Oreo Cookies and Life!

Thoughts for tonight run rampant.   I was teasing about all the junk food that had come into the house today.  It is always fun to poke a little bit of playful fun, when I was brought back to a reality check.  The familiar voice on the phone reminded me of what really matters.  He has always known how to put things in perspective for me.  "What does it matter?  Does it really matter what we look like at our age?  We are not 17 & 18 any more, even though we shouldn't let ourselves go completely, isn't okay to have an Oreo sometimes?"

Fine!  Point well taken.  I like having a sassy look every once in a while, I like at least attempting to stay healthy, but really...What are my favorite parts of life?  I love my Children!  They are like the frosting in a double stuffed Oreo.  Yes, they have children of their own, but they are ultimately and eternally mine.  I love looking back on my week and knowing that I have talked to each of them this week.  For the most part, they have called me.

I have Jonathan, who is the thinker and no one worries more than him.  He is my first born, my light.  He was a momma's boy, and I hope when I am gone, he will always remember how much I loved him.  Jonathan, will always twist the Oreo apart before eating.

Then comes my Jason!  Always a fun thing to do next, always a spiritual giant.  When I look at him I see what I should have been.  He likes to entertain everyone and does it well.  When he eats an Oreo, it will always be 4 at a time, because, no one is entertained with someone eating just one~

Then my girls, Kaylene.  Probably the closest to me as an adult.  I had to laugh this week as she told me a story of one of her neighbors said, "I would have loved to have known you at 16!" In true Kaylene fashion, she responded, "You're looking at me, I haven't changed."  To this I would say, in many ways you haven't, but in still more ways you have.  You are matured into a woman of Spirit, and love.  You have become the woman I dreamed for you, before you were born.  Kaylene will take a handful of Oreo's to watch something on TV, and then after everyone is in bed absent mindedly will eat another handful while writing her Blog tonight.

Kerilyn, my lover of all.  There has never been an animal or person that she didn't think she could fix.  She truly learned at a young age the principle of unconditional love.  If I could afford to, I would buy her family a ranch on 100 acres, just so she could collect as many animals as she would want.  She is becoming a woman of love.  What more could we ask?  Kerilyn will make a stack of Oreo's and eat all the centers out first and then, maybe finish the cookie.

Then my baby, Kathleen, named after the cousin that I am eternally a part of.  Kathleen is softness, and kindness.  She may not always agree in the beginning, but she lets the spirit speak to her mind and she will always find the right path.  She is my strength on hard days, she has touch the eternities.  Kathleen, will eat 1 Oreo to be polite and possible another if the mood hits.

Then, not last but only my child by Gift, her mother shares her with me because we both love her.  Kristina, she has always walked her on path and has always asked why?  What is there not to love about a woman who has raised two wonderful children by herself.  She is on a path to learn everything she can, and she will.  Kristy?  She will only eat regular Oreo's there is just too much frosting on the double stuffs!

So tonight, I am thankful for my Children, who gave me their spouses to love, and grandchildren, to adore.  I am thankful for friends that help me to understand who I am and what is important.  And the thought for tonight...  Sometimes, it's okay to eat a double stuff Oreo Cookie!  As long as you appreciate the creamy frosting!  Night...

Turning 60!

Since I mentioned my Birthday Bash that I want for my 60th Birthday in the last post, thought you might like details.  Mary has reserved a whole reception hall at one of the Las Vegas Casino's and Hotels.  We checked out the menu when were there last and I am excited!  The room has an outside entrance, so those of you who don't like Casinos can come in that way!

It is going to be pretty close to what I always said I wanted for my funeral!  Sixties music!  Dancing~ laughing and Telling stories. (everything but Funeral Potatoes, something has to be saved for the Big Going away Party) At this point, I don't even care if the stories are true, as long as we have a great time.  Why Vegas?  It's half way between Salt Lake City and San Diego!  Which covers 80% of everyone who has been a part of my life.  Okay, so maybe I like Las Vegas too, and maybe a slot machine or two!

So, if you have ever been a part of my life, or if you would like to be, let us know!  Would love to have it be the biggest event of my life!  It's going to be in the last of September, so no excuses, you have plenty of time to plan!  After all, isn't that what having an important birthday is all about?  Friends, Family and those who should have been friends and family!

That includes, Beth, Dan, Belinda, Charles, Hailey, Tony, Mary, Ricki, Fred, and of course Marc~ the list goes on and on, looking forward to it!

Yep, turning 60 is gonna be fun!

So does this mean I am getting old?

I try to avoid Doctors as often as possible, but since I had several things that needed to be taken care of I decided that I would Take care of them all in one day!  Not sure I would do it again like this.  I have been poked so many times today, I am afraid to drink water, for fear that I may leak!

Started the morning with my favorite plastic surgeon and hand Doctor, Dr. Bishop.  He has seen the inside of my knuckles so many times, I am sure that he would recognize them before he would my face!  He is a lovely man that is kind and gentle, and politely told me that the ache in my finger was because of arthritis...What?  My mom had arthritis, I am way too young, but alas, he told me to take an anti inflammatory and it would feel better.  I even asked him if this was his way of saying I was getting old, and with his wonderful smile, (pretty sure he won some kind of a toothpaste contest) he assured me that even his beautiful wife had arthritis.  Wait a minute...I don't think he answered my question?!

Next was my visit to the Braithwaite Brothers!  Yep, Dentists that are close to the Best anywhere.  I had an appointment to get a filling replaced...I asked why they thought it would need to be replaced, and with their angelic little smiles just said, "Fillings aren't meant to last as long as this one has..."  What?  Did they, in sweet Donny Osmond style, say, my teeth are old?  Confused...  The filling was fast, and yes, painless.  They really are good are what they do.  Little bit depressed that They are the age of my oldest kids!

Then on to my family Doctor for blood work, the yearly ritual I need to have done for my Rx's that I take daily.  Feeling pretty good about it, had fasted just for this purpose.  Checking in went very smoothly and the lab tech was wonderful!  Then it happened, somewhere in the conversation it was said, "Yes, when you get to your age, we like to check your blood yearly without fail.  Okay, not even going there this time, let her put a pretty pink bandage on my arm and I went home to take a nap!

Then an hour later had my last appointment of the day, with my podiatrist, Brandt Gibson, who I love and love his whole family.  He was fixing a problem on my unfixable feet, and after what seemed to be 100 shots, okay so there were probably 2 each foot.  I put on a brave face and talked through the whole procedure.  Overhearing them talking among themselves about how great I do for my age.  Good thing I love them!

So with my finger hurting, my mouth being tender, a small owie on the inside of my elbow and both my feet throbbing, I think I am going to hobble into my bed, and moan myself to sleep, if I were a cat, I would be licking my wounds.

Final thoughts, if you are truly only as old as you feel, then guess what?!  I'm here for the long run!  I will be having the biggest 60th birthday party in September for someone who feels 23!  So am I getting old?  Not if I can help it!  Nite!

21 To do's in your life!

I recently go this list in my email, and have to admit, there are some really good life lessons to be learned.
Enjoy and absorb!

 1.  Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
 2.  Marry a man/woman you love to talk to.  As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other thing that attracted you to them.
 3.  don't believe all you hear, or spend all you have or sleep all you want.  (my personal hard one!)
 4.  When you say, "I love you," mean it.
 5.  When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
 6.  Be engaged at least 6 months before you get married.
 7.  Believe in love at first sight.
 8.  Never laugh at anyone's dreams.  People who don't have dreams don't have much.
 9.  Love deeply and passionately.  You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
10. Don't judge people by their relatives.
11. In disagreements, fight fairly.  No name calling.
12. Talk slowly but think quickly.
13. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"
14. Remember the three R's:  Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.
18.  Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
19. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
20. Smile when picking up the phone.  The caller will hear it in your voice.
21. Spend time alone.

Rental cars

This is my first adventure of writing on my IPad from a little hotel in North Western Nevada. First things first, it was so nice hearing from all my kids on Mothers Day. I am blessed!

So, let's talk rental cars. I prefer putting milage on a rental car than on my car. Let the rental car company pay for the oil change & new tires. So for this wonderful trip, I rented a car, or should I say multiple cars?

First, I make the reservation, so far, pretty easy. Mary drives me to an off airport site to pick up the car...If I use my Debit card for the rental,they will have to charge for the car plus $250. deposit! So, thankfully, Mary offers to use her credit card, to avoid the extra deposit.

Simple so far? Not really...they ask for both of our drivers licenses, mine is California, her's is Washington. This is great they say and tell us the price, same as the Internet! Still going well, until we offer them our Utah address. If we live in Utah, the price just went up? (wait, we are renting the car in Salt Lake, right?). So, Mary gives her old address in Washington, and I pull the Lemons address out of the recesses of my mind, because they of course couldn't use the P.o. Box address that is on my drivers license...

So, now it comes to the car, they have a new computer system, and it is easier for the rental car person to physically walk out to find the car. Descent looking car, seems nice, we sign the papers & I get in the car to leave when I notice, no cruise control, so I go back in and tell them about the lack of Cruise control. To which the young man, actually looks at me and says, "Let me go out and look for you...sometimes these newer cars can be tricky to find." What the heck? Did he really just say, Listen granny, things have changed since the horse and buggy days? Punk!

He comes in amazed..go figure...no cruise control! They then try to trade it out for a different car, that the new computer system, won't let them, because it needs an oil change. So, after more looking out in the wet (pouring rain by this time) they have me take a little SUV, not what I had planned on, but ok. I get in the new car, get on the freeway to go home & pick up my suitcases.

On the freeway, front wipers will only go on slow, and the back windshield wiper wasn't working at all. After I get home I check the back window, and reason it is not working is because it was totally missing. So pack the car and back I go to rental car place. Get there, of course there is now a new agent! I start out by apologizing for having a problem, started to explain, when she said she knew who I was. Great! So if this was a restaurant, my milkshake just got spat in!

She says that she just had another customer call about the same thing, so she believed me, ( so if the other customer hadn't called, I would have been lying??? Finally, I got a great fully operational car, and I just drove 500 miles, stopped just outside of Reno.

Thought for tonight? Maybe taking your own car is worth the price of an oil change! Nite...