A Simple Woman's Daybook~October 24, 2014

Our lives pass swiftly by! I want to do something to remember

the everyday moments and my thoughts about them.  

That is what this Daybook is all about.

Focusing on the little things that become my life.

One entry at a time.

Just for today~Friday, October 24, 2014 

Outside my window...It is 11:35 AM and the sun is right overhead. Leaves are drifting down from the trees that are looking a little more naked since my last daybook.  We have just the right combination of pines and redwoods that are evergreen and those like the oaks and sycamores and magnolias that aren't.  After 36 years in this house I am officially declaring autumn to be the most beautiful time here.  The walnut trees are just brilliantly yellow right now.  So pretty.  And I so enjoy having windows on both sides of the room so I can see out to the front and the back.  These are the little things that bring a smile to my face this morning.  I seem to be reluctant to switch from sandals to regular shoes and socks but it is chilly in the house today.  Summer is over.  I just went and got my socks...better already.

I am thankful for....Relationships with good people.  Both family and friends and especially for the ones that are both.  Best friends that are like family and family that are like best friends.  There is nothing better, is there? 

In fact without them one could get a rather jaded view of humanity.  I don't know about where you live, but I see an awful lot of nasty people when I am out and about.  Just so crabby and verbally abusive to others and it is annoying.  Especially on the road but it is becoming more prevalent in the businesses, etc. too.  The older I get the less tolerant I am of that kind of thing.  Kindness is so lovely.  Why choose the other.  It just boggles the mind really.  So I am grateful for good people!

From the learning room...that I love writing so much. The little poem I wrote that is in the post below this was just so much fun to do.  I enjoy that digging deep to figure out why I am feeling a certain way.  I can ponder it all day but once I start writing it just gets formulated into something tangible right away and it's so therapeutic.  

I am reading...the 2 amazing family trees put up by my cousin on ancestry.com.  He is amazingly kind.  We have the best cousins. I must have six new cousins in the past couple of years.  People I'd have never known without genealogy. 

From the kitchen...about to go make lunch and then get back to this.  Our pantry and refrigerator have turned into very healthy places.  Junk is all gone, lots of fresh and wholesome foods to choose each day.  I not only feel better but am shrinking little by little.  It is the best way to go.  Controlling the environment is one key. 

Some spiritual thoughts I have been having...I am feeling so much gratitude for the blessings in our lives.  The answers to prayers and how faith building life can be.  I am so happy for the things we have been able to accomplish lately with a lot of determination and help from each other.  It has been a hard year but a good one in terms of overcoming and moving forward.  The hard years teach us the most.  Must be part of the plan, right?

Someone I am praying for this week...Susan Todd, my dear friend from Florida that fell and broke her hip on the second day of her vacation with Nellie.  Double bummer.  Then she had to have surgery to boot.  She is still not home.  Susie we love you and are praying for your speedy recovery.  I know you must be missing your babies so much!  

Also praying for Stephen, Ben, Annabelle, Kelly and April, and all of our family.  Saying a lot of special prayers for Hazie going in for a big surgery on November 10th.  All the dads-in law to our kids, Spencer, Bryant, and Read need prayers too.  It is a blessing to pray for the people in our lives we love so much.  Get well all of you!  We feel your pain with you, more than you know.

Quote from~The Fault In Our Stars!

I am missing...all of the above very much.  And a lot of other people I don't get to see as often as I wish I could.

I am hearing...Collin Raye~I Think About You!  How perfect!

One of my pleasures...writing to people and texting and just making the connection with people I cannot see often.  And seeing the people that I can often.  Not enough hours in the day.  I am not a party person in anyway but I do enjoy one on one with others very much.

Pet Peeves...when I go shopping for food and forget one or two things that I really needed.  Ugh!   A list you say?  I have one all right, but I forget something anyway.

Past Remembrance...I am thinking about our kids that are in Scotland this week.  Our first trip to Scotland was life changing.  We love that place and as we wrote them a list of things not to miss we practically relived it.  Love when that happens.  And if I have written notes or a story about the trip it really comes back when reread.  That is the best.  That was our first trip to Europe and positively enchanting.

I am quoting...Pinterest...I believe this, especially written words.

If I could change one thing it would be...that my tooth that broke will not cost $6 or 7 thousand to fix with an implant. I think I want a new computer, and a trip to see our kids and a new family room carpet more.  The fix is strictly cosmetic and I think I'll be getting use to having that little space since it is a posterior tooth anyway.  Sheesh...more expensive than my diamond ring. Way more!  Outrageous!  

When you see people walking around without teeth...don't judge.  That is a pile of money.  One of my friends is having four done soon.  They cut her a "deal" only $20.000. So she's cashing out a part of her retirement to do it.

An enjoyable movie/ TV show we have watched lately...The Fault In Our Stars. Very touching movie.

I am curious about...how much stress presenting in a big conference would produce? I nearly croaked doing the two presentations I did last week at Digging For Your Roots with a few hundred people attending.  I love doing things like that though because it truly stretches you and makes you so painfully aware of the work and contributions of others.

Plans for the rest of the week...recovery mode from the conference as it had to be put on hold this past week.  A doctor appointment this coming week.  A couple of meetings.  Hanging out with the hubster, work, just enjoying my favorite season and getting some housework done as the holidays are approaching. I like to do some deep cleaning before I decorate.  I'd love to go out and take some cool pictures of the foliage.  Mani/Pedi.  Sheesh, that is enough.

One of my favorite things...staying home at night and just relaxing after a very hard day of working which usually started around 5:00 or 6:00 AM for both of us.  I am a total home body and we love our British TV series that we watch on Netflix. There are so many good ones.  I had no idea.

One thing that made me so happy this past week...getting my free time back today for writing.  That genealogy conference was on my calendar since March and took more out of me than I realized until it was over.  I cannot tell you how many times that passed through my mind over those many months. The best part is now I have classes I can easily teach other places.  The hard part is over...the preparation.

The most surprising thing this past week...Being able to meet a wonderful a lady from Provo on Pinterest, sending her a comment about her boards and becoming friends on Facebook a few weeks ago. Then having her post a status update about a Private Beyond 5 Concert that she was organizing for 100 lucky kids.  

Well our granddaughters are big fans and I arranged to get two tickets and surprise them.   They were so excited!  Two of the five boys are going on a mission soon so the group is disbanding temporarily.  

She then sent me a picture of her granddaughter with three girls in it from a previous concert.  She said, "My granddaughter is on the right! To which I replied...and my granddaughter is on the left!  How amazing is that?  Considering there are millions of pinners on Pinterest..it is quite astonishing.  Julia and her daughter already know each other!  

In the process I learned that she is very interested in doing her family history and I will be helping her soon.  I love serendipity like that.  The girls are at the concert this very minute as I have been writing this Daybook all day long in bits and pieces.

A photo I am sharing this week...

                       Speechless....finally!                           

UNTIL THE NEXT DAYBOOK,

 BE HAPPY AND CARRY ON!

So What About Kids?

I have to admit there times when I don't think a lot about kids.  Like when I'm under general anesthesia, doing our taxes or having a root canal.  But other than that I think about kids a lot.  Our kids, your kids, our grandkids and yours.  Big kids, little kids, precious infants, kids in trouble or that are troubled.  Innocent kids, naughty kids, kids that are noisy and exuberant, kids that are sad...I think about them a lot.  And there are the ones I love because I know them so well.  Or because my good friend loves them so much...kids or grandkids of theirs.  I may never have met them but if they love them...I do too.  They are a part of my friend and their life and that is good enough for me. 

I have to admit I am not really a people watcher but I am a baby watcher! I love spotting a baby and watching them in a mall or crowded place or in church.  And it is funny but if I can catch their eye they will usually smile at me, almost as if they know I am a Gramma!  

There are the ones I want to scoop up and hug and the ones that I think need a time out until they remember who is in charge.   I think about the ones I'm so proud of and the ones that worry me sick. The ones I applaud and the ones I cry over.   Kids are wonderful big and little humans, in all of their varieties.  As for the littlest kids, the thing that I love to see the most is their innocence and their newness in this game of life.  Where they haven't been jaded too much by hurts or sad things and they are just kind of living in their happy moments without a care.  The ones that have faith in Jesus, their parents, their surroundings, their friends and themselves.

One thing about them all...they all need a lot of love.  Real love and attention and protection.  They need assurance and security and praise and help in growing up healthy in body, mind and spirit. They need sound principles to guide them and understanding parents that sacrifice constantly to give them these things and grandparents too.

May none of our children ever doubt we are there for them through thick and thin, no matter how old they or we get.   And no matter what their struggles may be.  Love not only changes everything for the better but is soothes a lot of difficulties in life.  Good parents love unconditionally and kids have to know that some people will never leave them~no matter what.  Not ever.

I love the photo message above.  It is cute, poignant and true.  I like the suggestion to put them in water if they are crabby.  I once babysat a child that was crying hysterically about something.  I picked him up and sat him on the counter near the kitchen sink.  I put his little bare feet in some cool water and he was delighted immediately.  Who knew?  And I love the admonition to "Teach Feelings."  This is where empathy begins and love is learned.  And I'd add teach them to express feelings.  Especially feelings of love and appreciation for others.  May they never wonder if we love them.

So anyway, since I am not under anesthesia today or doing taxes or having a root canal...I was thinking about kids.   My kids, your kids the people that give us reason to get up and get dressed and get going every day with a purpose.  God bless us all in our sincere efforts to keep this sacred trust with the Lord to do good by them.

The Best Day In Santa Cruz!

Some things just never change!  Whether it is Coney Island or Lagoon or The Santa Cruz Boardwalk, The State Fair or Five Flags, there is fun in the air.  So many people love that playful carnival atmosphere and the carefree days spent there.  They love the arcades, the sea air, the sand, the deep fried foods and the rides.  All of it speaks of summer, relaxation and the smell of sunscreen and wet bathing suits. 

Oh how I use to love the State Fair when I was young.  One of the perks of living in Sacramento was having the State Fair so close.  We all looked forward to it for months and went almost every night that someone's parents would give us a lift down there.  The lights, the rides, the Midway...how could anyone ever forget that from when they were a kid?  It was two weeks of teen heaven. And all the carni games where cute boys would win teddy bears for girls.  I had one on my bed for years, long after we moved west.  It was about 30 inches tall and lavender and white.  I have no clue who won it for me, but I haven't forgotten that bear!

Aren't they the cutest?
Moms can say that, right?

Guess who is the biggest kid here?
Yep, Grampa!


The way it's done...

after you look around a bit and see what's there

you start out slow on the Merry-Go- Round!

An ariel view is always nice to get the lay of the land



Zach and Connor in front
Grampa and Aynslee behind them



The build up...taking it really slow
during the acclimation period
as the tension builds..



The Leals happened to be in Santa Cruz

 so perfect....they met up at the Boardwalk.

Andy and Chris have been friends 
since they were little.

 It was a great opportunity for their kids 
to be together and for them to catch up!

Bethy, John, Sarah, Willsey, and Aron Row 1

Connor, Owen, Andy  Row 2

Missy, Zach, Aynslee  Row 3

Grampa, Christopher  and Camera Row 4

#sincebethysmiddlenameishashtagithought
idshowhericandoittoo

#theselealsaresomeofourfavoritelifetimefriends

Ah, the fried stuff.  
Can't you smell the rancid recycled grease? 
 I thought Twinkies were gone from the earth
 but apparently not!
  But then they do have an extraordinary 
shelf life, right?

This looks like what Connor ordered
 if I were guessing!

It I had been there I'd have gotten Cotton Candy!
I like its magic disappearing act!

It is time to get into the serious rides!



Owen looking a little pensive as he waits!

I do not know what this ride is called but I call if the Free Fall.  You get strapped into this contraption.  When everyone is secure and apparently barefoot you shoot straight up in the air at a high speed.  You are up there just long enough to look around a little and then it free falls straight to the ground leaving your tummy in mid air.   It stops right before they have to scrape you off the pavement.  (How is this fun...remind me?)

Oh I know you scream all the way down unless you 
are trying to keep a fried Twinkie down, Con!
Just kidding, Connor, I know this came before the treat
but it sure does look like you might be doing that!

This one is called the Pirate Ship.  

It reminds me of what they use to call 

the Hammer in the old days.

Grampa looks scared here but 
I know he'd say he was faking it!

The ultimate goal has been attained here!
Little Sarah is completely terrorized!
Making her realized that she wants to remain tiny forever
So Daddy can protect her (and keep her home longer!)
Good job, Andy!
Aron is smiling but Will is just not too sure about this thing!

#isnaggedthisphotofromfacebookfrombethyspagedonttell

The old Rickety Wooden Roller Coaster
(Hopefully Retrofitted)

Some things do change after all. 

I use to love this thing when I was a kid.

Now I'd rather not even watch people I love riding it.

It is just wonderful to see your kids and grandkids

 enjoying the fullness of their lives.  

I always say about kids...they are double jeopardy and they double your pleasure and your fun too.  They double your sorrows when they are struggling or sick or hurting, but when they are happy and enjoying their lives and on top of the world,  they double your joy as well.  And my real super joy is in knowing how much fun Grampa had right along with them. And for me my great happiness came in having them here, in enjoying them tell me about everything and in writing these memories down for them.

It reminded me of decorating in far away lands like Canada or Italy or Utah or Moraga via the Internet and some photos like I have often done and still do.  It is not quite like being there but it gets the job done nicely.  The pictures might be a little out of sequence but hopefully it will be fun reminder of the day for them.

They were all so sweet and supportive towards me and I don't feel like I missed out on a thing.  By the end of the week I was feeling almost back to normal.   Taking it easy was the right choice for all concerned.  I didn't have to be stressed about keeping up when I was not feeling well and they were not burdened by curtailing any plans because of me.  Win/win.

Their last day here we relaxed and they packed up and we played and had a nice BBQ with a few friends that Chris wanted to talk with and Jim's mom.  It was a warm summer night and things were good.  So good.  We sure hope they had fun and will come back again soon!

We love them all and are so proud of their little family! All the hard work you have done to make it so is obvious, Chris and Melissa!  Woohoo!

Exploring the Exploratorium

Wednesday was the Exploratorium Day for the kids.  The late night at the game the night before precluded getting an early start so they left here about 10:30 am and picked up Grandma Gloria, Jim's Mom. The first stop was Treasure Island!  We always love taking photos from here as you may know.

Owen, Connor Aynslee and Zach

By the time they arrived in San Francisco it was time for lunch so they planned a stop at our favorite Pizzeria.  Pasquale's on 8th and Irving.

Four generations of Pasquale's Pizza lovers!

They brought me a doggie box!
"This is for you, Gramma!  Ah, thanks Zachary!"

After lunch they made their way to the Exploratorium and stayed until everyone was done.  They got home just before 8:30 that night and I had chili waiting for them as a late dinner.  Not exactly a summer meal but I had to cook with what I had as they had both vans with them.  They didn't seem to mind at all.  So they were in the Exploratorium about 7 hours or so.

The Exploratorium is a very unique Hands-On Science Museum created 40 years ago by Frank Oppenheimer.  They just recently moved to a new location on the Emarcadero, in the City.   It is a very unique place and the short video below explains their mission and a little more about it.  This is a great learning experience for all ages.  It exemplifies what I always say when I teach genealogy. " If you want to learn you have to put your hands on it!"  http://bcove.me/q34x7nq2

 The Exploratorium use to be located here.

 

The Palace of Fine Arts 
in an adjoining building.

I use to love it here because if I decided I'd had enough I could go outside and enjoy this and the lake and big beautiful shade trees and read a book or something.  But the building was old and there was a hassle finding parking here.  So off they went to here:

It is inside Pier 15

Guess which venue I like better?  Yep, The Palace.  However, this venue is so much nicer inside. And from the back you can sit out and look at the Bay. So it is progress, right?  Here are a few shots from their website.

Obviously a good decision has been made

The kids really loved this day.  Owen could not stop talking about it that night.  He just thought it was such a fun place.  They had so much stamina through out the whole week!

Outside Sign on a windy day!

Aynslee on Man Vs Machine...Guess Who Wins?

The New Zachary-Doodle

Zach Building The Roman Arch~It Worked!

20 Questions Game with Mom and Dad

More Questions~Owen Testing His Big Brother, Connor
 while Zach looks on

Grampa and Aynslee sit in a chair 2x bigger
 than the chair to their left.  This is to check our
Perspective on scale.  Visually it is often off!

Optical Illusion

Connor and Owen having fun 

while Grandma Gloria looks on.

  Oh I am so glad she does not have a computer!  
I'd be in the dog house 
with my doggie box from Pasquale's!

Well, as I said the enthusiasm from Owen and all the other kids was pretty telling.  They loved their day at the Exploratorium~Mission Accomplished.  They dropped into their tent and were fast asleep pretty quickly.  As you may have figured out by now, we do whirlwind vacations...running all the time in our family.  So the next day...up at the crack of dawn for the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.  It is Next Up on the blog so come on back!

Take Me Out to The Ball Game

http://youtu.be/qscED3psy_U

Tuesday was the San Francisco Giant's Baseball Game extravaganza when the kids were here.  During the morning we all just relaxed and played and enjoyed each other.  The main event was a night game but the family was taking BART (the train) into San Francisco.  So that meant leaving around 4:30 PM. 

I was planning on going to work around 2:00 as I was doing a lesson and I didn't feel comfortable being gone for many many hours on public transportation with my b/p acting up.  Jim's mom was able to go with them so that was nice for the family. 

So we all headed out in different directions in the afternoon.  Here is our true confession.  Our family is not really that into sports.  It has been decades since Jim and I went to a Giants game.  We use to love to go to Candlestick Park when we lived in San Francisco as newlyweds.  I think we went on my birthday for the first few years, huddled under a blanket and ate hots dogs.  It was a fun event then and we usually also went out to dinner before the game at a place called Tad's Steak House downtown.  Living in SF was thrilling all the time.  I'd go back there in a minute to a flat if we could keep our cottage as an alternate country home.  Now that is dreaming big!

At the ball game in the old days, you chatted with those around you and enjoyed the experience.  We knew all the players and had the sense they were "Our Team"  That was back in the Willie Mays days.  Since then we kind of lost track of all of that in the mix of life.  So Jim was excited to go back again.  Of course now there is the new ATandT stadium.

 Google Image

I  have not been inside the stadium but Jim relayed it is very nice.  I think I would just love to be able to sit out there in the middle of San Francisco like that.  I love how they have incorporated it right into the hub and heart The City by demolishing old structures and making the space useful again.  In a few generations it will seem like it was always there like many of the other professional sports arenas and stadiums throughout the country.

The family taking BART to the game.  It was not crowded going over but coming home they had to stand most of the way.  BART is fun to ride on if you don't linger on the idea that it tunnels under a mountain and passes underwater across the bay in a  tube from Oakland to San Francisco.  It is less expensive than driving and parking and more convenient and no traffic jams.  So hey, it all good!  They have replaced the old seats recently and it looks nicer than it use to so that is great to see.

These giant sculptures are SF's take on cool art and my brother assures me they are pretty spectacular as I sit here trying to write this post alone in the house, about a place I have never been and an event I didn't attend.  Steve reports that these are out near a really nice play area that have constructed for kids.  He said the coke bottle is undoubtedly a sponsorship contribution and the mitt is just old looking and funky and makes the park that much better.  They can be seen from everywhere in the park.  And if you are seated in the bleaches they are behind you. 

Here are the eager spectators, early and ready for the festivities.  Baseball games are not just baseball games anymore but multimedia extravaganzas.  A lot of time and money goes into making sure there is never a dull moment as there often can be if you are just left dependent upon the game itself.  You know the routine...three up three down at the top and bottom of many innings.

This game was not won by the Giants but Jim assured me there were some very exciting moments.  They were playing the Mets and there has always been some natural rivalry with them because the San Fransisco Giants use to be NewYork Giants back in the day.  But alas, they didn't play like the World Champions they are currently....so they lost!

Chris and Missy just two of the 41,000

 in attendance which is considered a sell out crowd.

I think they were happy they had

 selected this activity for their vacation.

They all seemed to have had a great time and didn't

 arrive back home until way past midnight.  

There was one really historic thing that happened in this game which you can see in the video link below.

The Giants have a brand new Japanese rookie on the team and that night was his first ever game in the big leagues.  That night is one he will never forget for a lot of reasons...check it out...After the moment in the video he got up to bat and got a hit his first time up.  He got a standing ovation from the crowd!  You don't see that very often...41,000 people unified in thought and honoring one individual for an exemplary first game in the major leagues.

This is all about Kensuke Tanaka, an up and coming baseball phenomenon it seems from day one!  Just listening to and watching this 31 second video clip brings back so many memories of my Dad who loved baseball and often listened to it on the radio and on TV.

The sounds of baseball never changes even though most of the other things have.  It is not just peanuts and popcorn and Cracker Jacks and beer anymore.  There are gourmet restaurants and concessions and even the hot dogs got fancy with a price tag of $7:00!

But if I had been there I would have gotten one because the only place hot dogs rock is in a ball park at a night game!  Then they are worth every cent of whatever they charge.  Somethings are just so American, Mom and Apple Pie and all the rest of it...and that is simply one of them!  See if this 31 seconds brings you back to the good ole days!  Be patient it takes awhile to load...enjoy!

http://youtu.be/aRchwB2qarU