Griffy today!
Gratitude #83 - Sweet Biddies!
13 years ago
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Griffy a year ago.
Eighth grade graduations are unique in so many ways. The girls are getting close to their adult height, the boys are often a lot shorter. The girls are beginning to look quite beautiful, the boys just look.
Some look (and even act) quite grown up (this group was better behaved than their family and friends in the audience!). Some have a ways to go, but they are on their way.
The town is very proud of their grade and middle schools, but they do not have a high school, so the graduates will be scattered around a dozen or so area schools.
I cannot help but wonder how they will all look in 4 short years.
graduation
45 or 50 graduates. A good gym stage full.
Then there were awards. A dozen and then two dozen and then hundreds and then thousands. Or so it seemed. It took 30 or 40 minutes to give out award after award, mostly to the same dozen or so students.
But down toward the end they honored a mother (OK she was not a mother she was a grandmother). She is called D, simply. For complex reasons she took on the task of raising her 3 or 4 grandkids. She was single and was working at the local post office.
When soccer season rolled around, D would make sure the kids were all registered and their fees were paid. When it was time for Cub Scouts, same story, and summer baseball, same again.
A picture was circulated showing about dozen of the guys in the graduating class, but the picture was take when they were in grammar school, 5 or 6 years ago. The picture was of the boys at soccer practice. My grandson Griffy was among the group.
I doubt any of them ever won anything remotely close to a championship, but they learned so much about life and living and it would not have happened had it not been for this grandmother who was raising her grandkids and along the way raising half of the neighbor kids as well.
D, you are fabulous and the ovation you received today does not begin to tell the whole story or the tanks we all owe you.
Thanks for all of what you have done for the kids, boys and girls.
Then there were awards. A dozen and then two dozen and then hundreds and then thousands. Or so it seemed. It took 30 or 40 minutes to give out award after award, mostly to the same dozen or so students.
But down toward the end they honored a mother (OK she was not a mother she was a grandmother). She is called D, simply. For complex reasons she took on the task of raising her 3 or 4 grandkids. She was single and was working at the local post office.
When soccer season rolled around, D would make sure the kids were all registered and their fees were paid. When it was time for Cub Scouts, same story, and summer baseball, same again.
A picture was circulated showing about dozen of the guys in the graduating class, but the picture was take when they were in grammar school, 5 or 6 years ago. The picture was of the boys at soccer practice. My grandson Griffy was among the group.
I doubt any of them ever won anything remotely close to a championship, but they learned so much about life and living and it would not have happened had it not been for this grandmother who was raising her grandkids and along the way raising half of the neighbor kids as well.
D, you are fabulous and the ovation you received today does not begin to tell the whole story or the tanks we all owe you.
Thanks for all of what you have done for the kids, boys and girls.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Happy Anniversary Miriam
Fifty four years ago this evening, I married sweet Miriam.
In most ways we were too young to really know what we were doing, but we did it any way and we have been in love always.
Time goes faster than we might think. At this point I look back over so many happy moments and thoughts.
It has been good to be married to Miriam.
--------
Yesterday we drive 600 miles from our home in Idaho to Dea (daughter 3) in San Francisco. The last few times we have drive but half way at a time, sleeping in the teardrop trailer or a motel. This time we did neither.
We will be here for about a week. Griffy graduated from 8th grade this week. Dea and Curtis are going to be gone for a couple of days, leaving us with the boys. Punishment, I know.
It has been wet and cool in SF this spring. Today the sun is shining and it should be fabulous.
In most ways we were too young to really know what we were doing, but we did it any way and we have been in love always.
Time goes faster than we might think. At this point I look back over so many happy moments and thoughts.
It has been good to be married to Miriam.
--------
Yesterday we drive 600 miles from our home in Idaho to Dea (daughter 3) in San Francisco. The last few times we have drive but half way at a time, sleeping in the teardrop trailer or a motel. This time we did neither.
We will be here for about a week. Griffy graduated from 8th grade this week. Dea and Curtis are going to be gone for a couple of days, leaving us with the boys. Punishment, I know.
It has been wet and cool in SF this spring. Today the sun is shining and it should be fabulous.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
I spent a fair amount of time trying to get a good paint job on an old hunk of metal. It is not easy.
This paint job, on this show car, represents hundreds of hours of hand sanding.
There is no shortcut, no magic machine, just long and tedious work with a sanding block.
This rig is kinda dumb really, a milk truck with a cobra engine, but it does show that some people still have too much money.
And since I paid to see these cars, maybe I do too!
new phone, grr
I bought a new phone a few days ago.
Cell phone, of course, though that last bit is not as obvious as it might have been.
A long time ago I decided that I had to have a cell phone to operate my business, and that I did not have to have a land line, so I kept the cell phone.
I used to buy a phone that was tough and simple. Those are not available any longer at my local cell phone store.
What I got this time seems to work well. It is smaller than the last one, but the screen is a bit larger. It has an outside window that I can actually read the numbers, and when opened, it give me the information I need.
But, it seems it is also like a small town speed trap.
Of the 7 or 8 options on the main menu, 4 of them involve spending more money with the phone company. It seems that if I were to push the wrong button, I could spend a hunk of money pretty fast, and my retiremen budget does not go for surprises.
And, as it usually happens to me, when they transferred that magic little chip/card from the old phone about half of my phone numbers are gone. So now I have to email friends, and ask them to call me so I can get their number back on my phone list.
Of course, I could use the built in white pages directory (for another fee).
So, I have mixed feelings about the durned thing.
Cell phone, of course, though that last bit is not as obvious as it might have been.
A long time ago I decided that I had to have a cell phone to operate my business, and that I did not have to have a land line, so I kept the cell phone.
I used to buy a phone that was tough and simple. Those are not available any longer at my local cell phone store.
What I got this time seems to work well. It is smaller than the last one, but the screen is a bit larger. It has an outside window that I can actually read the numbers, and when opened, it give me the information I need.
But, it seems it is also like a small town speed trap.
Of the 7 or 8 options on the main menu, 4 of them involve spending more money with the phone company. It seems that if I were to push the wrong button, I could spend a hunk of money pretty fast, and my retiremen budget does not go for surprises.
And, as it usually happens to me, when they transferred that magic little chip/card from the old phone about half of my phone numbers are gone. So now I have to email friends, and ask them to call me so I can get their number back on my phone list.
Of course, I could use the built in white pages directory (for another fee).
So, I have mixed feelings about the durned thing.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
DNR
A friend's mother is nearing the end of her life.
I know the friend pretty well, but the mother a lot less so. Mom is 90, is in horrible health but she does not want to let go. My head spins.
On one side, there sure isn't any quality of life left, and she is wearing her family down, making inroads on their health. But she is entitled to live, or is she?
When friends Dad was asked about DNR (Do Not Resuscitate), he readily agreed and signed the form. Mom is not wanting to admit that it might be a good idea. He died last year.
None of this sits well on my head or my friends for that matter. Someone said once, that heroes know when to die. The possibility of a LOT of bad memories, really bad ones is real. My mom went from health to death in about 6 months. She had cancer, as did Miriam's mom.
Mom did pretty good until the last two or three weeks. All of her kids were here and we spent lots of time with her. I regret nothing and I have no bad memories, other than loosing my mother and friend.
I remember reading a western one time. Don't remember much of the story, but the hero went out into the wilderness and died. The author said it “was a good death.” I have never been sure of why the author wrote it that way, but that line has haunted me for decades.
Maybe when it comes our time, and we look death in the eye and don't flinch (much). We only go that way once and there is no dress rehearsal.
We all hope to die in our sleep at an old age, but we don't get our wishes, often.
And my head spins and my gut growls.
I know the friend pretty well, but the mother a lot less so. Mom is 90, is in horrible health but she does not want to let go. My head spins.
On one side, there sure isn't any quality of life left, and she is wearing her family down, making inroads on their health. But she is entitled to live, or is she?
When friends Dad was asked about DNR (Do Not Resuscitate), he readily agreed and signed the form. Mom is not wanting to admit that it might be a good idea. He died last year.
None of this sits well on my head or my friends for that matter. Someone said once, that heroes know when to die. The possibility of a LOT of bad memories, really bad ones is real. My mom went from health to death in about 6 months. She had cancer, as did Miriam's mom.
Mom did pretty good until the last two or three weeks. All of her kids were here and we spent lots of time with her. I regret nothing and I have no bad memories, other than loosing my mother and friend.
I remember reading a western one time. Don't remember much of the story, but the hero went out into the wilderness and died. The author said it “was a good death.” I have never been sure of why the author wrote it that way, but that line has haunted me for decades.
Maybe when it comes our time, and we look death in the eye and don't flinch (much). We only go that way once and there is no dress rehearsal.
We all hope to die in our sleep at an old age, but we don't get our wishes, often.
And my head spins and my gut growls.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
house guest
My daughter has a house guest this week.
The unusual facts about this particular guest: he is from Africa; he is a pastor; son in law met him on the internet; son in law and pastor are not from the same denomination; they never met before this week.
Son in law writes a column about the 12 step program that he is associated with, pastor is an avid follower, 2/3 of a world away.
This man walks two miles to pay for internet, which he does. He lives “off grid” not because is a greenie and is experimenting with alternative living, but because that is how it is where he lives. Services we take for granted just aren't available there.
All of daughters family and the pastor will have a richly rewarding experience I am sure, and I am a wee bit envious!
I remember the joy of having one of Miriam's cousins families (I had not met them before and have not seen them since) stay with us many years ago. They were going a good drive south of us to work and we were a good stopping spot.
We were blessed.
Unfortunately, in our age of faux prosperity, we would prefer to go a professional innkeeper, so we won't inconvenience some one else, yet we would be honored to have some one visit us.
Something is getting lost along the way, I fear.
The unusual facts about this particular guest: he is from Africa; he is a pastor; son in law met him on the internet; son in law and pastor are not from the same denomination; they never met before this week.
Son in law writes a column about the 12 step program that he is associated with, pastor is an avid follower, 2/3 of a world away.
This man walks two miles to pay for internet, which he does. He lives “off grid” not because is a greenie and is experimenting with alternative living, but because that is how it is where he lives. Services we take for granted just aren't available there.
All of daughters family and the pastor will have a richly rewarding experience I am sure, and I am a wee bit envious!
I remember the joy of having one of Miriam's cousins families (I had not met them before and have not seen them since) stay with us many years ago. They were going a good drive south of us to work and we were a good stopping spot.
We were blessed.
Unfortunately, in our age of faux prosperity, we would prefer to go a professional innkeeper, so we won't inconvenience some one else, yet we would be honored to have some one visit us.
Something is getting lost along the way, I fear.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Another addendum:
I went to the court house and met with my personal assessor. Boy that makes me feel special!
She got out the satellite pictures, and I made my points.
She went back to her computer and came back with a new evaluation at a fair price. The value of all real estate is down and that was reflected in this new assessment.
That does not necessarily mean that my taxes will be less.That won't be decided until later.
My assessor made notes to guide the next assessors, in case it is not her.
Thank you.
She got out the satellite pictures, and I made my points.
She went back to her computer and came back with a new evaluation at a fair price. The value of all real estate is down and that was reflected in this new assessment.
That does not necessarily mean that my taxes will be less.That won't be decided until later.
My assessor made notes to guide the next assessors, in case it is not her.
Thank you.
Happy Birthday Alan
Grandson Alan was 20 yesterday.
Of course, I had hoped to find a really cute picture of him when he was 4, but my ability to loose pictures shines again.
Alan is finishing his 2nd year of college. He is a good kid, I am very proud of him.
Even though he may not agree, his eduction is just beginning!
exotic wrecks
Wrecked an expensive car lately?
I subscribe to a site called: Wrecked Exotics. They send out a fistful of pictures each week.
These are fancy, expensive cars. Some as cheap as a new Corvette, but some are in the million dollar bracket.
And they are all wrecked. Sometimes lavishly so.
There is a very brief explanation with each photograph. More often than not the owner loaned the car to a young friend, who, while driving at high speed “lost control.” Speed is almost always mentioned.
Sometimes the borrower walks away and sometimes they don't.
Another common scenario is the one where someone “test drives” the car. Sometimes it is being delivered to the owner, and sometimes the owner purchased the car earlier, but not very much.
These are not regular cars, like the rest of us drive. Being spendy, for one thing, includes the ability to go extremely fast in extremely short periods of time. The temptation abounds. Why, logic goes, should you drive at 55 or 60 when this car can easily do 200?
I know it is sick humor and I know I am demented to find any of it entertaining, but I do on both counts!
In case I have not shamed your curiosity enough yet, here is the URL: http://www.wreckedexotics.com
I subscribe to a site called: Wrecked Exotics. They send out a fistful of pictures each week.
These are fancy, expensive cars. Some as cheap as a new Corvette, but some are in the million dollar bracket.
And they are all wrecked. Sometimes lavishly so.
There is a very brief explanation with each photograph. More often than not the owner loaned the car to a young friend, who, while driving at high speed “lost control.” Speed is almost always mentioned.
Sometimes the borrower walks away and sometimes they don't.
Another common scenario is the one where someone “test drives” the car. Sometimes it is being delivered to the owner, and sometimes the owner purchased the car earlier, but not very much.
These are not regular cars, like the rest of us drive. Being spendy, for one thing, includes the ability to go extremely fast in extremely short periods of time. The temptation abounds. Why, logic goes, should you drive at 55 or 60 when this car can easily do 200?
I know it is sick humor and I know I am demented to find any of it entertaining, but I do on both counts!
In case I have not shamed your curiosity enough yet, here is the URL: http://www.wreckedexotics.com
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
addendum
My friend David is healing, but slowly. He is off pain medication and is able to get around a bit more.
His head is doing fine and he is frustrated that he cannot "do" more, which is a good sign.
------
I did hear back from my congressman. What I need to be "appointed" the "designated payee." Wow. I have to be appointed to look after my wife. Thought my marriage license had something to do with that.
-------
It continues to rain. We live in the desert, we get less than 10 inches of rain a year, sometimes a lot less, but this spring we have had rain. We don't get the kind of rain that is really wet, but that light rain that keeps desert rats from doing anything outside!
My shrink (if I had one) would say I was acting out my laziness.
Hmm
His head is doing fine and he is frustrated that he cannot "do" more, which is a good sign.
------
I did hear back from my congressman. What I need to be "appointed" the "designated payee." Wow. I have to be appointed to look after my wife. Thought my marriage license had something to do with that.
-------
It continues to rain. We live in the desert, we get less than 10 inches of rain a year, sometimes a lot less, but this spring we have had rain. We don't get the kind of rain that is really wet, but that light rain that keeps desert rats from doing anything outside!
My shrink (if I had one) would say I was acting out my laziness.
Hmm
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