This is the cover for my book, Alyndoria, which will be coming out in October!

Some say that today the world as we know it will end. What is on our schedule today? Hubby is playing golf with his best friend. They will compete, haggle, spar, tease, and coach each other on, share a beer at the 19th hole and have a blast. I am going to the college graduation of a dear friend, Who is Kayla who, despite the odds, has accomplished something very important to her. I will talk to most of my kids, do some writing and probably some laundry. Tonight, Hubby and I will cook out on the grill, he'll play horseshoes and friends will drop by. We will laugh, enjoy our incredibly close neighbors on our little dead-end street, and go to sleep tonight wrapped in love.

A normal. happy day full of us being us. If, indeed, tis the 'day of days' what better way to spend it than this?
 

In the midst of earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan, my world here, in my own little nook has been thoroughly rocked. On Sunday, I lost a mentor, a friend, a second mom and the woman I have looked up to for over 40 years. Just before Christmas, she was moved into a Hospice House. At Christmas, she sent me a pair of gold earrings with a diamond chip in them. (Never ostentatious, this woman epitomized classic elegance, style and class.) I've been wearing them ever since. I wrote something back by email that I will share, in part, here. Still trying to write that poem, but I can't. Yet.....

In the midst of earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan, my world here, in my own little nook has been thoroughly rocked. On Sunday, I lost a mentor, a friend, a second mom and the woman I have looked up to for over 40 years. Just before Christmas, she was moved into a Hospice House. At Christmas, she sent me a pair of gold earrings with a diamond chip in them. (Never ostentatious, this woman epitomized classic elegance, style and class.) I've been wearing them ever since. I wrote something back by email that I will share, in part, here. Still trying to write that poem, but I can't. Yet.....

The poet in me wanted to write you a poem, but the thoughts
flowed too fast, and not poetically. I tried, but then decided to just write.

We've known each other for forty years
and in that time you've been a treasured friend, more, a second mom.
I don't pass a flower garden or see roses blooming without thinking of you. The same for whenever
I smell Giorgio perfume or taste maple syrup! Or buy Girl Scout cookies!
Or polish brass. Then again, sometimes I polish the silver just because, I feel
closer to you!

I like to think I've passed on to my kids and grands a bit of the work ethic you instilled,
I know I've succeeded with Cara at least! You've always listened to me and
given me grand advice. Although, some times, I know I haven't quite lived lived up
to your expectations of me, I have always tried because, just as with my mom, I never,
ever wanted to disappoint you.

I love you so deeply, but I know you already know this.

I will treasure the earrings forever. Cara will too when they go to her some day
in the future. Thank you for them and for being my friend.
I want, so badly, to give you a hug right now. Please know I am reaching
out in my heart and giving you the grandest hug ever......



She passed quietly, surrounded by love and family....I am missing her, but I can 'hear' her saying 'get on with stuff....' One very special lady who has and will continue to enrich my life.





 

So we missed the space station, but we were able to see the Space Shuttle Discovery for a moment or three. Kind of a cool feeling...last time to see it fly...end of an era approaching. A shame, really.
 

During a rare visit from the geandkids, they were down in the basement, 'exploring.' A couple of hours later, the youngest came up for a drink and I asked her what they were doing down there.

"We're in the museum, Grand."

"Museum?" I asked.

"Yes, the one with the old trunks and, you know, museum stuff."

No. I really didn't know. Downstairs we went and thus i was transported to the dark ages of 'oldness.'

"What's that? asked Nathan, pointing at a 45 record player.

"And these?" asks Audry holding a stack of 45s. "Old Frisbees?"

"Let's find a plug and I'll show you."

"It doesn't work on batteries? I couldn't find a usb cord," offered Max.

I showed them what all the kids in the fifties and sixties played their music on. Suffice to say they were unimpressed.

"The music is terrible!"

I didn't ask if they were thinking the music itself or the semi-scratchy old Davy Jones 45.

Sigh.

They saw (and knew not to touch unless an adult was there) Grampa's 1966 Ludwigs drum set. "See, grand? That's really old!"

"It is from 1966."

"That's OLD!"

"Look at the old-fashioned rocking horse, Aud!" says Max.

"Wow! It doesn't even look like a horse, much!"

"Ken's great-grandfather carved that," I say, "Look, here's the date -1823."

"I told ya, Grand. You have a museum in the basement!"
 

Finally I have a job! The 'enforced' break was fine for a while, but it was getting old. But I have a job!!! Yay! AND, I'm working for a small press publisher. Life is good!
 

Just got back from having dinner in Ann Arbor with tadpole1 who was over in the states from France dropping her son off at college. We had dinner and oh! we laughed and swapped tales and just had a marvelous time. She is such a super lady and I immediately felt as if I had known her forever just forgot a lot along the way! Wonderful time with her, her friend and two of her children. I so wish we had more time to spend together!
 

Ken's sister and I surprised Ken when he returned from up north. He thought we were painting the living room in greens to match the old green couches and to clash with (NOTHING would match it anyway) dead-pumpkin orange rug. We did the whole HGTV reveal as he had no clue about color, different furniture, the new tv etc!

Check out the video!

Ken and I are proud to announce the birth of our newest granddaughter, Cali, born at 11:03 this morning, 7lbs, 8 oz. Mom and baby doing fine!
 

We are home!!!!! It is beautifully clean, but boxes are stacked on top of boxes and the cleaners are attacking the rugs. Cleaners are delivering the 'rush' stuff today and tonight we get to sleep in our own bed again! (Gonna seem small as we have a full and the hotel bed was a king! lol) but I can't wait!

Next comes the guys to tear out the drywall and redo the heater vents. Then painting every room, ceiling, molding etc. All new colors..yehaaaaa. We are painting ourselves....ah but the end of the tunnel is in sight.

So many folks have emailed me about their drier fires and how they lost their homes. We, clearly, we were most fortunate. But still, our lives have been turned upside down and inside out. Even our minor fire caused emotional upheaval. So glad it is almost over and we are HOME!

My heart goes out to anyone who has had to go through this or worse. Certainly builds character!!!!
 

looks like we'll have to be out of the house for a week or so...with only sporadic internet access. The fire wasn't bad...but the smoke damage was a huge mess.....is a huge mess....feel like my whole life has turned upside down and inside out. Funny the reactions one has when something like this happens. Over all really isn't bad...we could have lost the house or worse and we didn't...but sitting in a hotel worrying over all the clean up still feels so overwhelming.....i could just cry. But I don't have time...sigh....
 

Won't be at the house for a few days at least...fire in the dryer....what a horrendous mess. Whole house full of toxic, greasy smoke. YUCK. House cleaners, special LOUD fans, Out ta here....sigh


 

5:37 pm
I wrote the part below this morning...and it got worse from there...so I decided to take a nap and hopefully wake in a better mood. Well, I was awakened by my daughter's unexpected arrival with a bird of paradise flower and a cool candle oder and a movie. Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Yup...much better mood!


!0:30 am
Pity alert....

It's my birthday today...sigh...fifty-five seems to be bothering me. I look in the mirror and wonder what happened to the me I used to see...some stranger is lurking within that mirror...sigh.

Haven't heard from the kids...we are too broke to do anything...I always make sure that there are special things for those around me on their birthdays ....yet all I hear is 'we're too broke to do anything...sorry...' sheeeeze. doesn't anyone plan ahead anymore? Maybe i shouldn't bother....yeah sure....wouldn't be me.

blahhhhhhh
 

I am now also writing a daily blog concerning writing at:
http://observations.today.com

check it out!
 

4 year birthday --wdc style today. I so love this place...So much has changed in my life since I joined...gone from black to yellow to blue...gone from being single, alone and lost to being loved and married.

I've grown as a person, as a mom, as a friend and as a wife. I've made friends here I consider to be among the dearest friends I have. I worry and love and rejoice with them every bit as much as I do my friend down the street, but then my wdc family is just that~~~family and I love you all!

Happy Birthday to Me! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!
 

For Valentine's Day this year
I gave my love, my husband, my friend
a simple blue notebook.
I started it a year ago,
the day after Valentine's Day.
Every page dated, one for each day
and on each one I had something to say.
For every page, a thought of love,
a reason why I love him.
Who knew when I started that
during the year
we'd get engaged, married too.
Yet every day it came to be
one of my favorite quiet time
and the hardest part was keeping
it to only one little, special, loving thing
and after a while, I simply wrote
what I wanted:
Some days only a word or two,
others a paragraph or three.

I wrote of such things as coffee in bed,
a timely hug, a thoughtful gift
or of understanding noises
when he had no clue what
I was babbling about.
Scribbled some days,
in inks of rainbow hues,
reasons deep, soul depth or shallow,
reasons selfish, loving, sweet.
Three hundred and sixty five reasons
why I have, do and will
love my wonderful, funny, loving
Valentine.
 

That hell has frozen over!!!!!!! Hell, Michigan, that is! Now I KNOW it's cold!
 

Just sprayed some of Mom's Youth Dew or should I say 'blu perfume' around the house. I'd been so blue myself today...really missing Mom...but spraying her perfume around made her instantly HERE Amazing just how MUCH better it made me feel!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!

I love you......