Friday, June 30, 2006

My Favorite Reads So Far This Summer

I am an avid reader, if it stands still long enough I read it! I subscribe to several magazines. I read while cooking, waiting, outside, in the bathroom, in bed, at work, you name it I've probably read there. Okay, not then! I love to curl up with a good book and lately I've hit the jackpot.

I'm not a big reader of scary books, but I do like crime books. I'm not a big reader of historical romance books, but I love biographies of famous stars. I've been known to enjoy a good spy novel and even a war novel or two. Lately my favorites have been books about growing up and enjoying life as a woman whose kids have left the nest. Coming of age books for us women who have learned a lesson or two about life.

My favorite author this summer is Kris Radish. I've read three of her books. My first and favorite was Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral. It's a story about a woman who dies and then sends her 4 best friends on a journey around the country to scatter her ashes. First of all the book appealed to me because I have always said when I die I want my friends to take my ashes and scatter them in their favorite place. And this is what Annie did, only she sent her friends to places she had been. On the journey they learned about Annie's life, while growing within themselves. I highly recommend this read! She did an awesome job telling of the bonds women have, with themselves, their girlfriends, and their many journeys they travel.

The second book I read of Kris' was Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn. I enjoyed this about a woman who after a long marriage finds her husband in bed with another woman, watches, and then leaves him and begins her life over after being the loving, dutiful wife and mother and she does it successfully, finding happiness and mending fences as she goes. It was a great book on Life, love and friendship while learning to be true to yourself and not society. Another Awesome read!

Her third book touched my heart, set in rural Wisconsin, one of my favorite places, a women's study group decides one night to go out for a walk that lasts several days! They walk the roads of rural Wisconsin, refusing to talk to most anyone but themselves. Their story grabs national attention as they walk. They live off the kindness of other women they meet on their journey. Women who feed and house them while protecting them from the outside world. Along the way they talk about their lives, learning from each other and the women who help them. I loved this book, and assure you, the next time DH & I are in Wisconsin, he'll be watching for me to take off on my walk.

There you have it, I think Kris is an awesome author and I think I am going to check out another of her books, Birth Order Effect. I think there's alot to be said about birth order. I can't wait to read her take on it. If I have your curiosity up, check out her website, www.krisradish.com Enjoy your summer reading and tell me about it!

:J

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Mid Week Meanderings

Well here it is, Hump day. Two days til my 4 day weekend. What's going on with me?

I have taken off most of my fake nails. I have 3 left on my right hand, that's it. Debating on whether or not to get a new set tomorrow or give my hands a few weeks rest. It is wierd typing with no nails. I have had them for about 5 years. Usually in the summer I give them a two week break and get a new set. But with it being a holiday weekend, and going to my sisters, I'm debating to put them back on right away. HMMMM! My sister has gorgeous natural nails. She always says that I got the brains, beauty and the boobs, but she got the nails. Darn!

Office Air. Let's just say I have not had flowing air conditioning in my office all year. It's a choice, and my office isn't really sweltering hot. It's a big office and I get air from the hallway, and the office next door to me. I don't have it on because my office becomes a deep freeze with it on. But with our 90 degree+ heat lately, I asked our maintance guy to go ahead and turn on my air vents. We go through this every year. He turns them on, I freeze and we turn them off. So this year we sealed off the two vents above my desk, and left two open. Well, by 3 pm my office was a deep freeze. I guess tomorrow we will shut them back off. UGH! there has to be a happy medium!

Fourth of July plans. DH and I leave Saturday morning for the 4 day weekend at my sisters. It will be good to get away. I may take my new bunco game, just for fun. We will spend the weekend shopping and I hope to help her set up her new craft room.

My excitement so far this week, other than getting all my classes scheduled for the upcoming year, is that I am signed up to go to the Creepover on Halloween weekend. I could do cartwheels I am so thrilled! It's at a great state park here in Florida. I haven't camped there since DS3 was about 3 years old (he's 19) but from the pics it still looks the same! I love it there!
I will get to meet a few of my fellow monkey girls, so I know we will have an awesomely havoc wreaking time!

Teenagers! He wants to be an adult but can't follow simple instructions.
Me: What time do you work today?"
Him: 4:45
Me: "Good, here's $20, take those two packages on the desk and mail them for me to your cousins"
Him: "Okay"
I come home from work, and what is still sitting on the desk? You guessed it! But he had time to mess up my kitchen, and play on the computer.
Ugh Kids!

Enough meandering, If you are looking for a few good books to read, Check out Kris Radish's books! "Annie Freeman's Traveling Funeral" "A Elegant Gathering of White Snows" and "Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn" Great coming of age stories for us lively women! Start with Annie's or Dancing Naked. You will love them! More on that later,

For now,
:J

Saturday, June 24, 2006

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life for ME!


He promised to show me where Johnny Depp was! I didn't care about hidden treasure, gems or his pieces of eight. I wanted to see Johnny Depp in his Pirate finery! Can't wait to see the new movie, I was so captivated by the Pirates of the Carribean! I was not a Johnny Depp fan until I saw that. Matter of fact, I didn't understand the hype of JD. But once I saw PoC, I was hooked. It was the role he was born to play! What little girl doesn't dream of being captured by pirates and the adventures that hold? I was! That movie fulfilled all my dreams. Now, guide this ship to find Johnny!
:J Posted by Picasa

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Happily Ever After

Here they are the Bride & Groom! Jen & John have been sweethearts for about 6 years now. They were High School Sweetharts, College Sweethearts and are now Mr. & Mrs.! I'm so excited for them. DS2, Kevin (the dark haired one) was a part of the wedding party. All three have been friends since HS when John was the Quarterback & Kevin was his reciever.

John and Kevin played football and baseball together growing up. Later they worked at the same restaurant at the beach, Zeke's. John is an English teacher now and a Coach. Jen is a nurse. I wish them many years of happiness. It's been great watching them grow up!
I leave them with this piece of advice,
"A great marriage is not when the perfect couple comes together. It is when an imperfect couble learns to enjoy their differences." - Moorer.
Enjoy each other!

:J

 Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Another Challenge

Another Challenge from Kip.

I WANT: One more day, So that my words will be spoken and my feelings known.
I HAVE: Many, Many blessings!
I WISH: That people would see they don't need "things" to be happy.
I HATE: Nothing, it's a waste of energy
I MISS: my Parents, being with family
I HEAR: Nature sounds, Some of God's greatest songs
I WONDER: If I have done enough to make my sons better men.
I REGRET: Not finishing College
I AM NOT: As independent as I think I am.
I DANCE: Deep in my soul, every moment I am.
I SING: Too my heart's content, too bad it's so awful!
I CRY: At the National Anthem playing anywhere.
I AM NOT ALWAYS: As outgoing as people think I am.
I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: A home for my family and crafts to satisfy my creativity!
I WRITE: to remember, so those who come after me will know me.
I CONFUSE: Myself easily, (it's not hard!)
I NEED: to be healthier!
I SHOULD: be healthier!
I START: With good intentions!
I FINISH: Not near as many things as I should!
How about you?

Monday, June 19, 2006

What are YOU looking for?

Lately I have had quite a few hits from people blog hopping, looking for goings on about a few MBs I belong to. If that's your case, you can make this your last visit. While I agree with my fellow monkeys, I won't waste my time, breath or blogspace on how you have ruined a great community. I won't give you fodder for your bashing me or my friends. I'm so over what has happened to what was once a great and caring place. I've packed my bags and moved to a new community and behind us we have locked the gates to keep the riffraff out.
So consider this my one and only post concerning you. If you want to know what's going on, you know where to look and can read my comments on their blogs. You are welcome to keep looking here to read about my life, but nothing will ever be mentioned about CK, ELMB or you! So if that is your mission. GO AWAY!
:J

Sunday, June 18, 2006

You Aren't Considered a Couch Potato If......

you aren't sitting on the Couch! This is DH taking it easy on his Father's Day. At least he started out that way. He has since given up and has vacummed the pool and washed the car. He just can't sit still.
I remember the days when we longed for weekends like this. Nowhere to go, nothing on the agenda. We had baseball, football, soccer, scouts, camping, field clean up days, school activities and then there were the weekends at the beach. It seemed we were always somewhere with our 3 sons.
I wouldn't have had it any other way. You came into my life when I already had two sons. You knew from the start it was a package deal and that I was a hands on, involved parent. You jumped right in from the start, taking on the Dad duties. The boys will tell you who their Dad is. I thank you so much for that, and I thank your dad for that too. You learned from him, you are both a couple of great guys. You didn't have to.
So sit for awhile and enjoy your day. You deserve it, this one's for you!
all my love, from the deepest part of my heart,
:J Posted by Picasa

Thursday, June 08, 2006

This says SUMMER!


Nothing says summer like a new set of toes! These are my new toes, pedied and fresh from the salon! I love the color! It matches all the coral I wear, and had enough red in it that I don't look funky when I wear red. (two of my fav colors!) The flowers are a new thing Patty talked me into, and the centers are even jewels! Can you believe it! New toes make me feel so good!
I'm ready for summer, are you? What says summer to you?
Wondering from the Western Gate,

:J Posted by Picasa

Monday, June 05, 2006

Sweet Days of Summer, the Jasmine's in Bloom

There is something about the smell of Jasmine that signals the beginning of summer. In the north it is the smell of Lilacs, but here, in the south, it's the jasmine. It fits in with the cooling evening breezes, the mockingbird's call, and the hum of the cicadas.
Last night we sat on the patio until the jasmine was in full bloom. The smell was captivating. As the street lights came on, like children we retreated into the house, away from the breezes, the cicadas and the mockingbird. Back to the reality of life, the dinner dishes, air conditioning and TV. As for me, I take the outdoors.
All of my hard work in the garden is finally paying off. Let's hope we don't have a summer visitor that blows it all away!
Enjoy your day!

:Jayne Posted by Picasa

Saturday, June 03, 2006

Happy 95th Birthday Dad!

It's hard for me to believe, but if my Dad were still on this earth, he would have been 95 years old today! It's hard to also believe he has been gone almost 13 years. Dad saw so many changes to this world in his lifetime. He was a good man, with a kind and generous heart. He knew no enemies, and had a community of friends.
This is the earliest picture I have of my dad, taken when he was 4 years old in 1915. The baby next to him is his brother, Ned. My Dad was born on a farm in Northwestern Illinois in 1911. His parents were farmers as where their parents before them. He went to a one room school house for his education and only went as far as 8th grade. I still have his report cards, on which he earned all A's and A+'s. You never would have guessed he only had an 8th grade education.
The picture below is of him and Ned again. The are a little older and my dad is still the taller one. They also had an older sister and brother, but I don't have a picture of them together as children. My Dad loved the outdoors and sports. He was a tall and lanky young man who was quite a ball player and runner. He loved to hunt and fish and always had a garden.

This is my dad and I at my High School Graduation. I always looked up to him. He was always busy puttering with something, and never turned down a request I had to fix or build something for me. He took us hunting and fishing. He took us to the ballpark. He played Hide and Seek. Many nights he would read to us at bedtime mostly "The Happy Hollisters" mystery stories. On rainy days we would gather on the front porch and he would tell us stories of his childhood and Navy days. He loved to talk about his first car, a 1929 Model A. He would sing us the craziest songs. Many nights we would pile in the car for a trip to Bimm's for Ice cream, the real, handdipped kind.
All the kids in the neighborhood would gather in our backyard after dinner to play baseball. My Dad would pitch to each and everyone of us. He taught us to play fair and to play with together as a team. He was the greatest Cubs fan in the world.


Sorry I don't know how to do pictures right. This is a photo of my Dad and Mom with my boys. Many of my Dad's grandsons carried his name, Owen, as their middle name. He had 10 grandsons, 8 granddaughters and two great grandchildren.
I miss my Dad. I miss his smile, his jokes, his guidance and even his snoring. He was a great man, well respected by everyone who knew him. I see parts of him in my brother, my sons, and even my husband. His legacy lives on in all of us.
Happy Birthday Dad. You said it yourself when you told me you were dying of cancer, "I have lived a long, wonderful life."

:J Posted by Picasa