Grandma Bradshaw

Private Bubble? Yes, I want to be a Jetson!

2011-05-24T16:05:00.000-07:00

Cars are now appearing on the market with an automated park system. Scientists are currently working on a car that completely drives itself. The prototype is all ready being tested and highly successful. There are unmanned drones, engaged in our military, moving precisely to targets and deploying specific maneuvers.

I look to the day when I get inside my own personal vehicle, let's call it the Private Bubble, set my destination, and enjoy automated travel, including flight. I choose my departure time, air temperature, music or other entertainment,etc. as well as who will sit next to me for the ride. I park in my own garage and, as a licensed private commuter, I am not subject to lines for "screening" each time I choose to enter my vehicle.

I understand, of course, that there needs to be a significant infrastructure created to accommodate this future form of convenient and safe travel. So, get with it people!!!

Private Bubble? Yes, I want to be a Jetson!

Traveling Through The Family Tree

2011-03-18T09:40:00.000-07:00

It is so hard to imagine a world that was not so connected as we are today with the internet, cell phones, and video chat streams. How very hard for families to pick up and leave as they did from one country to another with full knowledge that they may never see or hear from loved ones again. A day when babies didn't always make it, illness won out most often, and homes were broken with sorrow and loss of all ages. And with all that, the niceties of cleanliness and all of the other technologies we are afforded today were not available. It makes me wonder in another 100 yrs what the generations will be comparing to today.

At the same time though, we know the priorities of home and family were so much better and so in many ways there was a lot of peace, contentment and pure happiness. I think about these things as I travel through the family tree and see the stories unfold. The nostalgia of it all sucks me in sometimes.

I'm not procrastinating...

2010-05-19T16:17:00.000-07:00

I'm not procrastinating...I'm just moving things on my calendar to different days!

Destiny

2010-04-19T14:59:00.000-07:00

In our quiet moments we realize our destiny is not a goal but a daily participation in life.

The Future - My Perspective

2009-12-11T11:13:00.001-08:00

Medicine

I need to mention that there will be no more exploratory surgery. Special scanning devices for the human body will allow surgeons to see all faucets of tissue, fluid and bone in a minimum of 3 dimension and analyze exactly what treatment is required. This is not an invasive or painful evaluation. No more mammograms!!! Our granddaughters will only hear about those old days!

An exam for clogged arteries can be visualized with precision prior to any surgical treatment. Although with this technology, surgery becomes less common as we have preventative health exams where early stages of many illnesses, including cancer, are detected and treated. Things that are fatal today are treatable illnesses in the future of medicine and the technology that accompanies it.

The Future - My Perspective

2009-11-10T12:01:00.000-08:00

I was asked where I thought technology would be in 10 years. We'll see if we can get where I think we are going fast enough. If not 10 years, then how many?

My idea of the future is that all computers, internet and TV will not be seen on a monitor or screen. All will be a virtual reality that can be accessed or moved from room to room, plane to plane, destination to destination through a very small connection device.

In the new world of virtual experience, you find when you are watching the news, you are there, standing on the sidewalk watching the action with the reporter. You are in the scene of the movie you are watching, and you may even visit family or conference meetings with individuals all over the world. They see your image in the room if you so chose and you see all of them. This would be like a virtual reality web cam, if you will.

For a price, you may virtually book and travel anywhere, experiencing the sights and sounds and smells of your destination. If you enjoy your "visit", you may always book actual travel. BTW - This does include trips into space as well as deep ocean exploration.

More later...

Independence Day 2009

2009-06-26T09:52:00.000-07:00

Fireworks!!!

We are going to cruise
San Francisco
and watch the action from the
Bay

I am pumped!

Happy 4th of July!

Maui Sunsets!

2009-05-05T12:23:00.000-07:00

Buds

2009-05-05T12:21:00.000-07:00

Roger & Curtis

Hawaii Bday

2009-05-05T12:18:00.000-07:00

Roger

Maui, Hawaii

2009-04-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

91 yrs and counting...

Dolphin with a fish in his mouth -he came to show it off to us!

Curtis Linda

Grandma Roger

2 Humpback Whales

Bottlenose Dolphins

Open for Swimming!

2009-04-18T14:25:00.000-07:00

35,000 Gallons Later...

78 degrees today and 88 forecast for tomorrow...

...The pool is officially open!

We just couldn't wait!

2009-04-11T14:48:00.000-07:00

The water is coming in through the solar panels at a nice 80 degrees! Wahoo!

California is great!

2009-04-11T10:21:00.000-07:00

Pool Drain

2009-04-11T07:13:00.000-07:00

When the pool turned green within 24 hrs of cleaning and chlorinating, we took a sample to be tested. We found out that most people drain their pools every 6 yrs or so. We've been here 12! The PH finally raised so high that the chlorine didn't work so all through the night the sump pump worked and today we will clean the surface and refill...

Dad - March 2009

2009-03-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

I have essentially always said that I grew up on the back of my Dad's motorcycle while he practiced in the hills for racing. It was great. I loved the thrill and adventure of it all; pushing past my fear to that exciting conquering feeling in the open wind.

As you see he is still riding... After his retirement a couple years ago, he bought a new BMW and has made several long tours, this one being to the furthest southern tip in the Florida keys. He has traveled to the most northern through Alaska and Canada and followed the famous Route 66 for old times sake. He wants to travel way south on the continent, through the Panama Canal, to the Venezuela. He travels alone and Marsha isn't as fond of that idea, so we will see.

A recurring theme in our conversations since he retired "Don't work a day longer than you have to" along with an added recent note "Too many die while still in the harness". I find these great words of wisdom and advice and I am diligently steering toward that goal.

Grandma Schieler in Maui

2009-02-13T13:52:00.000-08:00

I want to look this good when I am 90!

Grandparents

2009-02-13T13:50:00.001-08:00

Dec 2008 Visit

2009-02-10T10:35:00.000-08:00

Sisters Forever!

In December, mom saw a specialist that told her she probably only had a few months to live. So, at the last minute and just before Christmas, Jeanne and I flew out for a visit to be sure and see her before it was too late. Mom really wanted to go out to dinner. She spent half the day dolling up to get ready for her much anticipated night out. This was a real feat because just before we arrived, she had fallen and was badly bruised. Her hand and arm, one on each side, were broken. Here are a few pictures we took at the restaurant.

Roger on the tractor - 1980's

2009-02-06T12:41:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas 2008

2008-12-17T07:31:00.000-08:00

From our house to yours - have a wonderful Christmas!

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-12-10T17:59:00.000-08:00

Who ever heard of a potato gun?

PS Can you see Mark's briefcase? Ask Debbie...

After Jeanne, Roger and I shared 4+ hr turns driving all day long we finally arrived in Beaver!
What is it about turkey that drives us so far?

Angie & Roger

Gates & Walter

Tea Time!

Amanda's #2 Birthday Party

2008-11-16T21:19:00.001-08:00

The birthday girl!

She has a new apron and pans.

Amanda likes her birthday fish.

Joshua is still harvesting garden veggies.

Collin & Jeanne work on a self portrait.

Camelia presented a Nemo cake

Samantha loves all the excitement

The birthday girl is getting SO BIG!

Roger's Pumpkin

2008-11-16T19:33:00.000-08:00

Office Humor

2008-11-07T15:06:00.000-08:00

I have to tell you something funny. When I was chatting with a client in our office he was asking if I was happy about the elections and the new president. I hesitated and then just told him I was Republican. The office manager was ICE COLD STILL ease dropping in the next room. You know, don't you DARE insult anyone that comes in! LOL The antennas were on high extending out my way...

Then I told him I really didn't think either candidate was the best choice so it was more like picking the least of 2 evils and that I hoped things would get done because it didn't matter what ticket they came from it seems they all get in there with a bunch of promises and then find out they are playing with a whole different "set of balls" (And I meant bouncy balls but it didn't sound that way.)

The office manager is now FROZEN SOLID and I see the client hesitate and I say "You know,

red ones, blue ones, yellow ones...and they thought they were only going to have blue ones".

It was SO FUNNY!

I was really back peddling but I didn't mean or would have never said what it sounded like but in reality it is true so that is what made it so funny! SNORK!

Thanksgiving 1998

2008-11-01T17:32:00.001-07:00

Roger

2008-11-01T17:25:00.001-07:00

Micah Brian Bradshaw

2008-10-24T10:17:00.000-07:00

What's hiding under that blanket? That's what we went to Idaho to find out!

We decided at the last minute to get a Honda Accord so we could travel in a new car that would be dependable on the long trip. Boy, was that a good idea! We went through over 5 hours of sagebrush on straight nothing roads covered in blood from the road kill the night before and a lot of big, fat, black birds happy about their evening feast along the side. There were warning signs for antelope, deer and cows. I have no idea what they eat out there! Desolation for sure! We passed through Nevada and part of Oregan on the way but it all looked the same. Sagebrush!

When the navigator said we only had 30 minutes to Tony's house we were still in the middle of nowhere and we decided that we would go around a turn and find it just behind the last sagebrush. That's about how it was too. He lives on the edge of civilization. We dropped into the valley and got a big whiff of the smelly cows, passed over the snake river and VOILA! There were some little subdivisions with houses.

Micah Brian Bradshaw
Born 12 Sep 2008

It was good to see Liah and make friends...

Tony was happy to see us too!

And here is the sweet little boy we traveled to find...Micah

Linda, Colleen, & Micah

LaVern, Howard, & Micah

Four Generations of Bradshaw's

Grandma Salcido & Linda brought dress ups for Princess Liah

Roger Taking Out The Apricot Tree

2008-10-12T14:36:00.001-07:00

Our apricot tree never grew an apricot so Roger quit watering it years ago. It kept growing anyway and starting lifting the sidewalk so he got out the bad boy saw and taught it a lesson!

Samantha's Blessing - Aug 2008

2008-10-12T14:30:00.000-07:00

Little Samantha was pretty in her white blessing dress and her Great Grandma Bradshaw did enjoy holding her!

Office Humor

2008-10-02T10:25:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, I experience quite a bit of office humor. I think sharing some of these moments will be fun for my blog.

Enter the parent with a 9 yr old girl and a 3 yr old boy. The boy is active like any 3 yr old. He is bouncing around and getting the eye from mom but he proceeds to turn on and off the office lights and open and shut the front door.

Finally, he slams the glass door open against the outer wall of the building with a BIG BANG! His mother stops writing her check and goes after him and so does the big sister. Mom grabs him by the arm and the 9 yr old says "I'll take him!" and mom allows her the control as she comes back to the desk to finish her check.

The struggling 3 yr old is brought to the front of a chair in the waiting room and then the 9 yr old announces "Either you sit on me or I'll sit on you!"

Now that's something I never even thought to say with my own kids! What strategy of choice coming from someone as big as a 9 yr old!

Obviously, I was very humored...

My Slip

2008-08-26T14:11:00.000-07:00

I was walking out of church a few weeks ago with Jeanne and Roger and I walked RIGHT OUT OF MY SLIP!!!! LOL! I felt it going and was patting around my legs trying to catch it but it just went down around my ankles. I hurried and stepped out of it and grabbed it up and no one else saw but Roger and Jeanne and she was laughing hard and saying it was like a movie. I think the elastic was just finally too old but I still said
"My diet must be working!"

The next thing I want to walk out of is my work pants - literally!~

Grandpa Ray Angle

2008-08-06T12:23:00.000-07:00

I guess I need to get around to posting a blog to follow up about grandpa. He did die on May 13, 2008. This was 9 months after my visit to the hospital with him where I literally watched him, while in ICU, bargain for extra time on earth so that he could see his family one last time as he knew they were all flying to see him. It wasn't an easy time for him to endure during those last months but I know he made that choice.

I think it is fitting that I paste in the email that Grandma Betty sent around to tell the details:

Ray Angle died Tuesday, May 13,2008, in his sleep with his wife, Betty at his bedside. He has been very ill since early Sept, 2008. Hospice has been a part of his care for months. He was 92 yrs old and put up a strong fight to live. He was very confused and seemed to think his 78 yr old wife would have to go back to work if he died.He had a very large family, children, step-children, grand-children, great-grand-children, & great-great-grand-children, many nieces and nephews. His Sister-in law, Wilma Angle died 2&1/2 hrs before him.

Samantha Fern Bradshaw - 13 Jul 2008

2008-07-13T17:06:00.000-07:00

Today is a special day! This morning at 3:06 AM - Samantha Fern Bradshaw was born!

It is so nice to be able to share in the wonderful experience of seeing our grandchildren born into this world. This makes three for Joshua and Camelia and as you will see; Collin and Amanda were very excited for their new baby sister.

Family Visits

2008-07-03T19:09:00.001-07:00

Mom Linda Colleen

John

Linda

Linda Mom

Rick & Pam

Rick, Pam
Brittany, Trevor & Trisha

Collin Amanda Joshua Angie

Roger Angie

Amanda Joshua

Look at all the kids!

Castles in the Sand

Madame Amanda

Angie & Roger

Somebody loves Grandpa!Nine to Five

Trevor, Brittany, & Trisha

Trisha

The Dog

The Cat

Colleen & Linda

Linda's Hot Wheels

Mom

Curtis McDevitt's New Ride

Friday, June 13th, 2008 - San Jose Red Moon

2008-07-03T18:54:00.000-07:00

Acts 2:20
"The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come"

The summer fires in the Santa Cruz mountains and Monterey area sent a thick layer of smoke drifting and hanging in the skies above our home and on the evening of June 13th, I looked and saw the color of the moon had changed. This shot was nothing special, just out in the backyard.

I'm not getting crazy - I just thought it was fun to put that scripture with it!!!! :)

2008-06-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

Walter & Roger

2008-04-24T15:37:00.000-07:00

Angie doesn't have a blog yet so I am putting these pictures up so everyone else can see.

Decide what you want...

2008-04-24T11:23:00.000-07:00

Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work. - H. L. Hunt

SOLD!

2008-04-08T08:45:00.001-07:00

Last week a coworker of mine had a daughter roll the family SUV and walk away. The officer helped her call her mother and tell her that she hit a small patch of rain water and that SUV's are top heavy so it wasn't her fault.

We have had our Ford Explorer for 8 years and realize we drive it a little differently because of it being top heavy but for some reason hearing that story hit me to the core and I decided I didn't want my daughter in it anymore. I have learned that I should follow these strong feelings that come from time to time.

When Jeanne came home from work I asked her how much she had saved and if she wanted to go car shopping. I wasn't sure if she would want to go but she transferred her savings over and away we went.

Now, I have become somewhat of an expert at buying cars. After all, I have purchased cars not only for Roger & I but have taken each son or daughter shopping at the appropriate time. We drove from one dealer to the next and wound up going back to the first and then making an even better deal than our first attempt. I feel happy to have accomplished the goal of helping each of the kids with their first car negotiation. We both felt like we got the best deal ever and we drove home happy but tired at 11 pm. That was Saturday.

Sunday morning Jeanne and I were up early. So much excitement! She went out and started unloading all her belongings out of the Ford and took pictures and I wrote a Craig's list ad and posted it and away we went to Collin's birthday party. When we got home we had an email that was sent 4 hrs earlier and I replied and we arranged to meet a man to see the truck after work Monday. The guy came with a friend, in the friend's car, cash in his pocket, and it just could not have been an easier sale.

Jeanne said "Well, it just shows that we were supposed to buy my car". I was glad to hear the underlying faith that she implied confirming her decision to make a major purchase. That made me feel good as a parent. Not because I helped her get a good deal and we sold the old truck, but because she was expressing her faith and this is the most important principal we have worked all these years to teach our little family.

As we send this last one out into the world, we hope and pray for them in all their decisions that they will rely on divine inspiration in all of their affairs, big and small.

Ah! The Craziness!

2008-02-26T15:23:00.000-08:00

Here we are a month down the road since my last blog entry! What's up?????

Rain, wedding, wedding planning, family history, dinners, home repairs, work, OK so I do have a few things happening. Where to start? Maybe backwards is good?

Kimia's wedding was a replay of the Persian party for Joshua and Camelia. I think all the same people were there kicking up their heels and dragging everyone onto the floor with them. One reluctant participant was actually taken in her chair and pulled into the middle of the performing circle until she gave in and got up and danced too. That was funny! Next thing you know she is shaking her boody like no one else! People were getting energy from nowhere on into the night as the music was pounding out strong. The kids were running and sliding across the floor and everyone was eating much more than they should. It was great.

I have been sewing on the bride's maid dress. I have all my fingers and toes crossed so when she comes for a fitting it will actually work and I can finish it. It is either going to be that or go shopping for a new one and toss it for a Halloween dress. Now THAT would be a SAD waste of time!!!! So I hope it fits! I keep chocolate peanut M & M's at the sewing machine to keep me in there when I start getting bored. SO BAD! I guess I take after grandma...

The internet has opened many doors with people contacting me about our family tree. I can barely keep up with all the incoming information. I think when I quit my job I will still have to work quite a few hours a week at my desk at home just doing that. OK - well, more chocolate maybe...

Roger installed the new slider door in our room seems as how the French doors leaked up a storm (ha ha) and we were flooded and it ruined the floor. It was raining this week and so far we are still dry inside. After Jason rents an apartment for Crookshanks we will replace the carpet. I wanted to wait so we would be hairless... Oh, and the terminators want us to tent our house again. SO after Crookshanks has an apartment we can do that too. It's easier than renting him a room for a few nights somewhere. Jeanne will have a room then too so Dad and I will be the only ones kicked out for a few days. That is AFTER we have to pack up and move out all the food, etc. Now this is when food storage becomes a real pain in the BUTT! Maybe we should just eat a lot for a while - chocolate? Darn! I don't store chocolate!

OK, so now with all this talk of chocolate I must mention the biking I have been doing. I have ridden miles and traveled through many-a I Love Lucy episode. I could peddle there and watch them back to back and the time just flew by. Well, that is until those damn writers went off of strike and they replaced my oldie goodies Lucy show with a bunch of lousy new ones. GRRRR!
If you are not watching the Discovery Channel, How It's Made, or poor acting by the Hallmark channel, there isn't much worth while anymore. Oh, we do like the 5th grader show if we happen on to it and America's Funniest Videos. Can you tell it is hunker down in the dark old winter time around here? Me watching TV?????? I mean, the plant in my bathroom is complaining by turning abso-white because it can't get enough sun for photosynthesis!

I have been getting out on Saturday's with Jeanne for her dress fittings. Last Sat was a long one so I shopped around and found a dress for myself. It is not a color I ordinarily wear but it is what the bride wanted, so powder-blue-we-do! They just as well call the wedding attire disposable for the women; we only wear it once. You tell me what female in the wedding, be it the bride, brides maid, maid of honor, mothers, whoever - RARELY do they adorn themselves in those nasty dresses again! The men get it easy AS ALWAYS! Rent a tux and return it.

This box is getting VERY SOAPY today! And the beat goes on...

I'm Still Here!

2008-01-31T15:46:00.000-08:00

Wow! So, my friend calls me up and after hesitating when I actually answer the phone, she asks me carefully if I have had any news from family lately. You see, her son heard on his local news about an accident and someone with my name was killed along with others. So, NO it wasn't me and I'm still alive!!! But sadly, yes, it was people, even relatives, we knew.

Hope I don't have another of those phone calls in the future because I don't know of anyone else with my name!!!!!

A few things have run through my mind though - like hoping they had life insurance, etc. Thinking about how they are so young and any of us could be gone just like that. Feeling bad for the husband who lost his wife so early in life. Then for the parents, children and other family of all those affected. Wow! And I am so glad this time it wasn't me!!!!

Life is a treasure and I think all of us value life more and more as the days and years pass. Precious now, so precious, as compared to years ago when we didn't realize how fast time comes and goes, how short this life is and how much each person who crosses our path makes a profound difference and creates the person we are continually becoming.

OK OK - Earth to me! I'M STILL HERE!!!!! YEAH!

Another one ~

2008-01-16T14:15:00.000-08:00

OK - so I didn't rotate it first...oh well.

Mickey Mouse

2008-01-16T13:58:00.001-08:00

I think this is the last one...Gates, Roger, Mickey, Walter, and Angie. Dad and I actually forgot our camera so all of these Disney pics were sent to me by Angie.

Disneyland 2008

2008-01-15T14:47:00.000-08:00

Roger

Dad and Gates

Angie won a trip for 4 adults to the big D and invited us to join her.

This is Angie, Walter and Gates.

Here is a pic in the Buzz ride. It was a fun interactive ride. You know me - give me a gun and I'm having fun! :)

STORMY!

2008-01-05T21:00:00.000-08:00

STORMY!

One of the biggest storms has hit the bay area. In all the torrents of rain I arrive home yesterday after work at 3:30 and have no power to open the garage door and don't have a key to the front door. I go to the shed where there is an alarm going off that I didn't even know Dad put out there. I could hear it from the driveway. It was a fire alarm having a fit because the water was coming in the shed. I was cold and shivery and I couldn't figure out how to get it apart. I finally pried or pretty much broke it apart and it finally quit. I never did get to the battery. I think I must have busted a wire. Anyway, after I got that thing to shut up it is still raining crazy and I am cold and soggy by now. I take the two keys I have and try them over and over on the back door. Then I put my coat over my hand and pry harder. Nothing doing. I am not getting in. I crunch into the shed the few inches that I can to break the rain and call Dad and tell him I can't get in and I am going to see if Linda is still home. I drive to her driveway and show up on her porch with soaking wet hair, mud on my WHITE shirt and shivering. She lets me in and before I can do much explaining I have to call the phone company because they were meeting me today to check the phone line and tell them I can't get into my house.

I find out she is bored stiff with no power for computers or TV all afternoon and cold. She had been reading but it was getting too dark to read anymore. She gave me a dry sweater and we hung out talking about how we were probably going to make our husband's take us out to eat because we were cold and hungry for hot food. Dad came home a couple hours later and let me in. After lighting candles and Dad had a shower we went to Carl's for a hamburger and it was all warm in there. I didn't care that they took forever to cook it. We sat next to 3 water buckets that they were using for leaks in the roof. It smelled like our kitchen cabinets used to and brought back gross memories of wet rotting wood. When we drove home, much to our delight, there was LIGHT!~!! Yes, first I noticed street lights off of Lean and I told Dad they were not on when I came home and finally we saw lights on the houses. It was all black when we left. Kind of weird to have the whole neighborhood black.

I have placed a front door key in an envelope in my car and I plan on having Dad check out why the key didn't work and fix or replace the lock on the side door. His key worked just fine by the way!

STORMY!

That was yesterday. Today the storm continues to bear down. The pool if filling to the brim and we noticed last night that our carpet was wet by both of the south doors. The storm was blowing straight at the house from the south and the water found its way in the tiny cracks. Dad propped the carpet up and tore out the pad beneath hoping to have it dry out and it remained that way all day. He spent the day at Joshua's working and by the time he came home tonight I could tell we hadn't saved the floor. It was getting smelly. We had a reception to attend so we didn't stay long there and I said sadly "Let's go home so we can tear out the carpet". Dad had to cut two feet into the room before he found dry carpet. The bare floor is exposed underneath and the tack strip had to be removed too as it was saturated. It looks like swelling damage is into the room a few inches and Dad will have to cut out the flooring and replace what is bad before we can consider carpet or whatever we decide to do now. We are considering a rock entry but we will see. For now, it is ugly and reminds me of 1997 when we tore the place up after we bought it.

We have minor damage compared to those who had part of their roofs fly off, trees land on the houses and cars, huge flooding and embankments falling down. We still have power today too which I am grateful for and have been happy to have a warm furnace going. I just can't stand being cold.

Merry Christmas 2007

2007-12-21T16:26:00.001-08:00

Jeanne Roger Angie

Angie Roger Roger LaVern

Mesa Temple

Amanda Camelia

Merry Christmas 2007

Irish Blessing

2007-12-18T08:35:00.000-08:00

Irish Blessing

May there always be work for your hands to do,
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine warm on your windowpane,
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you,
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Grandma Turns 90!

2007-12-14T12:55:00.000-08:00

My grandma Vera Fern Drake Schieler turned 90 this week. WOW!

When I called her she said...
"Want to know how I lived so long? I ATE CHOCOLATE EVERY DAY!!!"

I personally think 20 plus years of relaxing in her condo on the Maui coast line has a lot to do with it too.

She always does have a stash of chocolate. Even when I was very young and we would go to visit we could count on grandma sneaking chocolate to us after mom and dad had gone to bed. She always had a secret stash hidden in her room. We got to sleep with her when we would visit and she would read us Billy Goat Gruff and we would all munch on chocolate. Those were the days...

Quotes

2007-11-29T11:02:00.000-08:00

LIFE - Sometimes you have to MAKE it HAPPEN!

(mine)

"Close your eyes and smile at least once a day"

"Thought is action in rehearsal"

"The most wasted day of all is that on which we have not laughed"
Sebastian-Roch Nicholas Chamfort (1741-1794)

LISTEN to the POSITIVE VOICES

Work like you don't need money,
Love like you've never been hurt,
and dance like no one's watching.

"Cynics do not contribute; skeptics do not create; doubters do not achieve"

Interest Definition
...Finally, the fourth item, the bank. It is a symbol of our financial well-being. I learned a great lesson early in my business career. My boss called me into his office. I could tell he had something on his mind. He said, “Give me a definition of interest.” Of course, I reached back in my training and gave him a definition I had learned from a textbook. He said, “No, no, no, that’s not the one I want. You listen and remember this one:

Thems that understands it, earns it; and thems that don’t, pays it.”

L. Tom Perry

Holiday Time

2007-11-21T09:44:00.000-08:00

So, it's the holiday season again. I had time off this week from work and lots of plans for shopping, baking, etc. Then, as my first morning off was getting underway, I dropped a large kitchen knife and it sliced my toe. Jeanne was home and helped me get off my feet. I did NOT want to go get sewn up so Jeanne got the first aid kit and we were looking for butterfly band-aid. (Gee, ever tried to spell band-aid? This thing didn't like it when I left out the hyphen!) Besides the fact that we didn't have the butterfly style, we found out later that even a regular band-aid wasn't going to work because it was sliced right up by my foot in a C shape around my toe. Kind of like I had 9 and 1/2 toes at the moment.

I had her get the super glue. Yes, we super glued it back together. A trick learned from a surgeon we know. Pretty handy stuff! Jeanne was real liberal with the super glue. I really only had 9 toes when she was finished. So I decided to pick it off the unwounded one and the part in between. Ouch! I was numb with shock when the knife hit, this part was painful! So we stuffed a Kleenex (don't forget the capitol K on Kleenex or the spell checker gets nasty with you) between the two toes and glued some more. Surgery complete! I covered with a sock on one foot and there you go. Next time I drive by Kaiser I will wag my tongue at them! "Ha Ha - who needs you?"

So much for our shopping plans. So, being stuck at home to hobble, I have become the turkey day bake queen. Cookies, pie, rolls, dinner, you name it! I know, I am using precious solar energy but Dad says it is OK if I am making food.

Holiday times are always dangerous for me. I seem to manage to damage myself the first of the week off and then have the rest of the time trying to mend. Reminds me of another time; the one where it was the night before my lovely vacation and I locked the front door and headed to bed in the dark. The problem was, I tried to go through the corner of the hall wall with my face on the way. Bam! Knocked me flat on my butt! (I can't believe this speller doesn't know Bam! Tough!~) Anyway, as I was seeing big swirling stars and moaning Dad helped me get an ice pack. I gashed myself and it felt like there was blood running on the inside of my face. Sure enough, over the next couple days I became more swollen and black and blue - both eyes and all down my face. I looked like I had been in a car accident. Roger had to take the silent blame though when I braved going out for the first time. We went to get a taco and as we stood at the counter the stares went from me (mouth open) to him (disgust) - no questions asked. Good for me, I really didn't want to admit to the world that I was not completely brilliant, as a matter of fact, that I had tried to face plant myself to the corner of the wall!

I have some time off in January and we are planning a trip to Disneyland. I am all ready on eBay shopping for body protection...AND you can bet we have a new addition to our first aid kits - SUPER GLUE!

Grandpa Ray Angle

2007-11-10T14:48:00.000-08:00

Grandpa Ray Angle

OK, so he hasn’t died yet and it seems a little bazaar writing about the trip I recently took to visit him in the hospital because his wife, Betty, didn’t think he was going to make it this time and I found out later that he specifically asked her to have his family come, so he didn’t think he was getting out of there either.

I received a call from my sister, Linda, on September 14^th saying grandpa wasn’t going to make it and that she was flying out with Mom. I called Betty myself to see how things were and it didn’t sound good. She had offered to fly out my Mom and her sister Linda so they could see him one last time. I talked to Roger and we decided I should go to be there to support my family so I booked a flight for the next morning and hoped he would make it until I got there. My sister and Mom were arriving the next day too and as it turns out, I actually beat them there.

My aunt Linda arrived first from southern CA. Betty picked her up and took her to the hospital where she saw grandpa and visited and then she went to Betty’s for a nap. That’s where she was when I arrived.

Betty picked me up and we went straight to the hospital. Grandpa did not look good. His frail body was a portion of the size he used to be and skin on bones. Bruised skin from all the places they were trying to get IV’s set up. Wow, it had been a long time since I had seen him and it was not a pretty sight. He smiled his same old big smile when I walked in and leaned toward me as I gave him a kiss. He was obviously happy to see me and all he could say was “Well…” as his eyes were a bit teary. I loved to hear him talk because inside that old frame was still the voice of the big grandpa I knew.

After eating a meal that Betty helped feed him because he was too weak to hold a fork, they said he could be released from ICU and get a room on a different floor. His urine was not flowing so they wanted him on a floor that specialized in that care. That was good news though as it was one floor up the ladder from ICU. He wasn’t always patient with Betty while she helped him eat and kept asking her to stop. It seemed he thought she was force-feeding him and he was doing all he could to keep up but he really didn’t even eat the most of the meal.

Soon he was asking for some water so I went out to the desk and asked for him. They said they would bring it in. The desk was right outside his room in ICU. I stepped back into the room and sat on a chair at the foot of the bed. His lungs were full of fluid and he was struggling to breath. The rattle of the fluids with each breath was loud and apparent. I told him Mom and Linda were coming and were on a flight to arrive very soon. “OK” was his reply.

As I was at the foot of the bed, he suddenly became very alert and opened his eyes very wide and looking up towards the ceiling he said, “I don’t know what the rules are. You know I don’t know what the rules are.” After a pause while he listened intently as he steadily stared upward he said in a matter-of-fact tone “I’m gonna stay here for a while”. He lowered his gaze and then looked straight at me and said “It won’t do them girls any good if I leave before they get here.” Then he looked off in the distance and thoughtfully mumbled “Rebecca”.

I was totally taken back. I had just witnessed his conversation with people that I could not see but I knew they were there as much as he did. It was so plain and simple. It was so acceptable and natural and real. There was no big excited feeling, no bright lights, no hype like what a TV show might render of the scene. It was simple and pleasant and powerful. I was quiet and motionless and immediately reverent so as not to interrupt the important conversation. It was over in moments and though I felt I was blessed to witness it all, I felt also that it was just so ordinary.

Then I pondered about how it seemed he had just negotiated some extra time to be here for his family. How much time, and exactly what the criteria was I just didn’t know and I didn’t know if he knew exactly either but he did seem to know he was staying for a while and it did appear to be a choice and decision he was given to make. Then I wondered who Rebecca was. I couldn’t think of a Rebecca in my research right off the bat and was wishing I had a laptop to see. I found out later that he told my sister “They were coming to get me and I told them my girls were here and I’m gonna stay here a few more days.”

Betty was quiet as it happened too but as soon as she could think a minute she was babbling about how he wasn’t going anywhere he was just being moved to another floor. Now that was unbelievable; that she could sit there with me through this experience and listen and watch as he had this conversation and then just brush it off onto a previous topic that had to do with here and now and not anything to do with what we had just witnessed.

Before my Mom and sister arrived, they moved him to the next floor. It was a rough ride for him and he kept repeating “Oh, man!” every time they would hit a bump or jerk the bed. It was a wild ride for the way he was feeling. After he was settled in the call came that Linda and Mom had landed and were coming. I stepped out of the room and asked Linda to try to prepare Mom for how bad he looked. He really lit up when Mom and Linda walked in. He was so thrilled to see them. He knew all his family was there. We all visited as we stayed with him in his room. Sometimes all of us, sometimes one would stay with him while the others took a break to eat. We all had moments to visit with him together and alone.

I visited with him about how he is the last of his brother’s and sisters still living. We talked about how he built the Drake’s home in Bremerton, Washington and he reminded me that he worked in the shipyard there and so did they. Of the car accident that took their lives he said “That was bad”. He mentioned the day he met our natural father, Frank and about how he submitted to a DNA test so aunt Linda would know for sure he was her dad. He mentioned Irma, his wife who died. These conversations let us know he was there with us as there were times that he did not seem as coherent.

Occasionally he would be frustrated with everything. Sometimes when Betty was talking he would look at us and roll his eyes and bring his hand up like he was going to back hand her across the room and make a motion like he was. It was funny. The old fireball was still in there.

Sometimes we would just let him rest. One time he was holding my hand as I sat next to him on the bed as my sister Linda and I were visiting. I was trying to keep him covered and warm. Sometimes he was hot and tore everything off and other times he was cold. As he started to doze both Linda and I became quiet so he could just rest. A moment or two later he opened his eyes and said we could keep talking. It seemed he was so used to Betty talking all the time that it was easier for him to rest if we wouldn’t let everything get so quiet.

Aunt Linda told us that she saw him look up to the ceiling and talk with someone and Betty had told her he was hallucinating. She was tired from her flight and went along with that idea but then she said it struck her as she was home resting that “He was talking to angels!” She was sure of it. I think we all decided Betty was in denial.

One time when the others had gone to the cafeteria, I stayed with grandpa. He asked me as he had asked Betty a few times before “What do I gotta do to get outa here?” Then he went on “I think I can make it down the hall. I’m not sure about the stairs but if we could figure that out we can get outa here and go home!” He was trying hard to get a comrade in his escape from that hospital. He really didn’t like it there. I had to tell him we would probably be there a little while longer. A little later when he had been gazing upward he turned to me and asked “How close are we to the sky? It looks like there’s only a few sticks and pieces of cardboard between here and there.”

Another occasion when my sister and I were with him he refused the medication from the nurse. He said he wouldn’t take anything unless “mother said it was OK”. Betty was out of the room and Linda and I convinced him that “mother said it was OK” and he looked right into my eyes one more time to ask if it was OK and when I said yes he said “All right then” and let me give them to him one at a time.

The morning came that I had to fly back home and I went one last time to the hospital. I told grandpa I was going to the airport to go home and go to work tomorrow. He said, “I wish you wouldn’t.” I said, “What?” because I wasn’t sure I heard him correctly because he spoke so softly as he was always struggling for air but he said it again as plain as day as Linda and I leaned in to hear. “I wish you wouldn’t.” Then he added, “I’d like to ask you to come back but I won’t.” I kissed him goodbye and told him I loved him and headed out of the room as the emotion gripped my heart. Linda broke the silence and said “Boy, that was hard.”

The next day when she made her trip to the hospital to say goodbye he didn’t make it any easier on her as he told her “You know I’m dying”. Linda said, “I know grandpa. And when you get up there I want you to find my guardian angel and give him a kick in the butt!” He smiled and winked at her.

Time went by and grandpa was able to move to a care center. He was mad that he didn’t get to go home. He really wanted to go home but until he had more strength so Betty could help him alone he had to be at the care center. She called me to report on him and told me he was planning his escape again and asking her where his motorized wheel chair was. She told him it was at home. He asked how far they were from home and how far she thought it would go.

As soon as I came home I looked in the computer for Rebecca. I found only one Mary Rebecca Angle. She was an older sister of his that died as a child before he was born.

It is November now and Grandpa is at home with Betty. I know he bargained for time. We have yet to find out what kind of time that will be.

Only in My Life

2007-10-30T12:47:00.000-07:00

Only in My Life

Forward

I have always said I could write a book with the things that happen in my life and not too long ago, I began jotting down a few memories.

Prissy Party

In grade school, I was so thrilled to be included and given an invitation to a birthday party of a girl I thought was really nice and also one that most everyone liked in school. My mother took me to the popular toy store that everyone loved. This toy store had signature red and white wrapping paper and so everyone knew where a gift was purchased if it had that paper. I picked out a big, colorful piggy bank and watched as they carefully wrapped my surprise for Kelly.

As the day approached for the party I was full of anticipation. The invitation indicated horse rides and lots of fun. Because of the activities, we were told to wear jeans. I didn't own a pair of jeans so I planned to wear a pair of slacks. My mother, on the other hand, was sure that this special birthday party should be like all little girl parties and insisted that I wear a prissy, frilly, party dress and she spent extra time making my hair party-beautiful. I was all dolled up and would have fit in with the finest of tea parties but much to my dismay, as we drove up to the home and pulled into the driveway, there were lots of girls all ready there, in their jeans and riding on a big tire swing. Others were perched on the fence watching the pony rides. The family was fortunate enough to own a few horses. I could have died right there! "I told you I was supposed to wear pants!"

I could tell my mom felt bad for not listening to me and she offered right away to go back home and get my pants but the damage was all ready done. Some girls were coming to the car, along with Kelly's mother and telling me it was OK. I got out in my prissy, frilly dress and party hairdo full of a dippety-do glue job. A Tom-Boy at heart, I managed to get myself up on the fence as soon as my mother drove off and watched the other girls play. I don't remember anything else about the party, the cake, what all the gifts in red and white signature wrap were - nothing - but my total embarrassment!

Camelia & Joshua

2007-10-29T16:49:00.001-07:00

Roger & Collin 2006

2007-10-29T16:29:00.001-07:00

Amanda & Joshua

2007-10-29T16:21:00.001-07:00

Daddy's girl. Which one is having the best time?

Jeanne Angie Tony Joshua summer 2007

2007-10-29T16:16:00.001-07:00

I didn't realize how long it had been since we had a picture of our 4 kids together. Time goes by so fast... I know a blog isn't just pictures but I keep digging out more. It just feels like I should have some up here!

Pam, Ted and grandson Gabriel

2007-10-29T14:53:00.001-07:00

Pam - my childhood/forever friend and her husband Ted and grandson Gabriel.

Liah

2007-10-27T17:34:00.001-07:00

Camping at Jimmy Reed above Merchant Valley Dam

2007-10-27T17:29:00.001-07:00

Hello Utah!

2007-10-27T17:23:00.000-07:00

2007-10-27T17:17:00.000-07:00

This is at an RV park in Flagstaff, AZ on our way to UT - I cracked up when I read it!!!

Tony's family

2007-10-27T16:51:00.000-07:00

Tony, Emily and Liah met us at Jimmy Reed camping in the RV for one night before we headed back to town. Here is the morning wake-up picture!

Remodeling

2007-10-27T16:32:00.001-07:00

Today Dad and I are at Joshua & Camelia's. This picture is when Collin was at our house helping install the new washer & dryer in the garage.

Angie, Walter, & Roger

2007-10-27T15:47:00.000-07:00

Roger Alan Browne born 19 Oct 2007

Hello!

I am trying out the blog idea...if I like it maybe I will add to it often...so stay tuned just in case!

Roger is finally here after a false alarm on the 4th of October - really, Angie just wanted me to fly down for her birthday - ha! I had a good visit with Angie, Gates, Walter & Roger and here is the picture I took just before I left and wow! Angie does not look like she just delivered that baby! She is doing great and so is Roger. By the way, I am getting used to calling him that - it has been a little transition for me and yes, Dad loves it!