What a Week!
Sat 2/17/07
Ugh - what a week this has been! Remember the old saying that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it - well let's just say the owners of the company really blew it with me recently. Two weeks ago, they let one of my assistants go, because she couldn't do the work, and also promoted one to a junior manager, leaving me with all of my accounts and 2 8-hour positions unfilled for 2 weeks. What a surprise to them I guess, when people started complaining that their phone calls were not getting returned, and work orders were not being done. They hired a new young girl this past Monday, who seems very competent, but again expected me to train her on top of doing all my own work too. Just how do you fit more work in your already busy day -

I had three board meetings this week and will have three more in the upcoming week too. Not done with the work from the three this week or one of them from the week before, and am not ready for the three this week either. UGH again!

I've been sick with a cold, sinus problems, pneumonia for several months and am on the mending side, but am still not there yet. I get very tired and if the coughing and occassional vomiting would stop I think I would be able to handle the stress more. Not sure what complaining about it right now will do for me, after all it is a Saturday and I need to go work some more to catchup! No time off for ME.

Rachel and David got away to snowboard on Sunday/Monday this week and took Danny (Rachel's fiance) along too for his first attempt too. The results from everyone so far (Rachel & David) is that they had a great time and want to do it again, we'll see what Danny really thought of it the next time I see him.

We moved Matt's items out of his apartment last weekend into a storage facility by the house. I think this weekend we will move some garage sale items out of the garage so we have more room to move around and will use the storage facility to get the garage sale items organized for sales in June/July/August. One more project to tackle at home.

There are so many unfinished projects to get done and just not enough time to do any of them. I'm really feeling overwhelmed. I did take time out this month to have dinner with my high school friends and we laughed so much - they reminded me that we are 53 yrs old and were born in 1953, kinda neat to think about. I had dinner with my bookclub gals late last month, which was so much fun too, and the next book is Sidney Poitier's "The Measure of a Man" (an Oprah book). I just finished a book so I am ready for a new one and think this will be a good one.

It's sunny and warm today - we are having our usual "February Santa Ana Days" and I am wearing a tank top for those of you that are having cold winter days. Got to go sweep the patio, start some laundry, vaccum some and then get to work on work items from last week and the week ahead. Love to all -

Take a Tour.....of the Beer Factory!
Sunday 1/21/07
Yesterday I took time out and toured the new Stone Brewery in Escondido with my son Matthew. We took the 4:00 p.m. tour and were educated on how beer is made, bottled, shipped and distributed. Matt worked at Stone for one week last year when he was between jobs. He really enjoyed working there (what 23 yr old wouldn't, they got free beer at the end of every day and every month got a free keg!), but the pay was average and he really wanted back to the grocery business where he could advance in his career into management. The tour was very educational, but the commentary I received from my son was more detailed, and I really enjoyed spending the time with him, one-on-one, which we haven't done in a long time. So for those of you Moms out there, that are wondering how you can spend time with your 23 yr-old son and what interests you might have in common, this is a suggestion, for a good Saturday afternoon.

At the end of the tour, they let you sample beer and shop in the gift shop. Matt purchased a hat, a glass cup for me, and a liter of beer, and we obtained a 9th Year Celebration testing glass too, for Matt's collection. I of course, spent some money too, on my son and let's just say he will be enjoying his poster and light for years to come. Who needs Christmas when you can surprise your children on random days and at random times, and get them things they want and will enjoy. He will always think of me when he looks at that poster or light. It was well worth the money spent.

Stone now has their restaurant open and Matt was going to treat me to dinner at the restaurant too, but needless to say by the time we were done with the tour, the restaurant was already hopping and without reservations, it was almost a 2 hour wait. (Note to all who want to eat at the restaurant- call first and make a reservation-it is one of the few places around that allow you to make a reservation, so you can eat when you want too.) So we didn't eat there, but went on to Panera Bakery (one of my favorite spots) and had soup and salad (both Matt and I love soup and salad). My favorite at Panera is the French Onion Soup and Ceaser Salad (it is just enough when you order the half/half). Very tasty and very filling. Matt had the Ceddar Brocelli Soup (also very good) and Ceaser Salad.

We had good conversation over dinner, but was annoyed by a person who decided to come into Panera and went table-to-table trying to sell her loud windchimes. This really makes me mad, when you go into a restaurant to have a nice meal and the staff and manager allow this person to walk around the entire restaurant and disturb the patrons by trying to sell their wares. After all we did not come into the restaurant knowing we were going to be interrupted and shopped, or we would have gone somewhere else. I of course, will be sending off a letter to that restaurant today, as well as their Corporate office too. And on a final note, as Matt and I were leaving the restaurant, I spoke to the manager and told him I did not appreciate the whole situation, of course he pretended that he had not seen the girl. I guess that is what you should expect from young 20 yr old workers who don't have the knowledge or professionalism to escort someone out of the facility with a firm statement that No Soliciting is allowed. This girl was in the restaurant for quite some time and the items she was carrying were very loud and disturbing - she did not go unnoticed by staff at all. She stood next to Matt for quite some time and even pretended to cough, hoping that we would address her. We totally ignored her because she was interrupting us and we were not going to give her the benefit of interrupting our pleasant evening. When she finally walked away, it gave Matt and I something else to talk about.

We had a good time and enjoyed each other's company. I love my children as young adults - it is awesome to have a conversation with them about life and the news. I am so thankful that my children have turned out to be such awesome people (and I am thankful I don't have any grandchildren at this time too-sorry, but I am not ready to deal with little children at this time, maybe in 10 years I will be ready, but not right now). Thanks kids for being such great people - I love you - MOM.

Saturday 1/6/07
Trying to Feel Better-
It's been nearly three months and I have been trying to fight off and get over this bronchitis thing, which ended up developing into pneumonia. I am on my third round of antibiotics and some days I feel okay and others I feel I am back at square one. I don't think the doctor helped me any when she gave me the flu shot either (the first time I have ever had it). I've been sicker than I have been in a very long time.
It probably didn't help any that the furnace was not turned on until Thursday this past week. We had SDG&E out several weeks ago to get it started, but they could only light the pilot light, but the main burner would not kick on the other two burners. They made an apptmt to come out and follow-up with the main burner problem. Well the apptmt was an all day one, where you do not know what time they will show up they just do when they get to you. Of course it turned out to be almost 4:00 p.m. and I stood there and watched the guy to see what he did to fix the problem. You will not believe what he did - he hit the outside of the panel on the furnace, just in front of the main burner and it kicked the other two on. I then said to him "well is that all I had to do, was just hit the area by the main burner on the outside of the panel with a screwdrivever" and his answer was "yep, pretty much that is what did it". He did tell me that my 30+ yr old furnace is good for about another 5 years and then will have to be replaced. I was worried that the reason why the furnace was not kicking on was because there may be debris in the way from the installation of the new roof. After all there was shingles debris and other misc debris that feel thru and caused the fan above the stove to stop working and is now clogged up, and more debris fell in the kid's bathroom from the heat lamps and fan there too. I will need to have both of those items cleaned out and replaced soon. (I now have no fan in the kitchen to remove odors or smoke-if needed.) Just another expense not really needed, with all the others to be taken care of.

Well, besides being sick, I have been trying to put together my annual calendar, so I know where I am suppose to be and when. With 10 associations to manage, and three assistants (which I am using a lot), it is a lot to handle. I am constantly worried I will forget something major and of course no one is perfect, but associations, especially board members, never allow you to make a mistake, cause they remember that one mistake FOREVER. Never mind the fact that you can't ever leave the work at the office, you always take it with you where-ever you go-cause it is always on your mind. Despite the old saying of "don't take it personal", you put so much into your job that you can't help but take it personal, after all it is YOUR work product or a reflection on you. And don't even think of telling them that you didn't get something done because you had other accounts to fill your 8 hours (ha - that's a joke, no one can work this job in 8 hours, unless you have EASY associations to manage), or that you were sick, or that you had family obligations (after all my children don't have a dad, I'm all they have), etc. They-board members and associations, just don't want to hear it - they call it "an excuse". Excuse me, guess I am not allowed to be a person, with a life!

Okay enough of that ranting - Rachel and I went out to dinner on Thursday night and had a lovely seafood dinner. We were sitting there chatting after our meal and my niece Kylene came in with her boyfriend and his family. It was so good to see her and chat. She is such a sweetie! She did not know about Rachel's engagement, so that was a nice surprise and Rachel enjoyed showing off her ring too.

This week, Matt got a new cell phone and plan - all his own. He didn't have a cell phone for a while and it was a little disheartening not to be able to get in touch with him when I needed too. I didn't need too very often, but when I wanted too, it made it tough. What did we ever do without cell phones?

Sarah changed her room around this week and half of her stuff is still in the living room because she is sorting thru it and wanting to paint her room too. I don't mind though, cause I too am sorting thru stuff and cleaning out my room for painting and a change too. I know it is not spring yet, and it definitely is still cold outside (except in the daytime when it gets to be 75 degrees), but it must be the renewal of a new year that we have all got the energy to start anew. Even David has said he wants to paint his room this year for a fresh start too, and the outside of the house needs new paint too. Guess the smell of paint will be the odor of the next few months at our house - if you are planning to stop by, bring or wear your old clothes and plan on joining in - we will put you to work!

The Start of a New Year.
December 26, 2006
Unlike a lot of other people, I see the day after Christmas as the start of a new year. The hype, mess, advertisements, etc. are overwith and I can now begin to move on to another new year. I'm not waiting till Jan 1 to start the diet, or begin exercising more, or make new resolutions, heck - I have the day off and am going to begin cleaning up and removing the holiday items now.

Yesterday David mowed the yard and trimmed it all up in the morning and all the kids came home for dinner, which we had last night. I had a Honey-baked Ham from their store in Escondido, where I spent a gift certificate I had been holding on too, for several years. The real reason I didn't spend it any sooner was because I never had the time off during the daytime hours to order the ham and go pick it up. This year, I ordered the ham, got my reservation number and drove over on Saturday 12/23 to pick it up (along with about 100 other people all trying to get inside the door to pickup their items too- parking was a ZOO!). It tasted good, just don't think I will pay full price for one of those hams again, in my opinion, you can get just as good a ham at the local grocery store (of course I am prejudice, I have two sons working for grocery stores).

We opened our presents at the dining room table, very unconventional to say the least, but with no tree up this year and no holiday lights hung, it was the more intimate setting we have. I did unpack and play a moving ferris wheel and skating rink town setting, which I had purchased from Avon, along with a multi-lite Santa ornament to get us in the mood (but honestly after about 20 minutes of listening to the ferris wheel going around and the skaters on the pond, making a little noise, I had to shut it off). We really didn't need anymore background noise.

Rachel came over alone, her finance Danny had to work on Christmas Day! Who are these people that go to a casino to gamble on Christmas Day? Are they nuts? Who has money to waste at this time of year and boy, can we say ADDICTION TO GAMBLING? It was good to see her and share some time with her. Matt came over too and washed and cleaned his car, while I did a load of his laundry (I don't mind at all for those of you who are groaning right now. He does his laundry all the rest of the time at the apartments, and I enjoy being needed again - even if it is to do his laundry.)

Sarah was totally surprised with the sewing machine that we all gave to her. David did it right, we had it hidden in his closet, so he got up from the table when everyone was just about done opening the last present. He said he had to go to the bathroom and walked out of the room only to state that he found one last present in the hallway. We didn't wrap it, so of course Sarah saw the box and started to cry. She had been taking pictures all night long of everyone else opening presents, and so I said someone take a picture of her for a change - the surprise look on her face was terrific.

More surprises included the fact that about a week before Christmas David went out and purchased new handheld weights. Both Sarah and I scolded him for doing that since people were asking each other what do you want for Christmas, so when Sarah placed a wrapped box in the living room with his name on it and it was quite heavy, he was convinced that it was weights. He then proceeded to tell me and Sarah that we would just have to return them after the holidays - imagine his face when he opened the box to find that she had purchased him a home safe - it was perfect! She truly fooled him.

When Matt moved out of the house in November and into his first apartment with a friend, I joked with him that he forgot to take his "George Foreman Grill" which he had received as a present back in high school. One of his friends had purchased it for him, because he likes to eat healthy and could then grill up a salmon steak on it or other items, and drain off the fat (as seen on t.v.). Well ever since he got that gift, we have all used that grill to death! It is great for grilled cheese sandwiches, tuna melts, a quick steak, salmon is the best on it, etc. So his gift was not just for him - it was enjoyed by all of us over all these years. So of course I went out and bought him a larger nicer "George Foreman Grill". We all had a nice laugh when he opened that gift.

Hope you had as nice a holiday memory as I did - my children were all with me that evening - that was the best gift of all, they were spending time with me, a gift no amount of money could ever purchase or touch. Now I need to go get some things done in my new year - happy 12/26/06 new year!

Santa came 16 days early this year!!!
December 9, 2006
Santa arrived at our house 16 days early this year, and he gave me a terrific gift. No he didn't come in a sled, he wasn't dressed in red and he didn't have a beard. He is just about my height, dark brown hair with some gray in it, usually is bundled up with a winter jacket, blue jeans, walking tennis shoes, sunglasses, and sometimes wears a hat too. He is not accompanied with reindeer, but is accompanied with a beautiful German Shepherd dog, that he adopted from the pound, with a name starting with an S, but I can't remember it right now.

He and I have been chatting off and on every day as he goes for a walk around our valley, which he says he does because he has a heart condition and he has been able to lower his blood pressure and cholesteral too, by walking his dog. We have talked about our families (he has a wife, children and grandchildren), and he talks about how lucky in life he has been over the years. I too have shared some of the stories of my life, and for those of you who somewhat know me (you can learn the rest when my book is published some 10 years from now), you know I have a lot to tell and say.

Anyhow, long story short, he asked me one day about the Ford Taurus that I have sitting in my front driveway, and asked me what was wrong with it and if I wanted to sell it. Told him I had blown a head gasket and the dealership told me it would cost $5,000.00 to fix it, or they would give me $200.00 for it. I of course decided against both options and drove it home and parked it in the front yard for further consideration. It has sat there for a year now, and that day the dealership told me what was wrong with my Ford Taurus, I purchased a 2006 Ford Focus from them (which I have driven to Idaho and back) and now a year later has 32,000 miles on it, already!

Well my new friend and I have talked about the new roof that I have on my house (which looks awesome) and I told him that I now need to get it painted and new shutters made up for it, which I plan to do when I have the money saved up next year.

Well today my new friend, made me an offer - $200.00 for the Ford Taurus and $1,000.00 towards the painting of my house, but I had to promise to get it painted with the money! He is some Santa in my eyes and what an awesome person, and the best gift of all. I think he sees the struggle I have every day trying to keep my family together and going in the right direction (three of them will all be attending Cal-State San Marcos next year), which for anyone who has ever done it alone knows how truly hard it really is (not to say that those who are married or with someone, don't realize how hard it is, but they see it all from a different perspective, as I did when I had a spouse too), to keep us together as a family and make decent adults out of our children. I love my children and they fill my life so much, but the loneliness inside my heart can kill you from time-to-time, and the decisions are tough, writing checks and juggling the bills is hard too, and sometimes you just want someone else to step in and take over - I have definitely been doing this for too long and miss having someone else to share the burden (it has been 19 years by myself). Now I have dated from time-to-time and loved a few, which lasted, in one case 2 years (he was and will always be my soulmate), and I do enjoy my private time too, but it is easier if there is someone else to handle things too. Okay enough of this - I am not going to get a new "someone" in my stocking this year, so no more whining - sorry!

Anyhow we, my new friend and I, made an appointment for tomorrow when we will go over the paperwork for the car. Now I have something else to look forward too for the new year - getting my house painted! Isn't life just great!!! There are some wonderful angels amongst us and I have one as a new friend! Merry Christmas everyone -

A Man's Razor.
11/25/06
Today in the mail arrived a "sample" new Gillette Fusion Razor. It has 5 blades in the front and one in the back. Of course it was aimed at the "men" in the household but since I have wanted a new razor for some time, I decided to try out the "free sample".

Wow was I surprised! This razor glided over my skin so smoothly there was no possibility of nicking or cutting my skin. It was gentle and flexible and I really liked it. Now the question arises, of why did they make such a great razor for men and not women. I had hanging in the shower one of my "throw-away" razors and truth be known between the two it was a world of difference. One could be rated as a 10 and the other as a 2(after all it did do the job).

So my question is - Why are the good razors being made for men and not women? I'll have to compare the cost of a "good razor" for a woman vs. a man the next time I am in the store.

Thank goodness for free samples.

Happy Thanksgiving 2006!
11/23/06
We have so much to be thankful for these days, our freedom to speak, read, write, vote, etc. and I feel very passionate about my freedoms. As a single woman raising my children for over the past 20 years, I have become use to making all the decisions myself and living with the good and bad results. It has been no different for me than for you or anyone else who makes decisions every day. We make some good ones and make some bad ones. Luckily for me, I have made some good ones and have surprised myself.
All of the children will be home today for Thanksgiving today, which just makes this holiday even more special. I have so much to do and need more time (which I never have enough of). There are two holidays which I request my children to be at, one is my birthday and the other is Thanksgiving. Both are special to me and only require their presence and no presents. I love their company and we always have a good time playing games at Thanksgiving time. Spoons and Scrable are the favorites around here and last year we added an interactive video game called "Scene It". We love it and get very competitive.
Well I need to get going - hope all enjoy this wonderous day - it is about 75 degrees here, sunny and warm and just beautiful. We have so much to be happy about and hope you do too, (one of my thankful thoughts is of tomorrow-we have the day off and I may just enjoy the day reading a book, walking at the beach-and drinking in the ocean air, having a Starbucks cup of coffee, etc.), here's hoping you are enjoying your day too. Now go eat your turkey!