Today while I was at beading group, my phone tweeted and I looked at it and found that my grandsons were using their Ipod touch and had sent me a note on the messenger for Face time. The first message was with their two faces with the caption "I love you grandma! When are you going to come?"
My reply, "I cannot travel in a plane till after April. That is about 12 weeks time. I love you very very much" They wrote, "I love you to" (exact spelling). Me,:Are you two home alone? I am not at home and cannot do face time". they wrote "Mom and dad are not home yet" I suspect that it was Ethan who was writing the notes because I do not think that Oliver can read or write to this extent of exchange. It was thrilling to hear from my grandchildren.
I was contacted by my Aussie friend Jan today. She moved from Lincoln, Nebraska, where I first met her to Salt Lake City, where we caught up with her when we went to the MTC. Now she lives in Gilbert, Az. and was asking me if I wanted to go down there and spend Australia Day with her. I told her that we were holding an Australia Day Party up here and invited her to attend and to stay over with us and go to church with us on Sunday. She is coming and it will be fun.
The upshot of this was that I had to ask my friends at beading if they had a JoAnns coupon they were not going to use so that I could go and get another set of pie tins by Wilton from JoAnns at 40% off. These 40% off coupons are prized. They even have an application on my cell phone that will allow me to access an extra 40% off coupon that their cash register can read...............woohoo! let's hear it for technology!!!
Some 'thinking' person at Wilton seems to have instituted a policy of selling these 4inch pie tins in a pack of 3. What an odd number to sell in a package. Most items come in two's or four's or 6
sixes. What were they 'thinking' by putting these little tins in a pack of three? With Jan coming I needed one more tin so that each of us could have our own pie at the same time rather than cooking three at a time? Who has the time to muck around with three little pies when you have 7 hungry people wanting to have their pie in short order. On the other hand it could be viewed as a smart marketing move - people need four tins so they now have to buy two packs!
I went to water aerobic class this morning and now two of my quilting friends are there with me. One has lost 35 pounds due to attending swim class three times per week. Works for me too!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Two sides of the world
At quilt guild I was surprised to see two of my friends from Copper Basin Ward show up as visitors. I hope that they had a good time and that they decide to join up.
After guild I went over to the Smoki Museum to see the mini quilt show put on by the ladies of the Lonesome Valley quilt guild. It was supposed to be a high tea but we did not see anything that looked like something to eat or drink.
We went to the quilt show to see a massive quilt created out of 1inch pieces of fabric. An elderly man who spent his working life as a dentist, re-created the last supper painted by Leonardo da Vinci . He pixilated the picture and then created the quilt. We looked at it up close and saw the workmanship, then looked at it through a paper towel tube and the picture came alive. We went round the back and looked at the quilting and it was magnificent. On a table in the room he had a sale notice - the Singer Featherweight Sewing machine on which he had created the piece was for sale with the table and at $850 I really doubt if he would have any takers since the going rate for a featherweight is around $400 - $450. No table is worth $400. In any case, the quilt was magnificent and my hat is off to this man for his accomplishment.
Our dinner party last night was really nice. We went to Rosa's Spaghetti and Pizza parlour. It was very noisy and it must have been really difficult for those with hearing aids.
Tonight, Oliver started up the Ipod touch and called me. He really wanted to talk to Grandpa but Grandpa did not answer his phone so Oliver was rather sad that he got me instead. He was talking about his school and he was happy with his accomplishment.
He said that when it is night here it is sunny on the other side of the world. I asked him if he learned that at school, but he said No, I just figured it out. Then he said "Is it bed time in your world?"
After guild I went over to the Smoki Museum to see the mini quilt show put on by the ladies of the Lonesome Valley quilt guild. It was supposed to be a high tea but we did not see anything that looked like something to eat or drink.
We went to the quilt show to see a massive quilt created out of 1inch pieces of fabric. An elderly man who spent his working life as a dentist, re-created the last supper painted by Leonardo da Vinci . He pixilated the picture and then created the quilt. We looked at it up close and saw the workmanship, then looked at it through a paper towel tube and the picture came alive. We went round the back and looked at the quilting and it was magnificent. On a table in the room he had a sale notice - the Singer Featherweight Sewing machine on which he had created the piece was for sale with the table and at $850 I really doubt if he would have any takers since the going rate for a featherweight is around $400 - $450. No table is worth $400. In any case, the quilt was magnificent and my hat is off to this man for his accomplishment.
Our dinner party last night was really nice. We went to Rosa's Spaghetti and Pizza parlour. It was very noisy and it must have been really difficult for those with hearing aids.
Tonight, Oliver started up the Ipod touch and called me. He really wanted to talk to Grandpa but Grandpa did not answer his phone so Oliver was rather sad that he got me instead. He was talking about his school and he was happy with his accomplishment.
He said that when it is night here it is sunny on the other side of the world. I asked him if he learned that at school, but he said No, I just figured it out. Then he said "Is it bed time in your world?"
Sunday, January 20, 2013
It never stops
I went to Beading on Wednesday and one of the ladies suggested that I get a walker for the week I am dealing with the Eye problem. At first I laughed at the idea but later on in the day I was bending over and almost fell - so I guess a walker would be a good idea since I have to keep my head bent over so as to not dislodge the gas bubble they plan to put in my eye to help it heal.
I went to Zumba in the evening but the instructor was not too cool. I think she was a substitute.
On Thrusday 17 I went to breakfast with Juli and then on to Zumba at 9.30am. We had a substitute who is a yoga teacher - now how widely disparate can you get - slow moving Yoga to 'get your butt in gear' Zumba. Bill dragged me to a talk in Prescott Valley about preserving your mental acuity. It was more of a commercial for the rehabilitation center just across the way from the church where we met. It took two hours total - 30 minutes to drive to Prescott Valley, one hour listening to this lady do the live commercial for the rehabilitation center and 30 minutes back to Prescott. He knew I had an appointment with the personal trainer but he insisted that I go with him to Prescott Valley. We got home and there was no time for me to eat lunch, so off I went to the YMCA for the meeting. I needed to go to the store but had to get back home with the car so that he could take it to get the tyres checked. did not get to eat dinner because my friend Andrea came over to take me to a baby shower. It lasted way too long and we got home late and got to bed late and had to get up very early on Friday morning. I was exhausted but off we went to the Genealogy conference in Mesa. On the way to the conference we stopped at a dental office in north Phoenix to check out their services. I need to have two bridges in my mouth. Prior to going on Social Security we had dental insurance but the insurance would not pay for a bridge - they considered it cosmetic. It is not cosmetic - it is essential so that I can chew my food. Well, we have to pay for it out of pocket and the dentist in North Phoenix does it at third of the cost of the one we go to here in Prescott.
We went on to the conference and learned a lot. We stayed in a motel in Tempe and then early the next morning we were back at the conference for 4 more sessions of learning how to do Genealogy.
On the way to the conference on Saturday, our neighbor Carol called up and said that we had a water pipe burst and water was drenching her property. We asked her to call her handy man and she did and he fixed out water leak. Guess we will have a whopping water bill not to mention the cost of the repair.
Today is Sunday, 20th January and in my Sunday School class I teach, we had an interesting lesson. One of the illustrative stories was about a Prince who had been abducted and was being coerced by his captors to do things that ran contrary to his way of life and upbringing. I asked the question "Well, what would happen if he chose to do the wrong things his captors demanded. He would be disobedient to his fathers teachings." The little girl in my class piped up and said, "Well, no princess would marry a disobedient prince."
So there you have it. Obedience trumps everything.
David called up and told us he has now managed to obtain a laptop. Not only a laptop, but a snazzy one that has a terabyte of memory. It makes me wonder how long it will take him to fill that up - probably not too long at all. He also has skype and now we will not be out of range of him at all. He told us that the family he lives with will probably move to Queen Creek. In my mind that is almost to Yuma (meaning it is very far away from Prescott).
Sara and the children have tomorrow off - Martin Luther King Day as well as inauguration day for Barak Obama. Well, I have quilt guild meeting, Zumba, Bill has a doctors appointment and we have been invited to dinner at 5.30pm. Choices are numerous but good choices keep us sane.
I went to Zumba in the evening but the instructor was not too cool. I think she was a substitute.
On Thrusday 17 I went to breakfast with Juli and then on to Zumba at 9.30am. We had a substitute who is a yoga teacher - now how widely disparate can you get - slow moving Yoga to 'get your butt in gear' Zumba. Bill dragged me to a talk in Prescott Valley about preserving your mental acuity. It was more of a commercial for the rehabilitation center just across the way from the church where we met. It took two hours total - 30 minutes to drive to Prescott Valley, one hour listening to this lady do the live commercial for the rehabilitation center and 30 minutes back to Prescott. He knew I had an appointment with the personal trainer but he insisted that I go with him to Prescott Valley. We got home and there was no time for me to eat lunch, so off I went to the YMCA for the meeting. I needed to go to the store but had to get back home with the car so that he could take it to get the tyres checked. did not get to eat dinner because my friend Andrea came over to take me to a baby shower. It lasted way too long and we got home late and got to bed late and had to get up very early on Friday morning. I was exhausted but off we went to the Genealogy conference in Mesa. On the way to the conference we stopped at a dental office in north Phoenix to check out their services. I need to have two bridges in my mouth. Prior to going on Social Security we had dental insurance but the insurance would not pay for a bridge - they considered it cosmetic. It is not cosmetic - it is essential so that I can chew my food. Well, we have to pay for it out of pocket and the dentist in North Phoenix does it at third of the cost of the one we go to here in Prescott.
We went on to the conference and learned a lot. We stayed in a motel in Tempe and then early the next morning we were back at the conference for 4 more sessions of learning how to do Genealogy.
On the way to the conference on Saturday, our neighbor Carol called up and said that we had a water pipe burst and water was drenching her property. We asked her to call her handy man and she did and he fixed out water leak. Guess we will have a whopping water bill not to mention the cost of the repair.
Today is Sunday, 20th January and in my Sunday School class I teach, we had an interesting lesson. One of the illustrative stories was about a Prince who had been abducted and was being coerced by his captors to do things that ran contrary to his way of life and upbringing. I asked the question "Well, what would happen if he chose to do the wrong things his captors demanded. He would be disobedient to his fathers teachings." The little girl in my class piped up and said, "Well, no princess would marry a disobedient prince."
So there you have it. Obedience trumps everything.
David called up and told us he has now managed to obtain a laptop. Not only a laptop, but a snazzy one that has a terabyte of memory. It makes me wonder how long it will take him to fill that up - probably not too long at all. He also has skype and now we will not be out of range of him at all. He told us that the family he lives with will probably move to Queen Creek. In my mind that is almost to Yuma (meaning it is very far away from Prescott).
Sara and the children have tomorrow off - Martin Luther King Day as well as inauguration day for Barak Obama. Well, I have quilt guild meeting, Zumba, Bill has a doctors appointment and we have been invited to dinner at 5.30pm. Choices are numerous but good choices keep us sane.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Tennis on the TV
When I was in Newtown State School in Toowoomba, my mother had me take tennis lessons from Ross Hedge who had his own Tennis Shop downtown. His name was big in Toowoomba Tennis. Well, my efforts were the best I could do, but I was rather un-coordinated and had a "hole in my racquet" and so I never made it to the Davis Cup Tennis Match. My racquet had what my father called "Catgut" strings so I could not get it wet at all. My lessons were a painful reminder that I was not cut out for any athletic course in life.
So, we have Satellite TV service and the Australian Open is on the TV and I have been able to watch just what can be done with a tennis racquet and little yellow ball. Scoring is a total mystery to me and what is an even bigger mystery is the way in which the players groan, grunt, yelp, moan, squeal, gasp, whistle and go "UGH" as they belt the ball to the other side of the court. Does the noise indicate strength of return or is it a way of throwing off your opponent? The gallery also is quite noisy. One Australian girl was on the court and a bunch of admirers kept yelling, "Go, Aussie, Go!" This is rather staid from the football games I attended when I was younger in Australia when the cheering got louder and louder with the yell, "have a go, ya mug."
or "Why'd ya drop it ya drongo" and other epithets. Of course the football matches at the athletic oval in Toowoomba were not on Television (we did not have TV in those days) but George Lovejoy was perched on top of a van outside the oval doing a play by play over the radio station. I loved hearing the call by George Lovejoy. I have no idea how or why Americans call Gridiron football when they carry the ball.
One thing I noticed is the ladies who play tennis have the muscular development of males and it seems to destroy their femininity. For the first time in my life I saw Serena Williams. She is very tall and very muscular and she creamed her opponent.
I am amazed that they are playing Tennis in the sun - I heard that the temperatures were really hot. Guess it is time for sunblock....................
Tonight we held the first Rootsmagic Genealogy Program group meeting. The local paper outdid themselves by putting a picture prominently on the 'classes for the taking' column, that showed a page of genealogy and the caption under it giving phone numbers of Lee and myself for people to contact. We have had many phone calls about it and we had about 12 persons show up. we are ecstatic at the attendance. Our meeting was really good but did not go as I had planned, but rather spoke to the needs of the people in attendance. Our goal was not to sell the program to anyone, but to get them to realize that it is a really great idea to get your info into a computer program rather than have boxes of paper pieces with bits of information on them. The question was posed "why this program over the others you mentioned" and one of the ladies in the back row said, "Well, the selling point for me was that this program, more than any others, has received peer reviewed accolades." thanks for that supportive comment.
Well, it is back to watching the ladies belt a little yellow ball back and forth and hear the Australian Cheer Squad yelling encouragement to their favorite player. Go Aussie Go.
So, we have Satellite TV service and the Australian Open is on the TV and I have been able to watch just what can be done with a tennis racquet and little yellow ball. Scoring is a total mystery to me and what is an even bigger mystery is the way in which the players groan, grunt, yelp, moan, squeal, gasp, whistle and go "UGH" as they belt the ball to the other side of the court. Does the noise indicate strength of return or is it a way of throwing off your opponent? The gallery also is quite noisy. One Australian girl was on the court and a bunch of admirers kept yelling, "Go, Aussie, Go!" This is rather staid from the football games I attended when I was younger in Australia when the cheering got louder and louder with the yell, "have a go, ya mug."
or "Why'd ya drop it ya drongo" and other epithets. Of course the football matches at the athletic oval in Toowoomba were not on Television (we did not have TV in those days) but George Lovejoy was perched on top of a van outside the oval doing a play by play over the radio station. I loved hearing the call by George Lovejoy. I have no idea how or why Americans call Gridiron football when they carry the ball.
One thing I noticed is the ladies who play tennis have the muscular development of males and it seems to destroy their femininity. For the first time in my life I saw Serena Williams. She is very tall and very muscular and she creamed her opponent.
I am amazed that they are playing Tennis in the sun - I heard that the temperatures were really hot. Guess it is time for sunblock....................
Tonight we held the first Rootsmagic Genealogy Program group meeting. The local paper outdid themselves by putting a picture prominently on the 'classes for the taking' column, that showed a page of genealogy and the caption under it giving phone numbers of Lee and myself for people to contact. We have had many phone calls about it and we had about 12 persons show up. we are ecstatic at the attendance. Our meeting was really good but did not go as I had planned, but rather spoke to the needs of the people in attendance. Our goal was not to sell the program to anyone, but to get them to realize that it is a really great idea to get your info into a computer program rather than have boxes of paper pieces with bits of information on them. The question was posed "why this program over the others you mentioned" and one of the ladies in the back row said, "Well, the selling point for me was that this program, more than any others, has received peer reviewed accolades." thanks for that supportive comment.
Well, it is back to watching the ladies belt a little yellow ball back and forth and hear the Australian Cheer Squad yelling encouragement to their favorite player. Go Aussie Go.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
The first 8 days of 2013
Today is the 9th January, 2013, 6.30am. Already we have burned
through 8 days of the new year and what have we to show for it? Well
Jacob has started a new job; Oliver has had a good case of Pink Eye;
Sara is still pregnant and still very fatigued but has to go to work
each day; Ethan still goes to gymnastics and takes piano lessons; Lyla
still goes to pre school at the UNL campus; David still lives in the
ADHD home: Bill still goes to work two days per week; I try to keep up
with the house and quilt guild, beading group, Zumba classes and
watching my diet. Whew!
We went to see Lincoln. Daniel Day Lewis did a good job portraying this iconic man. The film portrayed the wheeling and dealing that takes place to get political agendas pushed to the front. We have just come through the fiscal cliff drama in Washington and I am not so sure we survived but the best any citizen can do is to vote for the man they think will do the best job and hope for the best. I know that I do not wish to become involved with politics.
We went to see Les Miserables movie. I think the actors were well cast but it is evident that Hugh Jackman, aside from being ruggedly handsome, is not a trained singer. In the scene between him and Colm Wilkinson it is readily evident that Colm is a professional singer and Hugh tried his best. I do not like Russell Crowe but he made an excellent Javier and I was very glad when he jumped off the bridge. Sasha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter played the inn keeper and his wife to cartoon-ish perfection. Although, I rather like the Inn Keeper and his wife to be portly from eating the best and in excess. Cohen and Carter are wispy in build but the cartoon-ish nature of their makeup was garish and they carried off their parts well. (Carter did an excellent job as a witch in Harry Potter and Cohen did an excellent job in Hugo.
Both films were very intense and there was not a sound from the audience. Not too many movies hold people spellbound these days but these two movies drew us in from the first scene and we did not move a muscle till the ending credits rolled.
Yesterday we said goodbye to the Italian student who has been staying at my friend Juli's house. He is 17 and by now should be at 35,000ft above the earth on his way back to Italy. About 6 students from Prescott High came to see him off. What a marvelous experience he has had coming to the USA to study for a semester and experience American High School.
I had been asked to go to the Family History Center and meet with two people who wish to start on their family history. That also was intense for me because it is almost 18 months since I was actively doing research and helping people with their family history. I really am rusty and have to do a lot of work to catch up.
Just like Forrest Gump says, life is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you are getting.
I love Chocolate.
We went to see Lincoln. Daniel Day Lewis did a good job portraying this iconic man. The film portrayed the wheeling and dealing that takes place to get political agendas pushed to the front. We have just come through the fiscal cliff drama in Washington and I am not so sure we survived but the best any citizen can do is to vote for the man they think will do the best job and hope for the best. I know that I do not wish to become involved with politics.
We went to see Les Miserables movie. I think the actors were well cast but it is evident that Hugh Jackman, aside from being ruggedly handsome, is not a trained singer. In the scene between him and Colm Wilkinson it is readily evident that Colm is a professional singer and Hugh tried his best. I do not like Russell Crowe but he made an excellent Javier and I was very glad when he jumped off the bridge. Sasha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter played the inn keeper and his wife to cartoon-ish perfection. Although, I rather like the Inn Keeper and his wife to be portly from eating the best and in excess. Cohen and Carter are wispy in build but the cartoon-ish nature of their makeup was garish and they carried off their parts well. (Carter did an excellent job as a witch in Harry Potter and Cohen did an excellent job in Hugo.
Both films were very intense and there was not a sound from the audience. Not too many movies hold people spellbound these days but these two movies drew us in from the first scene and we did not move a muscle till the ending credits rolled.
Yesterday we said goodbye to the Italian student who has been staying at my friend Juli's house. He is 17 and by now should be at 35,000ft above the earth on his way back to Italy. About 6 students from Prescott High came to see him off. What a marvelous experience he has had coming to the USA to study for a semester and experience American High School.
I had been asked to go to the Family History Center and meet with two people who wish to start on their family history. That also was intense for me because it is almost 18 months since I was actively doing research and helping people with their family history. I really am rusty and have to do a lot of work to catch up.
Just like Forrest Gump says, life is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you are getting.
I love Chocolate.
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