Life

It's hard to imagine being more blessed than I am. I won't go on drawing comparisons to any particular number of years ago, but I will just tell you that I have almost the best life I can imagine. I have found my soul mate, my best friend and the man I have been looking for longer than I knew and I get to wake up next to him every day. I have two kids who have grown into adults that I like...not just love, but like too. They have found partners for their lives that make them happy...and who are their best friends and soul mates. And that fact is so apparent that I see it--and it makes me smile inside. I have a sister who is my friend--my confidante, the other me, and her husband who could not be more my big brother if we shared the same parents. I have married into a family that is just wonderful. I love all my steps and in-laws and I am so glad they are in my life. I have the two most adorable grand children in the universe and I am soon going to have the four most adorable grand children in the universe.

If there is anything that I regret about my life...it's that Mom and Dad aren't here to see me so happy. I know they had worries and concerns about their younger duaghter. Hey Mom and Dad...just look... look!!! Thank God I know that they see, even if they aren't here.

Looking ahead..

I heard my first morning dove of the year yesterday. Just like smells take me to certain places
the sound of morning doves cooing makes me crave summer. I remember walking out on my deck, in my house in Pittsburgh and looking at my flower gardens and hearing the coo. I remember laying in bed, in my house in Pittsburgh again, with the breeze blowing through the window, the curtains rippling, and hearing the early morning sound. But yesterday I was walking around the yard. It was chilly...sunny blue sky, but the breeze was definitely from the north (thanks, Kyle). Still, to accompany the morning doves, there were several little tiny sprouts of peony popping through. Daffodils growing to bulging full buds, ready for one more day of sun to make them start to pop. Crocuses scattered here and there throughout the flower beds. I love spring. But with the coo coo.... I feel the sultry hot days of summer coming on.

Blogs of Note

It's getting so that I could stay home and read blogs all day. I really don't know that many people with blogs. No one I work with...or no one I work with that admits to it. No one in the fam except Mel, as far as I know. And yet, starting at blogger's 'Blogs of Note' list and following links will take you through every phase of life and back again. If I added every one of interest to my favorites, the list would would be un-handleable (I know it's not a word, but you get the idea).

So, in a 'short list', here's what I read today: Short stories, one for every day for 365 days, a 20 something from Australia who has been traveling to Europe, Egypt and Syria for the past 3 months, natural recipes, photos and more photos, someone who reports on what people she runs into are reading (I really liked that one a lot, unfortunately I linked away from it and can't find it again)..and then of course my regulars.

I've added a new favorite or two, moved on from some old favorites. And that's only the 'amateur' blogs. Imagine how much more diverse the selection would be (and how much more time it would require...)if I read the commentators and the entertainers? Amazing...it's a big, blogging world out there.

Happy Keester!

It's Friday night...

It's Friday night... I love Friday night. Is there any other time of the week with so much potential? We are sitting at home, relaxing. I was off today so we actually had a good dinner at a reasonable hour. Nothing much is going on... but we have two whole days of weekend in front of us. We have no big Easter plans; it will be a quiet day. We have no big plans for tomorrow either, but Saturdays are always full, even when it's just with little things. The day will start at the coffee shop where we will see friends, chat a little, drink good coffee while we look out at the lake. Then, who knows, at trip to the farmers market for Easter dinner fixin's, maybe a trip to Gettysburg because it's been too long since I last had warm gingerbread and lemon sauce. But how big the plans are never even matters. It's Friday night and there are two whole days of life in front of me. I love Friday night..

Great Isn't Good Enough

I guess I finally live here. I've given up the last remnant of home being Pittsburgh. Or have I?

There are necessities...

A good haircut...the most frequent need and the first, and most difficult, as it turned out, to transplant. The whole thing was a fiasco. First I called the local 'Salon and Day Spa'. Everyone said it was a great place and I would be very happy with the results. I called and said that I wanted someone very experienced. With my curls, ending up looking like RoseAnn Rosannadanna is not too far fetched. They promised she was one of the most experienced. I went. I was cut. Deep. And hard. Well, maybe once I do it myself, I thought. I approached the desk and was quoted an unbelievably low price. Wow. Things sure are different from the big city. No, she tells me, that's the price for a junior stylist. WHAT??? The next week I went to Pittsburgh and got it fixed.

So I called another place, also highly recommended. I made the appointment for later in the week (already nervous because I could get an appointment later in the week). Didn't I have to make the appointment 6 weeks ahead to get an appointment with Tim in Pittsburgh? So the day rolls around and I'm getting ready to head out of work and off to my fate. I notice a voicemail message on my cell phone. "Uh yeah, Laurie. Uh this is (fictional name) from (fictional name). Yeah, you have an appointment tonight at 5:00...(I notice the message was left at 2). Uh, yeah, can you come in Saturday at 9? Yeah, my appointment before you cancelled, so I can go home early, so, uh, yeah, so uh, just call to confirm, Laurie. Byeee" Can you say fingernails on a chalk board? No.. I don't think I'll be calling. Off I go to Pittsburgh and Tim.

Eventually I found someone here and, while it's not Tim and there is no miniature greyhound wandering around the salon or jumping up on my lap, still the cut works and they use Aveda products.

Pedicure..no sweat. Found a place, loved it. Easy as that.

Facial...ok, I have never had as good a facial as the one I had here a couple weeks ago (thanks to Don's Christmas gift card). I'm a convert.

The final stronghold.

The massage.

I've been holding out. I admit that I know that I am completely, totally and absolutely spoiled. I do without. I call Heather if there is even the hope of a business trip. Time goes by... I just can't bring myself to go anywhere else.

I used to love the spa thing. Relaxing, Smells good. Nice gentle, soft... A wonderful experience. But that won't do any longer.

So, yesterday I went to the dentist. I was a little stressed by the two teeth to fix prospect. I tensed up. Apparently quite a lot because I have a lump the size of the rope used to tie off Eric's boat running down the left side of the back of my neck.

So I call the person who had been researched and recommended. She has an opening, so its arranged...I arrive.. the location is very pleasant--Heather-like, I think. Maybe not so bad.... I fill out the initial health history form (a good sign, I think). I enter the room, I see the rocks heating... I have every hope.. and... I get a really great massage. She hits the hot points, works the muscle deeper and deeper, I even feel the knot begin to dissolve.

A great massage.

But you know what?

Great just isn't good enough... I am so spoiled. I wonder when I can get to Pittsburgh...

Back to the 80s... another view

If you have a chance check out Don's website and the video of Chelsea and the girls doing Lets' Hear it for the Boys. Nice job (while you are there, listen to Video Killed the Radio Star -- one of our favorite moments of the show). I think I gave Cameron a microphone that would make his voice sound like that at Christmas time. I have a feeling that voice has never been heard..right Mel?

A Few More of My Favorite...

These are entirely random -- which you will be able to tell by the lack of anything at all to do with each other. Still, they fit into the favorite photos classification--


Don was taking a little nap when I snuck up on him. I'm sure he hates this photo, but I love it


I doubt if I have to explain this one --a toothy baby smile, c'mon....

It's great when you can see your kids with such a happy loving face. I have a similar one of Mel and Kyle, unfortunately not digital -- when I scan it (one of these days) I'll add it. I have them both hanging in my office. They make me feel good about life.


It was a sunset cruise in Cozumel. It was beautiful in every direction, including up.


This is definitely one of my all time favorite photos. Maybe Michelle Obama should check it out.


And finally, a sunny vacation day a few years ago. The cruise ship stopped in St Maartin and we stopped at a little beach right in the town...with a tiki bar and $1.00 Heinekens. This is a shot of what it was like to be me right then

Back to the 80's

Chelsea has been hard at work for several weeks preparing for this year's musical, Back To The 80's. She has a central role as Debbie, the girl who tries so hard to fit in and has a made up boyfriend named Elton.... uh...John. She dances with the others and does a killer solo in Let's Hear it for the Boy (that's her solo in the second verse, after the teacher says "Quiet!"). We consulted Melanie, the family 80's expert, and had fun shopping for wardrobe. We got to bring dinner to the cast during the long night of dress rehearsal

and then we got to enjoy almost every performance.

The last scene is the prom, so here are some pics of Chelsea and her friends in their 80's prom attire!