An Overdue Post

This is how we roll…

 

The photos above were taken when the Jazz Band in which the boys perform, put on a show for some very sweet residents at a State Developmental Center.  Most of the people enjoy the performance and were dressed in formal attire.  (My boys had a game they had to run to, thus the basketball shorts.)   I am thankful the boys have the opportunity to provide service in various ways; they have developed a healthy sensitivity for these sweet souls.  

I just today finished cleaning, purging, giving away, and re-organizing years of stored, displayed, and restored Christmas items.  By golly, I think I may be a bit compulsive:  “Bunco gift from Denise, 2000″ was printed on the box containing a charming Santa holding a little red-haired girl on his knee.  “Made by the Siebel girls, 1987″ on a tiny box protecting a dog biscuit reindeer.  Needless to say, 30 years of sentiment needs care, but the ax did fall on many (I did take some photos).  Every meaningful item tucked away for who-knows-what… grandkids, perhaps.  Now I can start my Christmas newsletter.. ha!  

Several recent deaths put me in a bit of a funk.   

Akum Ivancovich enjoyed a rich life, and enriched my life.  Known as Al, he was a member of our church family and sat in the same back row seat for years.  He was a magnet for handshakes and hugs…. not necessarily being the beneficiary, but more the provider of warmth and love.  His smile was consistent and sincere and could melt the troubles out of anyone’s heart.  He was 92 and had a beautiful death; we should all be so fortunate.   

Amber Zavala was starting to enjoy her life at 23 when a former boyfriend murdered her and later took his own life.  He was a cage fighter which is one of those things in life I don’t understand.  Amber’s death was horrible; hundreds of young friends were shattered by their loss of such a talented and beautiful person.  Her memorial service included something I had never experienced before; our friend read short essays written by Amber’s Sisters, brothers, and her Mother.  After reading the words from her Mother, a somewhat current post from Amber’s blog was read and the timeliness was uncanny; one would think Amber had written it for her service. Don’t know why I felt like sharing that.  

We are up to our earpits in basketball right now, and our little valley school is headed down glory trail if they can sustain their motivation and courage… no one expected this from us.  And, my two little six-foot-three sophomores are getting the ride of their lives.    

Sorry, I couldn’t resist… after all, I am his Number One Fan!  He looks like he’s levitating; he helped turnover the ball after the photo was taken.  School starts on Monday following a three-week holiday….routine sounds welcoming at this time, but I’m sure we’ll soon tire of it.  

So Holley’s post and happy e-mail put a fire under my post-holiday-elevated-cholesterol butt.   I have so missed my good e-buddies, I would sneak a peek every once in a while, but was so on the run I couldn’t put myself into it.  I still have yet to find my place, after two years; journal, photos, reveal, conceal… I’ll keep working on it, but only because I miss you guys so much…. 

Feel the love, jen  

  Gobstoppers have no cholesterol!

A Tidbit for Karen & Dorsey’s Entertainment

I’m exhausted after a 32-year walk down memory lane…  Here are some pics from the Apple Festival Debi and I enjoyed.

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You probably need this guy more than we do…

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They want it back!

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Jose Cabezas and Ancient Winds are one of the reasons I attend the festival every year; he and his family are beautiful and very talented.  (Ref the following link:

 http://www.ancientwinds.com/JoseCabezas.html

We had a wonderful time and Debi got to meet a lot of my friends and neighbors. 

Road Trip with Mom

Road out to Meteor Crater off I-40.

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 Meteor Crater in Arizona

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Myself (portrait).

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My sweet Mom at a rest stop near Flagstaff, AZ.

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 Yeah, it’s real.  I shot this at one of the rest stops in Arizona.

I love my Mom.  She comes to visit us, see her grandkids and then I drive her to my brother’s place in Snowflake, Arizona.   A fun girl’s trip.  On the way home, we went by Laughlin, Nevada and stayed in the Colorado Queen casino ($27/night inc. tax!).    We didn’t gamble, but we ate well and checked out Bullhead City, Arizona where I had my first job working as a waitress at Katherine’s Landing on Lake Mojave in 1969.  I really loved the time we had together.

More Left Unseen, A Song for Our Rose

While visiting the Handyman’s site, I think I fell into a trap and got tagged by his meme.  Trying to follow directions, I am to write about our beloved Average Jane.   To post about Jane under any other circumstance would be simple, however, after reading the others’ comments, I find the opportunity to be difficult (in a worthy sense). 

Her physical beauty is apparent and is nice, but I admit that what I first noticed about “Average Jane” is her talent.   But, her talent is also obvious.  

I would like to write about some feelings I have had about Jane.  Physically impossible or not, I have felt connected to Jane.  I have felt her spirit on various levels.  Jane is one of the deepest people I “know” and I have felt her depth.  I envy her keen sense of humor.  I’m reduced to writing short, simple sentences while basking in her light.  When I wondered what I could say that would reflect my vision of Jane, some lyrics popped into my head.  I looked them up, read them, and like they way they represent how I see our dear Jane.  If I could, I would sing them to you, sweetheart.  Read them and feel our love.

Some say love it is a river
That drowns the tender reed.
Some say love it is a razor
That leaves your soul to bleed.

Some say love it is a hunger
An endless, aching need
I say love it is a flower,
And you its only seed.

It’s the heart afraid of breaking
That never learns to dance
It’s the dream afraid of waking
That never takes the chance

It’s the one who won’t be taken,
Who cannot seem to give
And the soul afraid of dying
That never learns to live.

When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been too long.
And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong.

Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed that with the sun’s love,
In the spring, becomes the rose.

The Rose, lyrics by Bette Midler 

Feel the love, jen

At Last! I Dreamed!

To say that my plate is full would be a grand understatement.  The contents of my plate are trailing me.  I’m tired quite often, I know what I need to do, but thus far have been unable to successfully motivate myself. 

 Well, that was uncalled for.  I am up late posting this before I completely forget what it was that I wanted to write about… that would be a dream I had today.  This is the first dream, at least that I can remember having, in over a year.

Up at 4:45 am this morning with the rubber hitting the pavement all day.  I returned home from erands and meetings in a not-so-nearby city (45 minutes away), and after unloading the car, I ate something (I can’t remember… nuts or crackers).  It was about 4:00 pm and I decided to “put my feet up” and take a little rest.  I fell so soundly asleep that I, like Holley, experienced that paralyzed state of sleep.

I remember enjoying a very wonderful dream.  It was not dramatic, nor exciting, but more of a Gatsby kind of dream.  It took place at what I believed to be my home, outside by a swimming pool.  Everything was a muted vanila color, the walls, the deck around the pool, the flowing canvas curtains around the porch.  The air temperature was perfect, and the sun was warm, but not hot… it was comfortable in every way.  I must have planned a party, because people started to show up and everyone was so pleasant and happy. 

Then, I got so excited because David Rochester (aka Old Son) showed up.  He was so handsome and his smile so pleasant.  He was kind and gentle and made me feel so very comfortable (even in my vanila colored one-piece swimsuit which I was not even embarrased to be wearing, although I did have a lovely sheer wrap on).   I remember feeling really happy because now I could put a face behind the words.  (I have never trusted my imagination with the pencil drawing I’ve come to know… it’s just not dimentional enough for me, I guess.)

Everything was lovely, fresh fruit, sparkling drinks, light, floating laughter.  And then, it got even better. 

Someone knocked at the gate under the trellis covered with small pink roses.  It was Josh!  (ref:  http://davidrochester.wordpress.com/2007/09/22/to-josh-with-love/ ).

 For the first time in his life, (it seemed to me), David’s face lit up with pure joy.  Josh was grinning and looking around at all of the other guests….what a grand surprise.  Josh and David hugged and started talking about how Josh had managed a trip to California (where my house was).  We all watched like angels, some of us had tears, while Josh and David began catching up on each others’ lives.

Someone turned on a sweet Italian opera and we began to eat, drink and be merry.  I got into the pool and it felt so refreshing, I swam around and visited with people and every once in a while, I’d “check on” David and Josh and feel their happiness. 

The party never ended because I woke up.  What’s funny is that I woke up feeling so pleasant and happy. 

 The only thing that would complete this feeling at this time, would be that you, (all my e-friends), especially David, could have really shared such a pleasant party.

 Feel the love, jenny

Try This…

I am so trying to split off….

 Try this link:

 http://therealpinkfloyd.wordpress.com/?p=8

 Mathman help!

Out Having Fun, Be Back Soon Enough

Love, ya!  e-you later

Visual Recap

Two Weeks Ago, (“Legging up” the mules & conditioning my bottom for the trip this week):

My new friend, Edna, on whose back I sit for this self-portrait.

My friend Carolyn’s big back yard… Edna and I like to take our time….to photograph stuff.

Another self-portrait…. as Edna sees me.

 LAST WEEK:

Oh, how I love heights!  I’m probably the last living dork who stills takes photos of clouds from airplanes… oh, well, I’m sure if I like what I see, I’ll continue to photograph it.

My feet have been very fortunate and have walked on some beautiful parts of this planet.

Exposed Mayan Templo with forest growing atop it; on the Yucatan Pennisula, near Quintana Roo.  Archeologists believe the temples were built about 300-360 AD and modified perhaps five times during their occupation.

 

This big boy was such a flirt.  (He does not live in this cage.)

 That’s it for now, I leave tomorrow at 8:00 am for the backcountry and 7 days of peace and quiet in the mountains (no cell phone reception, oh, darn.)….. ahhhhhh, I’m loosening up just thinking about it.

I can’t wait, however, to catch up on everyone’s blogs.

Feel the love, jenny

Distasteful, but perhaps humorous…

Rest easy, I smellchecked this before posting. 

Today I watched with curious disgust as  my tiny man-dog schooched his bottom across the (beautiful and clean) carpet in the office.  “Darnit, TyGurrr has worms!” I announced to no one who wanted to hear it.  I immediately called the vet’s office and after hearing my problem (or, rather, the dog’s problem), the sweet-sounding young woman asked are they tapeworms, or do they look like rice?  Hearing tapeworm and rice in the same sentence upset my stomach.  I told her I hadn’t actually seen a worm, but the schooching seemed to be a fairly good symptom.  She agreed and told me that I needed to bring in a stool sample (for the dog).  “Oh, and it has to be fresh” she added.   I went outside thinking, Oh Crap, literally.  Eureka!  I found what looked like a fresh deposit (it’s not as easy as it sounds when the poo is so small, it dries out quickly (at least in the warm, dry months).  I collected it into a ziploc baggie (yes, I was wearing surgical gloves), and immediately saw what looked to be a tapeworm.  But then, I have never seen a tapeworm.  This looked more like a small cotton cord which had made a journey through a tiny dog.  Well, I’ll take it in to be sure I thought to myself.

As is my custom, I made several errand type stops in town.   I got into my car preparing to make the last stop at the vet’s, and as I got into the car, I thought I heard something drop out of my driver’s side door as I closed it.  I opened the door and looked down, but saw nothing, so I started to back up.  I heard a strange POP!  And a very uneasy feeling crept over me.  I backed out ever so slowly and for a moment hesitated to look, and there it was, a flattened mess of fresh dog poo with a string running through it, all still in the baggie (sandwich size).   The baggie must have fallen out and under the car, and I had run over it.  I  suffered  temporary insanity as I left the scene of the crime.  I have never left poo anywhere, ever… until today.  What will someone think?

So the ordeal reminded me of my neighbor’s dog, a little guy named Surfer.  This was back in the 60’s when I was around 12.  A bunch of us kids were playing in the street after dinner, like we did every night in the summer, when an older boy noticed a string hanging out of Surfer’s bottom.  He called Surfer over and we all speculated about the string, which was about 3 inches long.  Suddenly, the boy grabbed the string and pulled, Surfer yiped and took off leaving the boy holding another 9 inches of “processed” string!  Until today, I had forgotten all about it, and when I rememberd it,  I just knew I had to share this story with Charley and Rachel, at a minimum.

Anything you do after reading this will be better than what happened to Surfer, right?

“Oh, my, I am so sorry!”

This morning I stopped at Home Depot (one of my favorite places to visit from time to time [I really like the smell of the various items {like plant mulch, metal washers, and plastic caution cones}}).  (Brackets added for Charley.)   I have no idea why I love that place, perhaps it makes me feel creative.  I was in asile five (hardware and signs), when after searching way too long, I found what I wanted on a high shelf that  was about 2 inches out of my  reach (standing on my toes with an outstretched arm). 

There were three men in the immediate area; one on a cellphone, one kneeling low to look at some washers, and the third was squatting and reading a label.  I tried to size them up to see which of the three would be the tallest and most likely to get the item I needed.  The man on the cellphone completed his call, and was standing, so I asked him if he could reach that shelf, (I knew immediately that it was a stupid thing for me to do, but not necessarily why….yet).   Of course the nice man tried to reach the shelf, but was not much taller than me.  He used a pipe type  object to try to drag the item, which was the bottom of a stack of six or so. 

 By this time, the other two men stood up and were clearly taller than my good Samaritan.  This was awkward, I could see they wanted to reach up and get it, but that could have been embarrassing for the nice man.  So, he kept trying and finally gave a good vertical jump with the pipe thing; struck the item and all six came tumbling down…. on top of his hairless head.  Ouch!  He contained the pain quite bravely, but his face turned very red.  The other two guys courteously vanished.  “Oh, my, I am so sorry”, I said.   I thanked him as he  mumbled something and left.

Before becoming so sensitive about my back, I would have climbed up the shelf  and retrieved the item myself, but I am a bit more dependent these days.  I felt very bad, but I learned a lesson; find a step ladder or a service employee.  Oh, the item I so desperately needed….  was “CAUTION” tape; the large and quite heavy roll.