MoM

My Mom's 80th birthday would have been today. I miss my MoM---guess it doesn't matter how old we are, we still need our Mom. Happy Birthday, Mom!! I love you!!

Peace & Quiet?

Okayyy, Dazy is in her kennel, Greg is in bed, Clover just headed upstairs, Sarge is still hiding under the table, & Chcio is lying at the bottom of the stove waiting for me to go upstairs. I'm thinking that I need to go wash my hands then have a glass of wine. Hummm, not sure that I have wine that I like--going to go check. I'm thinking that any wine will do! ;-) Nighty-night!

MOUSE!!

Okay, things just got worse!!!!!!!!!! Dazy came through the dog door & presented me with a DEAD MOUSE!! YIKES!! Then she preceded to run around the kitchen with it in her mouth as I ran screaming after her to 'LET IT GO!!!' I'm not sure who is more traumitized--Dazy or Nana? Nana ended up with the dead mouse--now what?! Dazy is going out to go potty & going to bed---maybe indefinitely!!

Dazy

I'm afraid that Dazy has been exposed to some very bad habits at Nana & Grandpa's house. I really don't believe that it's all our fault since we have had to give her medicine (capsule-style twice daily). She has become very good at mouthing her food around until she spits out the medicine capsules! So, I decided that I would make eating treats a competion---VERY bad idea!! I'm surprised that Chico is still alive! For some reason, Dazy & Chico always seem to want the same treat :-(! There have been some very scary brawls going on in my kitchen at dinner time & pill time! Sarge just hides out under the kitchen table & only darts out occasionally to grab a treat that he is pretty sure someone (namely Dazy) has forgotten about.). I'm beginning to think that I'm going to hang under the table with him! Looking forward to Tuesday. Have to add Grandpa's comment tonight---"I REALLY like that dog (Dazy)! I think he is becoming senile!

Dazy

An update as to Dazy's stay with Nana & Grandpa while Mommy & Daddy & Lucy & Lilybeth are on vacation in North Carolina. The pup is getting very bored with Nana & Grandpa's routine. She seems to be missing the chaos & activity that her two 'sisters' create at home every day. She whined a lot yesterday. Today she has been sleeping a lot. I took her outside to play today, but she wasn't too interested in the football--she did chase the giant frisbee a few times. She is definitely eating well!! I have cleaned up at least 10 poopies today from her alone. My dogs are only once a day poopers, but they are all adults & are not interested in eating anything & everything that they see! ;-) Grandpa plays with her every day & has wounds to prove it! Dazy definitely misses her family, but seems to be adjusting to living with Nana & Grandpa. Dazy, Nana, & Grandpa are all looking forward to Tuesday!

Lost Friend

I'm sitting here at the beginning of a new day & again am mourning the loss of my friend. He died 7 months ago today. I was just sitting here playing around on facebook when I had this melancholy feeling. I had no idea that this was the day he died 7 months ago until I looked at the calender. I miss you, Bob!

Greg's 42nd Hi-School Reunion

Greg told me a few months ago that a few of his old high school buddies were going to get together for dinner in Bountiful, Ut sometime in the future. Since I had met a few of them during our dating years (I mean months!), I thought, okay, I can do that. I hate huge gatherings of people I don't know! Believe it or not, I am a bit shy---hard for anyone who knows me to believe!! I think Jill would understand although she would be surprised to hear this from me. Anyway, it turned out to be a gathering of at least 100 people!! I knew 1 of them!!! He had a wonderful time reconnecting with friends from his high school days--guy friends & "girl friends". I got to meet one of his old girlfriends -- that he admiited to! (he hugged a lot of ladies--I'd dare to bet there were several that had been his girlfriends!). Her name is Mary Ann--interesting--she seems to be such a sweet, quiet person--she has 8 children & I think she said 14? grandchildren. I was really surprised that she was one of Greg's girlfriends. I asked him about it on the way home to Grace--he said she was always too nice. I told him that was why he was attracted to me--because I'm such a sweet, quiet, nice person & that I reminded him of Mary Ann!! He also told me that I was the prettiest women there--he obviously hasn't lost his touch! ;-)

Pig Wrestling

My husband has totally lost his mind!! I'm sure of it now. On August 4th at the Caribou County Fair, he & 4 other equally as insane men tried to put a 285# pig in a barrel. They had 1 minute to do this in slippery gooey stuff. They couldn't even take a step in the stuff let alone pick up a 285# pig!!! I'm thinking that there are a lot of people in Caribou County that are starting to question the sanity of their local neiborhood pharmacist! Wish I knew how to post pictures--probably a good thing! ;-)

It's so hard to remember 7 years ago tonight--yet so hard to forget. My dying Mother lying in a fetal position in her hospital bed where she had been for nearly 2 weeks. Dying. Sometimes, I felt that I was dying, too. I definitely knew that a part of me would never be the same. My heart was breaking for my Mom & the healthy long life of a loving Mother, Grandma, & Great-Grandma that had been cut short by Parkinson's Disease. My heart was breaking for my Dad. He was losing the love of his life, his companion for over 50 years, the mother of his children. This awesome man has been through so much in his life. As a child, he had Polio--he amazingly recovered! He had his ears frozen as a child & the doctors thought he would lose them--he didn't. His stories about WWII are unnerving--malaria, accidents,battlefield--just being in Europe during the War. Their love was so ever present in that sterile hospital room. He just wanted to touch her & make her feel better--such a gentle man! Life has gone on since that heart-wrenching night. I am now a Grandma!!! NaNa actually! I have 4 beautiful grandchildren (I am NOT prejudiced"!)--2 boys & 2 girls. I do believe that my MoM kissed them all on their foreheads & sent them down to earth to be a part of our lives. She probably whispered in their ears & said "your NaNa will love you no matter what--but for goodness sakes!! Do NOT use her as a role model!" My Dad met My Stepmom Jean 5 years ago. She's such an awesome & fun person! She has given him a reason to live on for her & the rest of us. I LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH, MoM i"ll miss you forever

Indepence Day

Another Independence Day has come & gone. I have memories of an Independence Day of almost seven years ago. On July 4th, seven years ago, we sat at my Mother's bedside watching her painfully slipping away from us. On July 1oth, our Mom passed away. Independence has taken on a whole new meaning. On June 22 of this year, we lost our little Bandit who would have turned 17 this month. He, too, has found his Independence. Here is the poem written by my niece, Melissa, for my Mom. GRANDMA'S INDEPENDENCE DAY


Grandma's Independence Day will be sad, yet sweet, I'd say.
Her dependency was brought on by Parkinson's Disease.
Grandma's courage was amazing as her limbs began to sieze.
With trembling hands, Grandma did her best
To take good care of her humble nest.
But as time went on her dependency grew.
Grandpa stepped in and did what she couldn't now do.
Grandma's mind was still sharp,her quick wit still strong.
You could always count on Grandma to sing you a song.
With determination and love, she made the best of each day.
While her body would trap her in an unthinkable way.
So, here we are now in the hospital room.
We're so full of sadness, heartache and gloom.

Grandma's time is drawing near. Her body is now failing.
At times, it feels our hearts will break. The grief is overwhelming.

While working through emotions, an image filled my mind.

There was Grandma, flying! No signs of Parkinson's could I find!

I realized then what it would mean for her to pass away.

Freedom from illness, what an event!
Grandma's Independence Day!
Her beautiful spirit will color the sky
Like a magnificent firework on the Fourth of July!

So, it's okay, Grandma. Spread your wings, Fly to the Heavens and do glorious things!
We'll miss you so much! Oh, how we will! But, grateful we'll be that you're no longer ill.
Now as one journey ends and a new one begins, I guess I'd have to say,
Freedom rings for you, Grandma!! We Love You So Much! HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!

Bandit--Deets-DiddleBug-The Deeto

I'm sitting here tonight getting ready to write a eulogy about a dear friend & companion that I have known for 16 years or so. He passed away today. His name was Sir Bandit something other of something other according to his pedigree. To the family that loved him & shared our lives with him, he was affectionately known as Deets. He was a very feisty little Miniature Pinscher that never weighed more than 10#s tops. He thought he weighed in at around 100#s! As my "pack" of dogs started to grow (he was the first), he quickly established who was "The Boss". No one messed with Bandit! Even his humans respected him---many of us sport scars on noses or lips that occurred when we got too close to his mouth--maybe our breath smelled bad to him--I don't know--but we quickly learned to keep him at a distance from our faces when we held him on our laps (which he loved!!). I offer sincere appologies & thanks to all of you who have braved being Bandit's friends. My heart hurts tonight & I am so sad, but I do know that Greg & I did the right thing by helping him on his way. He is finally pain & confusion-free. When Jeff read that Deets was gone--he made the comment that he figured Deets was about 114 yrs old in dog years!! I agree--he looked every one of those years today as I watched him have his final day on this earth. We have so many fun memories of this little dog! We will miss him--I think Greg will really miss him!! They've watched a lot of golf & movies together!! If Greg was in a chair watching TV, Deets was with him. Goodbye Little Guy!!! We LOVE YOU!!!

SleepOver

We had sooo much fun with Lucy on her first sleepover at Grampa & Nana's house. She just never ceases to amaze us with her zest for life & learning new things! She learns things so quickly!

!

We had such a fun weekend in Bellevue/Sun Valley! I am sooo proud of Jill & Jeff! Jeff ran the Sun Valley half marathon & came in 8th place--first in his age group--way to go!! Jill ran her first 12K & came in 11th place--way to go!! WoW!!! John is also hiking & running & is in awesome shape! I am soo proud of all of my children! Greg golfs almost every day. I think it's time for NaNa to get on board! I'm tired of being tired; &, I think that if I become more active, I won't be as tired anymore! On to the next generation--my grandkids! They truly are the most fun little beings that have ever come into my life! Cade, Lucy, Lilybeth, Seth. Mothers have this extremely protective feeling for their children. The way I feel about my grandkids is even stronger than that feeling!?! Who knew?

Sylvia & baby mice

I've had a 'harrowing' evening! My cat, Sylvia, she belonged to Jill, but that was my fault, so now she belongs to me, has been bringing baby mice into the house!! I only saw one--AT FIRST! She played around the kitchen table with the poor little baby as I was checking my e-mail on my laptop that was sitting on the same table that Sylvia was chasing the baby mouse around (my feet have been permanently planted on a stool at the breakfast bar). I decided that was enough & that I had to save the poor baby! Scared baby mice are extremely hard to catch! As I lifted up the dog beds to find the poor little baby, I found that there was not 1 but 2 baby mice clinging to the dog bed! Baby mice are especially hard to catch when there are several dogs that are trying to get involved in the chase. I finally caught one with my "suede-gloved" hand (I don't like to be bitten by rodents!). I threw it out on the front lawn--it pretended to be dead--but was not there when I checked a minute later. Sylvia brought another baby in--it appeared to be dead--I threw it out on the front lawn. She's still out hunting. There is one baby mouse at large in my house! I rue the day I met Mouse!

Mother's Day

Had a wonderful weekend with the loves of my life---my family!! The best gift I received was to have all 4 of my beautiful grandchildren here for the weekend & to have their Great-Grandpa my Dad) & his beautiful wife, Great-Grandma Jean, here for Mother's Day dinner on Saturday. (I have got to figure out how to put pictures on my blog!) Thank you all for being here--XOXOXOXO!!!

I am SOOO looking forward to this weekend! I'm going to spend time with my beautiful granddaughters & the sun is supposed to shine! YAYYYY! We are all so ready for Summer--Spring sucks! I have been struggling with depression due to weather. I am sooo ready to see my girls & get out of this downslide

Spring In Grace

Okayyy, it's 11:13 pm on Tuesday, April 14, 2009, the snow is coming down at a steady rate. That means it's coming straight down--no wind. The grass that was kindof starting to get green is now starting to get white (again!). Okayy, I'm starting to wish that I'm about 15 years younger & looking out my kitchen window & seeing this spring snow storm with glee! I'm knowing that this weekend I will find one of the best adventures of my life---oops, back to reality. My snowmobiling adventures are over. But my memories will live on in my "backpack" foreverl

Easter

Greg & I spent Saturday evening & Sunday till around 4 pm with our two beautiful grandsons. Jamie & Jeff were around occasionally, too! ;) We love spending time with those little guys. And, I think they kind of like spending time with us, too. It takes Seth a little while to warm up to us; but, once he does, he's a happy, giggling, smiling little guy. My heart just melts when he smiles at me with those huge blue eyes that remind me so much of my Dad's eyes. We had a wonderful brunch with Jeff, Jamie, the boys, Barb, Kevin, & Marianna on Easter. Barb made awesome "Dutch " pancakes & omeletes for us. The rest of us supplied various other goodies to compiment the wonderful main course. Okay, enough with the food (I'm starting to get hungry!).
When it was time for us to leave, Cade started to cry. He does this almost every time we see him, & my heart feels like it will actually BREAK! This emotion is like nothing I have ever experienced before. I can't help him, I can't fix it. It's about the most helpless feeling I have ever felt! He & I both had tears streaming down our faces as Dada & Grandpa directed us in opposite directions--Cade to Dada's arms & me to the truck to return home to Grace. Sigh,,,,,,,,,,,

Sunflowers REALLY do make me HAPPY!! :) But not as happy as being with my grandkids!

Thanks to Jill, I finally have a new look for spring! It kind of represents my mood. There are the original signs of spring with a little bit of darkness. I'm still struggling with my sadness over Bob's death--I had no idea I'd miss him this much. Each time I pass the warehouse & see the door open I'm looking for him. When we go to Bergy's for lunch, I'm looking up everytime the door opens expecting to see him come barging in &, not ordering, but demanding his lunch, then coming over to our table to tell us of his latest snowmobiling adventure. I believe that we--anyway,I--lived vicariously through Bob. Although we weren't able to go to the places he went anymore, it was so much fun just to listen to him relating his latest trip out to conquer the mountains! I really do miss our buddy.

Deets

Here I sit looking at a somewhat blank screen trying to compose thoughts about Bandit--my oldest dog. He is lying here on my lap & is wrapped up in my favorite blanket (&, I beleive he is farting quietly & leaving the scent of his most recent meal all over my favorite blanket!). I remember the day he became a member of our family so well--it's like it happened yesterday!! I'm sure Jill also remembers it


well! I'm starting to feel quite protective of Bandit. He has always been perfectly able to take care of himself within the pack (all 7 lbs of him!). I think he still can pretty well intimidate any one of the other 3 dogs in our pack! But, he will soon (in June) be 17 years old!! Do you have any idea how old that is in dog years?! This little dog has given us so many laughs through the years. His spirit--his ability to make all of us be his servants--taking food away from all of the other dogs in the pack just by raising his lips in a snarl! Good grief!! That was really something to watch!! Deets at 7 lbs & Clover at 90 lbs! Guess who caved on that one!

Idaho Spring

I'm sitting here staring out the window watching one of those awesome spring snowstorms that make us all who live in southeastern Idaho say "WHY DO I LIVE HERE?!!" (Yes, I know! I'm blogging, too! I am a female & can multitask!) Anywayyy, we have probably had a total of at least 14" of snow fall within the last 24 hours. Some of it has melted since the temperature rose above freezing during the middle part of the day, but there is still a lot on the ground & it's piling up again. I keep thinking how excited Bob would be! He'd be bouncing off the walls & so impatient for the snow to stop so that he could go out & mark up some 'virgin' hills & mountains! I can imagine him trying to decide which of his playgrounds he would want to go to first & who he would call to come & share the fun! He'd probably be figuring that he wanted to 'mark up' the areas that he knew that the working crowd wouldn't be able to hit until the weekend & then hit the 'expert' areas on the days following. I miss Bob. I think of him every day & remember the fun & exciting times that we all shared together.

BOB-part 3

Well, I just shared my blogs about Bob with Greg, & he informed me that we did not call Bob "the Scout". Greg called him "Rover". I obviously had a totally different description of him! Geez! No wonder we got into so much trouble when we followed him around!! Anywayyyyy, I'm still gonna miss him a lot--my buddy,my friend. By the way, did I say that I hope that there are snowmobiles in heaven? If there aren't any, he ain't staying there!!!!!!!!i'mstillfeelingsadmissingbob

BOB-part 2

Anywayyy--we have snowmobiled with Bob ALL over Caribou county & most of Bear Lake county, lots of Wyoming, & some of Utah. We've spent many hours in the cab of our pickup truck just having fun guessing what group was singing each song on the radio--Bob almost always knew the band before we did--although Greg usually came in a close 2nd. I'm an idiot when it comes to details--I only know the words to the songs not who wrote or recorded it! (What's more important anyway?!). I always felt so sad when we'd unload his sled & drop him off at his warehouse. I knew he had no one to go home to; but, I guess that's the way he wanted it. I have so many memories that are flooding through my mind. Greg, & Bob, & I sledded together for so many years. I had to stop about 10 or so years ago because of DDD & I think Greg was relieved--Bob & I were always scheming to go out after the first snowfall of the season or trying to figure out how long we were going to be able to get through the mud & up the mountain at Strawberry. Bless his heart, Greg would shake his head & load up the sleds. I'll miss Bob. Just seeing him around town every other day or so always made me smile because it made remember that because of him I have some awesome memories!! THANKS, BOB!!!!!!!!!

BOB-part 1

Greg & I lost a dear friend on Friday. BoB. He died at the age of 55 in an avalanche doing what he loved to do most--snomobiling in the Wyoming mountains. Bob was what some people called a chore, a pain in the butt, annoying--the list could go on that way for quite a long time; but, the guy was our friend & would do anything for anybody that needed something & then more. He really had a heart of gold. We have so many memories of snowmobiling with Bob. We called him the "Scout" since he always wanted to go places that I was nervous about, so we'd send him out to check to see if he was sure Marian on her little Phazer could make it. He usually always came back & said "no problem!". That was usually a lie!! He had much more faith in me than I ever had in myself. Poor Greg! He always had to take my wrath when I'd get stuck or wreck my sled when it was really Bob's fault!! (Butthead!) I called him that more than once to his face--never seemed to faze him at all since I'd end up going where ever he wanted to go anyway even though I was bitching all the way! I'll never forget our trips to Dubois,WY & exploring the Wind River Range with Bob--which included snowmobiling to the "Line Shack" & partaking of a wonderful meal washed down with plenty of "Cactus Juice" & then "weaving" our way back down the mountain to the pickup & trailer where Greg usually had his hands full trying to get 2 drunks & 3 snowmobiles loaded & back to Dubois!

Yaaayyy! Jill was here this weekend, & we finally got my background changed. We had such a good weekend with Jill, Stephen, & the girls! They are soooo adorable!! Well, Lucy & Lilybeth are--Mommy & Daddy are just "cute"(?). I love having them come to visit, & I think they like coming to Nana & Grandpa's house, too. The girls seem to be quite comfortable here--that makes me so happy! I've dreamed about being a grandma for so long!! This is truly the best time of my life!!!!!

Greg's 60th Birthday

First of all, I want to apolzige to anyone that follows my blog for my background. I have absolutely no clue how to change it; &, we were so busy the last few days that Jill & I totally spaced it! (Jill takes care of my background with a tiny bit of input from me--thank you, sweetheart! I really do appreciate your taking care of me!!). Anywayyy, this past week (or so) has been a whirlwind of emotions. Jeff turned 33 on Sunday. Greg's 60th (!?!) birthday was Friday, Stephen's 33rd on Saturday & my Dad's 85th will be this next Wednesday! The ladies at the drug store did a fabulous job of celebrating Greg's birthday with Kentucky Fried Chicken (his fave!) & Eileen's famous brownie, chocolate sauce, ice cream dessert (also, his fave!). Jill, Stephen, & the girls surprised him with their arrival to celebrate his birthday late Thursday afternoon. John, Dad, & Jean all came over for a prime rib roast dinner on Friday evening. Then Jeff, Jamie, & the boys arrived later that evening to celebrate the big day. We had a wonderful weekend with the kids & grandkids! Thank you all for being with us for this special day!! Nothing means more to us than our family. We are very tired after all of the excitement & activity, but so happy to have had the chance to share such a special occasion with all of you!!!

My Muttly Crew

Here we go again! My muttly crew has again confounded me! Tonight was Cheeseburger special night at Bergies --long story---okayyyyyyyyyy, I'll relate. Several years ago, I was out of town. On Mondays & Tuesdays, Bergies (the fast food restaurant in our little town of Grace) used to have a 99c cheeseburger special--mustard, ketchup, pickles included. Anywayyyyy, I have no idea how Greg decided that this would be a good way to feed the dogs for one night while I was gone, but he did--thus, Cheeseburger Tuesdays started! There have been many Cheeseburger Tuesdays since then! (I am so grateful for them since that means I don't have to mix & fix their dinners for one night a week!;). By the way, cheeseburgers are now $1.75 each!!!!!!Anywayyy-guess what?! today is cheeseburger Tuesday! The dogs & Greg enjoyed their cheap cheeseburgers while I "dined" on mini shrimp. Of course, I couldn't finish my meal, but Chico kept pawing at my leg--this is unusual--he doesn't do that since he knows I do not feed him from the table. Grudgingly, & knowing that no dog in his right mind would eat shrimp, I gave him a small piece. He took it in his mouth & his litttle eyes looked so happy! I then proceeded to share the rest of my shrimp with the rest of my pack, who also enjoyed the shrimp--who knew that dogs like seafood?! (By the way, Chico ate the most shrimp of all of the Muttly Crew!) And, I'm hungry again!