RIP Tomatoes

Well, I haven't made a blog entry in a while, but I thought I would share the sad news that the tomoto plants didn't make it. They just got eaten too much by the caterpillers. I had to dig them up. I'll try again next Spring and I will plant them in a space that will allow me a 360 degree view so that I can monitor all the leaves.

In other news, the little league world series was awesome - a big heros welcome is planned here in San Diego - so cool! We all sat around and were transfixed on the TV as the Chula Vista team finished up an amazing game!

I must tell you that I really do love football. I love hearing the sounds of the TV on Monday nights, the feeling of 'must relax and join the team' feeling I get - no matter who is playing on Sundays. It ushers in with it that certain Autimn smell in the air - fireplaces and crunchy leaves. Did you see those cute flag football photos of Samuel? What a tough guy!

The weather has GOT to cool down...it supposed to be Fall - well, tomorrow it is September, and after Labor Day, really, Summer 2009 will officially be over.

Veronica got her classes. They include, Video Production, Chemistry, Theater Technician, Color Guard, Algebra II...and I think an English Class. Sounds to Artsy to me! I thought they were cutting Visual and Performing Arts? She starts her sophomore year on Sept 8th.

Welcome September...I have had a wonderful Summer. I am ready for the beautiful, peaceful seasons coming next!

Hearts on Fire

Imagine for a moment...close your eyes and quiet your mind. Imagine that you are everything you wanted to be, you were perfectly happy with your life, your body, your past, your future... and completely content with where you were in this very moment -having absolutely no wants, no regrets, no guilt. Imagine that feeling and dwell on it for a few moments. Feels good doesn't it?

To me, that is what it will feel like to be in the presence of God.

That is how God feels about us. He is not ashamed. He is not mad. He forgives us perfectly. To him, we are perfection. At times, I indulge myself in this feeling. To live with nothing to hide, nothing to prove, and nothing to lose, is the definition of life. It is real living. Death is unresolved guilt. Death is shame, is self-loathing, is the very denial of love and condems souls to death.

This weekend took me many places emotionally. I reunited with my teenage self. I reconnected with people. I understand better how much my heart desires approval and love. I felt love, I felt admiration, I felt approval. It was magical.

This next week our semester starts. Another 16 week cycle of busy-busy. I am always busy-busy, but I must say, education is the very core of our society. Most of our values and principles revolve around the educational ladder. How do I rank? Not that high I am afraid. I am okay with that.

Still, I seek to educate, even if it is just to grow my very own heart. My heart's on fire! I burn with a passion for truth, love...peace. What lights your fire? Sometimes it is called friendship, sometimes it is called survival. Keep refueling that flame of inspiration. Very often, it can be found in ordinary places. Gift yourself with personal acceptance, and the ordinary will empower you like never before.

Lemonade anyone?

Today I blew it! We had this workshop for staff, and like, I made lemonade because it was sorta during some of the peoples lunches. No one drank the lemonade, so instead of throwing it away (I spent all of $5) I thought it would be cool to walk around and deliver it to random people and offices.
My lab partner and I took it around and everyone really seemed to be enjoying our visit, but I was running low on cups. I looked into one area and saw our vice president. I like him a lot and really wanted to give him some lemonade, but I was out of cups. That should have been my first queue to go back to work. But noooooooooo. I had to make him (my lab partner) wait for me while I ran all over tarnashion to grab a couple more cups. We made it back and handed out lots more cool, refreshing lemonade. Just, lemon juice, sugar, water and ice. So we finally run into the VP again and I shout - Hey, do you want some lemonade? He says, sorta quietly, 'no'. We kept walking and I asked again, you sure you don't want any? The VP is looking a little anxious at this point and says, Pat, let me introduce you to our "Food Inspector". UGHHH! So I say - 'I have a food handlers card, and then more confidently, 'I even have a food service managers card.' The guy says to me, ohh, I think you are on my list! No..I don't see your name.
"You sure you don't want a cup?"
The guy says, don't worry, I am not going to bust you!
UGH!!! How embarassing!
I was just trying to be nice...was I breaking any rules?
I bet the VP just wanted to run and hide!
-anywhoo, sorta a wierd day....Lemonade anyone?

What a Weekend!

In this photo: Veronica and her friends along with Stephen, at the 'head table' for Bunko. OK. It was a pretty busy weekend. It all started Friday afternoon with Darrell's Birthday dinner at Buca di Beppo. Then, Saturday I was off to the races for BUNKO fundraising. The event went okay, I am sure more money could have been raised by simply asking for donations, but I belong to a Women's Club and they wanted to see us try to fundraise, and they would help organize it. It was pretty cool seeing the diversity. One funny thing was watching the 'older' players plug thier ears when the 'younger players' scored BUNKO. The kids were just going crazy screaming and yelling. It was hilarious! I went home and summarized all of the dollar amount and then...I couldn't sleep. I was just going over and over it in my head. I thought maybe we had not turned off the stove. I finally had to take the night-time tylenol to get some sleep! Oh, for dinner? I had hotdogs.
Then....Sunday. We slept in a little and went dashing off to Mass. Then off to Susies for a goodbye to Samantha. I was the lucky one, I got to swoop her away for a trip to the theater! For dinner? Hotdogs.
At the play I really got caught up. I mean, we had been waiting for this musical for a while. We listen to the music every day! I spent a few dollars (Ha!) on a T-Shirt for Missy and Programs for both Sam and her. The show was just phenominal. We waited outside for autographs. We got 4 of the main characters to sign our Playbill. Sam got her autographs on the program. A very emotion-filled evening...still, I was pretty wound-up and didn't get to fall asleep until after midnight. Then...
This morning was our annual welcome back day for faculty. The semester starts next week. We opened a new parking structure and I had to be on campus at 7am. Next week, I'll need to be there at 6:30a. I have to get my body clock turned back. I had to read some names of staff members in front of a big group today. I tried to make a joke about the photo they used of me...its my blog profile photo. Needless to say, my hair is NOT short and blonde. It is long and brown these days. No one laughed. Okaaaaaaaaaaaay .
After that I just didn't care anymore. I was d-o-n-e. My busiest day is over. .

I still have a few things going on during the rest of the month, but the biggies are over. Now...I think Ben should start packing!

Summer's Over?

I just love Hallmark's "Hoops and Yoyo"!
Those little cartoons are sooo cute. Yep - just a few days for me and the summer will officially be over. Lucky Ben doesn't have to face the school reality until September 24th? Who ever heard of staring a school year on a Thursday. What can I say? I had a good one anyways! Tonight I spent 3 hours learing how to be a beer wench at Qualcomm statium. It is a fund-raiser project for all the sorry parents out there considering getting a second job to support the kids extra-curricular activities at school! Outrageous! Veronica better appreciate it! HA! They have 'hell-week' next week! Band practice and marching for hours and hours mu-ha-hahahahhhhahhhaaa!! Payback!
Gotta love it! Looking forward to the next Holiday....Labor Day!

Full Moon

This week was an up and down. The boss was back. I feel behind even though I also feel like I run out of things to do. The full moon occured Thursday. I just feel blue. I am nervous about all the events scheduled in the month of August.

Today was a big adventure-Ben and I drove to Long Beach for a concert. My nephew was playing in a 'Mosh' band called "Until Blood is Drawn". Veronica had a birthday party to go to and Greg needed to help her get there so it was just me and Ben and dozens of bands playing back to back. Stu's band was pretty good! I was more amazed by the 'moshing'. I have never seen that before. The kids wail thier arms around like they are going to fly away and then the do kicks and throw punches in the air and you better back up because they 'bump' into each other on purpose! OKAY...anyone know what the 'spike' earring is? Just fashion? Fascinating. I would like to design an earring that goes from one ear all the way around the back of the head to the other ear. I think that would look as cool as the spike - Huh?

There was a 'Stray Cats' band that played after Stu that had a Bass, you know, not like a guitar bass, but and orchestra bass. That kid could play! It was still Punk-Metal, but he could play. He climbed ontop of his bass at one point and still played. Then his lead electric guitar buddy climbed up and he played the bass through his buddy's legs.

Tomorrow is Rosarys forPeace...maybe I won't feel so blue once I pray...

Happy Birthday Cindy

Happy Birthday to my sister! Enjoy your special day - don't let any butterflies surprise you! Here are some of my most treasured memories and sentiments about Cindy:

1. We used to look in the Avon booklets and have an imaginary shopping spree. She would total up all the things I wanted just for fun - and we would laugh because it was usually some hundreds of dollars!
2. I got a snap bowling toy for my birthday once and I remember her playing it after setting it all up and instead of knocking the little pins down with the ball in the 'snap' she shook the whole blowing lane enough for the pins to all fall down. This incident made her laugh so hard she peed her pants and I'll never forget the wet footprints in the carpet going down the hall!
3. I remember we once cleaned up a bunch of trash that blew all over the High School grounds...just because.
4. She used to do a lot of cleaning and cooking for us, and was an expert at late night Christmas packaging.
5. I know she loves watermelon.
6. She loves to garden and can sew really good.
7. She has a wonderful way of telling 'stories' and there is no-one on Earth that can make accompanying sound effects the way she does.
8. Her grand-daughter calls her 'orange' !?
9. She has some funny ways to say 'necklace' and 'nightgown'.
10. She has some really cool kids and one of the biggest hearts in the world.

Love you lots! May you have an awesome year!

Payday

Friday! (Well, its the weekend now!) I am looking forward to lots of fun in the sun. Tomatoes anyone? I have a bunch and the plant is doing good. We might transplant another 'tree' out of the garden this weekend. Greg wants to move both palm trees to the front of the house. Yay! That means more garden and flowers for me! I haven't seen much of Ben lately....its called 'laptop computer'... He did get registered for all of his classes and we are now waiting for the roomate assignment. We haven't finished all of our loan paperwork...boy, I can't imagine how our credit score will look when Veronica goes to college. Speaking of Veronica, she has been such a busy girl. She can't go one day without having to socialize. Yesterday she hung out at the SD zoo, today its at a friend's poolparty and tomorrow....SURFING?? Yes, surfing. I guess one of her friends' Dads is gonna take them both to surf. Hopefully she will stay safe. As for me, I am up and ready to go exercise. I promised myself 2000 calories worth of exersice. With the Jazzersice class today, I will have hit my goal. I did hik up to the top of Cowles Mountain yesterday again!
Today I have a Gratitute List to share: I am grateful for.....

1. Fresh tomatos to eat from a home grown plant
2. A job to go to that I enjoy
3. A daughter that makes me laugh
4. A husband that only laughs when I am really being silly
5. that I can be really silly sometimes...(handie sez....)
6. Ben's Wii console and the weather channel
7. Music from the show "Wicked the Musical"
8. Singing songs from "Wicked the Musical" with my daughter in the CVS parking lot.
9. A really strong cup of coffee
10. Air conditioning

I hope you all have a wonderfully 'cool' weekend!