2-Alarm Day

This morning in the car on the way to work I was listening to a new music group I found "Music on the Mountain" by William Coulter and Barry Phillips. I must have been really lost in thought and the music. When I arrived at work, I unlocked the area I work in (I thought) and 5 minutes later the police were there because and alarm had been set off. I said 'it was only me' and they left. About 9am the police are there again as well as the electrical engineer to tell me that these 'false alarms' had better stop! (The problem is I never dis-armed the first alarm...) UGH - nothing like starting your week off like a total incompetant!


I see it is HOT-HOT-HOT in many parts of the country...WOW! Be safe. In SD it has been ok - just hard to want to go outside and exersice. This afternoon the whole fam got onto the scale and decided to loose 3 pounds in 2 weeks. We are using the Wii Fit. It is kinda cool because it records your weight, you can't cheat, and we are all going to do it together. We got some frozen dinners, again, everyone is going to do this. The goal is 2000 calories burned each week in physical activity and 1400 or less calories in food. 3 pounds should be EASY! Right.....?

Veronica is helping out with Vacation Bible School. She's got a pretty big part! She seems pretty excited and works pretty good with the little ones. That starts next week.

I got cyber-stoned this weekend. I mean, I just had had too much computer...so I just turned it off....shut down...completely...all weekend! It was okay. I was just over-loaded on web, e-mail, itunes...etc. It was nice - but I wouldn't last long. I am a geek.

Blessings for you tonight. May all your alarms be armed at the right time.

Glow Sticks Are Cool

Today's photo is of Samuel and a handful of glowsticks he got when he stayed at our house.
Samantha is back from Ohio, and today is her Birthday! Happy Happy Day Sammie!

Tonight is the SD Pops Concert and Veronica goes to Comic-Con today. Yeah, I did finish her costume. My sewing maching broke so I had to borrow her friend's sewing machine. How come everybody else stuff is always so much nicer that your own? Hahaha! Really, I want one like hers--it's really really quiet!

Busy day at work today. I am trying to stay peaceful in my heart and just enjoy today and all it's beauty!

Nickelback - If Today Was Your Last Day

Nickelback - If Today Was Your Last Day

My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride.

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past, donate every dime you have?
If today was your last day
If today was your last day
Against the grain
Should be a way of life
What's worth the prize
Is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try,
So live like you'll Never live it twice
Don't take the free rideIn your own life
If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce of memories, would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day
If today was your last day...
Would you make your mark
By mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late
To shoot for the stars,
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes'cause you can't rewind
A moment in this life
Let nothin' stand in your way'cause the hands of time
Are never on your side
If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late,
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce of memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day

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Sweet Pea Blooming

I got a pail and an envelope of seeds for my birthday from my boss this year. I planted them the next week (April 30ish).

They are all now about 2.5 feet tall and all over the twine with vine in my small garden. All my sisters garden and they inspire me. My only saving grace here is that I have an auto irrigation system for my 6' patch of garden.

One of the cool things about sweet peas is that they are supposed to smell real good. I think they are also the flower for the April Birthdays - very cool. Another nice thing, a good omen, if you will, is that Sammie's Grandma Alice identified each of her grand-daughters with a flower and Sammie's is the Sweetpea. This past weekend Stephen and Samuel stayed at our house while Samantha went to Ohio to check out the univeristy. I heard Samantha's luggage got lost, and I see by her myspace status, she is now sick...but her flower is blooming at my house and I think that means she is really going to bloom while in college!

I have a special flower in my life too. My daughter. I nick-named her 'Blower'. When she was little we had a special night-time routine. I would 'plant' her into bed and let the sheets fall on top of her like the snow, and in the spring-time (when she awoke in the morning) she would be a beeooootiful flower -- or 'blower' (Beautiful+flower). It was so cute; she would pop one little hand out from the top of the sheet like one little leaf, and then another little leaf would pop out and then her whole face....What a kick. I call her wild-flower these days. She is a beauty in the 'rough'. Learning all the refinement to be a floral dazzler will come with time.

Sparing Cousins

Today Ben and Greg went to a gun show with Grandpa D. Ben and Greg found these special sparing 'swords' made of bamboo. They have had loads of out door fun today (and Greg too!)

I got some epsom salts today and some plant food for my tomato plant with yellow leaves. All three of my sisters suggested plant food. (They can grow much better than I...) I also deep watered today. I used 2 tsp of espom salts in 4 gals of water, in addition to the organic plant food I bought. I cracked up because on the label it reads "contains liquified worm poop". Hahahahah - OKaaaaay! I was sold. I know that worm poop will keep the tomato plant happy. We'll see. I read another blog that I just love, it is called "Sobriety is Exhausting". I particularly enjoyed today's entry. One of the things the author does is just write a list of things related to her day. Here are a few random things from her blog: The love of a dog can not be explained. When you love life, there just aren't enough hours in the day.....These are 2 from her list of 18. I am going to give the list idea a whirl:

1. Crayons can make me smile.
2. Sometimes I get angry and don't know why.
3. Praising God is sometimes nothing more than hearing the words "THANK YOU God!!" in my head at night before I fall asleep.
4. The scent Peppermint reminds me of my daughter.
5. I admire the strength of my son's shoulders and the wisdom in his restraint.
6. I have trouble staying on task sometimes.
7. I think the show "I Love Lucy" is one of the best ever produced.
8. I think Alton Brown on "Good Eats" is sexy.
9. Getting sick is God's traffic signal on a yellow light.
10. When the car is clean, it runs better.

Have a peaceful night. May you praise God in your evening prayers tonight.

Vascular Tree

My niece just passed her certification for Vascular Tech! Congrats Tree!
So many talented people in my family.

This week...hmmm, where to start...?
Harry Potter midnight movies!! Tuesday... Sick in bed. Wednesday (No really, I am sick!) Work. Meeting at Pat and Oscars with work people. Greg off with the college advisor about Ben's financial aid. Thursday. Tomorrow? Samuel and Steven coming to our house for the weekend - YAY! The movie was awesome...you just can't fit everything from the book in 2 hours. They burned down the burrow, people!! (Whaaat?) That just didn't happen in the book!!



The photo today? That's the core youth team at thier end-of-year party. What an awesome group of young men and women. The seniors are wearing the candy necklaces. See Fr. Michael in the back? Just look for the little white square of his collar! HA!

I made it to the TOP!

It's been a good 15 years at least since I have hiked all the way to the summit of Cowles Mountain. It is 1.5 miles up, nearly 1600 ft. and is the highest point in the city of San Diego. I left work a little early yesterday afternoon to do this. I was excited because I had my IPOD! I got all set at the base and turned it on and....it had no battery charge. UGH!! But the hike was good as was the time to just let thoughts slip in and out of my mind during the hike. I had had a crummy day at work - I was yelled at by an instructor for cleaning up a classroom...long story. I did take m y camera and shot this photo. That is lake Murray in the pic.

As you know, we are facing a huge budget crisis here in the state of California. I was told this week, that I am not *really* a state employee and shouldn't worry too much. OK....well, I have colleagues 'released' here where I work. Last night I had the opportunity to dialog with one of the Board of Trustees and develop questions about what options there are to meet our 10 million dollar budget shortfall at our workplace...It was a good meeting.

It makes me think about the industries across the nation - for example, I wonder if my son will be employable when he graduates...If you think that your neighbor or friends are a little more stressed than usual, they probably are. Everyone is a little more on edge and maybe your friend's husband just lost his job - or maybe the cable bill increase, just got too high. Let's be patient with each other...Remember, were all in this together and I mean nationwide, not just here with the Governator in California.

Happy Dance!!

If you could see me right now, I would look like Snoopy! I am doing the happy dance! I found my ipod! I lost that little sucker on Father's Day. I thought it went into the sand at the desert...but low and behold - it was right there...under the car mat...in the back seat of the car....wow, why didn't I look there first!! How did I find it you ask? Well...um...I was looking for something else I had lost.... OK, so I loose things. How about that?

Did you see any part of the Michael Jackson memorial today? OK -I admit it--I cried when Jermaine sang "Smile". I thought the memorial was pretty touching.

I am working on a fund-raiser for the youth that are planning on going to the National Catholic Youth Conference. My kids arn't going, and neither am I , but I thought it sounded fun when the Women's Club talked about a 'Family Game Night". So I learned how to play BUNKO last night. It was a kick and real easy! I hope we have at least 40 players. That will bring in $200 in donations.

Tomorrow - Hump Day! Next week my lab partner returns to work. It's been hard without him. I'm not busy, I think I just realized that I work better when there are other people around.

Congratuations Samantha!

I heard that Sammie got accepted to Franciscan University of Steubenville .
That is really great~I am excited for her - how nervous that will be for Susie! Sammie will be all the way in OHIO! I think she'll be leaving in August sometime. Wah!

I got her a ticket to go with me to see "Wicked" the musical Aug 16th. I am wondering if we'll need to reschedule that! If you don't know about Wicked, it is a cool musical about the witches of the story "Tne Wizard of Oz" loosely base on a novel by Gregory Maguire I love the music!
I read the book. It is very different than the musical. The book is rated R, the musical is G.

This Saturday Veronica marched with the band and colorguard in our annual Mira Mesa parade. I love that parade and the community of my hometown. It is VERY hometown! Ha Ha! The boyscouts and the Knights of Columbus and such all walk down the boullivard. Ben didn't march... he's a graduate...even though the alumni are welcomed to march, few do. Ben says he wants to give the current class the chance to shine, but we all noticed there was only 4 trombones this year....ouch!

We watched the fireworks and our community was lucky - we didn't lose our fireworks show. We have always gone to a spot near the HS to watch the show along with a simucast from our local radio station KYXY. They synchronize inspriational and patriotic music to the fireworks explosions for a real nice show.

I am trying to sew a costume for Veronica. She will be going to the Comic Convention this month. (The tickets were for her Birthday.) Geez. These kids see a lot of shows, huh. I haven't seen much of Ben lately. He has been at a 'friend's house' a lot. Her name is Jennifer. Hmmmm

It's been 10 years - Remembering Randy

Wow - has it really been 10 years...yep, I guess so. 10 years ago on July 4th, we lost Randy. What a 4th of July that was. Diane stayed that night at my house and commented - 4th of July will never be the same for me. We watched the fireworks in my back yard. She tried to sleep on the couch...but I don't think she got any sleep. Cheers to you Randy - I remember your spirit, especially this year. I remember Teresa singing "In the Arms of an Angel". I remember it all...

Randy used to babysit for me often. He was the one that introduced my kids to the wonders of video games. I remember he would play this game called "Lemmings". I hated that game. I always felt sorry for the little guys that would jump/fall off the cliffs. That made Randy laugh at me all the more. He loved to taunt me with the 'game'.

He was always in trouble. He loved kids. He really seemed to enjoy playing with them and you will find him in most photos taken from 1994-1999 with one of his cousins playing with toys. This photo is of Ben at his 3rd Birthday at Chuck E. Cheeses. Randy is holding Ben on his lap and telling him to look at the camera...I can hear it now. Looks like the video game won his attention. I hope someday to see you again. I miss you Randy.