So what's new?

For 2012.....

2012-01-01T13:22:00.000-06:00

Some thoughts for 2012. from Carol Alexandler "The good life starts when you stop looking for a better one."

Aldous Huxley "Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities."

Laurence J. Peter "Originality is the fine art of remembering what you hear but forgetting where you heard it."

A.A. Milne "The third-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the majority. The second-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the minority. The first-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking."

George Santayana "Fanaticism consists in redoubling your effort when you have forgotten your aim."

Francois de La Rochefoucauld "We all have strength enough to endure the misfortunes of others."

and finally, my favorite from Luke 12:28 "For of those to whom much is given, much is required."

Best to all in 2012. Keep following my life and adventures...

Drive Safely - and best wishes for.......

2011-12-31T14:06:00.000-06:00

Have a wonderful safe evening. Best wishes - good health, happiness and PEACE in 2012. See 'ya and thanx for following my blog.

Cutest Gift

2011-12-24T13:45:00.000-06:00

One of my dear friends/co-volunteer at CRMC collects Nutcrackers. As a matter of fact, I believe one of my December blogs last year featured Carol and her huge collection of nutcrackers. This year she gave me this most wonderful wreath of little nutcrackers. So so so cute! A perfect gift from a perfect friend. Happy Holidays from my Nutcrackers to yours.

It's all about FAMILY!

2011-12-22T12:25:00.000-06:00

Seattle Family here, first 4 pics, then local son and niece, nephew, brother-in-law with the "other red head". What a wonderful evening. Restaurant was down-home, nothing fancy but we were all together. Nephew-in-law was not able to make it and sister would not allow photo - but a grand time was had by all. Our family is scattered by distance - but not by phone calls, email, f.b and mostly by love. It's a great time of the year! Happy to all.

Happy Winter .....

2011-12-21T12:01:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the First Day of Winter. This is the shortest day of the year - when the Sun reaches its most southern point in the sky at local noon. After this date, the days start getting longer. For my friend Gail, whose birthday is today, it means less time to celebrate. Happy Birthday Gail. Enjoy the day and best for 2012.

December 2011

2011-12-16T09:07:00.000-06:00

Ho Ho Ho and away I went....Starting early in December, party at ASCC - then picking darling daughter up at Hobby and sailing away on the Mariner of the Sea for a weeks worth of fun, shopping, eating and making merry. Return home to leave again (different suitcase) for a trip to Shreveport, Louisiana with the wellness group at CRMC for holiday lights and holiday gaming. Returned home for the wellness group holiday party - Santa also invited. Funniest of all, I was voted most colorful and holidayish (sp?). It was my new red Crocs and silly socks from the .99 store that did it. Who would have thought? Next on December's schedule, oldest son, wonderful daughter-in-law and spectacular grandchildren here for a visit. Could not ask for a more blessed December. Happy Happy Happy to everyone, no matter how and if you celebrate. Be grateful for your blessings. Amen.

It's TREE time...

2011-12-01T16:43:00.000-06:00

Bring out the green. It's tree time at Conroe Regional. Every year each department decorates a tree. A few days before the holidays they are distributed to members of the community in need. With the exception of the little tree undecorated, that is my little tree and I will decorate it when I have some extra time. When I first went to CRMC to volunteer, it was this time of the year and seeing all the holiday trees, reinforced my decision to volunteer there. Hard to believe this is going into my 3rd year. I have enjoyed and benefited so much from my time there and along the way I have been blessed to make wonderful friends, both in the Auxiliary and in the Wellness Group. Happy ME!

The Good Old Days.....B'day Boy

2011-11-28T21:05:00.000-06:00

Nothing like a birthday celebrating a special guy who has been married for mucho years to my BFFFF since we were little girls. Actually, our grandmothers were best friends when they were little girls so we definitely have a history. Party was at our old hangout from high school days, James Coney Island in H'town. The dogs were not exactly like they use to be, at least we all agreed our tummies remembered differently, but the DJ was cool, the cupcakes divine and a good time was had by all. And if my BFFFF sees this pic she will probably kill me - not very graceful but hey, a JCHD (James Coney Hot Dog) is just what it is! And the Fritos are a Texas gal's favorite snack'ems. Happy B'day Marv. Hope it is the best ever with many more to come. ( note the sheer pleasure on BFFF's face.)

It's Saturday, 11/26 - Shop your Local Small Business Day

2011-11-26T17:02:00.000-06:00

Being a good citizen, post shopping celebration "Support your local small business". Off I go to downtown Montgomery and one of my favs, DI's Treasure Chest. A really cute little gift shop with a great selection of stuff. Very reasonably priced plus she keeps my favorite Circle E Candles in Santa Fe fragrance. Smells like the piney woods and a fresh clean smell. Plus it does not smell like fresh baked cookies or flowers. Her kitty was on duty and I rubbed his tummy. Montgomery is a treasure of cute shops, antique and otherwise and several very nice tea rooms. Always fun to go down and pick up a gift or such and visit with the local neighbors.

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.....

2011-11-22T12:40:00.000-06:00

May your table be blessed with family, friends, good health and great food. Thank you to all my readers - near and far, new and long standing, I am grateful.
C.

YUM! Delish!

2011-11-19T09:25:00.000-06:00

YUM! New guys in town and what a great place. Really cute decor, nice big t.v's, comfy couch to relax and the very best choices of yogurt and mixes. I had (gasp) dark chocolate mixed with pumpkin pie (of course, it's the holidays) and a dash of white chocolate. My bff Shari had a little of this and a little of that, looked like a rainbow and then she topped it with cheesecake bites. Prices were reasonable and the "team" was very nice. Needless to say, I will definitely return. Already dreaming of my next choice. Stop by and say welcome to the neighborhood. Located next to Chase Bank and Subway on 3083. Have a great weekend. :-)

One picture is worth.....

2011-11-18T10:14:00.000-06:00

$1,779.50 - of course it would not make up for all the losses thru the years, but hey, it was alot of fun listening to the machine make all that noise! My gambling/travel buddies from the Wellness Group at CRMC and I took a 4 night, 5 day trip to Laughlin, NV . The hotel was great, nice people, good food, great gaming and some fun shops. No need to leave the premise at all. My buds in the pic did go with me on a ride down the mighty Colorado, all that water made me miss what use to be our neighborhood lake until the drought. My room looked out on the Colorado River and the beautiful mountain range. I had the best Laughlin had to offer. Would/will definitely take that journey again. :-)

11/11/11 -

2011-11-11T09:18:00.000-06:00

11/11/11 - World War I ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. November 11 became known as Armistice Day holiday the following year. In 1954 President Dwight Eisenhower signed legislation changing the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor veterans of all wars. Bring out your flags and fly them to honor all those veterans who paid the supreme price and are still serving. It's the least we can do - and of course continue to support all of our troops until they return home.

Garden Girls November Luncheon

2011-11-09T10:52:00.000-06:00

Next 2 last luncheon for Garden Girls 2011. We were lucky to have one of our favorite Master
Gardeners, Henry Daniels, speak. He brought along another Master Gardener, Danielle Dawson, who added comments and suggestions to the program also. His presentation about growing Herbs or "erbs" was enjoyable and definitely gave us some ideas on how to grow the perfect Herb Garden. He also gave good info from a recent meeting he attended with Dr. Sadler and the problems being faced at this time by not only April Sound but all of the Lake Conroe area in regard the water/drought situation we are experiencing.

My good news is that one of the new ladies attending has offered to take my co-chair computer position in the new year. It has been a very fun and satisfying time being a chair for Garden Girls but I've over-obligated myself with CRMC and Lynn graciously agreed to take my place. I'll still be active but without the responsibilities. Thanx Lynn. I know you will do well and bring much to the table. HAPPY Gardening to all.

Guess who is coming to the Woodlands?

2011-11-08T08:34:00.000-06:00

TRADER JOE'S......I am soooo excited! I love Trader Joe's. The location will be in Woodlands Crossing Shopping Center, southeast corner of Woodlands Parkway and Kuykendahl Rd. Projected opening, spring 2012. Hey, that is just around the corner. I will not mind the drive (about 25 minutes) and will make it a weekly destination. Hip Hip Hooray! Finally!!!!

November is on a roll -

2011-11-02T17:32:00.000-05:00

Lunch bunch at a local Mexican Restaurant. One gal pal missing but did not stop us from having a great day. Food was yummy, lots of it (Yikes) and reasonable. We meet the first Wednesday of each month and always enjoy getting together. 3 of us are volunteers on Monday so we have become good friends. Weather due to change tonight and be very cold tomorrow. Bringing out the sweaters tonight. Yum! Such a nice change.

Carolyn's Believe it or Not!

2011-11-01T17:32:00.001-05:00

Can you believe this? I was shopping at Wal-Mart today and as I passed the optical department, I saw this special sale on lens cleaners. It was such a surprise that I had to not only purchase a container but take a picture. No tax either. What a deal! I doubt that I have ever purchased anything for .02 cents. :-)

Happy Tricks and Good Treats to all....

2011-10-31T08:54:00.000-05:00

HEHEHEHEHE! And away I go!

West Fest at the Cowboy Church in Montgomery

2011-10-29T10:31:00.000-05:00

My neighbor and I went to the West Fest in Montgomery, sponsored by The Cowboy Church of Montgomery. The night was delightful, the weather beautiful, wind had long gone south and the new moon was just appearing. Hay rides, free yummy sausages on a stick, great bbq sauce, lots of trick or treat candy everywhere, rodeos in the arena and some wild and crazy young men doing motorcycle jumps and such. (Their mothers would have killed them if they only knew). My co-volunteer at CRMC and his sister had a booth selling his beautiful homemade wooden crosses. Pastor Randy Weaver and his lovely wife are on the 4x4 pictured above. As the stars came out and the night cooled down even more, it made me even more appreciative of the wonderful community of Montgomery and the fine people that live, work and pray in Montgomery. Thanx Cowboy Church for a great evening!

The artist in me never stays dormant for long

2011-10-27T10:05:00.000-05:00

I've been working in tiles for several years now, and one, two, three or more of you have received them as gifts, etc. I call then "Imperfections" - a reflection of the color, variance and ups and downs of life. Several of them have been donations to various benefits for local charities (silent auctions) and door prizes. The medium has changed thru the years but I really love working in mosaics and moods. It satisfies the need to create in my inner self and keeps me off the streets and awake at night. My kitchen is in red and white with sunflowers so I decided to create a tile for the kitchen since my framer had one red frame left. It makes me smile to see my sunflower smiling at me every morning. Nice way to start the day. :-)

SOOOOOO PROUD!!!!

2011-10-26T22:49:00.001-05:00

Now I can tell - I am so proud of my darling daughter. On November 5, 2011, She will be the Fanbassador for the fabulous nbcdays:. She has been asked by Twitter to be backstage on "A Day of Days" (Days of our Lives" soap opera". It will be a live production and she will be asking questions from folks on the Internet that she will have answers from the stars of the production. Since she has been an avid Days... follower since she was a wee little one (I know, I know- no comments please) this is a very special gig for her. If you are a Days watcher, be sure and catch it on Twitter. I gave in and joined Twitter so I can be involved. Very very very proud mumsie!

New neighbor=new friend

2011-10-15T19:19:00.000-05:00

My neighbor, Judy, in the brown shirt introduced me to a new neighbor, Sherry, in the white/turquoise outfit. We went to a neighboring barbecue restaurant for lunch and had a really fun time. So nice to have good neighbors and friends to hang with. Being within the same age is also nice because we found that many of our life's experiences were similar. I'm looking forward to seeing the gal pals again and having more fun. btw, after lunch we hit the local resale shops and scooped up some good stuff. Gal Pals rule!

Halloween & Health Fair

2011-10-13T17:20:00.000-05:00

It may be a little early but CRMC was having a health fair today and some of the good pumpkin stuff was already in the atrium. Health fair had all kinds of neat info, vendors and I particularly enjoyed visiting with Dale, the Cath Lab Manager. We interact on Mondays when I volunteer in the cath lab but I never get to see all of the newest cutting edge stuff. Our 4 cath labs provide everything all 23 of our doctors need and they utilize it all. Did you notice the 2nd picture of our Volunteer Bear....cute huh?

Garden Girls resume activities

2011-10-12T13:06:00.000-05:00

After a very long and hot summer, the Garden Girls resumed their activities on the 11th. Our journey to Arborgate Nursery in Tomball, TX. was fine. We sat in on a seminar regarding container gardening and it was most informative. After the seminar we shopped and shopped and shopped. We then proceeded onward to one of our favorite luncheon spots, the Whistle Stop Tea Room, also in Tomball. Tomball, surprisingly enough, is a nice little community with art galleries and lots of cute shops. Nice journey for our first outing and a good time was had by all. Today's thought from Francis Bacon -"God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed it is the most purest of human pleasures."

1st Saturday

2011-10-01T20:26:00.000-05:00

So nice to have a cool day - at least Texas cool. Low 50's this early a.m. I enjoyed breakfast on the patio and then off to 1st Saturday in Montgomery. Nice 2 see all the vendors back (summertime was not kind to the vendors) and of course there were lots of tables of goodies, purses, candles, jewelry, etc. Had an opportunity to find this thought so I am passing it on - from Rural Pearl publication "The good life starts when you stop looking for a better one". What sage advice.

So, take care and enjoy each day and appreciate what you have. See 'ya!

Really?!?

2011-09-23T15:33:00.000-05:00

Would you believe that at 4:04 a.m. today, it became Autumn (Fall)? Temperature in the high 70's moving during the day to 86. About time wouldn't you say? Of course it's predicted back in the middle 90's for Sunday and Monday. Soooo, we've had our "Fall". Maybe with some luck we will actually have a few more days before winter comes calling.

Garden Girls Meet Again

2011-09-13T22:29:00.000-05:00

Back on track - the April Sound Garden Girls reconvened after a summer break. We met at the Club today for guest speaker Emily from Pecan Hill Florist who delighted all of us with "how to do" projects. Luncheon was served and lots of conversation. It was great to see everyone and start planning the rest of the year gatherings. A good time was had to all.

May we never forget

2011-09-11T11:27:00.001-05:00

9/11/2001 - 9/11/2011 Ten Years have passed and we remember. Today and forever.

Face Lift

2011-09-03T10:52:00.000-05:00

Not me, silly one - Conroe Regional has/is under going a great deal of remodeling and updating. Very glam and approaching the front entrance off of Medical Center Blvd - when you walk into the front entrance - ABSOLUTELY BREATH-TAKING!!!! Easily could pass for one of the major medical hospitals in H-town. Or the Woodlands for that matter. Tom (volunteer) is there up and early on Thursdays and since I arrived at 6:30 a.m., he was very happy to give me a big smile. When you have nothing else to do and want to stop by, Tom or one of our other very friendly volunteers will gladly give you a tour of all the updates. Not necessary to be "in the hospital". That was a joke. All in all, we are very proud of our new "digs" and volunteering at CRMC is a total pleasure. Want to join? It's easy, just come by the Volunteer Office and sign up. See you there. :-)

Sign of the times......

2011-08-19T17:33:00.000-05:00

Sign of the times. First time in many years that they have closed the April Sound Marina. With the drought and water shortage, the Lake is now having to help provide to the City of Houston to maintain their water supply. In the '60's when Lake Conroe was developed, part of the agreement with the City of Houston for funds was signed. A trade-off if you will. I believe this is only the 2nd time in Lake Conroe's history this has happened. Going one step further, this little ditty was sent to me by a friend and I thought given the sad state of the economy, the weather and politics, I thought it might provide a sort of sick humor...

The economy is so bad that: I received a pre-declined credit card in the mail. CEO's are now playing miniature golf. Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen. Angelina Jolie adopted a child from America. Motel Six won't leave the light on anymore. A picture is now only worth 200 words. They renamed Wall Street " Wal-Mart Street". Finally, I called the Suicide Hotline. I got a call center in Pakistan and when I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited, and asked if I could drive a truck.

The Help

2011-08-13T10:54:00.000-05:00

Backtracking to Wednesday, the 10th, the movie THE HELP opened in Conroe. Growing up in the South and especially "back in the day", my many friends had told me about the book when it first came out. For reasons unknown to me (:-) I did not ever get the book. I was most anxious to see the movie tho. Did my a.m. errands and was at the theater by 11:15 a.m. for the 12:05 p.m. movie. I was the 2nd person into the theater and by the time the show started the place was totally full. It is not a "chick flick" - it's a people flick. The automobiles, clothing, music, hairdos, attitudes were all so very familiar to me. The movie ran the gamut from funny to sad to disturbing - so many things I remember hating about the south and the unfairness of how some people were treated. Thru the years attitudes and circumstances have changed, some good and some not so, but the movie is definitely a "must see" and you can view it and make your own conclusion

New Marketplace

2011-08-13T10:41:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Friday, my neighbor Joan called and asked if I wanted to go to Willis, TX. where the new Kroger Marketplace was opening. Soooo, of course I said yes. Nice day out but of course already getting hot - we arrived at the store, along with 500 or so of our newest best friends and snagged a really great parking spot. Good shopping Karma as my daughter and I always say when we get an exceptional parking spot. The store is absolutely eye candy - so much to see and such good people watching. Not only is the produce, seafood, deli, bakery and all other departments wonderful but they had people there to help you find whatever you were looking for. Every other person stopped to ask if we found what we were looking for or could they help us. Absolutely ++ for personal assistance and guidance thru the store. This particular Kroger had furniture, household items (lamps, sheets, kitchen stuff) and although I missed it, they have a Bistro. I'll definitely look for that next time I go. Time wise, it really didn't take that much time to go, shop and the check-out was incredible, than to frequent my usual grocery shops. The plus side, my buddy Joan and I had a really good time together. Thanx Joan...

Casino Trip with "The A.S. Gamblers"

2011-07-31T19:24:00.000-05:00

Playing catch up on my blogging, this was our April Sound Gamblers trip to Lake Charles for an overnight blast. Our Country Club was nice and provided an early a.m. breakfast for us before we boarded the buses. 100 funsters, definitely awake and high on breakfast tacos were dressed and ready to go. Weather was off and on and for the guys who brought their golf bags and only got to play 9 holes before getting drenched, well, isn't what they say about golf true, "it never rains on a golf course"? Since it was Tuesday (yes, I'm that far behind) it was 55+ day. Must easily have been about a thousand or so of us guys and we were everywhere. I did have some good luck on Monday, Tuesday the machines were tight, but all in all, still fun. (I did not come home broke). July was definitely a big month for me for gaming. August has just 1 trip. I'll be happy to give it a rest.

New Toy?

2011-07-30T10:40:00.000-05:00

Not really what I would consider a "fun" toy, but I needed a new hot water heater. Plans were made and James and his son arrived early (b4heat) to start working on removing the old and installing the new. Now I will have plenty (and then some) hot water. Never to run out for sure. Soooo, come for a shower? You are most welcome...:-)

Stiff spiftttinnnngggg....

2011-07-23T11:06:00.000-05:00

New entrance way floor. After 30+ years of old tiles, I decided it was time for a change. Not that much area to re-do but after completion it was like a 100% new look. Don't know why I didn't do it sooner. Guess I had to "bottom out" looking at the old tiles. Also, every time you do something to improve or change your home's appearance, something else pops up that you want to change. Lesson from that, if I EVER were to move again, I'd definitely do everything before moving in. Of course, sometimes you really have to live somewhere to know what you want. My thought today about change "It's never to late to change". Goes great for life also. Live it up folks. You never know what's around the pike.

July Ex-Pats Luncheon

2011-07-22T08:33:00.000-05:00

Although the restaurant has been in Conroe several years, it was my first visit there. It is a very "ladies do lunch" type place, and the name says it all - Chocolate Passion.....Naturally the desserts are the big item but I had a salad rivaling any salad I've had in a long time. Fresh, crunch, tasty - it was grand. Very nice serving and I almost managed to eat every bite. Several of the ladies enjoyed desserts but since there was no "sugar free" or carb free, it was not for me. The only negative about the restaurant was the service. Most of the staff did not speak English - thought for the day "Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet". Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

Once a month

2011-07-19T09:39:00.000-05:00

Our local fire station pulls out all the stops for a training session. I happen to pass just as the "really big ladder truck" was fully extended and they had the water going full blast out of the fire hydrant. I turned around as fast as I could and made a bee line back to catch the water show, alas, 2 late but I still got to see the big truck fully extended. The big chief explained that each month they do this and that all of the firemen from the station have to have a "hands on" with this particular truck. Probably a good thing that I am not a fireman, I could never make it up the ladder with my fear of heights. Awesome tho watching our locals do their job and knowing that they are well trained. Hats off to you guys - next week I'll bring cookies. Thanx for always being there for our community.

On the road again.....

2011-07-16T21:10:00.000-05:00

Just returned from another, yes another, road trip to Louisiana. Gaming weekend with the Health 2 U wellness group from the hospital. These are rocking fun folks with lots of energy and the love of the game. Had some good food, good gaming, good fellowship and a safe trip home. Only 2 mishaps, one of our gals got pick-pocketed of her winnings and a jerky little black car jumped in front of our great big tour bus. Thanx to our driver Joel, we made a safe stop. Our coordinator Lionel took a tumble in the bus as he was walking to the back of the bus just as we came to a halt. Fortunately everything and everybody was o.k. We had some good rain, both in Kender and back in Montgomery while I was away. Even dropped the temp below the 90's. How nice was that, although short lived. Thought from Jack London "I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet." Interesting thought I think.

Very busy day out

2011-07-05T16:31:00.000-05:00

Took my friend and neighbor, Joan, out for her birthday. We went to a "genuine" Mexican food restaurant (no TexMex) here. Took us a few tries to find it, not in our usual area of travel. Then on to a few shops and back home. After, I had to go to Verizon to cancel my netbook contract when it expires next month and I noticed a new yogurt shop. Called Tutti Fruitti - it's self serve and then you put it on a scale to determine the cost. Almost as good as gelato - much closer than driving into H'town for gelato, fat free and much less costly. Temperature was in the low 100's so it was a welcome treat. It was a shame I had already dropped Joan off at home. Oh well, always another next time for lunch and fun and definitely yogurt!

Happy 235th birthday USA

2011-07-04T10:10:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to you, to you, to you U.S.A. Long may you continue to live, strong and solid, even in the worst of times, always looking for a better way with opportunities for everyone. Challenges have come and gone, and will again and again, over and over, for we are a people of many mixtures, of many strengths and many weakness, of hope and determination, of always giving it our best shot, even when that is/has not been enough, we muddle thru, still never giving up. We have bled, we have cried, we have never stopped being the people that make this country great. So fly your flags, enjoy the hot dogs and hamburgers, watermelon and your Fourth of July traditions but mostly, remember to be grateful for all that we have. GOD bless the USA.

Say "Hi" to July

2011-07-01T12:42:00.000-05:00

It's all about JULY! Look at your calendar - This year July has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. This happens once every 823 years. Just think, our great grand-children and their children will not be around to see this happen again. These are the unusual dates (4) for his particular year, 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11 and 11/11/11. Now, for the really neat thing about July, take the last two digits of the year in which you were born - add the age you will be (or are) this year and the results will be 111 for everyone in the whole wide world. Also, this is the year of the MONEY.! and who doesn't like that. The Quote for July - from Orison Swett Marden "Find your purpose and fling your life out to it. Find a way or make one. Try with all your might. Self-Made or never made."

#7 on the list

2011-06-26T15:15:00.000-05:00

In today's (Sunday) Houston Chronicle - Parade Magazine - "ROAD TRIPS on 1 Tank of Gas (or Less)....Houston to Montgomery, TX. (56 miles). Just four square miles, this quaint town is pedestrian-friendly and history-proud. Said to be the birthplace of the Lone Star flag, it's full of antique stores and restored 19th-century homes. Gourmets will enjoy visiting the area's cluster of wineries....." so there you have it....come for a visit and stay awhile....You'll enjoy it....

My middle of the week - weekend....:-)

2011-06-25T17:16:00.000-05:00

A middle-of-the-week weekend started on Tuesday and I returned home on Friday. Our Health 2 U group from the hospital took a 4 day bus trip from Montgomery to Marksville, LA. and Biloxi, MS. Wwe primarily went for the gaming and fellowship and of course, food. 50 seniors (50+ yrs of fun) were gung ho for the adventure. Our driver Joel brought a really big new and plush bus for the ride and we were very comfy. The hotel/casino's were state of the art and the gaming, at least for me, was pretty decent. My bo-honkius (sp?) but you know what I mean, was a little tired by the time we returned home last night at 6:00 p.m. Most memorable tasty dish I had was an appetizer of fried green tomatoes (lightly fried) with a crawfish -crab meat sauce over them. Really wanted to lick the plate clean and so did my buddy Debbie. She also took pics of me taking pics of her. reverse mirror kinda deal. Anyway, a great time was had by all and I'm looking forward to my next ventures in July. Really best thing, we had lots of rain on the road and I found it had rained while I was gone...Memo to self, stay away more for Montgomery to receive more rain. Sounds good to me. p.s. the breakfast parfait was strawberries, yogurt and granola. that was pretty tasty also....:-)

Tomorrow.....

2011-06-20T08:36:00.000-05:00

be ready to get all that you can from the day - June 21 - the longest day of the year. and the beginning of summer....What, I thought summer was already here. Temps in Montgomery running triple digits and still no rain. Some anticipated beginning tomorrow. Certainly hope so. That's the best I can do for today because it's volunteer day and I need to hurry off. Just wanted everyone to take advantage of all the daylight of tomorrow. Take care and stay liquid. :-)

so, I'm watching Nightline and

2011-06-17T23:01:00.000-05:00

they are featuring 2 young sisters in Los Angeles that are "shop haulers". They started their link several years ago and it has taken off like crazy. Primarily, they go out shopping and they show all of their purchases with really cute giggles and pleasure. So, not to be undone, I thought I would show off my super duper special purchase from my trip to Los Angeles a few weeks ago. It was in Larchmont area, a $15 store and there was a basket of rings. Several years ago I purchased a pair of red earrings, which I wear only on occasion. Lo and behold, I found this great (huge) ring for $1.99. Yup, $1.99. I've worn it quite a bit recently and have had tons of comments. What a deal! So, since I do like to shop - I'll start showing off some of my mid-life crisis purchases. hehehehe! Have a great weekend. 109 degrees here, at least in Mz Beauty when I left my doctors appointment today. WHEW!

Did you know?

2011-06-15T09:55:00.000-05:00

Some summer fun stuff to impress friends - Eleven-year-old Frank Epperson accidentally left a mixture of powdered soda mix and water on his back porch one winter night in 1905. The next morning, Frank found the stuff frozen, with the stirring stick standing straight up in the jar. He pulled it out, and had the first "Epperson icicle" - or "Epsicle". He later renamed it "Popsicle," since he'd made it with soda pop. It was patented in 1923, eighteen years later. In 1989 he sold the company to the Joe Lowe Co in New York. To date it still remains not only the best summer treat but one can make their own adult version. As long as it freezes, you can make your own treats. Still the most favorite - cherry popsicles.........Today's summertime thought about dreams from Charles Fisher in Newsweek magazine "If there were dreams to sell, What would you buy?" ....Enjoy! and stay cool.....and dream on......:-)

Stars & Stripes forever - fyi

2011-06-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

Flag Day 2011 - fyi - The Second Continental Congress adopted the U.S. flag June 14, 1777, with 13 stripes alternating red and white and 13 white stars in a blue field, representing "a new constellation." In 1818, a congressional act said a star would be added for each new state on the July 4 after its admission. In 1912, President William H. Taft's executive order said the stars should be six horizontal rows of eight each with a point of each star to be upward. In 1959, President Dwight E. Eisenhower issued two orders changing the arrangement of the stars when Alaska and Hawaii were granted statehood. Hawaii's star was added July 4 1960. It's a beautiful, beautiful flag, worthy of our respect, honor and love. It represents all that is good about our country - and this year particularly we should stand behind Old Glory and pledge again to be "one nation under God". Salute!

15,000 miles

2011-06-12T18:02:00.000-05:00

Upon return from visiting my son's country property last weekend, the maintenance light came on. I made an appointment with my service manager Kevin and took Mz. Beauty in for her check-up. One and one half hours later we were headed for home. I believe in preventive care, for my household appliances, my vehicle and ME! My belief that "an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure".

Blog # 500

2011-06-10T15:37:00.002-05:00

Happy Blog Anniversary to me - First Blog was October 23, 2008 - It all started as part of my therapy for using the computer and using my mind....I was finally home from the assorted rehabs and hospitals, therapy and surviving the April 23, 2008 accident. Since then, I've traveled lots of roads and byways,made contact with many friends, spent precious time with my children and grandchildren and hopefully have improved my writing skills, thought process and typing skills. It's nice to reach a goal of good accomplishments. And 500 is definitely an accomplishment for me. To all of you who read my blog rather religiously, or just tune in every once in a while during your busy days and lives, I appreciate your comments and your friendship. An appropriate thought for the 500th blog from Michel De Montaigne, Essays "The great and glorious masterpiece of man is to know how to live to purpose."

Big doings in Shiner, TX.

2011-06-05T17:08:00.003-05:00

Visiting my son Jonathan at his ranch this weekend, we just finished having a Shiner Beer and enjoying some cheese and crackers when the hostess mentioned that the Shiner High School had won the State Championship (Girl's) for baseball. At 9:00 p.m. there was going to be a big to do down main street. Naturally I didn't want to miss anything so we waited to see the firetruck with all of the girls on it. Unfortunately the pics didn't turn out very clear but you get the idea. Had a great time visiting and this morning before I left, there were six deer at the pond drinking. Speaking of the pond, there were the biggest catfish (and meanest looking) I have ever seen. Very competitive for the food Jon was feeding them. The weather was hot but the cool down in the eve and early a.m., was pleasant and we had a really great time. Looking forward to next visit. Sunday's thought "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." John 8.32...a random choice from my Dictionary of Quotations....

Hurricane Season

2011-06-01T17:13:00.002-05:00

June 1, 2011 - starts today.

It's been 3 years since IKE hit our area - and 10 years since Tropical Storm Allison ravaged the Houston area.

All the weather guys & gals - Gene, Frank, Mario, Casey, Anthony, Tim, etc, etc, etc. have said "be prepared for the unexpected"....

A few hints from my own experiences - my first Hurricane was in 1962 with Hurricane Carla. Some of you were not even born yet.

Shopping list to be prepared

1) Flashlights

2) Batteries

3) Bottled Water

4) Manual can opener

5) Cell phone charger

6) Short wave radio

7) Plastic garbage bags

8) If applicable, boards to protect windows

9) Names and telephone numbers of relatives - given to a neighbor just in case.

10) Handi-wipes, personal wipes, whatever to have handy for sponge baths.

11) Canned goods that can be eaten cold (Tuna, Vienna sausages, SPAM)

no kidding, whatever can be eaten without being refrigerated and/or heated.

12) Duct tape

13- any whatever else you can think that you really won't/don't need (you would be surprised what you come up when you really need something.

With all of the very unusual weather, 2 hot, 2 cold, 2 wet, not wet enough, muggy, humid, wind.....snow in Colorado....who knows....

Best be prepared - remember, don't doubt Mother Nature. She has a mind of her own!!!!

Proudly......

2011-05-29T12:34:00.003-05:00

Remembering and honoring all those who served and who are still serving and protecting our country. Thank you.

It's the 50's & 60's ASLA Luncheon

2011-05-25T19:48:00.003-05:00

Back in the day - my day anyway - we wore our Dad's shirts (no I'm not preggers, hahahah) but I had one of my Dad's favorite shirts on with rolled up jeans and tennis shoes. Bunch of guys brought their classic autos, nice memories, and the food was sliders, ff's, onion rings, salad with French dressing (old fashioned kind), and banana pudding to top the meal off. Music was The Platters, Bill Haley, you name it...Our April Sound Security manager and the POA Manager spoke about neighborhood safety and a good time was had by all. With class reunions being the topic of a great deal of conversation, I found this thought "Why is it that at class reunions you feel younger than everyone else looks?" Now I know why I've never attended any class reunion...

Abby Grace.....

2011-05-24T18:02:00.003-05:00

May 24, 1987 - Abby Grace - the cutest, smartest, sweetest, most everything granddaughter arrived in Seattle, WA. Turning 14 today, she is still the most everything one could want in a granddaughter. A dedicated gymnast, good student, good friend, wonderful daughter, sister and cousin. She is the best and I wish her a wonderful birthday and many many many more happies.....You GO GIRL!!!!!

LA Trip

2011-05-23T10:29:00.002-05:00

Just returned from LA - visiting my darling daughter and her hubby. One of her plays opened at the Pasadena Theater and I went for the grand premier. Sold-out house (which is always a good sign) - play was well performed, set was very believable and the audience definitely enjoyed it. The press was to attend the matinee on Sunday so we didn't see any notables, but the crowd was well dressed and it was fun. While in LA I did see the following: Elvis lookalike, Martin Landau and a dead squirrel hanging from an electric pole outside my balcony window. As always, K & J couldn't have been more attentive and sweet to dear ole' ma - and seeing their friends is always a treat. Bonus, had my first In n Out burger. Pretty slick. Good flights going and coming, but I must admit, United crew needs to take "good flight friendliness" from Continental training staff. Happy to go and happy to return home to a full schedule for this week. My thought for the day "it's great to go, and to know when it's time to go home. Stay short enough to wish you could stay longer."

Welcoming a new neighbor....

2011-05-13T19:02:00.003-05:00

New neighbor Judy moved back (she had lived here before) and I thought it would be fun to have a ladies luncheon. Had fun planning, cooking and preparing everything and it gave me a chance to enjoy using some "fancy" things that had not seen the light of day for quite a few years. Fluffed and dusted and even pulled the vacuum out. Everything looked perfect and we definitely enjoyed the lunch....Since I enjoyed it so much myself, I am making a late New Years Resolution to have friends over once a month for lunch. Today's thought reflects on friendship IMHO "Always be yourself because the people that matter don't mind ...and the ones that mind don't matter."

May Garden Girls travel to

2011-05-11T11:29:00.003-05:00

HOPE GARDENS Day lilies Farm. About 45 minutes away from Conroe - nice drive with interesting scenes (Cut n Shoot). Barbara (in red shirt) has about 20 acres of day lilies, ginger, Buddha pots, etc. We lucked out, the weather was breezy, light sun and we were in and out in about 2 hours. On to lunch at Bistro Italiana..Not bad...Everyone enjoyed themselves and it was another great Garden Girls outings. Saw this sign and liked it "If you don't have a sense of humor, you probably don't have any sense at all."

Special Day

2011-05-08T09:43:00.003-05:00

To all the Moms, extra Moms, Aunts, Grandmothers, and anyone else to "does the job", THANX and lots of love....

Another Road Trip

2011-05-06T22:45:00.002-05:00

I should probably buy stock in the "Coach" Bus type Companies. Recently all of my road trips have been by the big buses. H2U (Health to U) the wellness club for the hospital had another trip to Lake Charles for a fun filled gumbo day at the Casino. 47 Happy good health folks climbed aboard at 6:00 a.m. and were on our way. Since I rarely am up that early, at least not out and about, I really enjoy that first hour of darkness fading into daylight. Something very nice about that and I guess because when I was young and our family would take trips, Daddy always believed in an early start. Many a trip began at 4:30 a.m. or so to miss the traffic but to also enjoy the pleasantness of the morning. I diverse here, but the trip was great, the buffet excellent (again had enough credits for a free lunch) and the ride home was relaxing (especially since I didn't drive) and we watched a cute movie. A nice day so I immediately signed up for the June trip. from Abraham Lincoln "When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad, and that is my religion".

Ramblings of my opinion....

2011-05-02T19:30:00.003-05:00

What a weird weekend it turned out to be. After a beautiful Royal Wedding - the news that Bin Laden had been captured and killed topped it off.

Is it wrong to wish someone dead? My moral fiber says yes - most people of conscience believe that we should treat everyone fairly. Upon hearing the news,watching countless hours of reporting and citizens cheering, flags waving and noise - interviews with every imaginable person that had suffered loss from 911 - I think that the U.S.A was entitled to celebrate his demise. 10 years in the making, changing of our lives as "free" people living almost like those in countries not free - I personally believe it was good and long overdue. Better late than never.

I put my flags outside last night when I heard the news. Freedom and the U.S.A. never felt better!!!!!!

Saturday Night.....Way 2 much funnnnnn.....

2011-04-30T22:59:00.003-05:00

BIG $$$$$'s

I Bid you CELEBRATE

2011-04-28T19:56:00.004-05:00

It's parteeeee time.....C E L E B R A T E.....

CHEERS! PARTY ON....

April ASLA Luncheon

2011-04-27T16:40:00.004-05:00

I've been "on the road" so much this year that I have missed a few luncheons. Great to catch up, get some hugs, and see friends. Today's luncheon was a style show of spring and summer fashions by a local ladies dress shop. Bright and brighter clothes on very chic and cute models. My friend Ann Marie played the piano and the door prizes were so pretty - unfortunately I did not win one this time, maybe next month. Food was tasty and a good time was had by all. 190 attendees.

Happy thought for today - old Chinese proverb "May a Happy Star always light your path."

Retro girl me.....

2011-04-26T14:44:00.002-05:00

I'm not a sweet little "old fashioned girl" but suddenly I am appreciating things from time gone by....with the exception of my new piece of art from a smart art gallery in Little Rock. The little period lamps are just perfect on my night stands in the bedroom. Charming....Not good for reading in bed but I rarely do that anyway....this weekend coming up is the 12th Annual Montgomery Antique Market. Last year they had over 300 dealers from all over the country. Depending on the weather, I may or may not fight the crowds and heat. Or just maybe, rain....sigh....I think everyone would cheer for some rain. from my friend Carol at CRMC, a list of thoughts and I think this is a good one "I've reached the age where "happy hour" is a nap. Actually I believe my daughter, the Queen of Naps will like that thought." btw, congrats to my long time friend Brent on his engagement. Best of luck Brent and lucky lady....

April 23, 20_____

2011-04-23T15:41:00.000-05:00

April 23, 2008 - April 23, 2011.....I am blessed!

April ExPats Luncheon

2011-04-20T19:44:00.003-05:00

Cute little restaurant on 105W - use to be Rabbit Run Tea House, new owners and new menu. Tasty choices and there were only 7 of us, unfortunately the other pics turned out 2 dark, so I only had a salad and Dora that turned out well. It's very interesting when we meet. One of the ladies is married to an Egyptian man and at this time he is in Egypt for voting and taking care of his family...We also have one member who has family in Japan and of course we have been sympathetic to the problems her family is experiencing. Several of our ladies are in Paris and other ports of interest and will return in several months. My time in Munich those many years ago was well spent, otherwise I would never have had the opportunity to become an "Ex Pat". From Mark Twain "Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life". Personally, I would add good conversation...

What a TRIP!

2011-04-18T10:08:00.003-05:00

WOW! What a trip to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas to visit my friend Shari. From the moment I arrived, it was non-stop go....We had a wonderful time, including surviving a hugh storm that hit HSV...unfortunately it resulted in 2 deaths and it was in our immediate area. The storms continue to ravage the country as you probably have read or heard in the media. We toured Little Rock, had delicious seafood there (who knew?), saw the USS Razorback (retired veteran sub from WW II, Vietnam and the Cold War, via trolly, visited art galleries galore (yes, I did purchase a lovely piece) resale shops, rock shops, everything and anything that caught our eye. No shortage of delicious food in HSV, best pizza ever at Molly O'Briens...Shari's home is high on a hill with lots and lots of trees. I dubbed it the "cupcake" because it is soooo cute. She has it decorted perfectly and still in progress. We were in town for the running of the Arkansas Derby and for the first time in 19 years a horse bred in Arkansas won and is off to the Kentucky Derby. I'll definitely put my $$$$'s on Arkarkarkark. How about that. Cutest horse ever, with a big smile on his face when they decked him with the winning flowers. It was a wonderful weekend with a wonderful friend. Thanx Shari. See you soon.... btw, the bottom pic is Fried Grits with Shrimp Gumbo. Never would have thought about that but it was devine....

Garden Girls at the Mercer....

2011-04-12T17:57:00.003-05:00

Arboretum and Botanic Gardens....beautiful weather (could not have ask for better) and the 17 Garden Girls were real troopers...Cool morning and for the better part we all had good parking karma. All kinds of green shrubs, plants, trees, etc. A nice gift shop and all in all, lots of walking, sunshine and fun. After we traveled down 1960 to The Potatoe Patch (yup, with an e at the end of potato). It originally was just a small shack and dark inside. A fire caused the rebuilding and even tho the new building does not have quite the charm, the "throwing of the rolls and muffins" still took place and the portions were hugh. I believe only one lady finished her complete meal. Very successful trip.

Today's thought from Liza Minnelli "Reality is something you rise above."

New shop in town....

2011-04-07T09:04:00.002-05:00

I've been noticing a new salon in a cute little house on my drive into the hospital. Needing a "fresh up" and my usual operator is playing grandmother to her newest granddaughter, I decided to stop and check out Phyllis's shop. What a treat! The atmosphere is homey, nicely decorated and Phyllis and her co-worker Denise are really lively, fun ladies. Even tho I was suffering from the "yellow pollen yuck" and such, just being in Phyllis's shop made me feel better. Without being a traitor to my other stylist who has done my hair for a lot of years, I really enjoyed being in the new salon. Sometimes change is good and you never know unless you try. "Try it, you'll like it." I've heard that quote for years, never have known who was the originator, so I'll just take credit for it today.

I can't blame it on spell check

2011-04-04T22:23:00.002-05:00

grrrrrr, spell check was right, my proof reading was wrong.....for shame Solo....in my previous blog, I used the word "sorry" rather than "story". My apologies and then some....sigh....

A Fish tale......

2011-04-04T21:13:00.003-05:00

At lunch today while volunteering, our very well respected hospital Chaplain Addison was showing off the fish he caught at our Lake Conroe. So the sorry goes, and I'm sure the Pastor would not be caught in a fib, he asked the good Lord to let him catch a fish so he could intice his grandson to come fishing with him. Lo and behold, "THE FISH". The good Pastor was so surprised that he actually caught a fish, he neglected to weigh the fish and ultimately threw the lucky fish back into the water. Pastor Addison made quick time of showing everyone his catch. We all were very appreciative of his efforts and the fact that he threw the fish back, even tho he probably could have fried fish for dinner. Shakespeare's thought "It is a good divine that follows his own instructions."

Eat your heart out, if you are not in TEXAS

2011-03-30T18:13:00.003-05:00

Because (yes, I know, you don't start a sentence with because BUT) the BLUEBONNETS are in full bloom, everywhere and exquisite. Never saw them prettier. And I've seen a few. The Indian Paint Brush are just beginning to peak their pretty litte heads out. Montgomery, being hill and dell, the bonnets are creeping out on any spot of green available. Sigh....how lucky are we. And just in time for the Final Four and the Houston Shell Open. Tons of free concerts, events and such. Glad I'm out of H'town tho, the traffic will be controlled but still mucho' much. From Life's Little Instruction Book "Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation."

Coolest grandson in the whole world!!!!!

2011-03-29T17:10:00.002-05:00

Happy 17th Birthday Ryan - You are the most wonderful of grandsons and I am so proud of you. Have a great day, a fantastic year and remember "the harder you work, the bigger you shine". love it, love you.....(now, tell me, is that not the most handsome guy) :-))))))

Palm Springs - page 1 and please see page 2 cond't

2011-03-28T18:14:00.003-05:00

Had an absolute wonderful time visiting Palm Springs, via Denver and return via Las Vegas - saw some friends who have always been in our family thru her mother and my mother. They were friends as girls and shame on me for not seeing Barb and Steve more frequently. They are such warm and loving people and I felt like we have always been close. They have had a home in Palm Springs for the last 15 years and I can certainly see why. The weather is absolutely beautiful, the people nice and it's just a wonderful way to relax and really enjoy life. Everything from shopping, theater, eating out, eating in, seeing the beautiful mountains - it was so much fun. I recommend a trip to Palm Springs at least once in every one's life. thought for that idea from Cervantes "All in Good Time". and what a good time it was. Please check "older posts" to see more pics. Well worth it. Enjoy

Palm Springs - page 2 pics continued...

2011-03-28T18:07:00.003-05:00

Lots of great pics and lots of great fun. Thanx Barb and Steve. A really wonderful time with really wonderful friends.

Sorry sick trees...........

2011-03-23T14:07:00.002-05:00

Sad, on the Blvd. Some of our big beautiful trees fell. Appears they were devoured by some type of bug/beetle. No rain so I know they were not hit by lighting. April Sound Blvd. is one of the loveliest of streets. It starts at the entrance of the Security Building and proceeds all the way down to the Country Club. Added so much to the ride, I'm very sorry to see these trees go...sigh....Today's thought from The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Quotations, Thomas Fuller "He that plants trees, loves others beside himself."

Yahoo Whoope Pies...........

2011-03-20T17:12:00.002-05:00

YUM and double yum! Saw this recipe on the box of Pillsbury Sugar Free Devil's Food Cake Mix and decided to try it. Most exhausting baking project I have ever undertaken. Combination of mixing, baking, developing the middle gooey stuff and then matching up the mis-matched tops and bottoms - I'm ready for a shower and a nap! Plus they have to stay in the freezer until just before serving. Storing them is another question and the recipe makes a lot. I gave 2 each to my friends Shari & John, 1 each to my friends Joan and Mike and 2 to my new neighbor Jim. I hope they enjoy them because I'm never making them again. The remaining ones will go to the Cath Lab tomorrow to Dale and my cath lab techs and doctors. today's thought from Marcel Proust "The only paradise is paradise lost."

Eve of Spring

2011-03-19T19:30:00.004-05:00

From the time I was a little girl, each Spring we (Mother, my sister and myself) would start the "changing of the closets". That meant we switched our winter and spring/summer wardrobes. It was fun when we were little, not so much now. Since the weather has begun to warm up and 99.999% of the chance of more cold weather has passed, I finally decided today was a good day to start this project. In addition, I disposed of plenty of stuff that I had not worn and probably would never wear again to donate to the Goodwill. They will certainly make better use of it than just having it sit in my closets. Our community supports the Women's Assistance League and the Goodwill. Plus I like the way my closet looks for the brief moment it stays neat. from Don Marcus, today's thought : "Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday." I like that. Enjoy your weekend...

Surprise Saturday and Sunday Blog....

2011-03-13T18:01:00.002-05:00

So exciting............my new Dell Inspiron 570 arrived on Saturday and my friend Dave has been here for 2 days setting it up. Talk about fun and exciting and exhausting! All of the aforementioned. The monitor is 21.5" SX2210 Full HD Monitor with Integrated 2.01 21.5" viewable image size. I am not sure what all of that means EXCEPT the screen is sooo big I have to sit quite a bit back to take it all in. Absolutely amazing plus, and my Garden Girls friends, will be happy to know much faster speed and I can do more. this is as good as it gets. My old computer was purchased back in the early 2001 years and I must confess this is a dream and I absolutely love it. Many thanx to Dave for time spent setting it up. I could never have done it without him, that's for sure. The screen is so big I cannot even try and take a pic of it. How about that! WOW!

Spring has sprung!!!!!

2011-03-12T15:29:00.002-06:00

How delicious! A beautiful spring day, warm, sunny and a slight wind. All of my purchases from Tuesday, Garden Girls outing are now planted. What a wonderful way to spend a day. All the bright little flowers and smell of fresh soil. Love it, love it, love. Plus Bonus, tonight we spring forward and gain an extra evenings hour of daylight - of course that is one less hour of sleep - but who really cares in the grand scheme of things? Not I says the Happy Gardener...Am also getting my new computer installed in a few minutes and everything is cleared away from my desk so I cannot find today's thought....Just enjoy the little things of beauty that come our way. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!

CRMC Day Surgery

2011-03-11T16:29:00.002-06:00

Volunteering in Day Surgery on Thursday is a fast pace day. I don't stop from the time I arrive until I leave. As I take families here, there and everywhere around the hospital, in the recovery area I pass this poster and it always catches my eye. Good food for thought and since I enjoy quotes so much, I've added that to my daily thoughts for myself. It never hurts to strive to improve and in my own way, volunteering at CRMC is my way of "paying back" and "paying it forward". Thought I would share this with all of my readers, who are all very good people.

Dallas Weekend

2011-03-07T08:14:00.002-06:00

Wonderful weekend in Dallas for a joyous celebration of Miss Molly's Bat Mitzvah. Some of the faces in the crowd, and the Friday night dinner at an estate where we actually ate in the garage. I've never seen a garage with marble floors, 4 hugh screen tv's and basketball hoops. Veryyyy impressive. Food and company was not half bad either. Lots of activities, family and friends made it a very special weekend and Miss Molly was outstanding. Good times!!!!!

April Sound Gamblers on the road.....

2011-03-02T15:41:00.002-06:00

Two really big buses full of fun loving folks and what do you get -? A gambling trip to Coushatta Casino in Kinder, LA. with movies on the bus and lots of laughing and enjoyment. I was very fortunate to have a lovely woman join me and we had a great deal in common and hopefully began a very nice friendship. We shared our meals and gambled together until I wandered off while she "hung in there" on a slot machine. 44 people on each bus and we stayed at the Coushatta Inn near the casino proper. Food was good, wining not bad at all and I had the opportunity to play and learn some new machines and Vickie gave me a crash course in craps. Can't wait to try that next trip.

Today's thought from Albert Einstein ON SCIENCE "Imagination is more important than knowledge."

Accomplishment!

2011-02-25T22:42:00.002-06:00

Granted, the picture isn't the best, but still, I'm proud! At the CRMC Volunteer Luncheon the other day, I received my 150 hour pin. Many received "thousand hour" pins, but I was very happy with my 150 hours. You have to start somewhere and I've started many places, moving up the career path, but truthfully, this made me feel the most accomplished. It started as a "payback" "pay it forward" idea, but after one year, 2 months and several days, it has become a sense of pride and good feelings for me, not to mention all the things I have learned. Medicine was never anything I had any interest in but it comes from the good feelings of service to others. Thought from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow "We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done."

more Seattle pics.....read the previous blog, please

2011-02-23T09:56:00.002-06:00

Another wonderful thing about visiting Seattle, and this was one of my primary reasons at this particular time of the year, Abby was competing in the Seattle Open Gymnastic Meet. She is a very accomplished gymnastic and I am so proud of her discipline and abilities. She has been studying gym for about eons of years and it definitely shows what hard work and dedication results in success. You ROCK Abby....Be sure and read the blog prior, couldn't get all of the good stuff in.

Good times in Seattle

2011-02-23T09:37:00.002-06:00

It's so much fun to go to Seattle to visit my son, daughter-in-law, grandson and granddaughter. We share really good times together and have such fun. We no longer sight see as I've been there ongoing 20+ years and it's strictly family time. Be sure and see more pics on the next page as I couldn't manage to get them all in on this page. We had family night watching movies, eating out, eating in (Lisa & Abby) are great cooks. They left the dinning room table decorated still from Valentines Day so I could enjoy the beautiful table setting. Grandson Ryan is a terrific, safe, responsible driver and he was very proud to chauffer us around. West Seattle is such an interesting area, the Junction (downtown shops and such) is charming, the book store one of my all time favs and the friendly people all make it a super small city in it's own. A wonderful time -thanx to my wonderful Seattle family....love you guys!

from John Ruskin "What we think, or what we know, or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do."

Oh what fun.....

2011-02-15T18:51:00.002-06:00

EX-PATS Luncheon for February. Hostess Valerie found a wonderful restaurant in Spring, TX. for our outing. A little jewel of a restaurant in a totally remote and unexpected strip center. Linen table cloths with real napkins, decorated very old world and to add to the fun, delicious food. Everyone seemed to enjoy their luncheon and definitely a good time was had by all. Can't wait for March. Ex-Pats are all ladies who have lived in other countries. It's great fun to listen to them chat in French or whatever language they are comfortable with. Thanx Valerie, job well done. Today's thought from Pierre Beaumarchais "It is not necessary to understand things in order to argue about them."

February 2011 - Fridays & GO RED for

2011-02-10T19:54:00.003-06:00

WOMEN! Ladies and Gents - February Friday's are GO RED FOR WOMEN! Sponsored by the American Heart Association, Macy's & Merck....working in the Cath Lab at our local community hospital, 78% of the procedures in the Cath Lab are on WOMEN! It doesn't matter race, color, age, size or shape - more women are experiencing various types of heart problems. Gents, pass this on to your ladies and ladies, pass this on to a friend. Remember, GALS rock and rule. Take care of U, Me, Sister, Mother, Friends, Aunts, anyone of the female gender. We are a precious commodity.! Amen....my thoughts for today, tomorrow and evereyday!

Garden Gals February 2011

2011-02-09T16:22:00.003-06:00

Yesterday the sun was bright and beautiful, windy tho and the Garden Gals had their first luncheon/meeting/speaker for 2011. Mr. Henry Daniels, a Master Gardener from the A&M Extension Center spoke to us about recovering our plants and yards from the extreme weather we have experienced. He provided a slide show with some of the hardy Texas plants that would withstand the extremes of our weather and also encouraged us to consider taking the Master Gardeners classes at the Center. Questions and answers followed with Mr. Daniels being very patient and spending mucho' time with us. Lunch was great as usual and Marilyn, our new planning co-coordinator did a great job of ordering the lunch. After the door prize was presented to Lisa, we ended with a feeling that all was not lost with our plants/yards. Thanx Mr. Daniels. Volunteering at the Cath Lab makes me remember this thought for today "The cardiologist's diet "If it tastes good, spit it out."

in a word.....SNOW!

2011-02-04T10:31:00.002-06:00

For a Texas gal who doesn't see much of it, even a little is a treat! SNOW that is. Daylight came and I was like a little kid on Christmas morn, couldn't wait to open the drapes and see if it had snowed. Had to look really carefully but there it was/is. With the weather continuing to stay at freezing, it may last thru the day. Another hard night is predicted so maybe there will be hope for a little more tomorrow. How exciting is that! Probably not if you are living somewhere where Mother Nature has been more generous to you with the snow, but this makes me happy and I am glad that I will stay in and enjoy it. Snowperson? Probably not enough for that but I had fun this morning just seeing a whisper of the white stuff. my thought for today "Happiness is seeing a little snow, having a fire in the fireplace and a nice cup of tea". How great is that! Enjoy your weekend. :-)

The Year of the Rabbit.....

2011-02-03T08:50:00.003-06:00

As most of you know, I am a fan of Astrology - The Chinese New Year begins today and I was invited to my nail salon yesterday (they are closed today) to celebrate. They had a wonderful CD on the super size t.v. (which Peter made a copy of for me), fruit, flowers, new candles, treats.....The Year of the Rabbit is the 4th sign of the Chinese Zodiac and those born in a Year of the Rabbit are gracious personalities, diplomatic and patient. In Houston there will be many celebrations in the far southwest area and also in downtown China Town. I gave my 2 Buddhas and 1 Netskie a gentle rub of the tummy this morning and wished them well. My oldest son was born a Rabbit, darling daughter was born during the Year of the Rat (I know, she hates mice, maybe this is why) and my youngest son and myself were born in the Year of the Horse. Which probably accounts for the reason I was truly a horse person for most of my years. February's quotation calendar says "You are unrepeatable. There is a magic about you that is all your own." Absolutely!!!!!

All thru the house......not a

2011-02-02T21:09:00.002-06:00

plant was stirring....42 of those little guys were moved into the dining room, living room, entry way and wherever I could find a spot. This a.m. when I left home it was 25 degrees in my car - as the day progressed and I was in and out, it got to 36 degrees. Almost felt warm. I fear the worst is yet to come. Predicted tomorrow that it will be in the low teens, with the possibility of snow and ice. Not a happy thought as I volunteer tomorrow afternoon. We'll see. One of my all time favorites, Ralph Waldo Emerson from Essays "The reward of a thing well done is to have done it." Well said Mr. Emerson.

Quite frequently.....

2011-02-01T23:42:00.002-06:00

When all my chores are completed and I'm home for the moment, and I have that luxurious moment of time, I enjoy day dreaming. Sitting with a cup of tea, kicking back in my recliner and drifting my mind most often goes to art. Gustav Klimt is one of my favorite artist and when in Paris last year I did see one of his paintings in the museum. THE KISS, is probably his most famous work. He began work on it in 1907 and it is the highpoint of his so-called "Golden Period". It depicts a couple, in various shades of gold and symbols, sharing a kiss against a bronze background. Believe it or not, he was 45 and still lived at home with his mother and two unmarried sisters. You can Google him to find out more about this very unusual artist and his life. I won't spoil the surprise about his life - check it out for yourself. Do however, enjoy the picture. It was a perfect day to stay home as the wind howled, and the wind chimes frantically tried to keep up with the wind. My plants are all about in the house and we are expecting ICE and SNOW! Today's thought struck me with a chuckle because I am a "computer dater" as most of you know...from Rita May Brown "Computer dating is fine if you are a computer". Google me out and cover me with blankets...

Forgot to mention

2011-01-26T16:26:00.003-06:00

Our speaker today for the luncheon was a retired lady that worked for 35 years for the Department of Social Security. She had excellent information for us and I imagine that tomorrow there will be a bunch of telephone calls to our local SS Office in Conroe for appointments. :-)

ASLA Luncheon for January 2011

2011-01-26T16:14:00.002-06:00

Today was the last luncheon for ASLA for 2010. February will begin the 2011 series. Lots of red shirts, flowers, table decorations and delicious Chinese food to appease even the pickiest eaters. My carnation was a gift from the Association for my work on the Garden Gals committee and it is looking awfully pretty in my kitchen. This upcoming year will be very interesting for me as I have accepted the Chairmanship and so far I have spent almost a week (working daily) all total on organizing the computer spread sheets and making telephone calls. Going to be a great year! From my hospital friend Carol "Life isn't tied with a bow....but it's still a gift."

Blogging.......

2011-01-25T22:01:00.002-06:00

Recently I have found myself awake during the night and I am blogging. I remember when I was a student at the UofH and as an elective, I took shorthand (some of you may not even know what that is - that many years ago) and my instructor said "when you are listening to a conversation and you begin to mentally translate it into shorthand, you have mastered the technique". I'm not sure if that applies to blogging, and that I've been doing it so long, or if my mind is preoccupied with all of the ideas I have for topics to blog about. It appears that every day there is such an abudance of info that I process I begin to get a little wacky. Although I make the comment that "retirement takes a lot of energy and time", I really do enjoy it. Especially the few mornings that I can just flip off the alarm and flop over. Last evening I stayed awake making travel arrangements for the first 6 months of 2011 - it was easily 1:00 a.m. before I turned in, and had to be up early this a.m. for a trip to Huntsville for a luncheon date. With my additional days at CRMC and being the chair of Garden Gals, participating in Ex Pats and the ASLA, sometimes I'm not sure if I'm coming or going. Crazeeeee me. So, enuff of all of that. Napoleon I said "From the sublime to the ridiculous is but a step".

Buddah has been framed.....

2011-01-22T15:35:00.003-06:00

and the art piece is not cally-whampus, it was me hanging on to a chair while I snapped the pic. I had purchased the Buddha head several weeks ago and had trouble making a choice of framing ideas, plus the piece is very heavy and needed a substantial frame. Finally on Wednesday Don (framer) called and said the frame had arrived. Today was the first day I've had a chance to run over and have the work completed. Really pleased with it and my wall is filling up. Only a few hundred more pieces and I'll be a happy camper. In the meantime, darling daughter was cleaning out her bookshelf and found a book she had in college - which she so thoughtfully sent on to her mom...The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Quotations. so you know what that means - unlimited new quotes for the blog...btw, there are over 4,000 thought-provoking quotations from the world's most celebrated men and women. YIPEEEE! I will start in the A's - from Frances Bacon, "Natural abilities are like natural plants, that meed pruning by study." We've got a long way to go readers, so stay tuned - :-)

New CRMC friends.....

2011-01-21T10:20:00.003-06:00

CRMC is such a busy place. Now that I have added an extra day, I'm meeting even more new and very capable people. Monday I work in the Cath Lab and on Thursdays I work in Day Surgery. Both areas are related and interact so that made going to Day Surgery on Thursdays much easier for me to jump right in. Yesterday was a very busy day and I came home bushed. In a good way though. Next week I've been asked to work a little extra time in Human Resources. That should be interesting and I'm looking forward to that. One of my friends from the hospital and a new follower of my blog, sent me a list of Aphorisms. I really liked them so they will certainly become part of my thoughts for the day, beginning now.....not necessarily attributed to anyone, I'll still use """""". "The nicest thing about the future is....that it always starts tomorrow." nice, huh? Enjoy your weekend. Stay warm if you live _______.

Ex Pats dinner......

2011-01-20T09:21:00.002-06:00

Many years ago, having lived overseas I found out I was eligible to join Ex Pats Group. Went to the dinner meeting last night, about 30 of us, and met lots of new neighbors. Most interesting evening - so many people have lived in such far-away places and had varied careers before retiring. Looking forward to enjoying this group of very interesting people.
Today's thought was sent to me by a new friend, Valerie - source unknown but it's a good one "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass....it's about dancing in the storm."

Volunteer Me.....

2011-01-18T15:21:00.003-06:00

and proud of it. One year of volunteering at CRMC in the Cath Lab Waiting Area and now, in addition to Mondays, I have added Thursday afternoon to volunteer in the Day Surgery Waiting Area. I feel really good about my efforts and the new friends and associates I have met at Conroe Regional. Lots of really nice people, great doctors and the devoted family and friends who sit and wait for their loved ones to complete procedures and/or surgery. "It's a good thing"....my thought for volunteer work.

looking a little pale there and no I don't need a procedure...:-)