Hello from Fly Boy!

Here's the latest photo of Fly Boy, fresh from Iraq that he sent the other day.  Is that a handsome young man, or what?

I just love this modern technology, where he can send a photo or quick message via the internet.  In an effort to be efficient, he'll send one email message to his dad and I at our seperate email addresses, with the heading......"Dear Mom and Dad" and it just cracks me up, since his dad and I have been divorced for over 20 years!

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers! 

Love,

Lisa

 

Fly Boy and the Election

Fly Boy telephoned this morning to inform me that he wouldn't be in touch for awhile because of heightened security at their base, as a precaution during the election.  I won't go into details, but it makes perfect sense to me.  Now, it is Sunday in Iraq and the election has started. We can only pray that it goes better than expected because the insurgents have made it clear that they will cause major problems.   From what I have already read on internet news, they've kept their promise.  Suicide bombings have started.

Yesterday my heart did flip-flops when I heard that a Kiowa chopper went down near Baghdad. I wasn't at peace until we were notified by his unit that the downed helicopter wasn't from Mortaritaville.  It really doesn't matter that those killed weren't from his unit, they were brother and sister soldiers to my son.  It's more loss of precious life in this awful war and I am quickly becoming weary of it all.  Another mother's son or daughter, a father's pride and joy, a father, a brother, a husband/wife, who may have even attended flight school with my son.  Gone.  

The sad news of another crash on the heels of the Marine chopper that went down with a death toll of 31, was almost enough to put me over the edge.  A nightmare come true, for their families. 

When will all of this end? 

Birthdays

 

 

     

I didn't get around to doing an entry for Ab's very special 13th birthday last month, so I am posting this photo of her cake and using this entry to send loving birthday wishes skyward to my Papa who would have celebrated his 69th birthday today!  Ab doesn't mind sharing her cake!  I hope you heard me sing to you today!

 

                 Happy Heavenly Birthday Papa!

Missing Papa

Tomorrow is Papa’s birthday and he’s been on my mind a little more than usual. And…it had to happen, even once tonight…well meaning acquaintances that I haven’t seen since his death or they didn’t see the obituary just happen to ask, "How’s your Dad?" Is there anything more awkward for both parties?

I am searching my memories for special remembrances because I am feeling like they’re slipping away and that scares me. I grab at any little thing that will keep me connected to him.......

What would Papa say about that? Those were his favorite pair of shoes. Boy he’d get riled up when Abbie and Bubba used his fingernail clippers and never put them back. Papa would have ordered this off the menu. We used to take Sunday drives and he’d play "Slug Bug" with the kids. He’d want to know all about that officer killed in the line of duty last week. Papa loved this….or that. Remember when………….

So tonight, rather than make this a totally downer type entry, I thought I’d share one of my favorite Papa memories….. To give you a little background, Papa would "babysit" my kids when I was working various shifts. About 15 years ago, when my oldest daughter was a teenager and she was constantly monopolizing the telephone, this was the message he placed on his answering machine……..

You have reached 822-5555. Obviously you’ve called for Tammy, and since she didn’t answer, that means she’s not here. She’s probably at Rachel’s house, so call there. If she’s not there, try Michelle’s. If that doesn’t work, you might find her at Heather’s. Or, maybe Rebecca’s……

Papa was pretty polite and was often exasperated when kids didn’t identify themselves when calling. He expected them to identify themselves and then say "May I speak to --------?" Of course that never happened, and every once in awhile when he was feeling rather ornery the conversation went like this…….

Papa: Hullo?

Kid: Uhhh, Is Tammy there?

Papa: Why, yes she is! Thanks for asking! Goodbye.

 

Miss you Papa!  :)

 

A Change...in plans and in decor.

I postponed our trip to Disneyland last weekend, for several reasons. Mostly because I had a bad case of the redecorating bug after watching Home and Garden Television on a regular basis lately. I decided my little family room could be totally transformed if only I’d rearrange the furniture around the room’s "focal point" just like I learned on HGTV. It really wasn’t that simple.

The fairly new sofa sleeper I had in the room, was just way too big to turn toward the fireplace, which I decided should be the focal point. It’s a beautiful brick fireplace and I always enjoy changing the decorations on the mantle for the seasons, or whenever I get a few new knickknacks that I need to show off. If the fireplace became the focal point, and the sofa was turned facing it, one would have to sit in an awkward position to watch the television in the entertainment center on the wall that was opposite the sofa. Not good for the neck and certainly not an appealing look for the room. The massive oak entertainment center could not be moved easily due to the television cable and stereo connections that moi, a girly girl, who’s electronically challenged….couldn’t reconnect by myself. And besides, it was just too damn heavy for me to move. Where’s a man when you need one?

So, my solution? I just went to the local (well, they want us to shop locally) furniture store and bought a new love seat and a comfy rocker recliner, and created a new, cozy seating arrangement in front of the entertainment center, which remained the focal point after all. I then headed to the local KMart and bought a nice striped floor rug with all the perfect colors to pull it all together. The only thing missing was a suitable coffee table that would fit nicely in front of the love seat so I went on a marathon shopping trip to find that perfect table. It was no where to be found down the West side of the mountain. I hit every store imaginable, including Pier One Imports.

At Target, in their World Bazaar section, I found a white wooden bench, in the perfect size that I decided would "work" as a coffee table if I painted it a color to go with the new furniture. Little did I know I’d find an absolutely perfect table, in the form of a trunk at TJ Maxx the next evening. The color, size and height was just right and in decorating speak…"it completed the look for a stylish, colorful and inviting room" in my home. I am so thrilled with the look and here’s some pictures for you to see for yourself. I am only sorry I didn’t do "before" shots for you to really see the transformation.

Oh, and you're all invited to come for a visit to try out the cozy loveseat.  But please, make  reservations because the room is so small, we can only handle two guests at a time, since I'll be in the recliner! 

 

A few of my fellow journalers did this exercise, so I thought I'd play along.  It took some real effort and introspect to fill in the blanks.  It's kinda like what we have inmates fill out when they first come into the system to see if they need to be in the mental health program.  Man, I wonder what a therapist would say about my answers!

 

I am not: punctual. I know

I hurt: deeply. people I love the most

I love: my family and friends completely. my family--two- and four-legged
I hate: black widow spiders.

I fear: growing old, sick and helpless.

I hope: for peace on earth.

I hear: everything going on in the room, unless I purposely tune it out.,

I crave: a forever love.

I regret: that my mother and I didn’t have a better relationship.

I cry: so easily.

I care: about others.

I always: watch for Red Tailed Hawks.

I long to: travel and take photographs. l

I feel alone: right now.

I listen: to the lyrics in country music.

I hide: in my house behind my standards

I drive: lost in thought sometimes. huge-ass van

I sing: softly so others can’t hear how bad it really sounds.

I dance:seldom. working

I write: because I can and must for my sanity. keep myself sane
I breathe: clean, crisp mountain air. time (did I just admit I?m a mouth-
I play: with Riley when she visits.

I miss: Papa, my sister; Kim and my maternal Grandma Jeanne.

I feel: sad a lot.

I know: what I want in life. myself better than anyone else ever will
I say: what is on my mind.

I search: for God and truth.

I learn: something from everything I experience.

 doing
I succeed: when I decide I will.

I fail: to be a good sister at times.

I dream: of someone to share the rest of my life.

in glorious living color
I sleep: soundly.

I wonder: if there is really an afterlife. was given such a wonderful man toe
I want: order in my life.

I worry: needlessly, most of the time. myself out of a really great opportunity
I have: so much more than I need. life that many would envy, yet I often feel d
I give: freely. l

I fight: for those I love.

I wait: impatiently.

I need: my dad's wisdom.

I am: grieving. a

I think: there is that special someone out there for me.

I can not help the fact that: Bubba ran away.

ople person
I stay: quiet at work, rather than risk putting my foot in my mouth. inside my own head way too much

I Went and Got the T-Shirt!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had to change our plans for our Disneyland trip to next weekend, because Ab decided that taking a friend would be way more fun than having to endure her "overly-positive" mother at the "Happiest Place on Earth!" (I guess if that that’s the worst thing she says about me, then I am doing all right!) In the meantime, I must find my own friend to go along so the child and her friend, won’t be subjected to too much of her mother’s disgustingly sweet commentary on the enchanting surroundings.

So yesterday, spontaneous woman that I am, I remembered Cher was performing that very night in B-Town and took my chances at obtaining some tickets online. Much to the horror of the girl child who was destined to be my date if I couldn’t find a friend to accompany me, I SCORED!!!! Yep. Two tickets, in the first risers just off the left end stage and we were about 50 feet away from her! She’d often come to the end of the stage, turn and perform right in front of us, ahem..Abbie and I. Ab really seemed to loosen up and enjoy Cher and commented on how young she looks. Her body is amazing but in my humble opinion, her face looks a little too perfect.

This is the second time I have been able to see Cher on her Farewell Tour. It’s not really clear how long she’s going to be saying goodbye, but I could watch her perform over and over again. She is truly a diva after all her years in the business and to Britney Spears, J-Lo and the rest of those youngsters that consider themselves superstars she says…"Follow this you bitches!" Her costumes were stunning and the show had a circus theme that she opened with….Ladies and Gentlemen, and Flamboyant Gentlemen, Welcome to The Cherist Show on Earth! Brightly dressed dancers did amazing stunts from big metal rings and ribbons dangling from the ceiling while she performed hit after hit. During her costume changes the audience was entertained by a video that included clips from the Sonny and Cher Show, her many movies, appearances on talk shows and with many of the famous people she’s had the opportunity to perform with in the past, like Ray Charles, Lucy, Carol Burnett, etc.

The Village People were the colorful opening act and they were awesome. Ab wasn’t nearly as impressed, but she admitted they were entertaining. The crowd was enthusiastic and on their feet throughout most of their performance which included their hits…Macho Man, In the Navy and of course, the favorite..YMCA! They gave us lessons on the proper way to form the letters, saying they’ve heard of and seen too many improper moves at wedding receptions and Bar Mitzvahs! Now we can say we’ve got the directions straight from the horse’s mouth!

Yeah, I went and got the T-Shirt too!

Do You Believe?

Disneyland next weekend....Cher and The Village People tonight!

 

Oh yeah! 

 

Y-M-C-A!

I'm Going to Disneyland!

I have decided I’d better do something a little bit fun on this vacation, especially before I am immobilized by ankle surgery. Ab hasn’t been to Disneyland since she was a toddler and it just happened to be the day that every other loving parent and Japanese tourist hauled their kids to the "Happiest Place on Earth!" Lesson learned….Never, ever take your family to Disneyland when sunshine is in the weather forecast. Always opt for the overcast, dreary, it-looks-like-it-might-rain-any-second days and you’ll move through the park with relative ease.

So, since Ab’s out of school on Monday for the MLK holiday, I thought we’d do a little family weekend trip and take in both Disneyland and the California Adventure park next door. I’m talking a stay-in-a-motel with a pool, all- meals-out and two-amusement-parks type of fun stuff that we weren’t able to do when we were taking care of Papa. Besides, Disney’s offering a "two fer" special where you can have a day in each park for a pretty good price. If you buy your tickets on line instead of waiting until you get to the gate, you get an even better discount.

I’m giddy as a kid again!

I’m goin’ to Disneyland!

Granted, it was kinda last minute planning, but I can be spontaneous. I ask Tam if she’d like to go along with us and she promptly reminds me of her "amusement park phobia!" Amusement park phobia? "Where did that come from?" I ask. "Yeah" she says, "I can’t do amusement parks because I am always afraid someone is going to be puking in the bushes after they get off a ride!" Oh silly me. I forgot. It’s the puke phobia rearing it’s ugly head again. Now, most people have a little phobia or two. I am not particularly good in crowds and I worry about head on collisions on undivided highways. I don’t think those are really irrational. But this girl’s biggest fear is of someone vomiting in her presence.

Hmmmmmm.

What do you think the odds are of someone upchucking right beside you at Disneyland after getting off the Small World or Pirates of the Caribbean ride?

Tam’s NOT going to Disneyland.

Puke happens.

From the Homefront

Slowly but surely I am bringing some order to my life. I have been faithfully watching the Home and Garden channel and now desire to transform my home by ridding myself of clutter, unused and unwanted possessions and organize what is left. Recently, I watched an inspiring segment called Clean Sweep in which the homeowners had to remove everything from a room to the front yard. They were given a specific time frame to "purge" by dividing their belongings into 3 sections…Keep, Yard Sale and Toss. I have decided that method is about the only way to take control of my overwhelming amount of stuff in some rooms. But that may have to wait until Spring.

In the meantime, mountains of paperwork that I initially sorted into cardboard boxes, have been reduced, sorted and shredded and/or filed appropriately in plastic containers. Papa’s clothing has been given to charity, with the exception of some special things that my uncle may be able to wear. Clothing that I hadn’t worn in years was removed from my closet and friends took their pick before I sent the rest to local thrift stores. The pantry has been cleaned and organized. Christmas items are stored in green and red plastic boxes that make them easily identified with the holiday. This week while I am on "vacation" I will continue reducing the amount of visual and hidden clutter in my life. Not much of a vacation, but it will have its benefits in the long run. Maybe I will even find the remote control for the television!

It’s been three months since I last injured my ankle and I finally got to be evaluated by the "foot and ankle" specialist the other day. It’s exactly what I was telling the "primary care" worker’s comp doctor….a ligament is severed, which allows for the ankle to roll under and I will need surgery to correct the problem. Unfortunately, after the surgery I will have to remain on crutches for 6 weeks, with absolutely no weight-bearing on that foot. I absolutely hate crutches! I would almost prefer a wheelchair because I don’t know if my rickety left knee can handle all that extra weight if I use crutches constantly for 6 weeks. I guess I will be moving downstairs to Papa’s old room for the recovery time, rather than trying to maneuver the stairs each time I want to rest in bed. I recently ordered a beautiful, black leather recliner from QVC that should be delivered by March 1st, just in time to elevate that right leg!

Fly Boy continues to save lives with his eagle eyes by spotting explosives while he’s patrolling in Iraq. He’s put himself in danger a few too many times for me, and probably way more times than he’s told me. This past week he dropped right down in front of a convoy, stopping them from passing over an explosive device in the road, just in the nick of time! If that insurgent had set off that bomb, it would have taken him out! I love that boy and I am so proud of his actions. But, I sure don’t want him to die as a hero! Please! Be careful son! Or, at least don’t tell your mom such scary things!

Timber................

 

It was a dark and stormy week……

 

I remember about 20 years ago when I first moved to the mountains and I used to say, "I can’t wait for it to snow!" Now I say, "Oh no, it’s snowing!" Fortunately, most of it has melted at our 4000’ elevation, but I think we’re still in for a doozy of a storm.

Ab can’t wait, because the snow has mostly fallen at night, then she’s had school the next morning. By the time she’s home from school, the snow’s melted and she can’t have any play time. So, for her sake, I hope we get a few inches of the white stuff this weekend and I won’t complain a bit.

My mood this week was about as dark as the weather. I was constantly on the verge of tears about everything. Sometimes with very good reason. For one, my 88 year old Grandmother is in the hospital again. Then, Fall Girl’s mother is in the hospital, in Intensive Care awaiting a major by-pass surgery. My son’s flying missions in Iraq, pretty dang close to crazy people that are making things explode right near him and his fellow soldiers. I am missing my father terribly and I have so much I that I would tell him if he were here. Instead, I am just so sad that he’s not. My work week was really hectic and I had to overtly exert my authority a time or two. Because I am a pretty easy boss, it’s only done if really necessary. Kinda like my favorite saying that I have framed here at home….If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy! Substitute "the boss" for momma and you’ll get the picture. It wasn’t pretty, but it was professional and fortunately, it had the desired results.

Due to the weather of late, I’ve spent a lot of time looking out of my office window. I have decided I am glad I am not a woodpecker. What a b-o-r-ing job they have. This is the first time I have had the opportunity to watch one up close. My window’s about 6 feet away from that woodpecker’s favorite tree and I believe it has at least a million holes. Between all this moisture and the havoc that woodpecker has caused, I just pray that tree is not going to fall over and crash into my office.

That would really ruin my whole day.

The First Day of 2005

I spent the first day of this new year catching up on the horrifying event that took so many souls last week. 

Reading as much as I could on the internet and in a stack of unread newspapers that sat patiently waiting for me, I was extremely saddened by the suffering, death and devastation created by the gigantic earthquake and tsunami.  I ended up with a sick headache and took a nap in an effort to rid myself of it. 

After my nap, I checked my email and found this beautiful message from Life Support that was so appropriate, I thought I'd share it here.......

 

                          A TSUNAMI BLESSING

In light of this week's tsunami devastation, the following blessing is offered as a prayer for those of various faiths. May it be useful as we move into a new year together.

   
Blessed are those who mourn for the tsunami's victims; may they find comfort in their pain and hope in their helplessness.

Blessed are those who found a way to survive; may they now find sufficient strength and healing as they reassemble the scattered pieces of shattered lives.

Blessed are those who tirelessly strive to give relief; may they be amply encouraged in their valiant efforts.

Blessed are those who generously give money and supplies...may they know the deep satisfaction of having made a difference.

Blessed are those in every nation who unite now in compassionate service and love; may they show us what it means to be family.

 

There is a story of a man who once stood before God, his heart breaking from the pain and injustice in the world. 'Dear God,' he cried out, 'Look at all the suffering, the anguish and distress in the world. Why don't you send help?' God responded, 'I did send help. I sent you.' -- David J. Wolpe, sent in to Life Support by Grant F. Tiefenbruck


AMEN!