things lost, but not forgotten

Where does the time go?
Been to Colorado & Florida this month and now the month is gone!
Where did the necklace I bought for my granddaughter go?
Could be in the bag I have yet to unpack, as now in Maryland.
I'm still looking for those mismatched socks.

Where is the poem I wrote on the plane so I could post?
must be in my carryon bag I've yet to unpack.
Where is my money?
O yeh I am retired I have none!


Well at least I still have my memory,
am sharing the moments of my grandchildrens youths,
the smiles, the laughter, the good days and bad.
But most of all I get huggs and kisses galore! and will remember till I die.

Clearwater!

First I'd like to say, you all can't think of any words to add to my meme! Owell, guess no one is loooking.

Went to Clearwater Beach today. After spending time in the water AND lunch decided it was time to take a walk before going into the Gulf. I must say I think the actual beaches are cleaner in good ole Joisy. Here is a short list of things I saw while walking on the beach. People of course-All shapes and sizes- there was even one gal who was 8 or 9 months pregnant with a bikini on! That was quite the site! I saw on the shoreline a half eaten peach, & a calzone! Also were soda, water & beer bottles and cans, a T shirt, shoes of various sizes, paper & plastic cups, cigarette butts, and little plastic things that looked like from kids toys. OO and lots of seashells & seaweed.
I kept thinking while walking when are people gonna learn!!!!!! WE ARE KILLING OUR PLANET, BEACHES AND WATER SUPPLY. And distroying the nature that some of us really love.

Florida!

Never I say Never let Ole granny out without SPF50 ever again! I flew into Tampa Fri am via Spirit. We went to the pool about 11:30 am, I had sunscreen on and reapplied every time I got out of the pool. I am a lovely shade of Red and HURTING a bunch! Tomorrow we are going to St Peters, to the beach. I am gonna be one of those idiots that go to the beach with that white stuff on their noses all over my body! I thought the tan I had from taking the grandkids outside all the time would get me through, BUT O NO not me! I am a lobster I tell ya, just out of the pot and ready to eat!

Words

Here is a list of 100 words set by the American Standard Dictionary which are musts for the high school graduate! Now all you post-graduates-how about some practical advice or words for everyday life-meme! I was pretty impressed with myself- I only had to look up a couple.

abjure
abrogate
abstemious
acumen
antebellum
auspicious
belie
bellicose
bowdlerize
chicanery
chromosome
churlish
circumlo
cution
circumnavigate
deciduous
deleterious
diffident
enervate
enfranchise
epiphany
equinox
euroevanescent
expurgate
facetious
fatuous
feckless
fiduciary
filibuster
gamete
gauche
gerrymander
hegemony
hemoglobin
homogeneous
hubris
hypotenuse
impeach
incognito
incontrovertible
inculcate
infrastructure
interpolate
irony
jejune
kinetic
kowtow
laissez faire
lexicon
loquacious
lugubrious
metamorphosis
mitosis
moiety
nanotechnology
nihilism
nomenclature
nonsectarian
notarize
obsequious
oligarchy
omnipotent
orthography
oxidize
parabola
paradigm
parameter
pecuniary
photosynthesis
plagiarize
plasma
polymer
precipitous
quasar
quotidian
recapitulate
reciprocal
reparation
respiration
sanguine
soliloquy
subjugate
suffragist
supercilious
tautology
taxonomy
tectonic
tempestuous
thermodynamics
totalitarian
unctuousus
urpvacuous
vehement
vortex
winnow
wrought
xenophobe
yeoman
ziggurat

Colorado Musings

Well the trip to Colorado has ended and now its just a remembrance. Will never underatand why we went from BWI-Atlanta - Denver- those silly airline people!
It had it's ups and downs, so I'll just share a few.
The wedding was really beautiful-up in the mountains-great view, great food. I was really cold though. Not like a pax wedding atall- they do it different there. They had Mexican food-REAL different, but REAL good. My sister in law made- the wedding gown, the cakes. Nieces did the flowers, invitations. You would never have known it was not done professionally- those folks are so talented! Actually my sister in law does weddings all the time.
We did a Celestial Season Tea tour in Boulder- kinda neat- to see the tea being made and packaged. They should package the smell of the place- OMG it was wonderful! and the MINT room- to die for! Then of course had to buy too much tea!
We did the normal touristy things a couple of days, but most of the time was spent relaxin and enjoyin family we hadn't seen in awhile. Some of the husbands and children I had never seen.
All in all it was a good vaca.
Now I need to get packed for the trip to Fla which starts on Fri- bet I won't be cold there!

Coffee vs gasoline

While on vacation in Colorado, we were chatting about the price of gasoline-
Then I interjected why doesn't anyone complain about the price of Starbucks!
Albiet sooo good tasting do we realise we are spending nearly $25 per gallon of it!
Yes we actually sat around and figured it out!
Ridiculous I say- do we see anyone yelling about that!
But I do say that is why I only splurge on it occasionally!
Thank God we don't need it like gas,
but we do have to conserve energy-

My daughter says I have become a nut about energy conservation, BUT
I want some around for my children and grandchildren.
We can all do just a little bit for conservation! and it can add up to alot!
Going to Colorado only makes me even more zealous for green! I love the East coast and Joisey!
and am getting a little tired of people putting us down here in the garden state- they shouldn't knock what they don't know! Plus all of Joisey is not North Jersey- down here in the south we still have open spaces and farms and trees and tomatoes and peppers and peaches. OOPS I have now gottten on a soap box- Have a good day!

Gardening & fair skin

Well should I say the curse of fair skin. Went out to work on my garden again, bought some roses and just had to put them in, however had to prepare the ground, it took about 2 hours to do that. In the meantime I am collecting the sun on my shoulders and neck. I am now a bright hue of red in those same places. When will I learn to use spf 30?? My skin doctor always says use sunscreen if you are gonna be out in the sun. I went out after 3pm, but had spent the am yard saleing with the hubby( he loves it).
I guess I do need some color before I go to Florida in June?? OO and the Colorado sun (that's next week)always turns me bright red- closer to the sun ya know! So do I suffer now or later, probably both.
Tomorrow out in the sun again planting the dahlias and peonies! I am just a glutton for punishment. Guess I am just too set in my ways to learn some of the lessons in life- use sunscreen!

Green! and granny-bragging!

Ok folks, I purchased some plants with the green stuff I was given for retirement. Then of course had to exert some energy to plant it all and wound up cutting shrubery on one piece of the property to make my Iris/ Rose garden . Today however I purchased a butterfly bush, clematis in purple and pink, yellow coreoptus (sp?)( I called it Shannon), blue eyed grass which I call ( Melanie)I don't know why I named them, But did.
Of course, more bushes for the back garden a Blueberry and a grape- whew- we are gonna have more berries after awhile. I think the hubby has planted 15 or 20 berry bushes this season already- he has dreams of using the garden to get farmer rates on the taxes! One can dream can't they!
Now on to the bragging- went to the grand kidds award chapel
#1 grandson rec'd an award for playing the keyboard, an award for Art- creativity in fine arts. He didnt get a scholastic award but gets almost all A's on his report card- go figure
#1 grand daughter award for scholastic achievement
#2 grand daughter rec'd the same award for scholastic achievement
#2 grand son will get an award for being a pistol!
Now did I say they are chips off the ole block! (our side of course!)We are so proud of them- you should have seen their mom when their names were read- you could have driven a car into her dropped jaw!
I just pray this continues as they grow!

Fracture

Took time out this weekend to indulge myself just a little. Went to see the movie Fracture. Was a typical Anthony Hopkins great acting flick and Ryan Gosling was really believable. Unfortunately I got to the theater a couple of min's late, but don't think I missed the point of the whole flick. If I had come in a few min's later I would have missed much.
I figured out the plot prob 15-20 mins into the flick, and when I found out I was right, movie was kinda anticlimatic. Was an enjoyable outing, went shopping afterward! ALONE- I hardly do anything alone! Always have kids, my children or hubby along. Unless I go out with my buddies.
Although I like being alone sometimes, don't think I would want all the time! too much of a people person. Also think being alone gets me depressed-think/ reflect too much!

just a question

How many darn socks can a family of 5 acquire? I have spent this am folding socks-and I'm not done had to take a break!-can't she buy ones that are alike-forget the ones with stuff on em. ANd why do they all seem the same size- the ages vary from 35-8-6-6-4- and I swear only the 4 year old wears a different size- O the Joys of being a nanny granny! AND where are all the missing socks? must be in sock heaven! I'll share missed socks with anyone-wish people wore miss matched socks life would be so much easier!

On another note- a grandson with a hammer is a joy of another sort to behold! he wants to hammer the world and I have to keep him away from all the wood in this victorian style home!- the french doors, the wood railing upstairs and the wooden posts all over- to name a few!

mammograms

Ok ladies and gents- whats up with the declining of women getting mammograms? It is a simple procedure that can recognise CANCER early and be treated! When CANCER is visualised later-it is not curable. SOO tis the season schedule your mommograms or the mommanator will get ya! And don't forget those monthly breast exams- you can have your significant other do it for ya- can be a fun time if ya know what I mean! Also-gents don't forget your breast and testicular monthly exams- ya thought I was gonna forget ya huh!

Mothers Day

Well here I Sit thinking of Mothers Day. I have mixed feelings about it. You see my mom died several years ago and I am feeling lonely for her. She was a great inspiration for me. She moved to the US from England when she married my dad and only went back 2 times after that. I often think how different I would have been if I would have lived in England my whole life. Not as nutty I think! However my mom let me be me, so I probably would have been much the same. She made me be an individual and gave me the fortitude to overcome some hard things in my lifetime. Thanks mom.
Whenever I hear folks complain about their mom's I often say- I wish I had my mom here like you do, even if she is bothering you at this moment, just be thankful you have her to complain about. Since my dad is also gone I often feel like an orphan around these days of celebrating our parents. It is very hard. I guess so hard because they were both great role models.
I also say we didnt have much when I was growing up, but I never felt like I didnt have love! Actually unless someone tells me I realy didn't realise I didnt have "things" cause our home was always filled with love!
One of my desires in life is to be an example like my folks so my children and grandchildren will remember me like I remember my folks and grandparents!
Hope everyone had a wonderful day!

Ken & Dan

I've posted about my twin granddaughters, so nows the boys turn.
I never had a son, but always wanted one, in fact when my hubby and I were in childbearing age-we had quite a disagreement about whether we should have another child, he won ultimately,but I have found sons in so many other guys. I now have my grandchildren.
Dont' know why I wanted a son so badly?? just one of my quirks I suppose. He was gonna have red hair and freckles, blue eyes and be named James Christian-Jamie for short!

Well I got most of what I wanted in my first grandson- he is now 8 years old blondish red hair, with a splattering of freckles over his nose,and he has the prettiest sky blue eyes. I sometimes joke with him about it. He just says O Grandma! He is a very good student and really wants to please. He is too sensitive though, he can cry at the drop of a pin. Guess thats part of first child syndrome?? He is quite fascinating to watch play- he is so much like his dad-its scary sometimes! When watching him he reminds me of my brothers when they were younger. You can almost see his brain working while he is at play. He loves to build things. He can make something out of just about anything. Will explain all the moving parts etc. He has now gotten to the age where he wants to be alone some of the time. On his eighth birthday he posted a sign on his door-NO GIRLS ALLOWED! It is his domain. Sometimes he has a short fuse with his siblings, but when I remember back-isn't that what siblings do? It is so amazing what a grown up conversation you can have with this kid! He loves anything to do with the weather-always predicting whats gonna happen. He loves anything to do with nature-Volcanos, stratosphere,hurricaines,tornados, rocks. He once asked me "how hot is the sun?' I had to research it for him. He and grandpop will read National Geographic together from cover to cover!

The other grandson is altogether different! He is four. He had blondish hair and light brown/hazel eyes. He is a wild child-just like his mother at this age-she keeps thinking he has a problem and I keep telling her apples don't fall far from the tree. He can be so endearing and sweet one moment and be in total rebellion the next- In the bible it says spare the rod and spoil the child-this statement is for this child! This is one smart kid! The others are smart too, but I think this kid just uses all his brain, always testing ya. He gets into things the others wouldnt even try. He is the Baby and he just rules the roost! He is also very strong. Last week he was quite fascinated with a hammer and nail! He hammered everything in his site, I was glad he didnt use my car or tires! So I gave him nails and watched him hammer-what did it hurt!? Today they went to a petting zoo- I cant wait to hear the adventure. He is gonna build me a house one day and its gonna be painted blue- and he can say I LOVE YA in such a cute way ya just want to hug him to death, but I must remember I am the grown up and need to mold this child!
All my grandchildren are taller than most kids their age, sometimes this presents a problem as other kids think they should act older than their stated age, but they will adjust! It hasn't been that much of a problem yet.
I love my grandchildren so much. I hope they remember me like I remember my grandparents!

today

the day that was is, and the day that is was and so it goes into infinity.
I sit and reflect on my life and it all goes into a blurr.
what season of my life am I really at?
a crossroads of sorts, trying to develope a new and improved identidy
too old to start anew, but to young to just sit and watch time go by.
so here I sit rambling on trying to forget the dishes in the sink and the bills not paid.
use the wisdom you have acquired I say and do something prophetic, or be another Mother Teresa, but no I just sit here pondering what shall I do, what shall I be?
All you can be is you and no more or less so get up aff your ass and BE.

AM I SEEING THINGS?

May 3, 2007

• McGreevey to enter Episcopal seminary NEWARK, N.J. (AP) The nation's first openly gay governor has become an Episcopalian and been accepted into a seminary, according to a published report. Former Gov. James E. McGreevey, who was raised as a Roman Catholic, was officially received into the Episcopal religion on Sunday at St. Bartholomew's Church in New York, said the Rev. Kevin Bean, vicar at the church. McGreevey has entered the church's "discernment" phase, which usually precedes seminary work, Bean told The Star-Ledger of Newark in a report posted Wednesday on its Web

I thought I was actually seeing things when I first read it and when said something to the family, they said what are you talking about-were you watching SNL? I had to actually show them the print. I also thought the Episcopal church had a real stand on no gays in the priesthood. Please tell me I dreamed this or its a joke or something. McGreevey is certainly an evolving entity! Who knows what he is evolving into!

RETIRED II

Here I am in wonderful retirement/Maryland thinking about the wonderful party that was held for my retirement. I don't have enough words to say thank you to all who worked hard on it. Plus all those who took time out of their workday to attend!

I was ushered into a room full of co-workers who were bellowing because somehow the time of the event didn't coincide with their bellies, so I got up and said " go ahead and eat and make merriment I have a speech later-all prepared". Wow did I know how to quiet a room! A speech-she has a speech? Even the exec was puzzled and said to one of my friends- she must wait till I say what I have to say. Humm let them be tortured- I told em to tell her I was going first!, but then laughed and said not to worry, I will say what I have to say before all is done!
The room was all decked out- New Officeland III was where it was held. I didn't want to go out to a rented place- I just didn't want folks to spend a whole bunch of money on me. Even folks from Officeland II came. It was catered by my co-workers, what a nice variety of foods, AND the deserts OMG one was better than the next. I tried to taste just about everything, but the old stomach couldn't hold it, my eyes were popping! The main cake was adorned in red roses with white frosting-was an unbelievable strawberry shortcake-only the best baker in South Jersey! Then there were 2 trifles-both homemade- one a raspberry liquor drenched brownie and chocolate, the other a strawberry & cream one, then there was a fresh fruit bowl, 2 other cakes from the same bakery-a canola one and a chocolate raspberry cream delight. Then other sundry cookies and cakes. I don't even think I can repeat what all the foodstuffs were, needless to say I don't think anyone went away hungry! If they did it was their own fault! There wasn't much stuff left over though.
The room was decorated with such ambiance! every table was adorned with pink tablecloths, and pansies. The head table also had a lovely Gerber daisy- unusual colored. Plus a good friend picked a bouquet of flowers from her garden which contained daffodils, Narcissus, tulips( in a variety of colors) and the wonderful lilacs which smelled marvelous. O did I mention the flower decorations were part of my gift YEH. Now I just need time to plant em, hopefully my hubby will keep them watered till I get home on Friday-not to worry he has told me it has rained every day since I left.
After eating I was toasted by some of my great co-workers and friends! I was embarrassed by some of the things that were said. Some folks I didn't think I had impressed too much even had nice things to say. Afterward one of them came up to me and said "I don't know you too well & by what was said about you and the speech you gave it looks like it was my loss" color me red with embarrassment!
The final statement by me was NO CRYING will be done here for my departing I am Not dieing, just moving onto another season of life, so lets have laughter and joy! I have worked in some capacity since I was 14 so it is time to kick off a little, enjoy my grand kids and family and enjoy what I have worked all these years for. Since 60 is the new 40 I have lots of years to do just that! Lucky me!
I was given many lovely gifts. Money, jewelry, an angel, a book written by a coworker, an angel and a plaque.
Thanks to all!
Then was the final farewell, I was ushered to my car by some of the greatest people in the world, my best friends at work and anywhere! I love them. Kisses and blessings to them! they think I am their mom! I hope they all keep in touch, but if I know them like I think I do they will!

RETIRED

Well, I did it and have 2 job offers already. I started watching the grandkids over the weekend-the whole house has some type of flu! NOT GOOD! all are running fevers, coughing and all sorts of junk stuff. The last one woke me up at 5am by turning on the lights and screaming "I can't breathe" EEK he has a touch of asthma and was really making himself worse. God bless children they certainly know how to get your attention. His mom had been trying to get him to calm down, guess he thought granny was better. Temp was 103- we started today off with a bang!
It is now bath time. And then off to bed! YEH!
I need to write about the wonderful retirement party, but will have that another time. Need to do without 8 hands helping me. So have a good one for me.

AWAY AGAIN?!

This weekend I went away again, to the Poconos this time. It was another reunion of my Nursing school class. This time we were celebrating turning 60! Seems like we will celebrate just about anything!
It was just beautiful up there! We didnt do much besides eat, talk, & drink. O yeh, we did go for hikes, watched the deer go thru the yard and thoroughly enjoyed each others company again.
We talked allot about nursing and how it has changed over the years, Not necessarily for the good. How incompetant we feel the new nurses are just coming out of school. Also, about the sorry state of affairs medical/nursing care is today.
We cant believe we actually took the Nightingale pledge all those many 39 years ago- how idealistic and young we were then.
We looked at many pictures of the past and couldn't decide how we got from there to here now.
We also discussed how remarkable it is that we still keep in contact still after all the time has past. Thirty-five of us graduated- 10 of us were at the reunion and we keep in contact with about 10 others, 2 have died that we know of. We would love to find some of the others. We are gonna try again next year for the reunion to connected with more. In fact we found another one this year. Our 40th reunion we are currently planning to take a cruise to Hawaii.

Shell& Liz

Here I am in cold windy wet Maryland. Trying to post, but the twins are wanting to help. They were watching TV but as soon as they saw grannie, they decided they wanted to play on the computer, but I said NO my turn (mean grannie!).
They are identical twins and boy are they looking alike today. As they get older they seem to look more and more alike. They do have subtle differences in looks, but I almost have to look at them directly in the face and have them say something, before I can tell them apart.
We were so surprised when they were born, but are sure glad to have them, they make life interesting for sure, along with their 2 brothers. A total of 4 children in this quiet house. LOL
8-6-6-&4. When they all get home from school its like a war zone till they have a snack, get homework done and settled down. After school they take the dogs for a walk or feed them.
Their differences are in their personalities.
Liz is a helper, neat and very caring, she jumps up when asked to do something and does stuff even when not asked, she has to be told not to do Shells chores. Shell is quite different-she is MESSY! Messy, messy- she only helps when you make her, she is caring but doesnt like anyone to know it. Pax has said that Liz will be a doctor or nurse and Shell will be the artist, hippie type in SOHO(even with the baret on her head).
They are both very good students in first grade, bring home all A's & B's- between all the kids they are costing me a fortune as I give them money for each A they bring home, but it is money well spent if it continues.
As I only had girls I can see so many inherent differences between girls & boys.
Now they realy want to use the computer, I will finish here and write about the boys on another day.

Out & About

While I was out today killing some time before I had to pick up Melanie from her friends house & driving to Maryland. I took a drive about a 5 mile radius of my home and oddly enough not far from where I used to live as a kid. I couldn't help but notice;
1. the die hard gardeners were out mowing their lawns, do they have to start so soon! is the grass realy long enough to cut?? Ok I can deal with multching, fertelizing, planting and raking, but MOWING!
2. my yard doesnt look that bad considering I haven't done all that stuff! the daffodils, forsythia,grape hyacynths, hyacynths, and of course the Blue Bells of Scotland add some blue & yellow color to my yard.
3. the peach trees all around my house are starting their lovely pink blooms, should be in full regailia by next week if it stays like today!
4. people aren't bundled up like nannooks of the north everywhere
5. people seem PLEASANT- waving and smiling at the same time
6. people are driving far too fast to get to the shore-already
7. building, building, building everywhere-soon this will be called the too expensive house state not the garden state. So what ever happened to the Pinelands commission? I saw houses being built on postage stamp size lots. In the middle of town there was a section being built that will prob have 10-12 too expensive homes on it.
8. even the cemetaries were abloom and thank God we have them or else there would be a house or Eckerds or WAWA on every corner
9. Sadly I saw a stretch of trees(near where I used to ride my bike as a kid) that had either had Acid rain and a lot of it or else some chemical deposit- all the fauna and flora was DEAD- yes dead-how long will it take to replace that grove of trees along that creek? or better yet when will WE learn to stop the ruination of our trees and creeks with our polluting ways! I so wanted to take the grandkids on a bike ride there one day when they master two wheelers!
10. Saw the price of gas going up up up, in our state! at one station it was 2.53 this am and now 2.63 per gallon- maybe I shouldn't go to Maryland their gas is always at least 25 cents higher than ours.


But alas I am happy to still be able to see these things and enjoy the pretty things along with the ugly! Guess I should keep my eyes on the driving huh