I couldn't believe it's been two years since I had last posted anything when I first clicked back on here. I had to go to my daughters blog in order to figure out how to even get to my own blog address.. good grief.
Well, of course there has been a lot going on in our little world, but I had just decided to take a break from it all in the writing area. I will be attempting to make it that you have to "log in" in order to read.. I guess I just didn't like the public part of it. But of course I'll have to figure that out to.. From the look of the page that I'm seeing, this will take some getting used to. And perhaps, read back as to what I was doing before in posts.
So I will begin by just saying that I have no idea what I will be including in this but we have a trip to Colorado next week and so that will make for a blog post in the future..
Good night for now..
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Thursday, November 29, 2012
This BLOG has moved...
Here is the new address of the continuation http://simplesymenspart2.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
blog issues may end the run...
Well, I wrote this blog or I started a good portion of it and then when I tried to add the first picture.. it gave me some "whoops, your blog has reached it's 100% of it's storage", So now I'm not so sure what I'm going to be doing in the future.. so I'll let you know where I switch to..
Monday, November 19, 2012
New medical bracelet
Today my new bracelet arrived via the mail in a split second compared to the amount of time it originally gave me in the estimate of 7-10 days.
Been diabetic for over 33 years and have rarely worn a medical alert bracelet.. There not very intriguing or as a jewelry accesorie.. and then I came across this website, and this cute bracelet (s) options. Made me change my mind and consider
http://www.laurenshope.com/product/2318/C310/venus-medical-id-bracelet/size
and this is the medical alert
http://www.laurenshope.com/product/2192/015/oval-filigree-medical-id-tag/size
cute huh?
Been diabetic for over 33 years and have rarely worn a medical alert bracelet.. There not very intriguing or as a jewelry accesorie.. and then I came across this website, and this cute bracelet (s) options. Made me change my mind and consider
http://www.laurenshope.com/product/2318/C310/venus-medical-id-bracelet/size
and this is the medical alert
http://www.laurenshope.com/product/2192/015/oval-filigree-medical-id-tag/size
cute huh?
Why should we support Israel
I couldn't paraphrase this and so I'll just put it out there for you to read.. But if God says I will bless those who bless Israel and will curse those who curse Israel.. I want to be found to be on the Lord's side in the battle.
http://www.jhm.org/Home/About/WhySupportIsrael
Happy Thanksgiving..
http://www.jhm.org/Home/About/WhySupportIsrael
Happy Thanksgiving..
Saturday, November 17, 2012
the sound of rain
Today has been a mix of some rain, sunshine, and now again since late this afternoon, there are rain drops.. and I love it. I probably wouldn't be a fan of Oregon like rainfall, but would like a nice dose of it each week. Apparantly this was all forecasted...
But Friday I had no idea there was a forecast for rain and so before jury duty I stopped in and got my car washed.. It was covered in a gross layer of road dirt. Now granted the sky had a light layer of clouds but nothing that seemed threatening. And not twenty minutes after I left the car wash drive thru on the corner of Lakewood and South Street the rain drops in the Los Angeles sky let loose.. I laugh about it now but my first reaction wasn't all joy, although my focus was on having a clean car and I did have that if only for twenty minutes and a $5 investment.
Now as I write this blog, I'm curious.. who reads this? Or am I just journaling into the stratosphere of my own mind? Quite possible that I am just being overly sensitive to no comments ever.. but if it helps I removed the comments moderation for which keeps the spammers out of my space and off my computer.. they certainly have a comment to make... I'm curious.. so leave your name and I'd greatly appreciate it.
Lorinda
But Friday I had no idea there was a forecast for rain and so before jury duty I stopped in and got my car washed.. It was covered in a gross layer of road dirt. Now granted the sky had a light layer of clouds but nothing that seemed threatening. And not twenty minutes after I left the car wash drive thru on the corner of Lakewood and South Street the rain drops in the Los Angeles sky let loose.. I laugh about it now but my first reaction wasn't all joy, although my focus was on having a clean car and I did have that if only for twenty minutes and a $5 investment.
Now as I write this blog, I'm curious.. who reads this? Or am I just journaling into the stratosphere of my own mind? Quite possible that I am just being overly sensitive to no comments ever.. but if it helps I removed the comments moderation for which keeps the spammers out of my space and off my computer.. they certainly have a comment to make... I'm curious.. so leave your name and I'd greatly appreciate it.
Lorinda
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Plan for Thanksgiving week
We have kids out of state and so holidays will mostly be spent without one or more of them..
So this year for Thanksgiving which always falls with a perfectly situated 4 day weekend for both of us, we are hitting the road. We both are taking the day before off and Greg will just be busy on the phone while I drive, and he talking with his customers, as is how we usually roll. But if that is what it takes for him to get away from the home office. The drive is 13 hours and we will make it out there in two days on a more leisurely pace depending on what time we can get out of dodge. The time will determine what direction we take (ideally hwy 15 to hwy 11 through Zion National Park and then to hwy 89 north to hwy 70) which will take us through the rural farmlands.. but if we get out of town late, it will be a direct shot up the 15 to hwy 70..
Brian moved to Parachute CO in June of this year, and so it will be a fun road trip to go see him and spend time celebrating his 25th birthday which is on Nov 20, as well as the Thanksgiving holiday. Brians co worker Dave and his wife Kathy invited them over for dinner on this day and so we will also go with them.
On Black Friday Nicole had gotten tickets for Brians birthday to go see Rodney Carrington in Grand Junction. So I went to ticketfly.com and was able to get two tickets for us in the balcony in different places, but that is how sold out it is.
What are you doing on Thanksgiving?
So this year for Thanksgiving which always falls with a perfectly situated 4 day weekend for both of us, we are hitting the road. We both are taking the day before off and Greg will just be busy on the phone while I drive, and he talking with his customers, as is how we usually roll. But if that is what it takes for him to get away from the home office. The drive is 13 hours and we will make it out there in two days on a more leisurely pace depending on what time we can get out of dodge. The time will determine what direction we take (ideally hwy 15 to hwy 11 through Zion National Park and then to hwy 89 north to hwy 70) which will take us through the rural farmlands.. but if we get out of town late, it will be a direct shot up the 15 to hwy 70..
Brian moved to Parachute CO in June of this year, and so it will be a fun road trip to go see him and spend time celebrating his 25th birthday which is on Nov 20, as well as the Thanksgiving holiday. Brians co worker Dave and his wife Kathy invited them over for dinner on this day and so we will also go with them.
On Black Friday Nicole had gotten tickets for Brians birthday to go see Rodney Carrington in Grand Junction. So I went to ticketfly.com and was able to get two tickets for us in the balcony in different places, but that is how sold out it is.
What are you doing on Thanksgiving?
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
A great wednesday
The beginning of the day has been pretty much as usual, my new jury usual... and we were released early right after lunch... tomorrow we don't have to start until 1:30pm on Thursday with a promise of a surprise by Judge Frederick N Wapner..(I have an idea what it is, but can't tell yet or maybe that is just hope speaking)
But I AM LOVING to be like a normal person, sleep til the sun is actually up, and going to bed at 10pm. I've hit the treadmill today TWICE.. I had a bowl of ice cream tonight anyway, but did you read that I hit the treadmill twice. The last three months eating little or the same and I feel like I'm attached to an airhose.. and the treadmill has been like a piece of furniture.
Tonight while I walked on the treadmill I caught up on some okay just one DVR show.. and then I camped on the couch for the rest of the taped shows The Good Wife (my favorite show to watch), Mike and Molly (good for a chuckle and once in awhile laugh so hard, well you know how that goes).. And one of the Guiliana and Bill. Now remember when you watch a DVR you fast forward through commercials. Gregs working on a project so he's on the computer putting in long hours.
well, it's nearly 10pm and the yawning has started.. my mind likes to stay awake but the mind knows the clock time
But I AM LOVING to be like a normal person, sleep til the sun is actually up, and going to bed at 10pm. I've hit the treadmill today TWICE.. I had a bowl of ice cream tonight anyway, but did you read that I hit the treadmill twice. The last three months eating little or the same and I feel like I'm attached to an airhose.. and the treadmill has been like a piece of furniture.
Tonight while I walked on the treadmill I caught up on some okay just one DVR show.. and then I camped on the couch for the rest of the taped shows The Good Wife (my favorite show to watch), Mike and Molly (good for a chuckle and once in awhile laugh so hard, well you know how that goes).. And one of the Guiliana and Bill. Now remember when you watch a DVR you fast forward through commercials. Gregs working on a project so he's on the computer putting in long hours.
well, it's nearly 10pm and the yawning has started.. my mind likes to stay awake but the mind knows the clock time
Monday, November 12, 2012
it's a Monday
Today being Veterans Day, I would like give a more thorough list although I stood corrected on my facebook post, here are the immediate relatives or friends that I am aware of who served. There are most likely many more whom I am not aware of but there service for this great country of America hasn't gone unnoticed. America is the land of the free, but it's not free to the families who lose a loved one whether for just the time they serve, or lose a loved one in the fight.
Gregs Dad Burdell, served in the Army and was stationed in Germany in the 50's. Gregs Uncles Delbert and Marlon Symens (3 of 5 brothers)
Our daughter Ashley served in the Army, stationed at Ft. Hood, TX
Her boyfriend Matt Meadows served 6 years Army
cousin Todd Stoltenberg Air Force
cousin Brad Stoltenberg Air Force
Uncle Alvin Blom Marines
cousin Terry Blom Air Force
Uncle Harvey Van Essen in the Korean War
Uncles Ron Van Meeteren in Marines, Roger, Pete, Cory, Monte, and Mark (6 of 10 brothers)
cousin Cory Kosters who gave his life in Iraq at age 19 about 5 years ago. Cory is fortunately the
only one that I know of that lost his life while fighting in a war. And that was one to many but he lived to be a sniper and he excelled at it, an IED took his life in a caravan of humvees. His parents Marlon and Senta Kosters have been just an inspiration as they handled the tragedy and encouraged those who had hoped to comfort them in those very early days and on with the love of Christ as their cornerstone. Greg flew to Houston TX along with a large number of relatives to honor the life of Cory for his funeral and he was very taken aback by the honor that America gives to its heroes.
I have the Monday Night football game on and as they honored the veterans prior to the game and then the singing of the National Anthem and the large flag unfurled across the field, it just brings tears each time. They panned across the veterans and had names/wars they fought in. There just aren't enough words in the thanks for their individual service and the "team" effort they undertake to have solidarity in times of conflict in the midst of their own fears and uncertainty. No matter whether you were a cook, a nurse birthing babies of the service men and womans families, or an infantryman who was on the front lines with everyone else it takes to take on the enemy or a nurse/doctor who takes care of the wounded.. It takes a massive team effort to stand up for freedom and democracy start to finish and I thank you.
on a lighter note:
It's a Monday and as has been the tale of the last three weeks, it's the only day that I have shown up at work.. Tuesday through Friday have been jury duty days as it will be this week, BECAUSE they actually started the trial on Friday of last week. It felt kind of weird driving into the employee parking lot to report to work. My desk today looked alot cleaner than it did each of the two Monday's prior when I came in.. So either I've trained them well to handle some of the issues that come up OR I've trained them to well.. haha.. oh well, I know where I'm needed and so no worries.
For those who had the day off, those of us who did not, we had to take the freeways appreciating your absence on the roadways.
Well, now to watch a football game where the Pittsburg Steelers will most likely ROUT the Kansas City Chiefs, but yet after the first quarter.. KC was up 10-0, and then at half time 10-10 and now the Steelers quarterback is out of the game with a right shoulder injury.. maybe KC has a bigger chance than I first thought..
Gregs Dad Burdell, served in the Army and was stationed in Germany in the 50's. Gregs Uncles Delbert and Marlon Symens (3 of 5 brothers)
Our daughter Ashley served in the Army, stationed at Ft. Hood, TX
Her boyfriend Matt Meadows served 6 years Army
cousin Todd Stoltenberg Air Force
cousin Brad Stoltenberg Air Force
Uncle Alvin Blom Marines
cousin Terry Blom Air Force
Uncle Harvey Van Essen in the Korean War
Uncles Ron Van Meeteren in Marines, Roger, Pete, Cory, Monte, and Mark (6 of 10 brothers)
cousin Cory Kosters who gave his life in Iraq at age 19 about 5 years ago. Cory is fortunately the
only one that I know of that lost his life while fighting in a war. And that was one to many but he lived to be a sniper and he excelled at it, an IED took his life in a caravan of humvees. His parents Marlon and Senta Kosters have been just an inspiration as they handled the tragedy and encouraged those who had hoped to comfort them in those very early days and on with the love of Christ as their cornerstone. Greg flew to Houston TX along with a large number of relatives to honor the life of Cory for his funeral and he was very taken aback by the honor that America gives to its heroes.
I have the Monday Night football game on and as they honored the veterans prior to the game and then the singing of the National Anthem and the large flag unfurled across the field, it just brings tears each time. They panned across the veterans and had names/wars they fought in. There just aren't enough words in the thanks for their individual service and the "team" effort they undertake to have solidarity in times of conflict in the midst of their own fears and uncertainty. No matter whether you were a cook, a nurse birthing babies of the service men and womans families, or an infantryman who was on the front lines with everyone else it takes to take on the enemy or a nurse/doctor who takes care of the wounded.. It takes a massive team effort to stand up for freedom and democracy start to finish and I thank you.
on a lighter note:
It's a Monday and as has been the tale of the last three weeks, it's the only day that I have shown up at work.. Tuesday through Friday have been jury duty days as it will be this week, BECAUSE they actually started the trial on Friday of last week. It felt kind of weird driving into the employee parking lot to report to work. My desk today looked alot cleaner than it did each of the two Monday's prior when I came in.. So either I've trained them well to handle some of the issues that come up OR I've trained them to well.. haha.. oh well, I know where I'm needed and so no worries.
For those who had the day off, those of us who did not, we had to take the freeways appreciating your absence on the roadways.
Well, now to watch a football game where the Pittsburg Steelers will most likely ROUT the Kansas City Chiefs, but yet after the first quarter.. KC was up 10-0, and then at half time 10-10 and now the Steelers quarterback is out of the game with a right shoulder injury.. maybe KC has a bigger chance than I first thought..
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Photos of special people
This fall we got our Christmas shopping started early and when I traveled to MN I delivered our gift to Gregs parents in person. We had done lots of online searching for a digital photo frame that would allow us to add pictures online and not just from an SD card or USB stick (which it is also capable of doing.
http://www.amazon.com/Pix-Star-PXT510WR02-FotoConnect-Digital-Picture/dp/B0056HNTAU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352677709&sr=8-1&keywords=pix-star+digital+photo+frame
Amazon carries the one we wanted but they were back ordered until the last week before I left. Which we had it delivered to our house and I got right on the project of downloading and checking out the in's and out's of the photo frame. By the end of the week I had around 200 of our (2000) pictures of Alaska that they would enjoy seeing of wide variety and also a number of the fall trip Marlys and I took a year ago in 2011. Since then I've been adding older pictures of our kids, family. Once I was in MN I copied each of the other siblings Alaska pictures to a storage disc that I brought along and withing a couple of weeks I had some of each of the siblings contribution onto the photo frame.
Today I added three pictures from Marlys hallway wall of their wedding picture and Gregs grandparents..
http://www.amazon.com/Pix-Star-PXT510WR02-FotoConnect-Digital-Picture/dp/B0056HNTAU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352677709&sr=8-1&keywords=pix-star+digital+photo+frame
Amazon carries the one we wanted but they were back ordered until the last week before I left. Which we had it delivered to our house and I got right on the project of downloading and checking out the in's and out's of the photo frame. By the end of the week I had around 200 of our (2000) pictures of Alaska that they would enjoy seeing of wide variety and also a number of the fall trip Marlys and I took a year ago in 2011. Since then I've been adding older pictures of our kids, family. Once I was in MN I copied each of the other siblings Alaska pictures to a storage disc that I brought along and withing a couple of weeks I had some of each of the siblings contribution onto the photo frame.
Today I added three pictures from Marlys hallway wall of their wedding picture and Gregs grandparents..
Marlys and Burdell Wedding picture
Grandparents Gladys and Arthur Symens
Great Grandma Van Diepen, Grandparents Cordell and Mona Van Meeteren, Mona Van Diepen as a child
Thursday, November 8, 2012
jury service day 9
okay, morning #9 of driving to 25 miles to LA for jury service that starts each morning at 10:30 (means we are there at that time and the courtroom 114 comes out for us when it suits them. This morning it's raining, traffic is backed up, I just show up on time to the courthouse after catching the B Dash bus for the 4 long blocks from the Disney Music Center rather than jogging downhill the stairs through the garden park. At 10:40 the clerk comes out and says a couple of jurors are running late and so without them we have to wait. At 11:10 she comes back out and calls the 11 jurors into the a line, and then proceeds to tell us that the court judge is dismissing us 11 only until 1:30 so they can continue to pick jurors using the entire jury box to interview.. I must admit that by this time I was pissed a bit, since we weren't even for sure part of the jury and could still be eliminated..
WHAT THE HELL.. it's a lot of time to do NOTHING, but she suggests we can get bus passes, free tickets to see museums.. but it's only 2 hours, who wants to truck around freaking mysterious downtown to do that.. so there is a major Catholic Cathedral that I've heard does tours, and they have a good grill for lunch.. So I trudge UPHILL to Temple and Grand, and sit outside because it's not raining and the chairs are dry... at 12:10 Mass was starting and so I sat through as much of that as I had time.. It's actually not a Cathedral of extravagence that I was expecting.. We went to a wedding in a downtown Catholic Cathedral in Sacramento several years ago and that was wow over the top in old architecture and decor in the main part..
Got back to the courthouse, we started at 12:50, and after a few people excused the lawyers have exhausted there challenges. The jury was set and while I had been in chair #8 since day one they asked us 12 to stand and be sworn in... the 4 alternates are yet to be agreed on and they dismissed us the jury so as to use the entire jury box to interview and move the process along.. so twenty minutes today in the courtroom is all after being there in the courthouse for 4 hours.. I foresee the trial opening statements to start next Tuesday (rather than this last Tuesday) and that will be four days of trial time, and then a two week break for vacation of Judge and then trials for the lawyers.. so this is a frustrating waiting game to just get it going, completed and move on..
If I can get the comp time, it would be nice to head to CO to see Brian if we could leave Tuesday afternoon and come back Saturday.. We will see if that is a possibility yet, since I'm actually out of vacation time, I know hard to believe but I even got an extra week carried over from 2011.. but I do have individual days off to use..
Well, it's Alpha night and so I need to take a look in the mirror as I spent a little time out in the rain today..
WHAT THE HELL.. it's a lot of time to do NOTHING, but she suggests we can get bus passes, free tickets to see museums.. but it's only 2 hours, who wants to truck around freaking mysterious downtown to do that.. so there is a major Catholic Cathedral that I've heard does tours, and they have a good grill for lunch.. So I trudge UPHILL to Temple and Grand, and sit outside because it's not raining and the chairs are dry... at 12:10 Mass was starting and so I sat through as much of that as I had time.. It's actually not a Cathedral of extravagence that I was expecting.. We went to a wedding in a downtown Catholic Cathedral in Sacramento several years ago and that was wow over the top in old architecture and decor in the main part..
Got back to the courthouse, we started at 12:50, and after a few people excused the lawyers have exhausted there challenges. The jury was set and while I had been in chair #8 since day one they asked us 12 to stand and be sworn in... the 4 alternates are yet to be agreed on and they dismissed us the jury so as to use the entire jury box to interview and move the process along.. so twenty minutes today in the courtroom is all after being there in the courthouse for 4 hours.. I foresee the trial opening statements to start next Tuesday (rather than this last Tuesday) and that will be four days of trial time, and then a two week break for vacation of Judge and then trials for the lawyers.. so this is a frustrating waiting game to just get it going, completed and move on..
If I can get the comp time, it would be nice to head to CO to see Brian if we could leave Tuesday afternoon and come back Saturday.. We will see if that is a possibility yet, since I'm actually out of vacation time, I know hard to believe but I even got an extra week carried over from 2011.. but I do have individual days off to use..
Well, it's Alpha night and so I need to take a look in the mirror as I spent a little time out in the rain today..
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
jury service & movie star..
Today, Tuesday I reported back to the jury Service 11th floor at LA Courthouse after two days off. I have no feel for what is the criteria the lawyers are looking for, but there is something specific because for whatever reason, I still occupy seat #8. There must have been 130 people that have come through this process for this trial and yet they keep calling out for new ones to fill vacating seats. Just as we arrived today at the prospected 10:30, they separated into a line the 11 who have a jury box seat, and told us to come back at 11:45am.... which only meant we'd be back in time to be excused for lunch, which is what basically happened.
So Helene and Maxine and I headed downstairs together as jurors in the box together at 10:45 for the cafeteria just to sit away from the juror room and the hard benches in the hallway. We had a nice conversation about our families, jobs, etc. and then mosied back upstairs for the next call to break for lunch, which did come 10 minutes after we got into the courtroom. The three of us headed back down to the cafeteria for lunch for an hour and twenty five where we shared alot of laughs about lifes stuff.. good times while you all are tortured with the slow scheme of things.
In the brief afternoon period, Helene and Maxine were both excused.. a brief wave and they are gone. I am one of two of the longest sitting 1st panel of jurors from day one to be still hanging around.
A sidenote of being in LA court system is that famous people are called to jury duty along with you.. She got herself excused by playing the "I have to fly to New York, Bulgaria and attend the Kennedy Center Awards with my husband" who is Antonio Banderas. She didn't look alot like the coifed Melanie Griffith in her ponytail and leggings with a coat jacket on, but she carried herself like an actress..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanie_Griffith
As will go with trials in the jury pick is that you have numerous side bars between jurors and their secrets and the judge/lawyers for why they should be excused. Or you have motions about jurors who one side just excused and they empty the courtroom to have there outloud discussion about it. So lots of sitting and lots of waiting... Today not much was accomplished and as we got to the "next" calling of juror #'s to be excused, the judge called it a day and we left at 4:00pm to come back another day.
Wednesday will be day 7 of jury selection overall and day 5 for me.
Tonight is election coverage and Greg kept flipping back to it from the show we were watching until I couldn't take it anymore. I headed upstairs to come back an I am now in my pj's and he went up to work on the computer for which I suggested to get away from the watching of the few states that had closed. Tomorrow is soon enough for me to know the outcome.
goodnight ya'll as juror S3944 is looking forward to sleeping in, walking the treadmill, and then heading back to LA.. bad day fishing beats a good day working is my thinking.
So Helene and Maxine and I headed downstairs together as jurors in the box together at 10:45 for the cafeteria just to sit away from the juror room and the hard benches in the hallway. We had a nice conversation about our families, jobs, etc. and then mosied back upstairs for the next call to break for lunch, which did come 10 minutes after we got into the courtroom. The three of us headed back down to the cafeteria for lunch for an hour and twenty five where we shared alot of laughs about lifes stuff.. good times while you all are tortured with the slow scheme of things.
In the brief afternoon period, Helene and Maxine were both excused.. a brief wave and they are gone. I am one of two of the longest sitting 1st panel of jurors from day one to be still hanging around.
A sidenote of being in LA court system is that famous people are called to jury duty along with you.. She got herself excused by playing the "I have to fly to New York, Bulgaria and attend the Kennedy Center Awards with my husband" who is Antonio Banderas. She didn't look alot like the coifed Melanie Griffith in her ponytail and leggings with a coat jacket on, but she carried herself like an actress..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanie_Griffith
As will go with trials in the jury pick is that you have numerous side bars between jurors and their secrets and the judge/lawyers for why they should be excused. Or you have motions about jurors who one side just excused and they empty the courtroom to have there outloud discussion about it. So lots of sitting and lots of waiting... Today not much was accomplished and as we got to the "next" calling of juror #'s to be excused, the judge called it a day and we left at 4:00pm to come back another day.
Wednesday will be day 7 of jury selection overall and day 5 for me.
Tonight is election coverage and Greg kept flipping back to it from the show we were watching until I couldn't take it anymore. I headed upstairs to come back an I am now in my pj's and he went up to work on the computer for which I suggested to get away from the watching of the few states that had closed. Tomorrow is soon enough for me to know the outcome.
goodnight ya'll as juror S3944 is looking forward to sleeping in, walking the treadmill, and then heading back to LA.. bad day fishing beats a good day working is my thinking.
Monday, November 5, 2012
simple bookends I'm stoked on
Numerous months ago, I was at the Ashley furniture store shopping for a desk to put in my newly converted kids bedroom to an office.. and I saw these bookends on top of a desk there.. It seemed pricey at the time and having just bought the desk, decided against the purchase but thought they were so cute as I enjoy photography.
Well, today I went out to a grand opening of a Hobby Lobby looking for something like it. Didn't come across anything that resembled it at all or caught my eye. So I stopped back at Ashley furniture on the way back, and the price was a "little lower" and it had a 15% off sale price... took the leap and just got them. Now it was what would seem like a simple purchase of pay and get your receipt.. But I had to first get a salesman to take care of it, even though I am the one who carried them to the customer counter. And they were heavy, why, I don't know.
The salesman who seemed to just be caught into the wrong place at the wrong time as he walked to the customer counter and had another "bigger fish" on the line at the time, assured me he'd be right back. Meanwhile I'm standing in front of 4 women at what must have been a call center and sales desk who should I thought just take care of it and let me go.. So I'm waiting, and waiting and he after one of the ladies goes looking for him, he comes back and grabs some paperwork for me & for his bigger fish client, and again he's off promising to return shortly. Eventually he calls me over to the computer 10 yards away, and proceeds to take information like I was purchasing a 10 seat dining set for delivery.. He runs to the printer, and comes back with 3, count them 3 pages for me to sign, one for the actual sale, one for the fact that I acknowledge I can't return or exchange them.. huh., okay, and then another that states I'm taking the product with me.. Holy cow, what if I had actually purchased something of monetary value, it couldn't be much different.. And he then invited me to come back anytime and shop their inventory.. haha, yes, the next time I want a 15 minute check out for a sale item, I'll definitely consider it.
But I am quite stoked as I start to put my office together, slowly but surely.. some vacation pictures to decide on and to enlarge for the walls, and a wall of pictures of the family as I work on scanning those no negative or digitally saved as of yet.
goodnight, until the next thought strikes me to write about... tomorrow is another jury day, so it might occur..
Sunday, November 4, 2012
the NEW dishwasher...
Our old dishwasher was pathetic and we weren't using it as it left white film on everything and that's useless.. so after a month or more of washing all the dishes for the most part.. or rewashing glasses after a cycle had run. The new dishwasher was picked out on Friday afternoon and delivered and installed Saturday late afternoon.
Since 11 years ago in 2011 when we designed our kitchen we chose a "bisque" colored sink, and appliances.. which seemed like a great color with our oak cabinets. But now as we have the first appliance go bad, we have found that "bisque" isn't a color that is being made (or displayed) in appliances stores at Pacific Sales where we originally bought it. But if they do alot of work they can find that KitchenAid still makes this color and have it delivered pretty fast. You get one option of dishwasher in this color ~ and that is the way it rolls, so we paid, scheduled the installer,that doesn't take very long. We maybe discussed the option of starting in the stainless steel model for a minute and headed home in the matter of 15 minutes start to finish. My kind of shopping, but since it was a no choice decision for less steel models, but decided we'd cross that bridge if or when we were still living in the house, for now just match them up.
Since 11 years ago in 2011 when we designed our kitchen we chose a "bisque" colored sink, and appliances.. which seemed like a great color with our oak cabinets. But now as we have the first appliance go bad, we have found that "bisque" isn't a color that is being made (or displayed) in appliances stores at Pacific Sales where we originally bought it. But if they do alot of work they can find that KitchenAid still makes this color and have it delivered pretty fast. You get one option of dishwasher in this color ~ and that is the way it rolls, so we paid, scheduled the installer,that doesn't take very long. We maybe discussed the option of starting in the stainless steel model for a minute and headed home in the matter of 15 minutes start to finish. My kind of shopping, but since it was a no choice decision for less steel models, but decided we'd cross that bridge if or when we were still living in the house, for now just match them up.
This is the old KitchenAid dishwasher which is a mere 11 years old but that is like 25 years in appliance years as they don't build them to last more than 3 years anymore... isn't that sad!
having the old dishwasher out of the hole was about how useful the dishwasher was while it was in the hole... not so much...
the NEW dishwasher.. a KitchenAid
Now for that first load of dishes to have come out of it, ready to be put into the cabinet and not rinsed film off of and dried.. These luxuries don't come cheap, but in resale of a home, you can't have one that doesn't work..
Saturday, November 3, 2012
jury duty in downtown LA
When that jury summons comes in the mail, most people groan and are tempted to throw it in the trash as if it didn't arrive.. I on the other hand do not mind this "civic duty" and for me that envelope tends to arrive each year like clockwork. I kind of like the criminal justice system in that a group of your peers (what does that mean exactly?) sits in your courtroom and hears the evidence and decides. If it were me in the defense chair, I'd prefer it was someone who WANTS to be there verses someone who feels stuck in the chair for the duration and wants out as fast as possible, and it could be at the defenses expense. My job UPS pays unlimited jury pay, so I'm very enticing to have available without the "hardship" comment for wanting out. I would have preferred somewhere closer to home and not dealing with traffic and the long walk each day.
On Tuesday as I sat in the jury "waiting" room, it is much like waiting for grass to grow. The first panel of 75 had come and gone. The orientation process was lengthy and I was now was wishing I had done the online version so I could have shown up at 10:30 vs 7:45. Once they called my name and that placed us in a hallway just prior to lunch breaking, but I had arranged to meet a friend who works in the area for lunch, so I was anxious that they would just come out and tell us to report back after lunch for the start. But no, they called all 75 of us into the courtroom, explained what the trial was about, and for us to consider if we could be on a trial that length and we would be discussing that following the lunch break.
A friend I met through the kids being at the same elementary school many a moon ago works just next to the courthouse. We met outside and walked downhill to Chinatown for a chinese lunch and some catching up. It was nice to catch up and hear the good and to also lament about our kids. Her oldest son just had twins and so lots of hearing "grandma's" perspective of how they have changed in their 5 weeks so far. And then we hiked back up the HILL to part ways with the promise that if jury duty continues, we'd do it again..
Now as the week is at the end, it has been 3 days of jury selection and both sides of the table defense and prosecution eliminating people as they have gone and since we started with 75 eliminated all but 7 of those and called in another group of 30, eliminated all of those leaving only a mere 9 in the box.. they decided to give us Friday off so they could continue the process without us having to sit and listen (or pay us the $15 a day).. We were instructed to come back Monday, but on Friday evening I received a call that the judge now wanted us to come Tuesday instead. So obviously they have worked there way through another group of people and need Monday to find the balance of the jury. Now I suspect it's very likely that while they shuffle people in and out of the jury box, some of us who were already in the box, have been eliminated in favor of someone else.. That is what could happen on Tuesday, we show up and they tell us that "they would like to thank jury #.... for their service" and yet the judge will dismiss that juror #..
I yet undecided that Monday I will need to go back to work since I got alot of my work done, and work does think I'm at jury service... but then again...... are they really going to check that closely to the dates or remember when I worked or was gone, because it's been a start stop event. I'm more inclined to sleep in, and shop at Hobby Lobby instead.
Well, got to go my new dishwasher and installer just arrived.
On Tuesday as I sat in the jury "waiting" room, it is much like waiting for grass to grow. The first panel of 75 had come and gone. The orientation process was lengthy and I was now was wishing I had done the online version so I could have shown up at 10:30 vs 7:45. Once they called my name and that placed us in a hallway just prior to lunch breaking, but I had arranged to meet a friend who works in the area for lunch, so I was anxious that they would just come out and tell us to report back after lunch for the start. But no, they called all 75 of us into the courtroom, explained what the trial was about, and for us to consider if we could be on a trial that length and we would be discussing that following the lunch break.
the courthouse is the square building just to the right of the fountain.. I'm two blocks from there when I took the picture. there is a "garden park" between that runs the course of 4 blocks (the 4 that separate us from the parking structure and the courthouse)
This is the street that leads up to the parking provided for the jurors at the Disney Music Center which is downtown and 4 blocks on the uphill side of neighborhood.. so you walk downhill to the courthouse and UPHILL back to the parking structure. Walking the "garden park" takes away some of the knowledge that it's uphill as there are stairs and walkways.. when I took the street side and just walked uphill directly it was so noticeable that it was uphill and I didn't like it at all.
A friend I met through the kids being at the same elementary school many a moon ago works just next to the courthouse. We met outside and walked downhill to Chinatown for a chinese lunch and some catching up. It was nice to catch up and hear the good and to also lament about our kids. Her oldest son just had twins and so lots of hearing "grandma's" perspective of how they have changed in their 5 weeks so far. And then we hiked back up the HILL to part ways with the promise that if jury duty continues, we'd do it again..
Now as the week is at the end, it has been 3 days of jury selection and both sides of the table defense and prosecution eliminating people as they have gone and since we started with 75 eliminated all but 7 of those and called in another group of 30, eliminated all of those leaving only a mere 9 in the box.. they decided to give us Friday off so they could continue the process without us having to sit and listen (or pay us the $15 a day).. We were instructed to come back Monday, but on Friday evening I received a call that the judge now wanted us to come Tuesday instead. So obviously they have worked there way through another group of people and need Monday to find the balance of the jury. Now I suspect it's very likely that while they shuffle people in and out of the jury box, some of us who were already in the box, have been eliminated in favor of someone else.. That is what could happen on Tuesday, we show up and they tell us that "they would like to thank jury #.... for their service" and yet the judge will dismiss that juror #..
I yet undecided that Monday I will need to go back to work since I got alot of my work done, and work does think I'm at jury service... but then again...... are they really going to check that closely to the dates or remember when I worked or was gone, because it's been a start stop event. I'm more inclined to sleep in, and shop at Hobby Lobby instead.
Well, got to go my new dishwasher and installer just arrived.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
a month of trips
Haven't taken much time to blog lately, have been on the road alot this month. There's nothing I like more than vacation... okay watching someone accept Jesus or recommit is above that..
During the week of my 50th birthday Greg and I went Tuesday set out on a road trip for some days away. We stopped up north at the away location for Brook's volleyball game in Tollhouse, CA. Must say that they have had a successful VB season, but it was a hot night in a hot stuffy gym and they are used to playing in A/C which none was to be found on this 100 degree day. But that is just a guess for the quick disposal that Sierra High School made of the Chowchilla girls in 3 games of a possible 5 on this night. They have won most games since then...
We headed towards Yosemite staying a night in Oakhurst after the VB game a little north and east of Tollhouse which is a town of no stoplights. We spent a full day in Yosemite taking a new road that we hadn't been on before and got to see an excellent view from the top of the Yosemite Valley.
We then headed North out of Yosemite and stayed in Oakdale Wednesday night. As I googled our hope for the next day of seeing Alcatraz, we were sadly told that we needed reservations and that the soonest they could get us a ticket was "next Tuesday" as if we'd still be in the area... okay so that is still on the "want to see list and maybe next time". So now instead of heading toward San Francisco, we decided to head towards Monterey to have lunch at the wharf, and then take the coastline towards Hearst Castle. We love to drive along the ocean especially up in the north where there are boulders and rocks all along the coastline that with the waves crashing over them is a very relaxing sight and sound.. we made lots of stops and sat listening to them. Suddenly can't find these pictures for this weekend.. will take more searching for the "folder" they were copied into off of the computer disc..
Hearst Castle Greg had never been to and I had been there once when our family had been younger. It was certainly like a European inspired castle, and it certainly was over the top in the decorating style both inside and out. After we left Hearst Castle we made the drive all the way home..
two weeks later I flew to Sioux Falls on Saturday night and met up with Ashley on Sunday to visit with family and attend a wknd Women of Faith Conference with family and friends in St. Paul MN. It was a great week of just seeing Ashley, talking, laughing, visiting, and sharing.. To love a daughter and have these rare and special moments to connect when we live in different states are so very special and I miss her. I have attended perhaps 8-9 of the Women of Faith Conference shared with 11,000 women. This one was the closest to family at the Xcel Center for worship in singing, the special groups CeCe Winans, Selah, and the speakers Ken Davis, Sheila Walsh, Liz Curtis Higgs, Angie Smith, Pat Smith. It was a two day event where Ashley and I had mothers & Grandmothers Sharon & Marlys, Nieces & Cousins Katie, Rhonda, Rachel & Lanae, Aunts & sister in laws Patty, Kim, and friends of these MN relatives Kathy, Mary, Diane, Rhonda, Brittany... Katie put it all together and it was a terrific event to attend. I look forward to the next one whether in CA or MN.
Im attaching a video of Patsy Clairmont who is a speaker who wasn't at this conference, but I have so enjoyed her spitfire energy that she speaks with and the clarity she speaks in in. I hope you enjoy it as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=l3QkQeIWk9c&NR=1
Ashley and I both got onto Sunday afternoon flights and she headed her way and I headed mine.. Kept in contact all day til I knew that she was home safely from the airport... Next time I schedule a "cheap flight" I need to pay attention to the return time which had me back in LA at midnight, which even the delay of 45 minutes is irrelevant when it's that late and your to be back in the office at 6am that morning.. But I made it and age made no difference that I gladly state I got a nap that afternoon after I got home. :)
until the next time... Lorinda
During the week of my 50th birthday Greg and I went Tuesday set out on a road trip for some days away. We stopped up north at the away location for Brook's volleyball game in Tollhouse, CA. Must say that they have had a successful VB season, but it was a hot night in a hot stuffy gym and they are used to playing in A/C which none was to be found on this 100 degree day. But that is just a guess for the quick disposal that Sierra High School made of the Chowchilla girls in 3 games of a possible 5 on this night. They have won most games since then...
We headed towards Yosemite staying a night in Oakhurst after the VB game a little north and east of Tollhouse which is a town of no stoplights. We spent a full day in Yosemite taking a new road that we hadn't been on before and got to see an excellent view from the top of the Yosemite Valley.
We then headed North out of Yosemite and stayed in Oakdale Wednesday night. As I googled our hope for the next day of seeing Alcatraz, we were sadly told that we needed reservations and that the soonest they could get us a ticket was "next Tuesday" as if we'd still be in the area... okay so that is still on the "want to see list and maybe next time". So now instead of heading toward San Francisco, we decided to head towards Monterey to have lunch at the wharf, and then take the coastline towards Hearst Castle. We love to drive along the ocean especially up in the north where there are boulders and rocks all along the coastline that with the waves crashing over them is a very relaxing sight and sound.. we made lots of stops and sat listening to them. Suddenly can't find these pictures for this weekend.. will take more searching for the "folder" they were copied into off of the computer disc..
Hearst Castle Greg had never been to and I had been there once when our family had been younger. It was certainly like a European inspired castle, and it certainly was over the top in the decorating style both inside and out. After we left Hearst Castle we made the drive all the way home..
two weeks later I flew to Sioux Falls on Saturday night and met up with Ashley on Sunday to visit with family and attend a wknd Women of Faith Conference with family and friends in St. Paul MN. It was a great week of just seeing Ashley, talking, laughing, visiting, and sharing.. To love a daughter and have these rare and special moments to connect when we live in different states are so very special and I miss her. I have attended perhaps 8-9 of the Women of Faith Conference shared with 11,000 women. This one was the closest to family at the Xcel Center for worship in singing, the special groups CeCe Winans, Selah, and the speakers Ken Davis, Sheila Walsh, Liz Curtis Higgs, Angie Smith, Pat Smith. It was a two day event where Ashley and I had mothers & Grandmothers Sharon & Marlys, Nieces & Cousins Katie, Rhonda, Rachel & Lanae, Aunts & sister in laws Patty, Kim, and friends of these MN relatives Kathy, Mary, Diane, Rhonda, Brittany... Katie put it all together and it was a terrific event to attend. I look forward to the next one whether in CA or MN.
this photo on the Sunday we arrived at the Symens house, family get together..
Im attaching a video of Patsy Clairmont who is a speaker who wasn't at this conference, but I have so enjoyed her spitfire energy that she speaks with and the clarity she speaks in in. I hope you enjoy it as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=l3QkQeIWk9c&NR=1
Ashley and I both got onto Sunday afternoon flights and she headed her way and I headed mine.. Kept in contact all day til I knew that she was home safely from the airport... Next time I schedule a "cheap flight" I need to pay attention to the return time which had me back in LA at midnight, which even the delay of 45 minutes is irrelevant when it's that late and your to be back in the office at 6am that morning.. But I made it and age made no difference that I gladly state I got a nap that afternoon after I got home. :)
until the next time... Lorinda
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Sunday Chillin' & thinkin' ahead
Whew a nice relaxing weekend it has been..
well, wait a minute, yesterday was a home housecleaning kind of day that started early and accomplished much with a bonus.. Shane showed up with Manny just before lunch while I was gone bringing Greg to the dealership to pickup his car, and they both cleaned my kitchen/laundry tile. Now it to me looked clean, and the grout being a darker color already, seemed clean also... but wow, when they left it looked awesome.. We did buy the boys Subway lunch for when they were finished working. thanks for the early birthday gift Shane..
well, wait a minute, yesterday was a home housecleaning kind of day that started early and accomplished much with a bonus.. Shane showed up with Manny just before lunch while I was gone bringing Greg to the dealership to pickup his car, and they both cleaned my kitchen/laundry tile. Now it to me looked clean, and the grout being a darker color already, seemed clean also... but wow, when they left it looked awesome.. We did buy the boys Subway lunch for when they were finished working. thanks for the early birthday gift Shane..
Manny was the only one I snuck a picture of as Shane can't have this on facebook or the cat would be out of the bag of the perk I got..
The rest of the afternoon was finishing laundry of towels and doing some neatning up around the house, and then watching lots of college football. It's been heating up, and today we have the AC on. Greg had alot of work to catch up on and to get ahead on as this week we are doing a road trip north "somewhere" after we stop in Chowchilla on Tuesday.
I usually take this week off with my birthday in it and so that is the same this year. I started with planning a trip north to see the volleyball games of Chowchilla Brook has a Tuesday night game in we will head out towards Tollhouse against Sierra. The town is about an 1.5 hour east and south of Bryan and Stacy's so we will meet them at the game as they will have to come after work and will probably be a little later than us. We might hit the "outlet" mall in Tulare if I can get Greg on the road before noon as he wants to do.. But I'll be driving as he talks on the phone and works on his lap with quotes and drawings.. ha, I'll have my headphone plugged in as well as he is constantly on the phone.. I don't like the driver seat while he's on the phone.. So this will be the route we will take.
Brook is a junior in HS, and plays a middle blocker and this is her first year on the varsity team, and the middle blocker is out on a motorcycle injury and so Brook has starting position. Might make it up there for two games this year. It will be good to see the family for even a brief evening.. Sydney is an 8th grader and Brayden is a little over 2yrs old.. That is if Grandma and Grandpa Dykstra come to the game and bring the kids... otherwise seeing them might just not happen as the game and the drive back to their house would be late for Sydney and school the next day.
We were originally thinking that we'd go to San Francisco and see Alcatraz, Monterey and down to Hearst Castle along the ocean drive home... or now, Greg mentioned Yosemite/Sequoia National Park if the fall colors are in yet.. So our way of traveling in a point and shoot idea of spontaneous travel is that I suppose we only have to know when we wake up Tuesday as to where we are going.. not much difference in clothing so no packing big deal other than hiking shoes or just flip flops and walking shoes. We haven't set a number of days we will be gone either so that is nice.. will let you know.
Tonight we will have mini church, and I was asked to bring dessert, so there is a oreo cookie ice cream dessert in the freezer that I made after lunch today, note to self, make that the day ahead next time...
Watching NFL games and I must say that my 3 picks today are only going well in that I picked the Vikings, Packers, and Giants... Vikings were victorious, and the Packers are letting there lead slip away.. Tonight I will miss the Giants game but will be wishing them well in my mind! I love football season..
Monday, September 24, 2012
Monday Morning traffic
I had all kinds of aspirations for getting to work early, getting the dreaded Payroll cinched up for the prior week and then onto some needed projects. But....................
5 miles from my exit into my commute, traffic on the 710 North comes to a standstill and we all creeping along for 5 miles doing 2 miles per hour................... OMG that was so slow, and people are zigging and zagging into every nook and cranny of open space like that is going to make a real big difference when all lanes are nearly dead stopped.. So with no idea what has been going on in the dark of 45 minutes later, I'm still listening to Pandora and decide to now find a news channel for traffic report if possible.. but my exit will come up soon and so I merge to the right... and then on the radio news channel I find they announce that the 710 North has a 5-6 car pile up and the right three lanes are closed... dang, because I just had to fight my way over to the slow lane in the 5 lanes of traffic. In the lane to the left and perhaps one car back I suddenly here ths "CRASH, SMASH, BANG" as they hook there bumpers together in relatively slow moving traffic.
Thankful it wasn't me, I now have to start merging to the left back towards the fast lane as the smoking flash sticks (that look like dynamite) and the Highway Patrol cars are pressing us left... Once I get up to the accident scene it's a tangle of cars waiting for tow trucks all smashed up into each other.. Needless to say I was not on time for work nor did it matter.. my supervisors showed up late and in the quiet I got some headway before they came in to start deferring my attention if I let them....
4 more days and I'm on a week of vacation.. YAY... and then I'm back in the office a week, and then off to MN to meet up with Ashley for a week of vacation together with family and going to the Women of Faith conference in Minneapolis with other family.
Today I got a notice in the mail that I have now been summoned to Jury duty at the end of Oct, which will put me back in the office after MN for just a week before that will start.. I actually like the jury process and hope to get on a good case with intrigue.. wish me luck..
the buzzer has gone off for the chicken and rice to finish for mine and Shanes dinner.. Greg has a business dinner with his once again visiting manager of the so cal territory and I'll be home watching Monday Night Football... Go Packers!
Yes this weekend the Minnesota Vikings beat the favored San Francisco 49'ers. Go Vikings~
5 miles from my exit into my commute, traffic on the 710 North comes to a standstill and we all creeping along for 5 miles doing 2 miles per hour................... OMG that was so slow, and people are zigging and zagging into every nook and cranny of open space like that is going to make a real big difference when all lanes are nearly dead stopped.. So with no idea what has been going on in the dark of 45 minutes later, I'm still listening to Pandora and decide to now find a news channel for traffic report if possible.. but my exit will come up soon and so I merge to the right... and then on the radio news channel I find they announce that the 710 North has a 5-6 car pile up and the right three lanes are closed... dang, because I just had to fight my way over to the slow lane in the 5 lanes of traffic. In the lane to the left and perhaps one car back I suddenly here ths "CRASH, SMASH, BANG" as they hook there bumpers together in relatively slow moving traffic.
Thankful it wasn't me, I now have to start merging to the left back towards the fast lane as the smoking flash sticks (that look like dynamite) and the Highway Patrol cars are pressing us left... Once I get up to the accident scene it's a tangle of cars waiting for tow trucks all smashed up into each other.. Needless to say I was not on time for work nor did it matter.. my supervisors showed up late and in the quiet I got some headway before they came in to start deferring my attention if I let them....
4 more days and I'm on a week of vacation.. YAY... and then I'm back in the office a week, and then off to MN to meet up with Ashley for a week of vacation together with family and going to the Women of Faith conference in Minneapolis with other family.
Today I got a notice in the mail that I have now been summoned to Jury duty at the end of Oct, which will put me back in the office after MN for just a week before that will start.. I actually like the jury process and hope to get on a good case with intrigue.. wish me luck..
the buzzer has gone off for the chicken and rice to finish for mine and Shanes dinner.. Greg has a business dinner with his once again visiting manager of the so cal territory and I'll be home watching Monday Night Football... Go Packers!
Yes this weekend the Minnesota Vikings beat the favored San Francisco 49'ers. Go Vikings~
Saturday, September 22, 2012
An Endeavor kind of day..
I watched the take off in Florida on TV of the Endeavor Space Shuttle piggy backed on a 737 (I think that's what kind of plane it was) on Wednesday early morning. It was starting it's voyage to So California where it will be an exhibit at the Museum of Science and Space in LA near the USC colliseum. On Thursday afternoon it landed in Palmdale CA at the Edwards Air Force Base. The reason that the specific Endeavor Space Shuttle is coming to So Cal is because this particular shuttle was built completely in CA with numerous facilities participating in it's build.
http://www.thereporter.com/ci_21608479/space-shuttle-endeavours-final-flight-thrill
This is an article I read that gives the perspective of those who scrambled out of offices, schools, onto rooftops, top of the parking structures, and hanging out of their 2nd floor bedroom window as Greg did as he works from home for that glimpse of the historic flight.
So for it's farewell tour on Friday and I think to build up excitement for the visit to the museum when it is installed, they circled major locations for the most exposure and it flew literally 250' off the ground through its route. I saw it twice. Once above our UPS facility and then it made another round and I was then driving home and it flew right next to the 710 southbound as I was going. Their was passenger in a truck to my left who was sticking his camera outside the window towards the right side and thats when I noticed it was parallel to me... what a sight again. As the plane crossed the 710 to the west, I quickly called Greg to tell him "It's coming your way" "It's coming your way", just in case he had ventured back to his desk.... but he didn't answer...... but he was ready to take pictures if it came close to our house and sure enough it was about 1-2 miles north of us as it flew over the Downey Aerospace facility. So these are pictures that Greg took from our second floor window, having removed the screen. He had my camera with the 300 lens on it and he did a great job taking pictures so that he didn't miss the "best" ones.. He had some trees and poles between us that conflicted at times due to the plane being at 250' of height. But he kept clicking and got what I think was the best one with the flag in the shot. The City of Bellflower has a large scale flag that flies right off the freeway. Loved it that he got a shot with the plane going East and the plane going West as it made a circle to head to the next landmark it was hitting on it's itinerary.
American exploration being saluted, and how appropriate that he got a picture with a flag, several times.
this is the photo in real time that I enlarged above at the beginning.
good job honey and for taking the initiative with the camera to get these pictures we will always remember.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Monday randoms
just some random thoughts on a Monday..
the weekends go to quickly, but then all the days after Monday lead towards another one.
California highways are a dangerous place in the city to manuever safely.. come on people look before you change lanes.
I'm determined to soon read and understand the instructions to my coffee maker so it's done when I get up in the morning and ready for breakfast at 4:15... I said "soon"..
only 9 more work days and I'm on a birthday week vacation.
saw the movie 2016 Obama this afternoon and it only validated some of my underlying expectations of 4 more years and made me sad. Good movie to see whether your democrat or republican.. it won't hurt you but you'll know the depth of the man much better and who he aspires after from his own words in his book and life.
my pick for tonight's football game is the Bronco's and either way I will enjoy watching the football quarterbacking of Peyton Manning.
raising kids and then observing them in adult situations isn't easy.
I have chicken baking in the oven... smells yummy and it's time to go
the weekends go to quickly, but then all the days after Monday lead towards another one.
California highways are a dangerous place in the city to manuever safely.. come on people look before you change lanes.
I'm determined to soon read and understand the instructions to my coffee maker so it's done when I get up in the morning and ready for breakfast at 4:15... I said "soon"..
only 9 more work days and I'm on a birthday week vacation.
saw the movie 2016 Obama this afternoon and it only validated some of my underlying expectations of 4 more years and made me sad. Good movie to see whether your democrat or republican.. it won't hurt you but you'll know the depth of the man much better and who he aspires after from his own words in his book and life.
my pick for tonight's football game is the Bronco's and either way I will enjoy watching the football quarterbacking of Peyton Manning.
raising kids and then observing them in adult situations isn't easy.
I have chicken baking in the oven... smells yummy and it's time to go
Sunday, September 9, 2012
wknd relaxing
This was a holiday 4 day week and yet it didn't seem like a short work week... oh well, there is always a wknd to offset it. 2nd wknd in a fow that we "went" somewhere out of the normal for an afternoon. Greg generally uses the weekends to make up for time he didn't have for paperwork, and while I'm all over being sympathetic to his need for writing quotes and engineering some drawings, I pulled rank.
Last weekend we drove on Sunday to the mountains, and yesterday (Saturday) we drove to Malibu along the ocean, drove to Ventura and bought strawberries, oranges, tomatoes and cucumbers from a road side stand. We then went to Camarillo outlet mall just up the road and walked through some shops, I wasn't in much of a shopping mode, but we had one item in mind and picked the stores strategically for just that.. Greg got a new pair of work shoes at Timberland that are casually dressy and yet can take on some oil that he mucks in while out in his customers shops.. His present work shoes the soles were shot and cracked open. He'd still be wearing them if when he told me, I didn't force the issue.. sheesh!
We had lunch at Red Lobster, not a place we frequent to often so it was a nice change of pace. Having your lobster lunch fresh out of the tank was as fresh as it can get..
We stopped at Pt. Magu State Beach which is north of Malibu and not very populated stretch of beach, and sat enjoying the sound of the ocean crashing on the shore, the wind blowing to keep us actual quite cool, compared to the 90's we left at home just a short time ago. Once it got a bit chilly and we had forgotten sweatshirts, we packed up and headed back towards home along the ocean again. Saw alot of kite surfers, board surfers in a small area of the ocean from where there is shallow water and a short beach. Takes alot of skill to keep out of the rocks and yet they seemed to know what they were doing out in the might wind that was blowing. We hadn't seen them in the earlier part of the day but as the wind picked up they were out in droves competing for space along the coast. We arrived home at around 6:30 to warm up leftovers and to watch some college football until we called it a night.
Sunday morning we went to church, hearing a good word from Pastor Ken, do we come to church to bring something or to sit back in the chairs with our arms folded waiting for the pastor to bring something to us? He demonstrated how the new sermon series "the story" a years chronilogical walk through the bible stories is coming 31 weeks in a row hearing the sermon, reading 4 minutes or 2 pages out of the book "the story" 217 times in that year, and meeting in a small group with others to share what was preached, what we read and what it means for our own life. I think this is another great series of "D groups" growing together with easily followed materials. I confess that I did not do a "D" group last time, and while I am considering it this time, I am really more or less just considering reading the book each week.
I will be starting Alpha again this week. Also a friend and I are considering doing a study together, if that should work out, it will take the place of a D group need. There is only so much that one should get themselves involved in and yet, I do need to move my life i more of a direction towards faithful service and devotion. I am way way on the other end of the scale that tips it to nearly NOTHING devotional going on right now... selfish choices... God calls me to more...
After church we walked over to the Mexican restuarant Casa Gamina (Gamino) and had lunch with Shane.. These afternoon lunches are the rare time to catch up with him and tointerrogate ask questions of him... and to have somewhat our parental insight to what is laid onto the table.. Most often it is low key, and there are times that it needs to have a more serious talking point. Today was insightful.. Good times,,
Well, selfishly I'm watching football and will get back to that. Have a great week ahead..
Last weekend we drove on Sunday to the mountains, and yesterday (Saturday) we drove to Malibu along the ocean, drove to Ventura and bought strawberries, oranges, tomatoes and cucumbers from a road side stand. We then went to Camarillo outlet mall just up the road and walked through some shops, I wasn't in much of a shopping mode, but we had one item in mind and picked the stores strategically for just that.. Greg got a new pair of work shoes at Timberland that are casually dressy and yet can take on some oil that he mucks in while out in his customers shops.. His present work shoes the soles were shot and cracked open. He'd still be wearing them if when he told me, I didn't force the issue.. sheesh!
We had lunch at Red Lobster, not a place we frequent to often so it was a nice change of pace. Having your lobster lunch fresh out of the tank was as fresh as it can get..
We stopped at Pt. Magu State Beach which is north of Malibu and not very populated stretch of beach, and sat enjoying the sound of the ocean crashing on the shore, the wind blowing to keep us actual quite cool, compared to the 90's we left at home just a short time ago. Once it got a bit chilly and we had forgotten sweatshirts, we packed up and headed back towards home along the ocean again. Saw alot of kite surfers, board surfers in a small area of the ocean from where there is shallow water and a short beach. Takes alot of skill to keep out of the rocks and yet they seemed to know what they were doing out in the might wind that was blowing. We hadn't seen them in the earlier part of the day but as the wind picked up they were out in droves competing for space along the coast. We arrived home at around 6:30 to warm up leftovers and to watch some college football until we called it a night.
Sunday morning we went to church, hearing a good word from Pastor Ken, do we come to church to bring something or to sit back in the chairs with our arms folded waiting for the pastor to bring something to us? He demonstrated how the new sermon series "the story" a years chronilogical walk through the bible stories is coming 31 weeks in a row hearing the sermon, reading 4 minutes or 2 pages out of the book "the story" 217 times in that year, and meeting in a small group with others to share what was preached, what we read and what it means for our own life. I think this is another great series of "D groups" growing together with easily followed materials. I confess that I did not do a "D" group last time, and while I am considering it this time, I am really more or less just considering reading the book each week.
I will be starting Alpha again this week. Also a friend and I are considering doing a study together, if that should work out, it will take the place of a D group need. There is only so much that one should get themselves involved in and yet, I do need to move my life i more of a direction towards faithful service and devotion. I am way way on the other end of the scale that tips it to nearly NOTHING devotional going on right now... selfish choices... God calls me to more...
After church we walked over to the Mexican restuarant Casa Gamina (Gamino) and had lunch with Shane.. These afternoon lunches are the rare time to catch up with him and to
Well, selfishly I'm watching football and will get back to that. Have a great week ahead..
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Wednesday wonderings
Thankful that two work days are done, and only two more to go.. this summer I've had a less than "gun ho get to work" desire. I think it's more that the work will always be piled up and headway is tough to make as much as it's vacation season..
I came home today and found that Shane was home working on his recycle pile that was growing between our garages. As you can see from the pictures he was working on the plastic bottles, and he had a pile of bottles and cans the same size. It makes for some gas money of about a $100 whenever he turns them in.
Today my housecleaner came and I'm reconsidering my choice as Greg said she wasn't here very long,,, what the heck?? Now he wasn't sure how long she was here, but what he told me dropped my chin to the floor... could he just have from his office not noticed? But for what I pay to have it done, I expect that she is tripping over the extra's if she runs out of things to do because she is so fast with her helper... But I like having the help for sure, but not at that price, I could hire myself and do that much time and be satisfied.. argh..
As an American, I was shocked that the Democrats changed their platform to "remove" God in whatever context it was stated, and the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Obama stands in charge of his platform, and then today in a reversal of fortune in what was most likely an outcry of disgust. But the nonetheless this afternoon they told a "voice" vote with our notorious mayor Villaragosa having to do it three times in order to decide if what sounded like a No vote was determined a 2/3 Yes vote from a small crowd. But trust me I was watching and it was not a 2/3 yes vote. There were even boo's after the vote when it was declared a Yes vote. God barely made the cut to be recognized by 2/3 of the representation of 1/2 of America's politcal party who has a large voice in society.... I was watching CNN at the time, so don't claim I was watching slanted coverage against the home team.. How sad is that? One nation under God was at one time a sacred and reverant under pinning of the belief of this country. To imagine the end times being worse by far than where we are right now seems that we are slippery sloping that direction in a hurry.
I pray for an America that we can continue to live in the freedom to worship freely, blessed by God in it's diversity that is pretty diverse, but not where we sell God out. My God is mighty, holy, and bigger than what we the people can throw at him, and that is where my faith and trust is aways.
I came home today and found that Shane was home working on his recycle pile that was growing between our garages. As you can see from the pictures he was working on the plastic bottles, and he had a pile of bottles and cans the same size. It makes for some gas money of about a $100 whenever he turns them in.
Why are you taking a picture?
And then there is his usual grin
Today my housecleaner came and I'm reconsidering my choice as Greg said she wasn't here very long,,, what the heck?? Now he wasn't sure how long she was here, but what he told me dropped my chin to the floor... could he just have from his office not noticed? But for what I pay to have it done, I expect that she is tripping over the extra's if she runs out of things to do because she is so fast with her helper... But I like having the help for sure, but not at that price, I could hire myself and do that much time and be satisfied.. argh..
As an American, I was shocked that the Democrats changed their platform to "remove" God in whatever context it was stated, and the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Obama stands in charge of his platform, and then today in a reversal of fortune in what was most likely an outcry of disgust. But the nonetheless this afternoon they told a "voice" vote with our notorious mayor Villaragosa having to do it three times in order to decide if what sounded like a No vote was determined a 2/3 Yes vote from a small crowd. But trust me I was watching and it was not a 2/3 yes vote. There were even boo's after the vote when it was declared a Yes vote. God barely made the cut to be recognized by 2/3 of the representation of 1/2 of America's politcal party who has a large voice in society.... I was watching CNN at the time, so don't claim I was watching slanted coverage against the home team.. How sad is that? One nation under God was at one time a sacred and reverant under pinning of the belief of this country. To imagine the end times being worse by far than where we are right now seems that we are slippery sloping that direction in a hurry.
I pray for an America that we can continue to live in the freedom to worship freely, blessed by God in it's diversity that is pretty diverse, but not where we sell God out. My God is mighty, holy, and bigger than what we the people can throw at him, and that is where my faith and trust is aways.
Monday, September 3, 2012
a Labor day wknd...
Happy Labor Day wknd holiday with a respite from work. I like that.
This labor day wknd we started it out on Saturday with some yard work. Greg tore out the garden, I pruned away the summer death in the flower beds where the heat of long vacations without water that took it's toll. I went to Armstrong nuresery and purchased a flat of pansy's or is it pansies.. and some flowers to drape over the edge of the two hanging pots that totally died from either heat or over watering! I placed them into the shade for a later date.. And then we retreated into the house for some A/C as it was heating up outside. Watched a little college football and just
Sunday was a bit cooler and so we decided to head off on a drive in the morning, to the mountains or to the beach.. Chose to head to Lake Arrowhead and we spent the mid part of the day sitting by the lake, strolling the shops, and then headed home as the crowds were thick in the village. We arrived home around 4pm, watched a little football, and then after dinner I set to plant the flat of flowers, finished just as it was getting dark. The driveway looks clean again with only one spot in front flower bed to fill in a open gap perhaps with a bushy color that needs some height. But not today~!
As I type this I am watching the US Open of Tennis and just saw a commercial for a 90" tv., holy cow. Our 47" in our living room and that was huge when we later got the 2nd, a 55" in the den.. always a bigger better kind of world.. I would love if they'd make the remotes less complicated in a remote for the tv, a remote for DISH and a remote for the DVD player and what goes first before you hit the next remote....
Okay off to enjoy the day, you as well.
This labor day wknd we started it out on Saturday with some yard work. Greg tore out the garden, I pruned away the summer death in the flower beds where the heat of long vacations without water that took it's toll. I went to Armstrong nuresery and purchased a flat of pansy's or is it pansies.. and some flowers to drape over the edge of the two hanging pots that totally died from either heat or over watering! I placed them into the shade for a later date.. And then we retreated into the house for some A/C as it was heating up outside. Watched a little college football and just
Sunday was a bit cooler and so we decided to head off on a drive in the morning, to the mountains or to the beach.. Chose to head to Lake Arrowhead and we spent the mid part of the day sitting by the lake, strolling the shops, and then headed home as the crowds were thick in the village. We arrived home around 4pm, watched a little football, and then after dinner I set to plant the flat of flowers, finished just as it was getting dark. The driveway looks clean again with only one spot in front flower bed to fill in a open gap perhaps with a bushy color that needs some height. But not today~!
As I type this I am watching the US Open of Tennis and just saw a commercial for a 90" tv., holy cow. Our 47" in our living room and that was huge when we later got the 2nd, a 55" in the den.. always a bigger better kind of world.. I would love if they'd make the remotes less complicated in a remote for the tv, a remote for DISH and a remote for the DVD player and what goes first before you hit the next remote....
Okay off to enjoy the day, you as well.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Thursday relief..and election stuff,,,
Today after a work day of average-ness, and then leaving the office at 12:45. I decided to head to the beach for heat relief. Bolsa Chica State Beach is where I go and have for the last couple of years had a year long parking pass. The sky was full of thunder clouds in the north and scattered humid filled sky elsewhere. I got to the beach around 2:15 and it was warm there also, but it was cooler than at home. The sun was shining, the wind very light, and it was beautiful. By the time I left it was changing with the clouds darker through the sunshine and these were the two pictures that I took before leaving.
When I got home and checked facebook, there was a lot of posts that there was wild weather, tornado warnings and downpouring rain in the mountain and desert areas. Which is where we generally see the thunder clouds off in the distance and they do get the most diverse weather. We are having cooler temps but the humidity is telling of what was in the air.
cisclaimer that I took my ambien towards the end, might need to rework parts of it,..
Tonight as we have for the last couple of nights are watching the coverage on Hannity and Election Headquarters on Foxnews. I switch back and forth to CNN now and then to see wht they are covering about it, but all I've come across are alot of commercials.. I am a Republican by values, Greg to get the democrat information is registered as a Democrat but votes Republican. Our kids are Republicans and have been trained to vote becaue it is your alienable right as free people to do so.
At the convention before the main speakers of Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney, watching those who I have been most impressed by are; Governor Nikki Haley of SC, Governor Susana Martinez of NM, Condeleeza Rice Secretary of State to the Bush Administration. The number of Gov's who came into leadership of their state with deficits, and left with a surplus and balanced budgets, grew their economies in spite of having Obama thwarting there every step. Their motivation to come from little or nothing. They had parents who encouraged them to work hard, be graceful, get off your butt, go to school and they have acheived high levels of public service and accomplishment in career choices. I encourage you to google or youtube their speeches.
Now I'll just give you a heads up that if you are a democrat and would prefer not to read what Greg and I think whether politically correct or not, please stop reading NOW.......................................................................................... okay if your still reading.. hang on to your hats cuz whoo, I am going to give it to you straight.
Obama hasn't done shit since day one of his presidency but seemingly drive us into a hole and on purpose.. He was elected by a large number of people who bought into his promise of "hope" "change" "yes we can". Many were looking for that as the housing market and job markets were failing and they were struggling economically and cast their ballot for him. We could only stand back and pray that he would follow through on his promises. Not one has been done..
With the banks giving out loans like candy to people who didn't have the right to have a loan given to them because they were buying a glut in houses they couldn't afford and then the bottom fell out of construction, tech jobs, etc. Many people bought into the "change", but in the four years since he has given bailouts to banks that shouldn't have gotten bail outs, even if it meant they failed. That is a controversial opinion, but we paid for that severely in the Federal Debt that just was borrowed to make it happen. Then there was the Obamacare which is a debt per year that our generations to come will never be able to pay back. Medicare is a dead issue for anyone 45 or under.... we borrow 45 cents of every dollar now given out to medicare, it needs reform to be viable and it's necessary as the promise for Americans. And yet reform is a dirty word to Obama and his party. Jobs haven't been created they've continued to dwindle as government stifles economic growth. He could have given the bailout money to families and stimulated the economy evenly.
We too were affected in our retirement by a bust in the stock market where drilling for oil reserves with American ingenuity was blocked, banned by the Obama administration until they went bankrupt. We'll keep working longer but to what extent will the government understand to get out of the way of the inventive spirit of the americans who employ them and stop regulating it to death.
The biggest red flag we saw in the pre months of the last election was the warnings that Obama was tied to and had the ideals of socialism. And his immediate "share the wealth" is very noble, but not in a country of freedom. Charity and offerings of time and money are what we are called to be as Christians and followers of Jesus. Wealth is not sinful povery is not a station in life but a place to fight out of and to keep striving to get help while in it. But when you take wealth from those who work hard for it, and give it away to others just to be equal, that is wrong. There is much work to be done to create Jobs for every citizen. Welfare to work, short program life to collect on where you show the inventive side of moving forward. We all do it everyday for our selves and with other who are fighting the same battle.
We both feel that Obama's hope had no action. That doesn't work for anyone. Hope and change was divide and conquer. He gave away as much money as he could to sink America into a debt to foreign countries, that can't be paid back. Socialism by apatheic leadership. His plan is to walk away with no regrets to that debt, he's heated up the racial divide that wealth is only by class and only for whites, and that poverty is is only for anyone non white. That is wrong and not what I see. Poverty is 1 in 6 families, it knows no boundaries and with hard work you can achieve and yet there are times and phases of setbacks for anyone.
I won't apologize for our disdain of Obama.. and yes I've rambled on and it wasn't perhaps making much sense, but it I wrote what was spilling out of Gregs mouth would need to be bleeped out...and he'd be in time out..
Go Mitt Romney / Paul Ryan
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
a beach afternoon
As of late there is a new edict that's been expressed in the workplace of our dept and that is "cut back" where you can.. now that's pretty obvious. I've been very fortunate to work a majority of full time hours as a part time employee, Now part time is just a label, but still alot of hours for me and great benefits. So since a huge emphasis is on the "here and now" of scrutiny, I've cut my hours to 6 even a few times and have been taking in the beach in the afternoons since returning from Alaska..
Today was a warm day that sucks the energy out of you. When I drove past St. Joseph HS the marquis lit up a temp of 102 degrees and that was shocking.. the beach was probably 80 and windy but still cooler that house that was cooking hot...
maybe tomorrow it'll work out again... I hope so... summer might just be getting started with the August heat wave..
Today was a warm day that sucks the energy out of you. When I drove past St. Joseph HS the marquis lit up a temp of 102 degrees and that was shocking.. the beach was probably 80 and windy but still cooler that house that was cooking hot...
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Alaskan Vacation photos of Mt McKinley
We left on Aug 14 from Fairbanks Alaska to Anchorage Alaska and than to catch our connection to LAX. Now mind you we Left Fairbanks at 10:20pm and these pictures were taken in the air after that, the sunsets at 10:45pm or later..
Seeing Mt. Mc Kinley (Denali ~ which means "great one") is actually very rare due to the cloud cover as it makes it's own weather patterns due to the extreme height of it at 20,328 feet. We saw it once on the train with only a slight amount of clouds at the very top, and then while we were in the airplane on the right side of the airplane heading south out of Fairbanks. A highlight of many in our trip to Alaska.
The Chena River we were on in Fairbanks just continually wound it's way south with us for 99 miles start to finish in Alaska. As you can see from the pictures I took it has many twists and turns.
Seeing Mt. Mc Kinley (Denali ~ which means "great one") is actually very rare due to the cloud cover as it makes it's own weather patterns due to the extreme height of it at 20,328 feet. We saw it once on the train with only a slight amount of clouds at the very top, and then while we were in the airplane on the right side of the airplane heading south out of Fairbanks. A highlight of many in our trip to Alaska.
The Chena River we were on in Fairbanks just continually wound it's way south with us for 99 miles start to finish in Alaska. As you can see from the pictures I took it has many twists and turns.
we are just getting over the Denali National Park area of snow capped moutains.
Just a sunset picture
This is Mt. Mc Kinley (Denali) clear as can be hoped for viewing and we are above it~!
The sun setting directly over Denali are the reason for the next couple of shots
Okay now that is the finality of our Alaskan Vacation and right to the end it was what we had hoped for... thanks for joining us.
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