Kharsyn turns 2!

Last night we celebrated Kharsyn's big #2 birthday!

I think the Case dump truck will be retired, because Kharsyn got a John Deere riding tractor:

There was lots of fun, pizza and pop for everyone!

Kharsyn really got moving in the tractor - I can't wait until he brings it to Grandma's! With over an acre of ground, and 240 feet of sidewalk or driveway, I should be able to tire him out easily!

Cabin Dan

I had a surprise visit with my old friend Dan Gerber yesterday. He was in town for a funeral of a friend.

I haven't seen Dan in almost two years. In August 0f 2006, Dan was almost killed in a motorcycle accident on Vancouver Island - a deer ran into the road and hit him. He was in intensive care several weeks. The funny thing is - I kept dreaming about him. I finally picked up the phone and called him, and his son Bruce answered, and told me about his accident. I visited Dan in Harborview.

The last time I saw him was Christmas Day in 2006. I went to his cabin in Roslyn and fixed him Christmas dinner. He was sooo skinny, but now has put on some weight. Looking good for 66!

It was a good visit!

I'm Back!

Hi, I'm back..have been off this last week due back complications. Who said a 60 year old lady should not go tubing. What a hoot! So now I get to go to physical therapy for the next two week to resolve this sciatica nerve issue.

Called Ryan the other day and he thought that I was playing around with him. He said he received a call from earlier and was calling me back....but I didn't call. He said message said for him to call his Aunt Margi. I replied to him, I really didn't call. We talk for a while and told me about the last three TVs of his have broken down. That they all need repair. He felt his Mom was trying to tell him something...? He asked about coming down on Labor day I told him it was not going to work out. Then he told me he had something very important to tell me a 6:00 pm the next day. I waited for his phone call and then called him and left a message ...still have to hear from him.

Hope all is well with both of you...Mo you sure lead a hectic life you need a vacation!!! Glad that both of you are enjoying your summer...The pots are going crazy outside, they look so lovely! My favorite time of year is coming up...Yeah, for hunting season! It is a time to catch up with everyone!! Maybe I get up to Soap Lake and Moses Lake to see your gardens. Maybe we can divide some of your plants! I surely could use some of the divisions..or is it to early for that?

Take care all of you, Margi

Transformers

I had Rhyan and Kharsyn today also. Kharsyn has a favorite toy he plays with when he comes to Grandma's house:

To most people, this looks like a dump truck. Kind of beat up, but little boys love them. But if you are a Cook boy, and very good:

With guts and determination, and a little ingenuity, a lowly dump truck can be transported into a new mode of transportation!

Kharsyn really wanted to take the dump truck home, he loaded his stuff in it and had it right by the front door when Grandma Karen came to pick him up.

Well, that's it for me girls! Five loads of dishes, two floor moppings (and HOW did we get green crayon on the tile floor?), and sleeping on the twin bed makes Mo a tired girl!

Have a good week!

Birthday(s) Barbecue

We had our barbecue yesterday, celebrating Chris and my birthday. Trudy, Matt and Forest stopped by also! It was good to see them.

Here's a nice shot of Matt and Trudy. Matt was a little bored because the boys were talking football - it's Fantasy Football time!

I can't figure out why some pictures are not very good quality (guess I'll have to read the instruction book - again), but this is Chris and Forest, who you could swear were brothers!

Myriah and Rhyan spent the night - Barbi stuff all over the family room. We had a great time!

Repeat after me....

There's no place like home, there's no place like home!

Most of you know, I'm not a runner, so the last few weeks have been hectic to say the least! Being with my friends and enjoying some of the simple pleasures of life is like floating in a cool pond in the summer. And you know how much I love the water!

With the cooler weather, I have the energy to take on some projects around the yard - seeding the other lot, and reseeding (for the 4th time!) the back area of the lawn. I also have to mow the weeds down on the other lot, and just plain clean things up! I can't wait until I get to where I only have maintenance to think about. An acre is just plain big.

Chris's barbecue is Saturday, so if you are in the neighborhood, drop by about 4:00. Myriah and Rhyan are spending the night - so it will be girl's night in. Finally..............

At the Fandango

My camera wasn't broke.....don't ask. Don't ask me about microscopes either.

Here they are - the long awaited pictures of Randy's Fandango:

This is the dance floor.

This is Don & Tom Brimm.

This is the moon - okay bad shot, but still you get the idea!

Poor Mo is starting to think that maybe she is all out here by herself, alone! She definitely has a more exciting life than mine! My days are spent hiding from the heat, my head in a book, or watching the Olympics (this summer). I do not tolerate the heat like I did when I was a kid, that's for sure! So, my poor garden gets neglected this time of year, also.
One of the things I have enjoyed over the years is watching my sisters and myself, grow old. It's amazing how much our bodies shape and reshape themselves! I have been loosing my hair for about 8 years, now. But, sister Margi reports that her hair is falling out, also. She is so worried she actually went to the doc for it, and had labs drawn, only to find out that we, alas, suffer from male pattern baldness. I could of saved you some money, there, Margi! I still have hair, just a lot less than I did in my younger years!!! Also, have enjoyed watching my nephews and nieces grow up, all the changes they have gone through! I still think Chris is going to regret all those tats when he's 72!!!
The bathroom project continues, but we are coming around the bend into the last lap, as Matt started putting up the tile around the windows and tub. I cannot wait to take a shower again!!! It's going to be amazing when it's done.
More later, t

What a Week!

Wow, what a week, I am sooo glad my life will slow down for at least a few days!

Wednesday night, I went to the Demolition Derby with Quincy, Lexi & Kesiah. Is there anything more low class than a demo derby? You gotta love them - all that perfectly legal mayhem!

Two cars flipped over, two cars caught on fire, there were car parts and dirt clods flying everywhere. Smoke, dirt, dust, you name it!

Last year was the first time in almost 20 years I went to a demo derby.

We were disappointed this year's derby wasn't dedicated to Seth Merrill, a friend of the boys, and the son of a friend of mine. He died late last year - fell asleep on the couch and never woke up. People were wearing t-shirts in his memory though.

Thursday, Linda (Marge - you met her, long tall gal, we came by your house one time) and I went to the rodeo. I ran into several classmates, and spent most of the time visiting with them. I didn't have my camera, but Deena was there and took a picture of John Dendy (visiting from Texas), Bill West and myself. I'll have to wait until Chris and Deena are back from vacation to post a picture.

Bill was named Columbia Basin Rodeo's Man of the Year, and we were thrilled for him.

Friday was my BGF #1 (Best Girl Friend) from work Kate Holestine's last day. We had a big pot luck, and I took alot of pictures. I am really sad to lose my best work friend. I have to say, I actually cried when I got home from work!

Kate is amazing - she has three active children, a hobby farm, a full-time job, and is taking classes for her master's degree. Her husband Rick got a job teaching in Spokane, and Kate will be an adjunct faculty member for Eastern Washington University, teaching speech. Her blog 3anklebiters is one of our "friends".

Marilyn Bertram and I took Kate to lunch on Tuesday, here is a picture of them:

Last night was Randy's party. Unfortunately, my camera broke last night also. I did get some good pictures (and maybe a video) of Tom Brimm playing, and some other great pictures. Hopefully I can fix whatever is wrong with my camera, and post the pictures later.

It was a full moon, and Randy has tents and flags set up where the band plays in a coulee. Randy has over 900 acres of beautiful scrub land, with a few buttes. The moon rising over the coulee was amazing. I went with BGF Glenda (Spaceship One Adventure). About 75 -100 people were there, and they were from all over the state.

Randy used to produce tv commercials, and knows how to put on a good show!

They had great food, great people and great music! What more could a person ask for? We left about 11:30, as we had a 30-mile drive home. But it was fun! If we go next year, we may camp.

Today was Rhyan's birthday party in Warden. It's always a GREAT BIG DEAL! Hot dogs and potato salad (mine of course), games for the kids, a pinata, cake and ice cream, and finally opening presents. I came home and took a wee bit of a nap!

Next weekend, we are having a barbecue for Chris' birthday.

Hope you all had a safe & sane weekend also - Marge did you celebrate Casey's birthday?

Love to all -

So Little Time...

I have SO MUCH to write about, but SO LITTLE time. Isn't that the story of our lives?

Today is for Cooley, my friend, who passed away four years ago tomorrow. Cooley was a BPA helicopter pilot I met when I worked at the airport. He called me Sunshine, and was from Georgia, where they boiled their peanuts, not roasted them.

http://www.bpa.gov/corporate/finance/a_report/04/ar2004.pdf

He was such a good guy, loving nature, loving his wife Mary, and I didn't want him to be forgotten. Sometimes life events hurt, and we just have to open ourselves up to the hurt, and be loving.....

So Cooley, tonight this party will be for you, in my heart.

Watch this space....

Got a killer week this week, so check the blog (or your email) for more information next week!

Demo derby tonight, rodeo tomorrow & Friday night, and Randy's party on Saturday night. I think Mike & Glenda, and (classmate) Tim Miller and his girlfriend Deb will come Saturday also. I want to get a video of (headbanger) Tom Brimm to post.

Met an interesting guy.....

Rhyan's birthday on Sunday......

Have a great weekend!

Class Reunion #2

Now that I can post pictures, I better hurry....

Tim Miller & Rob Tyson

George & Lisa Whitney

Rob & Carol Tyson

Lucinda & Bill West

Phyllis Hirai & me

I'm not the BEST picture taker, as you can see, and have been paid to keep the rest out. Shirley & Mike Woodworth showed up Saturday night also, but Shirley & Phyllis' picture didn't turn out. Sorry - Shirley looks great!

Anyway, here we are.....the good, the bad, and the definitely getting older every day! But loving life all the same.

Street Dance

Yesterday, I had a busy day.....

I went to the Farmer's Market - they have the best blueberries! I eat alot of blueberries after my cancer scare (and vitamins and tons of garlic, but that can be another post). I bought half a flat, some peaches, a cantalope and cherries.

The peaches weren't as ripe as I like, so they are sitting in a paper sack. I can't wait to have fresh peaches & blueberries! (Blueberries remind me of Grandma Waslawski.) Some of the blueberries I froze on a flat pan, so when I quit smoking I have something to quelch that hand to mouth motion.

On to dinner - I met PeeWee and Vice President Gabby at Michael's on the Lake. Sherry and her husband David joined us. We had a great dinner, then went to the (Kingsmans) street dance.

This is a picture of David and Sherry. They have an interesting story - both lost their spouses to disease, and ran into each other at their class reunion. Long story short, David started calling Sherry, a year later they married, and are living a happy, joyful and busy life. They are both retired, and are great people and friends. Sherry, David and myself went to Soap Lake a few weeks ago, for dinner and a look at the artist showing at SLAM.

Here we are together:

Here is a picture of our Vice President Gail (I call her VeeP Gabby) and her best friend Kathy (PeeWee). They were best friends in high school, then Kathy went to Hawaii for a zillion years. They met up when Kathy returned to Moses Lake and started working at the college. They have been best friends since! I really appreciate their friendship - all of the above are great friends and I enjoy their company!

Here is a (ok, not very good but still!) picture of the people in the square.

Next weekend is the fair (which I don't attend), but I am going to the Demo Derby with Q & Lexi, then the rodeo with Linda. I'm not much of a rodeo fan, and although I promised to go with her on Thursday and Saturday, I've been invited to Randy's big party, which I don't want to miss!

Randy's party is the night of a lunar eclipse. Here is something I found in the woowoo world:

Leo is the sign that represents finding the innocent child within. The lion stands proud and expresses virility and creativity in a loving way. Leo advises you to have fun and enjoy life. You can trust yourself to do exactly what you know you need to do, allowing the universe to support you in doing it.

A lunar eclipse in Aquarius on August 16 helps you to create win-win environments.
Lunar eclipses heal your emotional being. Allow fears to bubble up so the Aquarius full moon releases you from perceived limitations. The opportunity is to maintain your uniqueness, share of your generosity and still express personal abundance. Combine sharing with groups, friends and organizations during the middle of August, but also take time alone for yourself. This is a time of deciding which friends and associations need to be released from your life.
Your goals are changing now, and you must make room for new people and activities that resonate with your renewed aspirations. For now, it is going to be a busy summer. It begins on a serious and purposeful tone, and then moves into playful and warm-hearted energy.

Sometimes you read something, and it really hits the nail on the head! Yikes!

I know there IS love and magic in our lives! Still looking .......

Lyrics

After I posted (finally) about our mini-reunion, I got to wondering about the lyrics to the Youngblood's "Get Together". Enquiring minds want to know............. and you know how I am. Had to look up the lyrics, so here they are:

Love is but the song we sing,
And fear's the way we die.
You can make the mountains ring
Or make the angels cry.
Know the dove is on the wing
And you need not know why.

C'mon people now, Smile on your brother Everybody get together
Try and love one another right now

Some will come and some will go.
We shall surely pass.
When the one that left us here
Returns for us at last.
We are but a moments sunlight
Fading in the grass

C'mon people now, Smile on your brother Everybody get together
Try and love one another right now

If you hear the song I sing,
You must understand.
You hold the key to love and fear
All in your trembling hand.
Just one key unlocks them both
It's there at your command

C'mon people now, Smile on your brother Everybody get together
Try and love one another right now Right now Right now!

This song was popular the summer of '69. What was happening that year?

Nixon was in the White House, Apollo 11 landed on the moon. Stanley Alan Carter, Ephrata, died in Tay Ninh, South Vietnam (Stan was a friend's brother.) General Westmoreland was Time Magazine's Man of the Year. It was also the summer of Woodstock, which may help you remember what you were doing.

I remember I was working for Saga Foods, and Marty and I heard there was this big concert on the East Coast. Didn't think the old Dodge would make it though.

Anyway, a beautiful song!

Yesterday I got to spend a couple of hours with my grandaughter Taylor. She had broken her leg earlier this summer and is still favoring (she calls it babying) that leg quite a bit. I guess that leg was stimulated by the break and it is now a 1/2 inch longer than the other.
Taylor lives with her maternal grandmother, June and Jeff Strawn, in Moses Lake. They are way out in the country, and it is easier for me to take Dodson Rd, then Rd. 4 to get to her. Her grandmothers house is a child's heaven, with a pond, wading pools, big toy, and all that fresh air! I guess it is looking like they will legally adopt her later this year sometime.
It was such a hot day! We began with her showing me her favorite video game, where she is a fish. (Taylor is a fish nut!) Then we played with the snap beads and made jewelry. Then we went out to play on the big toy, where there is a large twisty tube for a slide. Her cousin had put a hose down there so it was a water slide. They played on that forever (it seemed like out there in the hot sun, where I didn't get to go play in the water!). Then the wading pool. Her little cousin who is 9 months loved playing in the water, too, and wasn't afraid of it at all!
It was time for me to leave when I started feeling faint! Didn't get to spend as much time there as I wanted, but it was fun, and she is a lovely young lady. She will begin grade K this year, as she turns 5 next month. I am pooped! I wish I still had the energy of a 5 year old! Maybe I will get to see her sooner than 2 months from now, I can only hope! t

Annual Class Reunion

Every year, the first weekend in August, the MLHS Class of 1971 has an annual reunion. It's a kind of come if you want, if not, see you next year!

This year not too many people showed up, but it was still great to visit with those who did.

I have not talked to friend Tim since last November, so we had an intense catchup time. Those who know me know my life has been challenged on several different issues these past few months. Experiencing the love of friends was good for my heart!

Bill can tell stories of almost everyone in the first grade. I don't have that experience (being part of a military family), but still have made some of the most solid friendships of my life in this group.

We all realize life is short, and we love and support each other. It must be some sort of hangover from the "smile on your brother, everybody get together and try to love one another right now" times! Am I blessed or what?

As I can't post pictures, I will send some via email!