Another birthday hits and so far I haven't bit the dust. I had a pretty nice day. I worked for three hours and then about 11:30 am Bitchey, my BFF came over and we went shopping for a couple of hours and then had lunch at Sweet Tomatoes. I kind of miss the anticipation of birthdays from yesteryear....used to be excited the night before, wondering about presents...what kind of cake (German chocolate , of course!) and how many times I would get wished a happy birthday...oh and the singing of the song. Once you're past kidhood, that just doesn't happen. I wish it did. As you age, the day just isn't that special any more and yet you wish it was. No answer to that problem.
However, all three of my children called and wished me a happy birthday. Marza brought a gift and funny card, John & Karen brought a funny card and Allyson stopped by on her way home from work with a Hoops and YoYo card. All in all, I know I'm cared for and loved by at least a few people.
All in all, a good day and....it was sunny. Beats a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Mother's Day is coming up...
Next week it will be Mother's day. One of the greatest blessings I've been given in this life is my mother, Jackie Miller. Words will never be able to express my love and appreciation for her. Growing up, I remember her always singing while she worked... and with seven children it seems like she was always working. If we were grumpy or complaining, she would start singing "Love at Home" and have us join in...there were a lot of grumpy versions sung by us children. The lesson we learned was that you can have fun while working hard and its all in your attitude. Mom never spoke ill of anyone (my children cannot say that about me) ...I don't know how she did it but she always looked for the best in everyone. That is a rare gift and is a major reason why I love the movie, "Pollyanna".
I also remember her watching the "Jack LaLanne" show on black and white TV and we would get our chairs out and do the exercises along with Jack. I don't think we ever lost any weight, but we lived with hope! We didn't watch a lot of tv , as black and white tv was not that tempting, but whenever there was a Doris Day movie on, we watched it and Mom did too , usually while ironing. She rarely just sat down and watched tv...always doing at least one other task.
Another favorite memory was going to the day old bread store with mom...boy we would load up. That bread was so dry, us kids would make our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and then dunk them in our Kool Aid to make it go down. My favorite was green koolaid....it brightened as well as moisturized! The funny thing is, it tasted pretty good....another fav was fried Spam sandwiches...there is nothing finer than a fried Spam sandwich with a lot of mayo. Mom used to make the dryest sandwiches.because that's how she liked them..no mayo, salad dressing, maybe a little butter. I think that's why most of us kids like a lot of sauce on our sandwiches..I'm the worst. I would probably be underweight if Mom had made wet sandwiches!!!
When I was a teen, Mom took me shopping for a new dress for the youth dance. Of course I found two I liked and wanted both. She couldn't afford two dresses, but I remember her saying..."Oh, I wish I had a million dollars and could buy you everything you want". We went home with one dress, but not disappointment. I knew she was doing what she could do and how she wanted to do more. Sometimes its enough to know you're loved and even a teen can understand when that's all that can be spent.
Mom almost always wrote and directed our ward Roadshows at church. She would write an original show and original music. We almost always won! And funny thing, she doesn't know how to write music. She would work up the melodies and get someone to write it down as sheet music so it could be played. I think my favorite was "The Egg and I". We had a blast..in those days we would travel to put on the roadshow in two different buildings and they even had awards. So much fun and the whole stake would turn out for them. We thought we were good enough for Hollywood.
When I married and had kids, it struck me how much my mom loved my kids and my children understood that too. She has such a great sense of humor and an ability to talk to her grandchildren that each one felt like they were her favorite. I've finally decided that each grandchild is her favorite...when she's talking with or visiting them. My kids love to have a little one on one time with Grandma.
We have the best memories of Mom and Dad at Seaside. Every summer I would take the kids several times to stay for a few days and go to the beach. We'd go down to hidden beach and just play in the sand...Mom and Dad would go and we'd just visit and watch the kids have a great time, what a joy for all of us. Then we'd go home and she always had chocolate peanut clusters or some type of treat for us to eat.
Probably my favorite memory is getting Mom with an April Fools joke. Every year, I would bide my time , wait until she was busy doing two things at once and when she was ready to go somewhere, I would look out the window and go..." You can't go now, you have a flat tire!!" She fell for it for about 5 years in a row. Once she had me figured out, I let it go for a number of years. My best effort was when they lived in Seaside and I was married with small kids, I called her up on the phone, we were talking and I casually mentioned that she had a flat tire. Oh!! she exclaimed, dropped the phone and ran out to check. I was in Portland...she was in Seaside. That worked twice and then I had to give it up because she was on to me. A sad day in Zion.
There are so many more stories and memories, but I just want to tell my Mom that she is the greatest Mom of all times and no one had a better one than me. Mom...you are an example of how to live your life, how to draw closer to Christ and you are still..."Jackie Jean, the praying machine"...everyone calls you when they need some extra spiritual help. Thank you and I love you forever! Elaine
I also remember her watching the "Jack LaLanne" show on black and white TV and we would get our chairs out and do the exercises along with Jack. I don't think we ever lost any weight, but we lived with hope! We didn't watch a lot of tv , as black and white tv was not that tempting, but whenever there was a Doris Day movie on, we watched it and Mom did too , usually while ironing. She rarely just sat down and watched tv...always doing at least one other task.
Another favorite memory was going to the day old bread store with mom...boy we would load up. That bread was so dry, us kids would make our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and then dunk them in our Kool Aid to make it go down. My favorite was green koolaid....it brightened as well as moisturized! The funny thing is, it tasted pretty good....another fav was fried Spam sandwiches...there is nothing finer than a fried Spam sandwich with a lot of mayo. Mom used to make the dryest sandwiches.because that's how she liked them..no mayo, salad dressing, maybe a little butter. I think that's why most of us kids like a lot of sauce on our sandwiches..I'm the worst. I would probably be underweight if Mom had made wet sandwiches!!!
When I was a teen, Mom took me shopping for a new dress for the youth dance. Of course I found two I liked and wanted both. She couldn't afford two dresses, but I remember her saying..."Oh, I wish I had a million dollars and could buy you everything you want". We went home with one dress, but not disappointment. I knew she was doing what she could do and how she wanted to do more. Sometimes its enough to know you're loved and even a teen can understand when that's all that can be spent.
Mom almost always wrote and directed our ward Roadshows at church. She would write an original show and original music. We almost always won! And funny thing, she doesn't know how to write music. She would work up the melodies and get someone to write it down as sheet music so it could be played. I think my favorite was "The Egg and I". We had a blast..in those days we would travel to put on the roadshow in two different buildings and they even had awards. So much fun and the whole stake would turn out for them. We thought we were good enough for Hollywood.
When I married and had kids, it struck me how much my mom loved my kids and my children understood that too. She has such a great sense of humor and an ability to talk to her grandchildren that each one felt like they were her favorite. I've finally decided that each grandchild is her favorite...when she's talking with or visiting them. My kids love to have a little one on one time with Grandma.
We have the best memories of Mom and Dad at Seaside. Every summer I would take the kids several times to stay for a few days and go to the beach. We'd go down to hidden beach and just play in the sand...Mom and Dad would go and we'd just visit and watch the kids have a great time, what a joy for all of us. Then we'd go home and she always had chocolate peanut clusters or some type of treat for us to eat.
Probably my favorite memory is getting Mom with an April Fools joke. Every year, I would bide my time , wait until she was busy doing two things at once and when she was ready to go somewhere, I would look out the window and go..." You can't go now, you have a flat tire!!" She fell for it for about 5 years in a row. Once she had me figured out, I let it go for a number of years. My best effort was when they lived in Seaside and I was married with small kids, I called her up on the phone, we were talking and I casually mentioned that she had a flat tire. Oh!! she exclaimed, dropped the phone and ran out to check. I was in Portland...she was in Seaside. That worked twice and then I had to give it up because she was on to me. A sad day in Zion.
There are so many more stories and memories, but I just want to tell my Mom that she is the greatest Mom of all times and no one had a better one than me. Mom...you are an example of how to live your life, how to draw closer to Christ and you are still..."Jackie Jean, the praying machine"...everyone calls you when they need some extra spiritual help. Thank you and I love you forever! Elaine
Sunday, April 5, 2009
I'm holding my breath...
Only 10 more days to go. I am so tired...did I mention cranky? I am stating to the reading public that if I ever have a tax season like the one I'm almost going to survive, its gonna get ugly.
I am also stating to anyone who knows me or may be related to me that I will be unavailable next January through April for any event. Doesn't matter what it is...I will be unavailable. Fair warning.
That being said, I would like to write something witty, but the wit is gone. I hope to recover after 4/15/09 but it will take time. Its tough to be a smart alect who's lost her smarts. I've discovered that age affects stamina. In my mind, I keep thinking I should be doing and going as I've always done. There seems to be a disconnect and I don't like it. Short of getting huffy, however, there doesn't seem to be much I can do about it. Huffy can be enjoyable for a period of time, but it usually fades...takes too much energy to maintain it....going round robin again to the energy and stamina issue.
I thought about playing the glad game from Pollyana, but just not feelin' it right now....eventually will recover. Its time for a vacation, but I don't see one until Memorial day...can't wait.
Hope you all have a good week and please think kind thoughts about your friendly (?) tax professional.
I am also stating to anyone who knows me or may be related to me that I will be unavailable next January through April for any event. Doesn't matter what it is...I will be unavailable. Fair warning.
That being said, I would like to write something witty, but the wit is gone. I hope to recover after 4/15/09 but it will take time. Its tough to be a smart alect who's lost her smarts. I've discovered that age affects stamina. In my mind, I keep thinking I should be doing and going as I've always done. There seems to be a disconnect and I don't like it. Short of getting huffy, however, there doesn't seem to be much I can do about it. Huffy can be enjoyable for a period of time, but it usually fades...takes too much energy to maintain it....going round robin again to the energy and stamina issue.
I thought about playing the glad game from Pollyana, but just not feelin' it right now....eventually will recover. Its time for a vacation, but I don't see one until Memorial day...can't wait.
Hope you all have a good week and please think kind thoughts about your friendly (?) tax professional.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Updates...
Its been awhile since I had time to write anything. A lot of events have taken place and I am so overloaded, I can't seem to keep up. If you were making a life plan, you would not want to copycat mine. Just trust me on that.
Where to start....where to start....GOOD news first: Angie and Doug had Braelyn Baili Gunter on 2/23/09 and she is just beautiful. Now I know I'm the Grandma and I'm supposed to say that, but this time it happens to be true. I can't believe I have turned into a marshmallow softie where my grandchildren are concerned. ( I like that term, grandchildren!) Anyway this new phase of my life is welcome and I am so excited to watch Madi and Braelyn grow! We had some other family problems hit on the same day Braelyn was born that scared the crap out of me, but the situation is much improved and I am pleased about that. Additional good new was Allyson's birthday on the 13th...If I had know I was going to be working a bazillion hours every tax season, I would have had Allyson at a different time during the year...oh well, Che sera, sera. So with missing a few days of dedicated tax work, I really got behind and have been trying to meet the corporate tax deadline which was today..3/16/09. WHEW! I completed the returns...they were pretty involved this year and I think I can actually breathe now...until the next round which has already hit. This is in addition to my regular full time job. Lastly, Doug Sr. did have his second total knee replacement on 3/11/09 and came home from the hospital yesterday. I find I have run out of gas and am now sick. Well, as they say, "When it rains, it pours". I thought last tax season with a wedding was a little over the top for me...this year makes last year look like a walk in the park. One must remember the saying, "That which does not kill you makes you stronger". The jury is out on this one.
I've learned that when times are tough, its good to count your blessings. I do have blessings in my life, so I'm going to count them:
My family...all three Kazillion of them....but especially my immediate family...Doug Sr, Allyson, Doug Jr, Angie, Madi and Braelyn and Jeff and Morgan.
My membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
My friends...especially Linda, Janet and Barb
My health...except for the cold I currently have.
A job
My church calling...it keeps me humble.
Where I landed....oh how do people survive who don't live in the NW? That's how I know God loves me...he gave me Oregon and Washington. I must have done something right in the pre-existence.
The gym....If you had told me six months ago I would think the gym was a blessing I would have called you a crazy bad liar.
CHOCOLATE...in any form.
Sense of humor...sometimes you just have to laugh and then you can deal with all the crap.
Disneyland...don't need to say anymore. Wish I was there.
52" TV...lets face it ...as you age, the eyesight goes so a bigger tube keeps you in the loop..
Books
Well, that's all I have time for tonight. I just remind myself that we all have ups and downs in our lives..it helps refine us from lumps of coal to diamonds. I wonder if you ever get to know when you're a diamond or if you croak before you find out? Fortunately, we don't all have trials at the same time or no one would ever get a meal from the Relief Society! Have a good week everyone! We're doing okay ...just have a gripe a little sometimes.
Elaine
Where to start....where to start....GOOD news first: Angie and Doug had Braelyn Baili Gunter on 2/23/09 and she is just beautiful. Now I know I'm the Grandma and I'm supposed to say that, but this time it happens to be true. I can't believe I have turned into a marshmallow softie where my grandchildren are concerned. ( I like that term, grandchildren!) Anyway this new phase of my life is welcome and I am so excited to watch Madi and Braelyn grow! We had some other family problems hit on the same day Braelyn was born that scared the crap out of me, but the situation is much improved and I am pleased about that. Additional good new was Allyson's birthday on the 13th...If I had know I was going to be working a bazillion hours every tax season, I would have had Allyson at a different time during the year...oh well, Che sera, sera. So with missing a few days of dedicated tax work, I really got behind and have been trying to meet the corporate tax deadline which was today..3/16/09. WHEW! I completed the returns...they were pretty involved this year and I think I can actually breathe now...until the next round which has already hit. This is in addition to my regular full time job. Lastly, Doug Sr. did have his second total knee replacement on 3/11/09 and came home from the hospital yesterday. I find I have run out of gas and am now sick. Well, as they say, "When it rains, it pours". I thought last tax season with a wedding was a little over the top for me...this year makes last year look like a walk in the park. One must remember the saying, "That which does not kill you makes you stronger". The jury is out on this one.
I've learned that when times are tough, its good to count your blessings. I do have blessings in my life, so I'm going to count them:
My family...all three Kazillion of them....but especially my immediate family...Doug Sr, Allyson, Doug Jr, Angie, Madi and Braelyn and Jeff and Morgan.
My membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
My friends...especially Linda, Janet and Barb
My health...except for the cold I currently have.
A job
My church calling...it keeps me humble.
Where I landed....oh how do people survive who don't live in the NW? That's how I know God loves me...he gave me Oregon and Washington. I must have done something right in the pre-existence.
The gym....If you had told me six months ago I would think the gym was a blessing I would have called you a crazy bad liar.
CHOCOLATE...in any form.
Sense of humor...sometimes you just have to laugh and then you can deal with all the crap.
Disneyland...don't need to say anymore. Wish I was there.
52" TV...lets face it ...as you age, the eyesight goes so a bigger tube keeps you in the loop..
Books
Well, that's all I have time for tonight. I just remind myself that we all have ups and downs in our lives..it helps refine us from lumps of coal to diamonds. I wonder if you ever get to know when you're a diamond or if you croak before you find out? Fortunately, we don't all have trials at the same time or no one would ever get a meal from the Relief Society! Have a good week everyone! We're doing okay ...just have a gripe a little sometimes.
Elaine
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Big events are just around the corner....
This is the time of year that I go into survival mode. This is not a physical survival, but time and emotional. I do it to myself so I ask for no sympathy (will accept it though, if freely offered!) I enjoy preparing tax returns, but it has become more difficult now that I am working full time. That's one down side of the season. The other down side is I swear every year there are all these events that I am compelled to attend....PEOPLE...quit having events during tax season...try to be considerate of your tax professional!! Everything always seems to hit on Saturdays and just be aware that I can't give up a lot of Saturdays from January through April...so you may or may not see me. If I don't attend, you can at least take comfort that I'm feeling guilty...a true Mormon state of being.
The upside is that time goes by really fast and it will be spring before I know it. That part I like....and a little extra cash never hurts.
Now for the really BIG upside.....Angie and Doug will be having a new baby girl on February 23'rd..that's this Monday. Doug and I are so excited and it seems like we've been waiting forever for this baby to arrive. I'm sure Doug and Angie feel like they've been waiting longer! Poor Madi doesn't really know what is about to hit, but I think she'll do great and be a wonderful big sister...after she gets over the shock.
That's all I can write for now. I think my sense of humor also goes on hiatus during this time of year...Hopefully it will resurface in April after I have survived tax season and Doug Sr's surgery...I am trying not to think about that...again, another major event during tax season. I am sending out notice to the universe that next year I will be unavailable for weddings, baptisms, funerals (except mine), surgeries, etc. etc. There's a reason my blog is "Old Bags Rule"....I am old and I now have a rule.
I end my ramblings by sending warm fuzzies and base 10 numbers to all who read this.
Elaine
The upside is that time goes by really fast and it will be spring before I know it. That part I like....and a little extra cash never hurts.
Now for the really BIG upside.....Angie and Doug will be having a new baby girl on February 23'rd..that's this Monday. Doug and I are so excited and it seems like we've been waiting forever for this baby to arrive. I'm sure Doug and Angie feel like they've been waiting longer! Poor Madi doesn't really know what is about to hit, but I think she'll do great and be a wonderful big sister...after she gets over the shock.
That's all I can write for now. I think my sense of humor also goes on hiatus during this time of year...Hopefully it will resurface in April after I have survived tax season and Doug Sr's surgery...I am trying not to think about that...again, another major event during tax season. I am sending out notice to the universe that next year I will be unavailable for weddings, baptisms, funerals (except mine), surgeries, etc. etc. There's a reason my blog is "Old Bags Rule"....I am old and I now have a rule.
I end my ramblings by sending warm fuzzies and base 10 numbers to all who read this.
Elaine
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