Good day/bad day

Good day -- got to talk to Mason for the first time in more than two weeks.

Bad day -- he asked to talk to Papa after he talked to me for about 30 seconds.

Bad day - Miss the girls.

Bad day -- Hear Brian's been talking smack. Doesn't believe the package thing. I have a witness. Sheldon was with me when I retrieved the package left by UPS on our doorstep and then went to FedEx Kinkos to send it off again -- after inspecting that all was in there.

Good day -- I love seeing photos of the girls.

Good day -- What does everyone think of going to Vegas for the holidays so that we don't have to have Brian driving over the mountains? Cheap flights.

Finally

Well, just got to see more photos on Brian's blog, but still makes me sad to see the girls when I can't hug them.

Finally, the girls will get their very belated birthday presents. UPS dropped off the box at OUR house yesterday. So Sheldon and I took it to FedEx and sent it off. We would have gone to the post office but they were already closed and I wanted that box to get to the girls as quickly as possible, and I was not about to trust UPS with it again!

So I'm trying to write a book this month Southern Fried Baptist
It's part of the National Novel Writing Month challenge. Why the heck not? I've got a bijillion books in my head.

Well tonight we actually got invited to go to a Murphy family event. Col. Murphy is being inducted into the military hall of fame. Pretty nifty. But Ray's so excited about being included. It really hurts me to see how hard he tries to get his brother to like him. Though, my guess is not that his brother doesn't like him -- it's me. So I'm going to go tonight be the good little QUIET wife. Yeah, tough role. I'm never quiet. I'm proud of Ray and what he's accomplished.

Holiday Time

Used to be whatever we decided for the holidays was the only thing we had to worry about. With everyone grown, scattered across the country and working now we have to coordinate. And it's tough! So that's my mission today to finalize plans for the upcoming celebrations of Thanksgiving, Ray's birthday and Christmas. Ray's birthday is a HUGE deal this year because well, it's a milestone.

No cracks about half a century -- none.

So questions to the kids -- what about a football game on Christmas eve in Kansas City? Or New Year's? The only other option is a Cowboys vs. Chiefs game in Texas, and some how I think Dad would rather be at Arrowhead. I'm putting this in here, because he rarely reads this blog :).

Halloween

We had one little girl come to our house to Trick or Treat. Tons of candy left. Dang. We thought this neighborhood would be different, but I guess if you don't live in the ritzy part of town in a big house no one wants to come to your house anymore.

Not like we live in the ghetto or anything. We live in a nice neighborhood. Oh well.

Amanda and Sheldon were disappointed. They were home handing out candy. We were at the zoo for the Haunt the Zoo. We volunteered two nights. The first night we were at the Mad Scientist booth. Halloween night we were at the Jungle Booth. It was fun.

It was hard work too though!

We missed Chloe, Mikayla and Mason though. :( We wish we could have been with them to see costumes. I'm sure we'll see pictures soon.

I promise to post more on this blog now that other folks are posting more often on their blogs. I have another blog that I spend most of my time on, I'll admit. Sorry.

I should be in bed.

I have to be up and at work in five hours. My last day at the Edmond Sun -- even though they want me to work on Thursday -- not gonna happen.

I'm having fun at the new job. It's weird being in p.r. and thinking of ways to get reporters to write a story -- then again THAT's not much different than being an editor.

We watched "The Weather Man" today. Sort of weird and depressing. I think we were supposed to learn something, but I think I really learned that Nicholas Cage should stick to action films. I say that, but I can't actually say I didn't like the movie.

The movie we saw before that was Domino. Great flick. Violent -- not for kids.

We were going to see a sneak peak -- yes, I haven't paid for a movie in weeks -- maybe months -- of Zorro. But the kiddos are working and need a ride home. Dang it. We NEED ANOTHER CAR.

Spent two hours today talking to schmucks at UPS. They are still looking...

Well, just found out that B bought the girls Cinderella -- scratch that off the Christmas list. Dang it. Brian. :)

Well, really now. I'm going to bed.

Our boring -- yet fun -- weekend

Well this has been a good weekend. The Missouri Tigers won -- Go Mizzou and Ray's Kansas City Chiefs won. Yesterday we went for a hike with friends at the Martin Nature Center. It was nice. It's not as well kept up as other nature centers we've been to, but it's still nice to get in touch with nature in the middle of the city.

We're volunteering on Sunday and Monday at the Oklahoma City "Haunt the Zoo" We get to dress up and hand out candy to kids. Since we don't have any little ones around this year, we thought that might be fun.

Saturday night, we're invited to a Halloween Party -- it's a pajama party, so the challenge this week is to find p.j.'s that are like a costume. Should be interesting.

New job

Wow. Yesterday, I was considering moving to Tulsa for a new job. Today, I got another offer for a job here in OKC. It's great. I took it. This will be the first time I change jobs and actually get to stay where I want to be.

More wedding pics

Wedding Pictures

It was not the big wedding we had planned, but it was still beautiful.




Don't ask me what this was about!












Geez, lovebirds get cheesy in front of a camera.

Sunday afternoon

I'd say it was a lazy Sunday afternoon, 'cept I've decided to organize my office. And Ray is out -- well, literally up -- in the pine tree cutting branches and a large vine that's wrapped around the tree. He's having fun, but I check on him periodically to make sure he hasn't fallen out of the tree.

Next week will be fun with the wedding and all. Wish everyone could be here.

posted by Carmel

Happy Birthday Kayla!

Happy Birthday Mikayla!

She's definitely grown in the past year, and she talks in full sentences. It's amazing how much kids can learn in such a short time.

We wish we could be there to hold you and give you a b-day kiss.

E and Papa

"What do you want to be called," my Sondra asked me about my preference for what the new grandchild would call me. "I don't know, how about 'your majesty' or 'diva'?" I asked, still in shock at learning I was to be a grandparent at the ripe old age of 42.
Fast forward a few months and my daughter decided I was going to be "grammy." Mason started talking and saying everyone's name. "papa" "mommy" "daddy", but no name for me, or so we thought.
It wasn't until he really wanted something and he kept tugging on my leg, "E, babble, babble, babble." After a while, we realized that I was "E", it wasn't just a preliminary noise he made before launching into an unintelligible request or complaint of some sort.

Fast forward a few more years and adding two granddaughters -- my son's girls -- and I'm still "E." Not that they can't say "Grammy" or "Grandma" should they so desire. No, they go out of their way to correct people about the name they've given me. They were delighted when a character on the Incredibles was called "E." And, no my name is not Edna. "E," you are on the Incredibles! And so I am.

Now I'm sitting here in my office, my red "Incredibles" phone handily by (Yes, really. It's got the "I-logo" and everything cool. Flashes when I have a message.) and missing my grandchildren -- my three little monkeys very much. Whoever thought being a grandma would be so much fun. Play, spoil, send them back home.

Oh well, it will be the holidays -- not soon enough -- and I'll get to play with the little monkeys who all live far away now. E will definitely have some spoiling to catch up on.

Lazy Sunday

I don't know why I tend to work so hard on Sunday's. I really need to take it easy and relax, but I don't. I finished painting the master bathroom and my dressing room today. I also organized drawers. Really, I need to remember that Sunday is a day of REST.

Now I have to go pack so we can make it to Oswego, Kansas tomorrow for Bucky's funeral. Sylvia got to go home today after more than a week in the hospital. Her surgery went well on Friday. I hope she does ok, not being mobile is going to be hard on her.

Missing my grandbabies

It absolutely sucks that my grandchildren don't live near me. I miss Chloe and Mikayla so much. Ray really misses them. He has a BIG soft spot for Mikayla -- not that we don't love them all equally. I can't believe she's going to be two years old already. Here's a photo of Chloe on her birthday in July:

Miss our Mason too.

The Health Report

Good grief. I think I'm going to be happy to see 2005 end. Sylvia is now in the hospital and is awaiting surgery on her foot. She's going to take a long time recuperating, and I wish I could be there for her.

I'm so upset about that. It stinks to live so far away from one another. I think she should move closer to home. -- But she won't.

Daily

OK, I've gotten as bad as the rest of you on this blog. I'm going to start doing this daily though, so get ready to get bugged.

The week is turning out better than it started. Dad was in the hospital. Now out, and doing better. As mom says "he got his oil changed."

Daniel is still on the mend. Not doing as well as we hoped by now.

Brian is doing better. More tests.

So all in all the family is hanging in there.

posted by Carmel

How do you cope

Brian's doctors told him this week that they think he has colon cancer. More tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis. He's put them off to go on vacation.

We're trying to hold it together. Positive thoughts. He'll be ok. Anything else is not an option.

We're moved

OK, we've moved into a new home! A lot -- A LOT -- of hard work, painting, elbow grease etc. made this a livable place. Glad it's over. Now we just have to unpack.

Mason went back home last week. We miss him already -- ok , not when we're shopping, but we definitely miss him. Chloe turned a big three and has her bike. If I can figure out how to add photos, I'll post one of her on her bike here.

Dad went through his surgery succesfully last week. Prayers answered.

Fourth of July

Happy Birthday America!

I hope all of you guys had a great great great Fourth of July. We had a super weekend.

Friday -- we found a great place to take Mason to eat at -- Joe's Crab Shack. Noisy -- so he can yell and scream if he wants. Music -- he can dance too. Great food -- he placed his own order for "just shrimp" though he did give the waitress a hard time when she brought him fries. "I said, 'just shrimp.'

Saturday -- Tinker Air Force Base to watch the Thunderbirds. Still amazing no matter how many times I see them. In the evening we stayed home and watched Star Wars -- Episode V.

Sunday -- Nice quiet day, did some shopping, Ray bought a lawn mower, perfect weather.

Fourth -- Participated in the Edmond parade, and Mason got to ride on a "float." We invited friends over and had an impromptu bbq. Good food -- thanks Ray -- friends and the kids played until they wore themselves out. After a much needed nap we went downtown for a strategic location to watch fireworks. Afterward, Ray and Mason and I sat around the dining room table and had a drink and snack and talked about our favorite firework and other such things. Great day overall.

Lessons from a four-year-old

Play hard, daylight's burning. Change your mind several times in 10 minutes about the movie you want to watch again. You can never watch The Incredibles too many times. Saying Al Pacino's line "You talkin' to me" every time you're asked to do something will drive grown ups crazy. Pizza rolls and spinach dip (with carrots) make a perfectly balanced meal. You can look cute and mad (or sad) at the same time. You can go to Subway and have chips, a drink and a cookie and not worry about what Jerad would do. And last, but not least, you CAN be the master of your own universe.

That's just one day's worth of lessons. We'll learn more today, I'm sure.

Grandkids

We just went to pick up Maosn from Missouri. He's going to spend a couple of weeks or maybe one with us.

Last night, he had Papa (that's Ray) playing hide and seek. It was hilarious because Mason had many rules to this game. If you were the seeker you had to carry various items with you including this toy that makes a sound like a chain saw (we have to talk to the parents about that one, he kept mentioning a movie with a chain saw).

Before he finally went to sleep, he had to make at least five trips to the bathroom and then he was starving. It was too funny.

We plan to wear him out running around doing all sorts of fun stuff today including a ball game. I know we'll all sleep well tonight.

Now we just wish we could see the granddaughters.

Family blog

OK relatives. This family blog needs some help. We're all slacking. So from now on, I expect postings on your blog at least twice a week. I'll even give you once a week. Send your blog addresses in. We can do this.



http:welcomefamily.blogspot.com

This weekend

My brother Armando drove my parents up to see us this weekend. We had a good time. Dad is doing better than he was, and I think he had a good time. We didn't do a lot but eat out and go shopping. Man oh man, it's hard to keep up shopping with my mom. I didn't know she was so into shoes and purses. I guess when we were growing up she always had to buy us kids stuff so now she can focus on herself a little.

We're planning on maybe going camping later this summer at least with Armando and maybe our kids. I think Mom and Dad are to the point that they like to stay in a room with a bed. Can't blame them.

Reality TV

Reality television is anything but real. The kids on American Idol, we're meant to believe are amateurs waiting to be discovered. In reality, almost all of the winners have already cut CDs or make their living singing. Famous or not, rich or not, if you make your living at it, you're a professional.

As big fans as we are of The Amazing Race this season, we had to wonder if they didn't purposely do some things to eliminate those they wanted and keep the older couple in there.

And, what about all that conniving on Survivor? Geez. Oh wait, that's like people at my old job. Never mind. Maybe it is reality after all.

Gotta go, I think the Real World is coming on...

Cinco de Mayo

Is it just me or have 'white' people gone crazy over Cinco de Mayo? I guess any reason to eat Mexican food and drink beer is a holiday.

I grew up in Texas and hadn't ever heard of Cinco de Mayo. When did I hear and even learn about it? In my late 20s when I was in Okinawa, Japan.

Anyway, happy Cinco...for what it's worth.

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And, by the way -- no word on any jobs today. I think we've decided we're just gonna stay in Oklahoma City and find a new place to live. Life's funny that way.

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Catching up

Well, this has been a really busy month. I can't believe it's already almost the end of the month. We've been busy working and doing home projects. We're trying to get all the things sorted before we move, so we're gearing up for a big moving sale at the end of the month. I hate moving, but it does help you get rid of stuff you don't need to haul around for years.

This week has been the 10th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. It's a very emotional for everyone who lives here and went through that. Heck, we weren't even living here and I still remember where I was when I heard about the bombing. It's one of those moments that stays with you forever.

And then it's the annual arts festival that happens at the same time the Memorial marathon and all the other events every year. It's funny because even though there is beautiful art from artists all over the country, most people go out to hear the music and for the food.

Today we are doing yard work and getting ready for the week ahead.

Watched Rides on TLC

Carmel yelled and mentioned that I needed to watch this show on TV. It was the Power Tour of 2004; when I started to watch it they were headed to Tulsa, OK. The next thing I knew they were in Chetopa Kansas; nobody goes to Chetopa. Guess I should mention that Mom lives in Oswego Kansas which is 7 or 8 miles from there. It was a good show to watch not only because of where they were traveling but also the cars. Man was there some really nice cars on the show. I wanted to go out and buy an old car and fix it into a hot rod and make the trip. They ended the trip in Green Bay, what an adventure that would be.

Posted by Ray

Heat, snow and dust

Well, we just finished our trip to Arizona. We actually got homesick for Oklahoma, knowing that when we came back the green rolling hills would welcome us. Of course, the tornadoes welcomed us home too. We weren't home more than two hours when the tornado alarms went off.

Somehow it seemed appropriate after our trip -- our long trip -- back from Arizona. It was in the mid 90s in Arizona City the day before we left. Saturday, we left early and immediately ran into a detour due to road construction in Phoenix. We were still running the AC. We traveled up up up to Flagstaff. It started snowing before we got there and sure enough a wreck due to the winter driving conditions pushed traffic to a stop. A car in front of us rear ended another car, so there was wreck two. Fortunately, we were close enough to the action that it didn't take us so long to get around it. Those behind us were not as fortunate, and traffic on the mountain was backing up. It was snowing hard in Flagstaff and cold high 30s. What a difference in only three hours (actually by then it was closer to five due to the delays.)

It kept snowing on and off as we headed to Albuquerque. But 90 miles out -- right outside of Gallup, traffic came to a dead stop. We crept along for three miles -- four hours later we finally were detoured off Interstate 40 to a frontage road. Despite the snow, the road was closed due to high winds. It was blowing sand -- a brown out -- that stopped traffic, and even the train that we could see next to the highway.

We made it to Amarillo and stayed the night at my brother's place. Crazy day, crazy weather.

Tornadoes and all it's good to be home. Now we have to decide what we're going to do -- choices? Stay here or move to Arizona. I have a tenative job offer there. And, now I have another familiar detour. I have an interview Thursday morning for a job in Des Moines, Iowa. Yes, same one. Same cows :) But, it has merit so I have to talk to them. Geez, I wish God would send a telegram, or maybe an email.

Posted by Carmel

Letting go

Yesterday was a painful day. We had to say goodbye to Mason, our little three-year-old grandson. He and Sondra and Shane moved to Missouri. Sure, it's not that far, and yes, we're planning to move too. But it was still hard.

The hardest part is looking out at the backyard that looks so empty now without all the toys. No one to drag us out to play baseball, basketball, soccer or golf.

We've been missing Chloe and Mikayla a lot lately and now that all three are gone it makes it sort of hard. I guess we'll just have to stay really busy. It helps to have Brian post all the photos and information about daily life on his blog. Makes them not seem so far away.

We still cry though when we see their photos. Our little trio of monkeys. ha ha.

Too many dang changes

Life is getting crazy. First Brian and Robin take my beautiful granddaughters to live in a nuclear waste site.

Now Sondra and Shane are moving Mason to Missouri - the land of goths and meth. So much for "the heartland."

And then of course, our ongoing job searches in Arizona. To make matters worse Des Moines, Iowa might be in the mix with a AP job. But really, Des Moines? I think cows outnumber people there, so I highly suspect I might decline any offer of employment should it be offered, of course.

I don't know what was so wrong with Oklahoma. I like Oklahoma. I don't really want to move from Oklahoma. People are nice here. We have friends. We live within driving distance of both parents (his and mine.)

At the same time I see the wisdom and logic behind Ray's desire to move to Arizona. And, the bright spot there is that I'll get to be near my big sister for the first time in many many years. I might mention while we're both still young enough to go get into trouble together. No comment from the kids on that one.

The thought of not only building a house but actually having it paid off in five years is more than appealing. It's a smart idea. OK OK -- you see the progression here. I'm talking myself into this. I'll be honest. The 130 degree days scare the hell out of me.

Well, it does look as if my latest round of resumes has produced results. I've got one job interview lined up for sure and two more likely will be lined up in the next few days. Looks like I'd better crank up the heater and learn to like sweat.

This should be an interesting year. Anybody want to guess where we'll all be one year from today? Me neither.

Mason and Me continued

Well the last post was short because Mason was "helping," which meant I told him what letter to type and he typed it. Time consuming.

But spending time with grandkids never gets old even if it means doing the same thing over and over again or doing something painstakingly slow.

Our daily "any time we want " time with Mason is short. Sondra and Shane are planning to move with Mason to Missouri. That on the heels of Chloe and Mikayla leaving is very very sad.

We miss our little granddaughters but have been able to tolerate it by spending more time with Mason -- and crying occassionally. Now all three are going to be far away.

I guess we got spoiled over the last two years. We were certainly blessed to have them all with us. I suppose that will make the time with them all the more precious. And, the blogs and photos and emails certainly help.

Mason and Me

Mason spent the whole weekend with us while Sondra and Shane went up to Missouri to find a house. They founda town house and Shane found a job.

So this morning Papa went to work and Mason and I are just hanging out. We looked at the photos on the Daddy Daycare site. He is ready to go visit. He misses Chloe and Mikayla and Brian and Robin. He talks to them when he sees their picture.

A better week

Dad came home from the hospital Monday and mom reports that he's doing well. Now we just have to make sure she gets the rest she needs so that she doesn't get sick.

All is going well in my self-employment endeavors. Keeping busy with freelance articles and so far, managing a fairly decent schedule.

The job hunt in Arizona is ongoing. I'll be glad when and if we are there. Ray has convinced me that this is a good move. I'm sure it is.

But I'm still sad about leaving our friends.

My Dad

One of these days, I'm going to write a book about my dad. Some may wonder why. He's not the CEO of a major company, doesn't have lots of money and wasn't famous. But what he did was amazing. He raised 10 children, and he did it well. That's a lot. He's always "daddy," the one who provided the basics, made us laugh and could scare us with just one look.

He's in the critical care unit at Baptist St. Anthony's today. The diagnosis is congestive heart failure. I'm scared. We're all scared.

Time management

Now that I'm working at home, from home etc. I've run into a new problem. It's called time management. I get started on a project and get distracted by another project. So now, I've decided that I've got to have "work hours" and stick to those. Of course, the computer is a distraction in and of itself -- hence the new post.

Oh well, this is technically only my first week, so maybe next week I'll be more in tune with it all.

Cousins

For a long time when we were growing up, cousins were a big part of our lives. Lots of cousins. They and our brothers and sisters were our friends. They were the ones we got in trouble with, did crazy things like riding a bike with no brakes down a hill with and laughed with.

The last time I saw Willie was at my cousin Johnny's funeral. I didn't remember Johnny that well. The last time I had seen him, he was just a little boy. Somewhere along the way, my parents quit taking the annual trips to Fort Worth, so we had lost touch.

I also left home when I was 17 to go live in Montana -- far away from family. My fault then that I lost touch.

I guess it's not until you get older that you realize how much family means. How much it defines who you are.

I'm going to see Willie today. I'm going to his funeral.

I wish that I had taken time to drive the 3 1/2 hours to Ft. Worth, actually just a little further to Stephenville, to see Willie and listen to he and his wife, Yo Yo, as they laughed and talked. I wish that I had gotten together with Yo Yo and planned a family reunion like we talked about at the last funeral.

Willie would have liked that. He liked to laugh and talk. He missed us too, I know, because he went out of his way to go to visit my parents in the Texas panhandle.

We'll all miss Willie.

Friends

We've been blessed with wonderful friends throughout our lives.

Ray and I both keep in touch with some high school friends, who have seen us through thin and thick -- yes, that's a reference to our expanding waistlines and all the wrinkles. Funny things about high school friends is that you always have that connection. My friend Elaine and I lead inextribicably different lives, yet we still consider one another friends. It will be good to see Elaine this next year at the 30th (gulp) reunion.

Then there are our wonderful friends from Okinawa. Family, always. We shared joys and heartaches through the years.

Tom and Carol, our first close friends as married couples. We still cherish the crazy moments and value the current.

And now our circle of friends here in Oklahoma. We would never have imagined such caring people whom we share new experiences and find support from.

Thanks guys. It's great knowing someone is always there to call, laugh and cry with.

Three year olds

Wouldn't it be nice if you could bottle energy. I'm at home this week with Mason, my three year old grandson whose recovering from being sick. He's still not 100 percent, but you can't tell it. He's every where into everything and expects me to be right there with him. I just battled with him for more than a half hour to get him to lay down and take a nap. Once he sat still, he was asleep almost instantly.

Me, I'm just tired. So this is a short post because a nap sounds good about now.

We might move again

It's quite possible there's gypsy blood in our family somewhere. How else would you explain the wanderlust that hits us every now and then. We've lived in so many states and cities that we've lost count. But no regrets. Each move has been unique, each provided us wonderful experiences and lifelong friends.

Now we've decided it's time to move on. Changes at work have everyone on edge. Ray needs to find a better job to go along with his degree. So we've started job hunting, and we're looking west. Yes, we're looking in Arizona.

Part of the reason is that Brian and his family have left here and that would put us a little closer to them. Of course, they want us to move to Spokane or somewhere in Washington, but that just means we would move again in a couple of years because I know they won't be able to stay away from the beach that long. And California just doesn't appeal to us as a place to live.

So we're moving. Goal is: the end of the month. Wish us luck.

Worrying about your kids

I remember when our children were younger, we would think we couldn't wait until they were older so we wouldn't worry about them so much anymore. We were wrong. You always worry about your children.

When they are little you worry that you are doing the right things, being good role models, providing enough -- that they are happy.

Then they hit teenage years and you worry that THEY are doing the right things, and that you still are, you worry how they'll turn out, about college, about cars and their driving -- that they are happy.

Now they are grown-ups with families of their own. And you worry not just about your children, but now you worry about the grandchildren too.

Brian and Robin are on their way to Washington state. That will be their new home and they have bravely entrusted their belongings to a mover and loaded up their small car for a three-day drive to a place they've never seen. Young and brave.

Robin's going to start a new job there, and hopefully Brian will find a job there. We're proud of them both. They are good parents to their two little girls. It was sad to see them go, but we know we have to let our children live their own lives. We'll still worry, but it will be ok.

The reason for a blog?

The truth is no one writes letters anymore. Phone calls are rare, but we all get on our computers on a regular basis.

It's time to catch up and start communicating with each other. So maybe this is the next best thing to seeing each other every day.

So family members, here's the expectation: That you'll create your own family blog and link it to this one.