The boys, as high school juniors, and doing quite well both academically and athletically.  Socially, they each have a girlfriend which is, believe it or not entirely new territory for all; (they being late bloomers like their mom).

Mr. R touched my blog reflex like a caring big brother… I’m compelled to check in. 

New grove near Spinks corner

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Most likely because we live in an agricultural area, and have “Ag” banks, most of us are hanging in there, recession-wise.  My dear friend and her husband, who are retired teachers, have lost half of their retirement savings and their son, a professional baseball player in Japan, has lost about half of his investments.  Next door, my 80-year-old neighbor has cut off his cable and telephone and uses the internet for news, and his basic cell phone service.

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                                                       OPPS!  I MADE A LITTLE POOPY…

It

This little guy has a headache after flying into the window.  It frequently happens, but this time he landed on the sidewalk and the neighbor’s mama cat was very interested.  So, I went out and kept the dazed birdlett warm until he unrattled his brain.  During that time, I thought to myself, “I sure feel like this, at times”.

More and more lately I find myself scampering about that I, too, run into invisible walls.  This little hectic bird has reminded me to slow down a bit… there really is no rush to get to the worm buffet.

As you can see, after about 10 minutes and some coaching to fly, this little bird was fine.  Sometimes we get the poo knocked out of us, but that shouldn’t keep us from trying to fly again.

Scattergories:  Judy is Leaving…

There, I said it.  I’ve been in denial about Judy’s retirement.  Judy is our Regional Office Manager, my dear friend, and sister by adoption (Ok, I adopted her as an adult… it works).  This is the last year I kicked out my family at Thanksgiving (what a wonderful wife and mother, no?)  Anyway, Judy and I decorate my home for Christmas because we have the office family party here, among other parties.   The office party will also be Judy’s Retirement party; this is very emotional for me because we are so close… like twins.

So we decorate and have a really fun time, I already said this in a comment at David’s place, but we joke about doing a spoof HGTV video titled, “Two, Old, Straight (yet not homophobic) Broads Decorate for Christmas”  rated PG-13 for Language (and maybe a little violence since Judy broke THREE glass ornaments this year…sheesh!). 

The weird thing is that I am not a “theme” kind of person; it’s easier to just put up every little ornament handed down through family history, kindergarden, and bunco (when one has not decorating talent).  But, no, Judy is the decorating diva, so five years ago we started having “themes” *exhibiting a discusting did-someone-bufa? face*   OK, I was in charge the first year… “I know!  The theme will be snow!”  Five bags of Buffalo Snow works wonders.  Judy took over after that.  This year found me in charge since there would be some “surprises” for Judy and her retirement.  The theme is:  Roadkill!  OK, not actually, but sort of along those lines.

Judy and Darryl are selling their home (trying to, it may be years) and moving into their RV to travel the US and Canada.  So the Christmas theme ended up being somewhat whimsical… a word I would hate if I used such a strong word as the h-word.  Sort of a “Cars” (kids know that movie) meets Route 66.  I’ve printed up funny roads signs using famous Judyisms  like ” What part of STOP don’t you understand?”  and so on.  I also have made her the official “Mud Flap Girl” (but added a few middle-age pounds).   The house is decorated, but without her signs because we’ve had two little events prior to the office party.  But here’s a photo of the whimsy save the special signs:

Wrong photo… no matter…I really like this High School Green & Orange Tree (my idea) with the mischieveous kitten and the Dr. Suess “work of art”.  I do this fun stuff while Judy works her butt off! 

So, the little road signs will be placed on the various garlands and tree.  This one, with the moose, has a “Moose Crossing” sign and I added, “You Don’t Scare Me… I have children!”  one of Judy’s most popular G-rated sayings.  From the signs we will lovingly roast Judy… I can’t wait.

This will do… as they say, “too much information”.  Posting once every six months isn’t THAT bad, no?

Actually, I miss everyone and will try to get back on board… feel the love, jenny

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I am so fortunate.  There are times when I feel so connected to this earth.

Have a beautiful week and feel the love, jenny

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Darling Jane snapped me out of my yet-another-blogging-funk state-of-mind.  Since my last post, I have been travelling a bit including a 15-day cruise to the Hawai’ian Islands (I’m sure I did the “‘” wrong, but what the heck, I’m trying), a beautiful weekend in Yosemite and lots of fun stuff with the boys and their band/sports performances. 

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I have been experimenting with hubby’s Cannon and trying to put together a couple of special photographic packages for two of my friends who have been undergoing chemotherapy.  I fear I have been a bit unfaithful, in a blogging sense, as I have been visiting Flickr quite a bit just posting for family and friends.  Speaking of which, this site has always been considered a place for my blogging family.

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Here’s a couple fo experimental pics.  If interested, you are welcome to visit the Flickr site at:

(Best view by a “set” to save time)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/janicemc/

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MY RUNNING MAN

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A POPPY BIRTH

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Be forewarned, I have way too many photos… I am in the process of deleting the majority of them as being a  too mundane and/or just plain inferior.  I am studying, researching, and practicing when I can in an effort to improve on all levels.  

I miss everyone and send much love.  I love this community and the brilliant bloggers in it.  FTL, jen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utkb1nOJnD4

Have a beautiful weekend.  FTL, jen

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After showing Judy my vacation slideshow, (post to follow someday), and packing some nourishment (goldfish pretzels and water)… off we went.  I had no idea where, but I had worked around detectives long enough to know it had to do with the major profusion of wildflowers (why else would I need the camera?). Judy drove with determination and a little wicked grin to a Perko’s coffee shop in a place called Wasco (this is real).  We ate like some kind of Royal English women of the Renaissance era.  I won’t go into detail, but it did involve syrup and pork. 

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After waddling out to her car, we headed out to the open road, wondering where we would have lunch, JK, LOL!  It wasn’t long until the seriousness of my addiction to natural beauty hit me as we came upon the top of a ridge and I said we had to stop.  I got out of the car and took my first shot and was lost in that particular moment for the rest of the day. 

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 Instantly and insanely I was sucked deep into the majesty of the smallest, most delicate floral displays. I had brought hubby’s Canon EOS 20D with its fine telephoto lens, only to find that I had not brought the CF card;  bummer!  What I did not know was that his camera has no internal memory like my little Kodak Easy Share does (yea, Kodak!).  I had thought to bring my camera (probably because I am so astutely clairvoyant).  So, all day I took double photos, one of just about every shot with both cameras (except for the shot of the darling tadpoles that survived Judy’s wild river crossing in her Mercury). 

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Here are a couple shots.  I uploaded about 45 (out of 160) photos on Flicker if you are a nature lover and if you want to see what the real California is all about.   

Oh, we had cowboy hamburgers at a quaint place in Pinefield and dinner at Cold Stone…. And Judy looked absolutely fetching in her pink babydoll shirt.  Yeah, it was a perfect day.

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If you want more, go to:     http://www.flickr.com/photos/11963891@N08/sets/72157604264744614/     (“View Slideshow” is larger and faster.)

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Feel the love, jen

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Anyway, boys I saw that you tried to call yesterday at 6:35 pm and I am assuming that you arrived home safely.  Thanks for the call… but I hope you can figure out how to comment here so I can know for sure.  You too, Judy.  I will e-mail this link to you, I think you can comment without setting up an account with WordPress.

We are doing fine, I think I have jogging pneumonia, but feel pretty good.   I took an art class this morning and failed miserably.  Oh, guys, guess what?  Your mom took first place in the hoop shot contest…. yeah, respect that.  (No matter that there were only three of us competing, an older old coach kind of guy and a little kid!) 

Everyone on the ship is age advanced…. you boys would just be dieing and Judy, you would be loving it!  ha ha.   We are having fun together, really. 

Anyway, I’ll check back tomorrow.  I love you so much and miss you terribly.    Love, mom

Time stood still but for a moment one icy winter evening,

Peering upon the slow motion of life outside my warm kitchen. 

The winter sunset seemed to warm the frozen, naked landscape;

Trees shivering in the cold wind, and grass struggling to be. 

The river, arrogant in its command of the stripped rocks.

Wild things afraid to come out from their warm dens. 

This wild thing enjoying an extravagant moment from my warm post.

Watching with devoted interest the certainty of this winter play.  

Satisfied not to remain safe and warm, I ventured out and into the cold;

Wanting as always, to be part of the excitement and feel the sting of life. 

No sooner had I neared the river, the rain began to punish me for interfering.

I fought to keep my umbrella in place as the horizontal rain stung my legs.

 I ran up the slippery riverbank, covered with tender grass shoots.

A naughty bird cawed out to me, laughing at my stupidity.

 Stubbornly, I fought with the wind, rain, and mud, for I was unafraid. 

So this is for my small, sweet friend:

Our beautiful, petite, twin friends were often forlorn because they are shorter than average; our beautiful, tall, twin sons are not satisfied with being taller than average.  For the girls:  Watch what you wish for.  For the boys:  Be happy with what you have.  As for me, the oh-so-average, run-of-the-mill mom, I love being wicked with Adobe and torturing my loved ones.  BTW, both sets of twins are the same age.

Michael is an exception to the Size Matters rule; his football skills are poetry in motion.  These two buddies are the same age.

Size is relative to one’s perception… I always liked being small when I was little when playing hide ‘n seek.