363 days to go!

Is anyone counting yet? lol I think I should duck before something gets thrown at me! I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Christmas and will have a new year filled with good health, much happiness and lots of love!

We enjoyed having my aunt, uncle and cousin over for dinner on Christmas Eve and exchanging gifts afterwards but we also missed having Chelsea at home for the festivities. Her work did not close until 8pm and then they stocked til 10pm... the joys of retail... NOT! I have always enjoyed having 2 Christmas's as my family celebrates the German tradition of St. Nickolaus who comes on Christmas eve and then marrying into the American tradition of Santa Claus, St. Nick's cousin I'm sure, of opening gifts on Christmas morning. My kids have always thought it was a pretty neat tradition too, as it seems they are always opening gifts..lol
Christmas day found us on the road again...lol...first to the ex's for lunch (after being woken up twice at 8am by a wrong #), my gf''s mom for a gift exchange, and then home to wait for son and family to come over..our day was finally done about 8pm.

The day after Christmas found me shopping all over the place with my gf and her daughter and we came home with all kinds of treasures... my best one being a comforter set for my bed that I've been admiring for months. I brought it home yesterday for $25...woohoo! Sorry you had such a "homicidal" experience Dini...I tell ya, you should have joined us! :)

I'm looking forward to another short week of work as we will be closed on Friday for the New Year holiday and then I was given tickets at the beginning of the Rose Parade on Saturday by my boss who will be riding in the parade about 2/3rds of the way through it. Please keep the weather in your prayers as we are expecting most rain most of the week!

until next time... stay safe and well..

hugz O:-)

begging for forgiveness ....

The person that is for know's who they are! :-) Wow, six days since I blogged...it most certainly doesn't feel like that! Hours, and obviously days, have flown .. filled with shopping, shopping, wrapping..and oh, some more shopping!! Add in some fun times out .. Disneyland, caroling, a movie (yesterday) and some Christmas gift exchanges with friends and you'll KNOW I'm NOT using excuses! 0:-)

I do realize know that even a short paragraph would have appeased the goddess, but I was sure she would grant extended leave of absences at this time of year. Guess I should have read the fine print when I signed on!!!

Phantom of the Opera, the movie.... FABULOUS! My recommendation is DON'T miss it!! I already have plans to go back with my daughters!

til then ..stay safe and well... enjoy, don't stress.. spend times with loved ones.. without the "reason" for this season... none of this would exist...

love n hugz O:-)

it's too early to blog...

But, if I don't get myself back into the habit... I'll have developed a new habit... NOT blogging! Late afternoons and the evenings find me busily running this errand or that and by the time I sit down here, I'm just too tired to string my thoughts together in a way that makes sense. Heck, I'm having a hard time with that now..haha.

My packages are now labeled appropriately, even though these labels don't look nearly as good as the ones that are "safely" put away. Oh well, in 10 more days no one will care what the labels look like as the paper is torn off and tossed into a pile for the cat to bury himself in. A couple more things and I think I'll actually be done and can work on enjoying a little pre-Christmas socializing! Of course, I can't pay Chelsea to wrap ALL the gifts because it won't take away the element of surprise, so I will need a Santa's helper this weekend.. please contact me with your availibility schedule. ;-)

Disneyland beckons and Amanda and I are hoping to pick up the grandkids and take them on Saturday. We're probably crazy as it will be as busy as going to the mall, but it's such a special time of year there..and they even have "snow" at night after the fireworks! We'll see if I talk myself into it, or out of it...lol.

Okay, some blog is better than no blog and I must get ready for work, as that actually pays the bills...hehe.

til then...stay safe and well... hugz

where are my labels????

Do you ever buy something and put it away right where you'll need it when the time comes and then it's NOT there???! lol I know I bought really neat gift tags but they obviously didn't want to be used and found themselves another hiding place so until I get to the store, we're using post it's to identify who the gift is for..hehe. Necessity IS the mother of invention!

This year I got wise and "hired" Chelsea to be my gift wrapper and she's doing a darn fine job ot it... what a blessing that has been!! It's well worth what I'm paying her and she needs the extra money as her job isn't giving her enough hours.... a mutually beneficial arrangement, if I may say so myself. :-)

My goal, and my wish for you, is to be at a place of quiet and calm and just enjoying spending time with family and friends.. sharing a cup of coffee (or tea), a good conversation, watching a movie... no stresses. Anyway care to join me?

til then...stay safe and well O:-)

mere rhetoric?

I decided to go lookup the definition of rhetoric and realized I gave myself lots of leeway as to which type of "rhetoric" I use at any given time. My hope this morning, almost 12am, would be to "use language to please or persuade". I'll skip the persuading part as I need nothing from you but your tolerance/patience as I try and "please" you with my literary skills..haha. Laughing... do I even believe anything I just said?

I totally appreciated Dini's blog(s) about the lack of sleep we are getting. My doctor has been much kinder than hers was and has not commented on the "age" I am and that it is to be expected. lol I will be glad when this "time of life" passes and my sleeping habits are back to normal. Last night I finally broke down and took part of a tylenolpm at about 1:30am. I guess I must have needed it as I slept off and on until 11:30am. *fainting* wow...wonder if I can do that 2 nights in a row?

Today was a typcially busy day for this time of year but not stressful. I went shopping knowing what I was looking for and was able to go in and out of the store in a reasonable amount of time with developing a bad attitude towards all the folks that kept bumping into me or blocking the isles while I was on the hunt. Grinches!

Tomorrow day could be filled with "stuff" but I think I'm going to try and lay low and just enjoy the day in honor of little Wesley and his parents. Extra love and hugz heading their way on this day.
In the evening I will be taking my mom, aunt and a gf to a wonderful holiday play... I look forward to surprising them! :)

Stay safe, stay well.. share a smile...

hugz ...

first attempt at jewelry making (probably last too..haha) 

busy, busy, busy..again

I don't have time to blog cuz I'm too busy filling in what time I don't have with busy work..haha
(see above to understand) I was given a gift certificate for a beading/wiring class tonite which I took tonite. I now have a better understanding and respect for those that do this for a living or for fun. One of the those lovely people being my own dear sister who has 3 kids under 7 at home, is a birth assistant, and will be taking her state boards to become a volunteer EMT next week! And you think I'm busy???!!!

Of course, being the time of year that it is I find myself busier but many things are ones that are heartwarmers. My favorite will be caroling next weekend at a retirement home, a hospice and a couple of floors at the hospital. The best thing about caroling with a good sized group, is that no one knows if you're off key or not..haha. Lucky for me, or is that for others, I can carry a tune but I will keep my day job! :-) At the retirement home I love seeing patients light up as we wander the halls singing. For some of them, we are all the visitors they have. Music is a universal connection and touches each one of them.. wherever they may be.

I've almost missed not blogging..hehe.. but I have not missed getting a "whatfor" from "you know who"! So, for her and my aussie friend ... here it is... enjoy...don't know when I'll be back..

til then...stay safe and well.. hugz

easing back in....

Busy weekend...Arts and Crafts Festival on Friday (where I actually got to shop)...Christmas party (here) on Saturday.. and then out to lunch, a movie(Christmas with the Kranks), some shopping and then out to dinner with Chels on Sunday. I have to go to work just to relax! lol

Speaking about Chels.. for those of you that know my struggles with her .. prayers are being answered. They are itsy bitsy steps..but I'm thankful for each one and will encourage her and appreciate her everyday. To quote a good friend on here.. she's gone to being a bear cub from being a grizzly bear! hehe

Was good to see you for a few, Brad..warm thoughts and healing prayers headed your way everyday! hugz to you and Lisa :)

This was short..but I'll be back...soon!

stay safe and well.. hugzz Reetz

dedicated to Wesley ...

On Thursday December 1st, little Wesley Moyle earned his wings. Brad and Lisa were with him and held him close as he left this world and went on to one where he'll be perfect and he'll watch over his wonderful parents. His visit here was short but he was surrounded by the love of his family and friends all over the world and he touched each and every one of us in a very special way.

How wonderful it is to develop such deep and meaningful friendships with people that you may never have the opportunity to meet, but who have touched your life and blessed you just by being themselves. Sharing their everyday lives, being silly, being supportive, being a friend.

Thank you Brad and Lisa for allowing us to be part of your joy and your sorrow. There are no words that can help you but our love and continued prayers are with you each day and every step of the way. May God grant you peace beyond understanding as make your way through each moment of each day.

with love and sympathy from your online family in Canadas40+