Vargas Family Values

Family Sucks

2012-01-10T22:35:00.000-08:00

I was reading my granddaughter's blog tonight and as I kept running back through the past two years she lived with us and was blogging about her life in LA and at USC and I found it ever so interesting that she completely erased the fact that we ever existed. There was no mention that she ever lived with us, no pictures of us at home or at any of her concerts we attended. NOTHING! Thanks for the wonderful moments of nothing is all I can say. So done and through. I've truly had all I'm going to take from my children and grandchildren who act as though we've never existed. Go ahead, divorce yourselves from us - you can't change who you are or that we were ever in your lives. You are ungrateful, tacky and of no use to the human race.

Our Newest Grandchild

2011-05-28T22:41:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to announce the birth of our newest grandchild who is:

Caroline Anina Chronis
Born: May 21, 2011
Where: Lancaster, CA
To: Dan and Ramona Vargas Chronis
Time: 7:19 PM
Length: 20 3/4 in

Caroline is such a beautiful and sweet little baby girl. She was born tongue-tied and had extreme difficulty nursing. When she was about three days old Dan and Ramona took her to an EENT specialist. The specialist determined it was necessary to clip the frenulum beneath her tongue. She can now move her tongue around the inside of her mouth and is better able to drink her bottle. She still has not been able to nurse her mother, so her mom pumps out her breast milk and fills bottles to feed baby Caroline. It has been sad to see this, but I know one day Caroline will figure out how to nurse at the breast.

Moving In!

2011-05-02T19:26:00.000-07:00

So cool to move into our new home! I'm still having trouble realizing it's all ours - no if's and's or but's! We had a few major glitches with our move. After we moved some of our things into the house I decided to make a sink full of hot, soapy water to wash some dusty items, and lo! There was NO hot water. So Tony checked the water heater - it was in the on position and temperature was dialed to the correct reading, but there was NO hot water. Finally I made a phone call to the plumber that had put the insulation blanket on it. When the plumber came he told us the water heater was ancient and would need about $350.00 worth of repairs that he could not guarantee would last due to the age of the heater. He then noted that there was never a safety release valve ever installed and that the whole heater had been installed incorrectly. When we had the home inspector come he told us the heater was working perfectly! So 5 1/2 hrs later and $1,000 less in our pocket book we had a working water heater. Okay. The next morning I went out to the garage and smelled gas. So I called the gas company and they sent someone out within the hour. The gas repairman said there was not just ONE leak, but indeed two - both in the furnace gas intake valve! So he repaired those. Finally we were able to use our hot water and the furnace was fully-functioning. Apparently the water heater came installed when the house was first built, and it WAS installed incorrectly. The plumber said the owners were lucky it hadn't exploded over the years. I'm just grateful we were able to repair it, and so quickly!

Done and Done!

2011-04-20T21:41:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to write about how excited I am at the close of our house sale yesterday. It is nothing short of a miracle that we sold the house, much less for the price we demanded. When I called our insurance agent today to project and prepare coverage for our new home and to drop the insurance on our home we just sold, she was shocked at how much we paid for our new home, and wanted to know how we did it. When I told her she was even more surprised. Even I can't get over how it all worked out in our favor.

What's even more amazing is how she reacted when I told her there would be NO mortgage on our new home! I told her we had lived in our home on Manhattan Place so long that we derived enough proceeds from the sale to buy our new home with cash. She was devastated!

It has ever been my dream as an adult to own our own home outright - and God has answered our prayers and even added more blessings on top of all that.

If you are wary to believe that God hears and answers prayers, or that he cares about your well-being financially - well let me tell you I KNOW he does! He not only helped us acquire our home on Manhattan Place, but he also helped us find a buyer for it when we needed the money to buy a new home.

Yes, we have to move to another city, but I'm not in the least sorry about that either. We still get to live in Los Angeles - we are renting an apartment in Hollywood until we are ready to permanently leave LA, which will probably be in 2-3 years. And our apartment is also a wonderful place to live as well. Heavenly Father has watched over us every step of this process, truly he has.

He has even seen to it that we will have enough money left from the sale to make the needed improvements on our new home, and that is: all new carpeting/flooring and to repaint the entire house, which will not come cheap. We will also need a little new furniture because some of ours has gotten very shabby.

All-in-all it has been a most remarkable experience. I will post pictures later on of our new home.

Casa Grande

2011-04-12T17:07:00.000-07:00

Well, well. We've finally done it! We sold our beautiful Los Angeles home and bought an equally beautiful home in Lancaster, CA! It has been something that has been on our minds for the past few years. We realized we aren't getting any younger and the house wasn't going to get any smaller. 6,000 sq ft of house is more than most people ever dream of having, and we had it - in spades! Our home has not just been the place where we lived. It has been home to many, many friends and family, the site of family reunions, weddings, receptions and various other large gatherings. Our children and grandchildren have lived here and grown up here. It is not just another building, but a sacred edifice and a very worthy one at that.

The family who built this house has been with us in spirit since before we closed escrow. Today I finally received the last of the temple cards for the ordinances that were performed for them this past two years. I kept my promise to Marcelin Eyraud.

It is with sadness we bid adieu to the walls and timbers that hold it all together. This house was built in 1908 by Marcelin Eyraud, and the architect was Rudolf Krempel, a very famous German architect who came to Los Angeles in the late 1800's to make his fame and fortune - which he did. In the 1990's we petitioned the City of Los Angeles to make it an historical landmark, which they did, and it became Historial Landmark #626. Now all the surrounding streets here in Country Club Park have been designated as an HPOZ. Translated, that means it sits within a "Historical Property Overlay Zone". This makes the owners of the property able to obtain 1/2 off their property taxes and to obtain larger loans from the state of California to preserve and maintain the edifice. We will not realize any of these benefits, but the new owners will. I am happy for them. This also makes this house automatically worth far more money than in surrounding neighborhoods.

We were able to sell our home at a phenomenal price, allowing us to pay cash for our new home in Lancaster. For that we are thankful to God.

As we entered retirement we knew we would have new challenges to face, so now we down-size and prepare to have a well-maintained home without all the very hard work this property has required of us. Our new home has 2500 sq ft of living space and we are able to have an entire wing of it dedicated to Kirk. He will have his own room and bathroom.

Our new home requires some cosmetic rehab, but nothing difficult. It's needs new paint throughout, new flooring and carpeting, and we will be putting a spa in the back yard as well. All these things will be for our comfort and ease. I can't tell you how happy I am about all that

Let our new lives begin!!

Grandchildren are the Best!

2011-03-26T14:53:00.001-07:00

We came up to Lancaster last Sunday morning to watch over five of our grandchildren while Dan and Ramona are in Europe. It is now Saturday, and what a week. The children all have a whirlwind of activities to be shuttled back and forth to/from, and then there are three meals a day to prepare, and chores for everyone. Ahhh, the memories of handling a large home with six children in tow! But ALL the children have been so good and helpful that I cannot complain one iota.

Benjamin, who is 22 months old is the biggest challenge. He pretty much runs the show all the time! Ha! He snacks all day and then refuses to eat his three meals, so yesterday I refused to give him snacks all day and he finally ate his meals without difficulty. We took him with us to WalMart today and he decided since we'd bought yogurt it was time to eat it - and had a HUGE tantrum in the store, so Tony had to take him away so I could finish the shopping.

Tony bought smoothies for us and he latched onto Tony's and wouldn't give it back until we got home and gave him a yogurt for lunch. He's so funny. He's just learning to talk, so everything he says is cute right now. The other kids enjoy encouraging him to say their names, and he is fairly cooperative about it.

We bought "Avatar" and showed it to Ewa and Elias last evening and we all enjoyed it very much. I'm not real big on it's overly pro-ecological kick, but it is entertaining and exciting. Miguel latched onto our copy of the film, so we had to find and buy a new one. MIGUEL!!

We only have two more days here, then it's back home to packing and throwing stuff out for the big move. We still have to make the offer on the house up here, but I'm sure it will go smoothly and we can start moving our things in quickly. Since we are paying cash for the house escrow should be a breeze. Yay - because the escrow for our house has not been without glitches.

Better Late Than Never!

2011-03-12T13:21:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning Tony and I went to our monthly inservice meeting for seminary and institute teachers. Brother Neeley who is the director of the Santa Monica Institute (and my superior) gave a wonderful lesson and taught us a new skill for bringing our students forward to teach the class. I really liked the idea because it was far different than any of the ways I've used my students to help present in my classes.

If you didn't know - I teach the New Testament class on Wednesday night at the Santa Monica Institute, and Tony is in his 19th year teaching seminary on Friday evenings for the home study students.

After yesterday morning's class in Santa Monica we headed back east to Rancho Cucamonga and attended funeral services for our dear friend Mary Hendrickson. Her family paid tribute to her fabulous musical talent as well as her eternal contributions to her husband, children and grandchildren. I feel so honored that Mary was my friend and will be happy to see her again when I pass from this life. She made such a mark on my life - I shall never forget her.

Mary was Miguel's first serious piano instructor, and one day after he had been studying with her for about a year she called me and told me not to send him over for lessons any more. I was devastated because I thought he had done something to offend her, but she reassured me that wasn't the reason for her request. She told me she had taught him all she knew and that he was beginning to teach her. We had a good laugh together over that. Miguel also sang "Der Ring" for her second daughter, Kristen's wedding reception, and Mary accompanied him. Miguel's God-given talent will always be credited to Mary's fabulous knowledge of music and her fine piano skills.

Then this morning I taught at the 9th Annual Roots Conference here in Los Angeles. I presented lessons/discussion on using the U.S. Census for researching family history as well as how to use community boards to further family history research.

I felt the Census class was a flop, but the community boards class was fun and informative and there was a lot of participation.

This is the first Roots Conference Tony ever attended, he said he learned some things in my classes, for that I was happy.

Winding Down

2011-02-18T19:20:00.000-08:00

This weekend our granddaughter Lauren is performing her senior recital. We are very excited for this as it marks the near-end of Lauren's under-graduate career at USC as a cello performance major. Lauren is so talented, her music is very beautiful - she is very deserving of all the accolades that go with her impending graduation. She is graduating magna cum laude. We are so proud of her.

40th Wedding Anniversary

2010-09-12T11:03:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe 40 years have passed since Tony and I were married. We were married at the home of my bishop, Marvin Nelson, in his living room on September 19, 1970. The Nelson's are now temple workers at the Los Angeles Temple, and we see them occasionally when we attend. The night we married Bishop Nelson told me Tony would join the church. I believed him, and a year after we were married he was baptized. A year later we were sealed in the Los Angeles Temple for time and all eternity, along with our son Miguel. At the time we were sealed I was seven months pregnant with Ramona, our youngest child, so when she was born she was born in the covenant. Our witnesses to our marriage in 1970 were Tony's sister, Margaret and her husband, Gene. After our wedding we went out for awhile, but had to go home because I had to go to work the next morning. Tony was in college and I was working to support us. We were living at Tony's parent's home at that time. In fact, Tony proposed marriage to me at dinner one night with his mother present. Since she was working at the LA County Fair she could not attend our wedding, we went ahead with our plans instead of waiting.

Many years later Tony told me he was sorry we had not had a nice church wedding, one his family could have attended.

We are having an Open House at our home on September 18, 2010 to celebrate with our friends and family.

2010-04-29T10:09:00.001-07:00

Still recuperating from hernia surgery on April 16th. Feeling much better than I expected.

The wind was so strong this morning it made our house move as though we were experiencing an earthquake. Yikes!

My Friend, the Scientist

2009-11-15T07:46:00.000-08:00

When we lived in Pomona we used to go to Dr. Milton Penner, who was our family optometrist. He and his wife, Ina were our friends, not just professionals who saw to our physical needs. Tony had been seeing Dr. Penner for years, as he was his family's eye doctor for many years before I married him.

One day on a visit for an eye exam he and I started talking politics and he told me something very interesting. He said when he and Ina were in their last year of school in Chicago at Northwestern University he was approached by some government officials and asked to take part in a very important project that would end WW II. It turns out Dr. Penner originally was a nuclear physicist and they were asking him to be part of the "Manhattan Project". Well, the upshot was that Dr. Penner worked on the project for a few months until he found out they were going to actually go through with dropping the bomb on Japan. Dr. Penner told them he refused to continue on with the project, and when he did his superiors told him that would be fine, except he would have to be stripped of his degree as a physicist and start over in another profession, and that his name would never be known as one who had worked on the project. Since he was a conscientious objector (he was also Jewish, isn't that interesting?) he agreed. Then he and Ina went back to the University and he became an optometrist and went on with his life.

When I asked him if he felt resentment toward the U.S. Government for what they did to him he said, "No." He said he knew it had to be done to protect all Americans, but that he just couldn't continue on the work of the destruction of his fellow men.

I was proud to know Dr. Penner. I could not have personally done what he did without kicking and screaming all the way, but he was a real man and took his lumps and went on. He was a good husband and father, and had a most wonderful hobby - he made Grandfather clocks.

When he and Ina retired they moved down to San Clemente, CA. Although we never saw them again (they are now both deceased) I have fond memories of them.

His wife, Ina was a fantastic artist and had a wonderful hobby. She created wood-burned portraits - landscapes and people. They were beautiful, and she hung them on the walls of the lobby of Dr. Penner's office. She used to be paid well by her clients for creating them, and I'm certain many of her creations hang in the finest homes still.

These are certainly two of THE most interesting people we've ever known. What is also interesting is that Dr. Penner never told Tony this story at all and I've often wondered why he told me. He was also very concerned about Tony's war injuries, especially in the loss of the vision in his right eye. He guided Tony with his eye health for years after Tony came back from Viet Nam, even though Tony could have gone to the VA for his medical care he chose to see Dr. Penner.

The Foibles of Facebook

2009-10-31T19:11:00.000-07:00

I'm amazed how this jerk can keep compromising my Facebook account. My friend says he's coming in the back door of Facebook - not through my account. It seems to be the truth, because I have so much security on both my computers. But it really makes me mad that I have to give up so much time on my page to suit this geek. I don't understand why Facebook doesn't have more security for such occurrences for it's users.

I've re-opened my other account and am going to go to it permanently once I get the other one back. I'm going to snag all my pictures and other usables and put them on my alternative page and then delete my old page.

I have adjusted to wearing my upper plate now, I still hate it with a passion, but I will have to deal with it 'til I can find a way to get the money to get replace the darned thing with dental implants. Believe me when I say you do NOT want plates at all!

We are still in a quandry as to where to move when we retire. If anyone has any suggestions, please - tell me. Right now Southern Utah is in the primary running spot. We want a three bedroom home with two baths and everything needs to be updated, no more repair work for us! Also, a location with LOW property taxes, preferrably no state tax and just a little land, so we can keep a veggie garden in the Summer. If possible, near a VA Hospital and other medical services. Any ideas?

Tony and I are certainly worried about what the new U.S. Healthcare Plan will do to our medical concerns after we retire. Since the bill is slated to cut $80 billion dollars from Medicare we are VERY concerned. Those of you reading this really ought to be concerned too, since it will carry over to you and your children as well.

Do not think you will escape the Socialist/Marxist policies rendered by the Obama administration, it won't just go away.

The Real Deal

2009-10-27T19:17:00.000-07:00

Don and Helen Peery left yesterday and we had such a wonderful visit! We spent all our time reminiscing about all our old friends, our children and grandchildren. Life has certainly taken us all in such different directions. Yet we are all still faithful in the church, happy in spite of our trials and tribulations.

Today ended quite badly. We began to have gale force winds this afternoon and when a particularly high wind blew across our neighborhood this afternoon at about 4:30 PM it blew pipes off the North side of our house. Then immediately after that we heard a very LOUD crack, and when it was done we saw that our old jasmine tree had been literally lifted out of the ground and came crashing down on the neighbor's back staircase to their second story. It crushed both the bottom landing and stairs of the staircase and the fence between our yards. But the worst of it was that the tree ripped all the electrical lines out of their house. It is 7:30 PM and the DWP has still not come to remove the live wires and re-connect the neighbor's electrical lines.

I'm very frustrated and angry and don't have any way to make this all go away. I hate being at the mercy of the utility company and I KNOW our neighbor and she will sue us over this. I could just scream!

Meanderings

2009-10-22T20:55:00.000-07:00

Spent the day getting ready for the Peery' visit. I'm really excited to see my dear friends (and cousin, Helen) Don and Helen Peery. We have been friends for more than 35 years. We will be going to their daughter Samantha's grave while they are here. Samantha died of cancer about 3 years ago - very sad. We will also be attending the children's sacrament program at church on Sunday and then in the evening we will be going to the Betty Stevenson fireside. It will be a very busy, but happy weekend. I have already planned our menus so we can enjoy dining together on some really great dishes, including catfish and hushpuppies.

I am alarmed at how many of our friends and their children have been suffering from Swine Flu - it is really enveloping the USA.

Tomorrow we say goodbye to our long-time friend, Dee Todd. She passed away from the effects of myrsa, and suffered terribly for the past year. Dee was a sweet, unassuming soul, she leaves her children to survive her.

I remain significantly concerned about the passage of a healthcare bill in the U.S. Senate. We inch closer and closer to absolute socialism. It's intriguing to me how the majority of Americans are not at all concerned about this.

I'm terribly worried that soon we will no longer have the power of the U.S. Constitution to protect us at all.

Wondering Wanderings

2009-09-30T07:44:00.000-07:00

Today I'm wondering why I never wrote that book, traveled to far away places, saw the movie because the title fascinated me and so on and so on . . .

As I round the bend to full retirement I begin to wonder what on earth do I do to finish my work here? Maybe I am finished already. I married twice had 7 children by four different men, adopted a daughter, endured all that was required of me as a parent and am now a grandparent and great-grandparent.

I found eternal happiness in my second marriage and look forward to spending my last years on earth with the love of my life, Tony. The focus of our lives has changed drastically in the past two years. Until then we were content taking care of children, grandchildren and friends and other family. Now we are foot-loose and fancy free. Well, almost. We have a huge mortgage on a monstrously huge home - debt that is crippling and the desire to continue to serve in our church here. Now we probably won't have anything to look forward to except selling our home for next to nothing, retaining only enough to pay it off and our bills and to rent an apartment to live in for the next twenty years. What a life!

We planned so carefully for our retirement, financially that is. We have enough to live on, but no nest egg to fall back on, no extra money to buy the 'rose covered cottage' in the dale. That was what the equity in our home was to provide. But now the economy has collapsed, and there are not enough years to recoup our losses.

I know this has happened to other people in the past - but it wasn't supposed to happen to us. In 1929 my paternal grandparents lost all their savings in a bank that collapsed in the 'crash'. Oh, well I remember them telling us to be so careful about our savings, not to trust the banks. So we decided to invest in property, you know, the land will always be there, etc. Beside that, the FDIC doesn't insure moneys more than $100,000, and now I heard on the news yesterday that many banks are about to default on their FDIC insurance for their investors.

Here's where I really whine! Tony and I have always been at the airport when our ship came in. We've missed out on three huge real estate investment deals in our lifetime, both of which would provide us with a very good living to the end of our days. We forwent the profit bearing deals because we wanted to keep our home(s) in order to keep our family safe. We should have sold our homes and moved on, our choice of family first always trumped doing that because we believed our homes would save us financially - they never did. In fact every time we've sold our homes we've lost money. Okay, whining done.

So now the next era of our lives is tainted with a home that won't save us financially - again. Partly I am publishing this because I'm hopping mad at being caught in this web of financially insecurity, the other reason is that hopefully you, the readers can learn something from this to use in your lives.

I want my children to know they were always worth more than anything else in the whole world to me, so I'm not really sorry for anything we did in trying to get ahead in this life for them and ourselves. Just never put all your eggs in one basket like we did.

Don't think we don't have enough money to live on in our retirement, we do. We will just not have our hearts' desires, i.e., travel and other perks.

Thank goodness we have each other. Ha! I think of a funny line we always use in regard to money --

We started out with nothing and still have most of it left!

Really, Really Good Hamburgers

2009-09-27T21:57:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow (Monday) I'm going to make hamburgers and fries for dinner, and I have invited Miguel and Greg to come. I'm going to make some gorgeous gourmet burgers I saw made on the Food Network. I can't wait to try the recipes. I hope everyone enjoys the food. It's still going to be warm enough to cook outdoors tomorrow, we'll have to eat indoors though.

Here's the recipe -

* 2 1/2 pounds ground beef
* 1 small shallot, finely chopped
* 2 clove garlic, finely chopped
* 1 teaspoon Neely's Dry Rub seasoning
* 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
* 2 teaspoons salt
* Freshly ground black pepper
* Butter
* 6 brioche buns
* 6 slices pepper jack cheese
* 12 slices smoked apple wood bacon, fried crisp
* 1/2 cup Neely's "Secret Sauce", recipe follows
* 1 pint cole slaw (recommended: Neely's Cole Slaw)
* 2 beef steak tomatoes, sliced

Directions:
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.

In a large mixing bowl, break up the meat with your hands. Add the chopped shallot, garlic, Neely's Dry Rub, Worcestershire sauce, and salt and pepper, to taste. Mix with a wooden spoon until thoroughly incorporated. Using your hands, divide the meat into 6 equal balls. Flatten them into patties and use your thumb to create an indent in the center of each burger. Cook's Note: This indent will help the burgers from puffing up while you grill them.

Grill the burgers, uncovered, for 3 minutes on the first side. Flip and continue cooking for another 3 minutes for medium-rare, and 4 minutes for medium. Remove from grill and immediately top with the cheese.

Butter the buns and place on the grill. Toast for about 1 minute and remove from grill.

Build your burgers by topping with the bacon, Secret Sauce, coleslaw, and tomatoes. Add onion rings if desired.

I hope you'll try the recipe for your family, because this recipe has a five star rating.

Time Marches On

2009-09-19T16:57:00.000-07:00

I thought today I would continue my ramblings about myself in regard to age. I will be 65 on January 13, 2010. I am amazed to have gotten this ripe! I kept thinking I would always be hale and hearty, but age kept creeping up on me. Let me tell you why I am blogging about this. Yesterday I had to have all my upper teeth surgically removed because all the enamel was gone and the teeth kept breaking off into my food bites, etc. I am quite miserable today. The swelling is so uncomfortable, and I have pain because the stitches are constantly being pulled and rubbed by my new upper plate. I was advised by a friend of mine who is a dentist, and lives in another state, to get my dentist to place two implants in and then insert a permanent full upper set of teeth. Lovely thought, except our dental insurance doesn't pay for such work. But after today I can tell you I will be finding a way to earn the money to have the implants placed! The roof of my mouth is completely covered by the plate and I cannot taste my food, nor can I feel the food either. This is barbaric! People have been losing their teeth since Adam and Eve, for Heaven's sake, why can't implants be available to everyone? It would be so much more cost effective and esthetically correct. That is why I hate dentistry! It is still in the Dark Ages for the majority of people; and whoever thought of creating dentures should be SHOT! I HATE mine! I've avoided getting my teeth fixed for years because it is so painful, embarrassing and the dentists and their assistants are so rude and un-caring. With something being so personal why is it still so hard to deal with? I could write a book on the reasons I hate dentistry! I did everything they ever told me to do - even to getting my teeth cleaned and scaled every six months and I still lost them. I do have my lower teeth, but that is little consolation.

You see, now I have to tell you how I now look - because of the loss of teeth you end up with no lips! All the contour of my face has been completely distorted. I hate both how I look and how I feel. That's why I put off getting the work done for so long. We constantly pay the premiums on our insurance and this is what we get for it. Because most all medical care is rendered to people after the age of 65. Maybe I ought to be happy about "Death Panels"! NOT!!!!

To end this horrible banter, I want all of you who read this to save up your money so you can get implants when the time comes to lose your teeth. Currently it cost's more than $26,000 to replace all 32 teeth. That's at the rate of $825 per tooth, and you are not given any breaks - that's considered very reasonable. You need to mortgage your home to get teeth that look and feel real and are useful.

Good luck to you when the time comes for your teeth to be replaced. Perhaps by then there will only be implants and no false teeth.

Prophetic Warnings

2009-09-01T08:43:00.000-07:00

In lieu of the Scriptures and the information therein I am declaring the current California situation with the fires as fulfillment of prophecy! Ha! How hard was that to figure out? It's 8:44 AM and it's all dark and yellow outside and I've been smelling the smoke for so many days now that I hardly notice it any longer.

Oh, and not to forget my current Obama rants, please note - our Constitution is now "hanging by a thread." This means only the Priesthood can save our dear Constitution - does that mean Mitt Romney will become the U.S. President in 2012? I certainly hope so.

Now, I want to show you the newest Rainbow Coalition staff member, who has been appointed by Jesse Jackson. If this doesn't worry you I don't know what does:

After you read this, click on the snopes link at the bottom of the email. It does confirm it and has some added facts. Unbelievable. What's next?!!

Where is Nancy Pelosi screaming about the culture of corruption? Mute, eh!

Jesse Jackson's Newest Staff Member

You can't make up stuff better than this!

Isn't politics grand?

HURRAH FOR THE DEMOCRATS!

Jesse Jackson's Newest Staff Member

Mel Reynolds

Jesse Jackson has added former Chicago Democrat

Congressman Mel to Rainbow/PUSH Coalition's payroll.

Reynolds was among the 176 criminals excused in President Clinton's last-minute forgiveness spree. Reynolds received a commutation of his six-and-a-half-year
federal sentence for 15 convictions of wire fraud, bank fraud, and lies to the Federal Election Commission. He is more notorious, however, for concurrently serving
five years for sleeping with an underage campaign volunteer.This is a first in American politics:

An ex-congressman who had sex with a subordinate...won clemency from a president who had sex with a subordinate...then was hired by a clergyman who had sex with a subordinate!

His new job?

Ready for this??

***** YOUTH COUNSELOR *****

IS THIS A GREAT COUNTRY OR WHAT?

CONFIRMED BY:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/sexuality/reynolds.asp

American Capitalism Gone With A Whimper

2009-08-05T13:10:00.000-07:00

Subject: Pravda: American Capitalism Gone With A Whimper

FROM A TEXAS ENGINEER FRIEND!

EVEN THE RUSSIANS KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON HERE IS BAD!

Snopes website confirms this article is authentic and appeared on the editorial page of the English language version of the Pravda website in Russia this last April.

PS….The Author’s website “Mat Rodina” literally translates to “Mother Russia”

American capitalism gone with a whimper

27.04.2009 Source: Pravda.Ru
URL: http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/107459-american_capitalism-0

It must be said, that like the breaking of a great dam, the American decent into Marxism is happening with breath taking speed, against the back drop of a passive, hapless sheeple, excuse me dear reader, I meant people.

True, the situation has been well prepared on and off for the past century, especially the past twenty years. The initial testing grounds was conducted upon our Holy Russia and a bloody test it was. But we Russians would not just roll over and give up our freedoms and our souls, no matter how much money Wall Street poured into the fists of the Marxists.

Those lessons were taken and used to properly prepare the American populace for the surrender of their freedoms and souls, to the whims of their elites and betters.
First, the population was dumbed down through a politicized and substandard education system based on pop culture, rather then the classics. Americans know more about their favorite TV dramas then the drama in DC that directly affects their lives. They care more for their "right" to choke down a McDonalds burger or a BurgerKing burger than for their constitutional rights. Then they turn around and lecture us about our rights and about our "democracy". Pride blinds the foolish.
Then their faith in God was destroyed, until their churches, all tens of thousands of different "branches and denominations" were for the most part little more then Sunday circuses and their televangelists and top protestant mega preachers were more then happy to sell out their souls and flocks to be on the "winning" side of one pseudo Marxist politician or another. Their flocks may complain, but when explained that they would be on the "winning" side, their flocks were ever so quick to reject Christ in hopes for earthly power. Even our Holy Orthodox churches are scandalously liberalized in America.

The final collapse has come with the election of Barack Obama. His speed in the past three months has been truly impressive. His spending and money printing has been a record setting, not just in America's short history but in the world. If this keeps up for more then another year, and there is no sign that it will not, America at best will resemble the Wiemar Republic and at worst Zimbabwe.

These past two weeks have been the most breath taking of all. First came the announcement of a planned redesign of the American Byzantine tax system, by the very thieves who used it to bankroll their thefts, loses and swindles of hundreds of billions of dollars. These make our Russian oligarchs look little more then ordinary street thugs, in comparison. Yes, the Americans have beat our own thieves in the shear volumes. Should we congratulate them?

These men, of course, are not an elected panel but made up of appointees picked from the very financial oligarchs and their henchmen who are now gorging themselves on trillions of American dollars, in one bailout after another. They are also usurping the rights, duties and powers of the American congress (parliament). Again, congress has put up little more then a whimper to their masters.

Then came Barack Obama's command that GM's (General Motor) president step down from leadership of his company. That is correct, dear reader, in the land of "pure" free markets, the American president now has the power, the self given power, to fire CEOs and we can assume other employees of private companies, at will. Come hither, go dither, the centurion commands his minions.

So it should be no surprise, that the American president has followed this up with a "bold" move of declaring that he and another group of unelected, chosen stooges will now redesign the entire automotive industry and will even be the guarantee of automobile policies. I am sure that if given the chance, they would happily try and redesign it for the whole of the world, too. Prime Minister Putin, less then two months ago, warned Obama and UK's Blair, not to follow the path to Marxism, it only leads to disaster. Apparently, even though we suffered 70 years of this Western sponsored horror show, we know nothing, as foolish, drunken Russians, so let our "wise" Anglo-Saxon fools find out the folly of their own pride.
Again, the American public has taken this with barely a whimper...but a "freeman" whimper.

So, should it be any surprise to discover that the Democratically controlled Congress of America is working on passing a new regulation that would give the American Treasury department the power to set "fair" maximum salaries, evaluate performance and control how private companies give out pay raises and bonuses? Senator Barney Franks, a social pervert basking in his homosexuality (of course, amongst the modern, enlightened American societal norm, as well as that of the general West, homosexuality is not only not a looked down upon life choice, but is often praised as a virtue) and his Marxist enlightenment, has led this effort. He stresses that this only affects companies that receive government monies, but it is retroactive and taken to a logical extreme, this would include any company or industry that has ever received a tax break or incentive.

The Russian owners of American companies and industries should look thoughtfully at this and the option of closing their facilities down and fleeing the land of the Red as fast as possible. In other words, divest while there is still value left.
The proud American will go down into his slavery with out a fight, beating his chest and proclaiming to the world, how free he really is. The world will only snicker.

Stanislav Mishin

The article has been reprinted with the kind permission from the author and originally appears on his blog, Mat Rodina

© 1999-2009. «PRAVDA.Ru». When reproducing our materials in whole or in part, hyperlink to PRAVDA.Ru should be made. The opinions and views of the authors do not always coincide with the point of view of PRAVDA.Ru's editors.

When Will We Believe

2009-08-04T07:03:00.000-07:00

We always think.... "that will never happen in America"

1. What if I had told you in October 2008, before the last
presidential election, that before Barack Obama's first 100 days in
office, the federal government would be in control of both the
mortgage and the banking industries? That 19 of America's largest bank would be forced to undergo "stress tests" by the federal government which would determine that they were "insufficiently capitalized" so they must be supervised by the government?

Would you have said, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

2. What if I had told you that within Barack Obama's first 100 days in office the federal government would be the largest shareholder in two of the US Big Three automakers - GM, and Chrysler? That the government would kick out the CEO's of these companies and appoint hand-picked executives with zero experience in the auto industry and that executive compensation would be determined not by a Board of Directors but by the government?

Would you have said, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

3. What if I had told you that Barack Obama would appoint 32
"Czars", without congressional approval, accountable only to him - not to the voters - who would have control over a wide range of US policy decisions? That there would be a Stimulus Accountability Czar, an Urban Czar, a Compensation Czar, an Iran Czar, an Auto Industry Czar, a Cyber Security Czar, an Energy Czar, a Bank Bailout Czar, and more than
a 20 other government bureaucrats with unchecked regulatory powers over US domestic and foreign policy? And that the “Regulatory Czar” (The new gatekeeper between the President and HIS CABINET) believes that it is ok to “abort” children up to the AGE OF TWO (or until they understand that “a tomorrow” existed)? Or that Animals should be given the right to appear in court and that a well trained BORDER COLLIE is more valuable to the country than a retarded child (Read his book
“Nudge”)?

Would you have said, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

4. What if I had told you that the federal deficit would be $915
billion in the first six months of the Obama presidency - with a
projected annual deficit of $1.75 trillion - triple the $454.8 billion
in 2008, for which the previous administration was highly criticized by Obama and his fellow Democrats? That congress would pass Obama's $3.53 trillion federal budget for fiscal 2010? That the projected deficit over the next ten years would be greater than $10 trillion? Or that if all the promises made in the stimulus packages were to come due at once, we would be in
hock to the tune of $23.7 TRILLION Instantly?
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25164.html#ixzz0LtdQfpgl

Would you have said, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

5. What if I had told you that the Obama Justice Department would order FBI agents to read Miranda rights to high-value detainees captured on the battlefield and held at US military detention facilities in Afghanistan? That Obama would order the closing of the Guantanamo detention facility with no plan for the disposition of the 200-plus individuals held there? That several of the suspected terrorists at Guantanamo would be sent to live in freedom in Bermuda at the expense of the US government?

Would you have said, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

6. What if I had told you that the federal government would seek powers to seize key companies whose failures could "jeopardize he financial system"? That a new regulatory agency would be proposed by Obama to control loans, credit cards, mortgage-backed securities, and other financial products offered to the public?

Would you have said, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

7. What if I had told you that Obama would travel to the Middle
East, bow before the Saudi king, and repeatedly apologize for America's past actions? That he would travel to Latin America where he would warmly greet Venezuela's strongman Hugo Chavez and sit passively in the audience while Nicaraguan Marxist thug Daniel Ortega charged America with terrorist aggression in Central America? That he would diss Israel and not make a fuss over Iran building nukes, killing freedom fightersor N Korea blowing up missile after missile? Or that Hillary Clinton
would go to India this week and tell them that “global warming” was all our fault?

Would you have said, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

8. What if I were to tell you that the Supreme Court threw away your Miranda Rights in May of this year?
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE54P47120090526

Would you say, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

9. What if I were to tell you that the Cap and Trade Bill passed in
Congress says that in order for you to sell your house, you must
upgrade anything that is not energy starred to the current standards and that you would have to have a government employee enter your home for inspection, and certification to sell your home? What if I told you these upgrades can include your roof, your appliances, your windows and your plumbing and that they MUST be done BEFORE you put your house on
the market? A buyer would not be able to accept your house "as is."

Would you say, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

10. What if I were to tell you that the Healthcare Reform bill now in committee says on Pg 22 that the Government will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self insure, that on PG 50 Section 152, Health Care will be provided to ALL non-US residents, illegal or otherwise and that on Pg170 Lines 1-3 it states that any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from individual taxes (Americans will pay)? Or that on Pg 239 Line 14-24 it
says that government will reduce physician services for Medicaid
(Seniors, low income, poor affected) or that on Pg 354 Sec 1177 – it says they will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs persons and that on PG 427 Lines 15-24 it says they have even the right to mandate programs on orders to end your life. The Government has a say in how and when your life ends. Or that on Pg 59 HC Bill lines 21-24 it states the Government will have direct access to your banks accounts for funds transfers?
Here's the full Health Care bill that sits in the House.

Would you say, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

11. Okay, now what if I were to tell you that Obama wants to
dismantle conservative talk radio through the imposition of a new
"Fairness Doctrine"? That he wants to curtail the First Amendment rights of those who may disagree with his policies via internet blogs, cable news networks, or advocacy ads?

Would you say, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

12. What if I were to tell you that the Obama Justice Department wants to limit your Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms? That the federal government wants to reinstate the so-called "assault weapons" ban which would prohibit the sale of any type of firearm that doesn't require the shooter to pull the trigger every time a round is fired? That Obama's Attorney General also wants to eliminate the sale of virtually all handguns, which most citizens choose for self-defense?

Would you say, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

13.. What if I were to tell you that the Obama plan is to eliminate states' rights guaranteed by the Tenth Amendment and give the federal government sweeping new powers over policies currently under the province of local and state governments and voted on by the people? That Obama plans to control the schools, energy production, the environment, health care, and the wealth of every US citizen?

Would you say, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

14. What if I were to tell you that the president, the courts, and
the federal government have ignored the US Constitution and have seized powers which the founders of our country fought to restrict? That the last presidential election may have been our last truly free election for some time to come? That our next presidential election may look similar to the one recently held in Iran?

I know, I know what you say, "That will never happen in America".

15. What if I told you that there will be even more of this to come in the next few years?

I know what you'd say, "That will never happen in America”.

Well, I’ve got some really bad news for you: It did happen and more of it will happen!!

Please wake up America! Please start now and realize that although it might be too late, we still have a fighting chance if we all get involved! Write and Call your representatives. Go to tea parties. Join a group. Cry out from the rooftops! The camps are next and if we do not believe that, we did
not learn our history very well.

Gentlemen, it appears we are out of time and money. Now we shall have to think." - Winston Churchill

“If you spent a million dollars a day going back to the birth of
Christ, that wouldn’t even come close to just one trillion dollars –
$23.7 trillion is a staggering figure.” – Rep. Issa (R-CA) on exact
spending totals of the 2008/09 Stimulus Packages and they tell us it is not enough.

Facebook Fiasco

2009-07-30T21:57:00.000-07:00

I'm so ticked off. Someone hacked my Facebook account and started asking all my friends for money, telling them via the Chat tool that I was in London, England and had been mugged at gun-point. Then someone told Facebook what happened and they disabled my account. I've been in touch with Facebook and did everything they asked me to do. Now it's been more than a week and I still can't log on. I am very angry about this and cannot do anything about it. Arggghhh!

Remembering the Fourth of July

2009-06-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

Sent to me by LuAnn Heacock.

And now some history:

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence ?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.

Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown , Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.

Remember: freedom is never free!

Patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and baseball games.

A Little Football Wisdom

2009-06-30T07:26:00.000-07:00

Whoever says football is just a game is - well - not spiritual or patriotic! Here's A Little Football Wisdom: (USC - Fight On!) Another great contribution from my cousin, John Labeots.

GREAT WORDS FROM SOME OF THE ALL TIME GREATS.
#1. 'Football is only a game. Spiritual things are eternal. Nevertheless, Beat Texas '
Seen on a church sign in Arkansas prior to the 1969 game.
#2. 'After you retire, there's only one big event left... and I ain't ready for that.' Bobby Bowden / Florida State
#3. 'The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it.' Lou Holtz / Arkansas
#4. 'When you win, nothing hurts.' Joe Namath / Alabama
#5. 'Motivation is simple. You eliminate those who are not motivated.' Lou Holtz / Arkansas
#6. 'If you want to walk the heavenly streets of gold, you gotta know the password, 'Roll, tide, roll!' Bear Bryant / Alabama
#7. 'A school without football is in danger of deteriorating into a medieval study hall.' Frank Leahy / Notre Dame
#8. 'There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you.' Woody Hayes / Ohio State
#9. 'I don't expect to win enough games to be put on NCAA probation. I just want to win enough to warrant an investigation.' Bob Devaney / Nebraska
#10. 'In Alabama , an atheist is someone who doesn't believe in Bear Bryant.' Wally Butts / Georgia
#11. 'You can learn more character on the two-yard line than anywhere else in life.' Paul Dietzel / LSU
#12. 'It's kind of hard to rally around a math class.' Bear Bryant / Alabama
#13. When asked if Fayetteville was the end of the world. 'No, but you can see it from here.' Lou Holtz / Arkansas ...
#14. 'I make my practices real hard because if a player is a quitter, I want him to quit in practice, not in a game.' Bear Bryant / Alabama
#15. 'There's one sure way to stop us from scoring-give us the ball near the goal line.' Matty Bell / SMU
#16. 'Lads, you're not to miss practice unless your parents died or you died.' Frank Leahy / Notre Dame
#17. 'I never graduated from Iowa , but I was only there for two terms - Truman's and Eisenhower's.' Alex Karras / Iowa
#18. 'My advice to defensive players: Take the shortest route to the ball and arrive in a bad humor.' Bowden Wyatt / Tennessee
#19. 'I could have been a Rhodes Scholar, except for my grades.' Duffy Daugherty / Michigan State
#20. 'Always remember... Goliath was a 40 point favorite over David.' Shug Jordan / Auburn
#21. 'They cut us up like boarding house pie. And that's real small pieces.' Darrell Royal / Texas
#22. 'Show me a good and gracious loser, and I'll show you a failure.' Knute Rockne / Notre Dame
#23. 'They whipped us like a tied up goat.' Spike Dykes / Texas Tech
#24. 'I asked Darrell Royal, the coach of the Texas Longhorns, why he didn't recruit me and he said: 'Well, Walt, we took a look at you and you weren't any good.' Walt Garrison / Oklahoma State
#25. 'Son, you've got a good engine, but your hands aren't on the steering wheel.' Bobby Bowden / Florida State
#26. 'Football is not a contact sport - it is a collision sport. Dancing is a contact sport.' Duffy Daugherty / Michigan State
#27. After USC lost 51-0 to Notre Dame, his postgame message to his team: 'All those who need showers, take them.' John McKay / USC
#28. 'If lessons are learned in defeat, our team is getting a great education.' Murray Warmath / Minnesota
#29. 'The only qualifications for a lineman are to be big and dumb. To be a back, you only have to be dumb.' Knute Rockne / Notre Dame
#30. 'Oh, we played about like three tons of buzzard puke this afternoon.' Spike Dykes / Texas Tech
#31. 'It isn't necessary to see a good tackle. You can hear it.' Knute Rockne / Notre Dame
#32. 'We live one day at a time and scratch where it itches.' Darrell Royal / Texas
#33. 'We didn't tackle well today but we made up for it by not blocking.' Wilson Matthews / Little Rock Central High School
#34. 'Three things can happen when you throw the ball, and two of them are bad. Darrell Royal / University of Texas
#35. 'I've found that prayers work best when you have big players.' Knute Rockne / Notre Dame
#36. 'Gentlemen, it is better to have died a small boy than to fumble this football.' John Heisman

Good Advice From a 90 Year Old Woman

2009-06-30T07:08:00.000-07:00

(This was sent to me by my cousin, John Labeots - really, really well said.)

Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart!

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written."

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

The Hurrier I Go the Behinder I Get!

2009-06-30T06:57:00.000-07:00

As the old saying goes. I've not added anything to my blog for a month. It's not that our lives have been boring - just busy. For one thing Ramona and Dan added a new baby boy (Benjamin) to our larger family.

He's adorable, all sweet and with long dark hair and skin that is olive toned. He wasn't tiny, rather 9 lbs 11 oz and 22 1/2 inches long. I don't know where Ramona stuffed all of that inside her tiny body! Yikes! We're so glad he has arrived and that both mom and baby are well. He had a couple of problems after being born - he was jaundiced and wasn't gaining any weight. Both of these have been addressed and he is fit as a fiddle now and we are thankful.

Our New Chronis Grand Child

2009-05-27T17:46:00.000-07:00

We welcome our newest grandchild into our family.

Benjamin Lloyd Chronis
Born at 10:14 AM on May 27, 2009
9 pounds 11 ounces - 22 inches

We are sooo proud of Ramona for all her sacrifice that brought this little boy into our family. We know she suffered not only through her labor and delivery, but also in carrying this very large child inside her. Ramona is the finest mother I know and is an example of patience, long suffering and grace. I am her mother and I know most women fit this description, but I want everyone who reads this to recognize her character as do I.

Ramona received more than 1300 text messages of congratulations in less than one hour after Benjamin's birth. She is so beloved by so many.

You gain a better perspective of Benjamin's size when seeing him in the arms of his nine year old brother, Elias.

Ewa-Solange is so happy to have her new little brother in her arms. She will be a very sweet big sister for Benjamin.

Choose Your Ward (Mormon Humor)

2009-05-21T16:02:00.000-07:00

I got this from my friend Gail - too darned cute to leave behind.

Choose your ward Find your niche in specialty wards
Robert Kirby Tribune columnist - Salt Lake Tribune

Most Sunday mornings, you'll find me on a pew in the Rosecrest 1st Ward chapel. It's where I'm supposed to go to church. Lucky for me, it's also where I want to go. Technically, Mormons don't have a choice. For church, we're bound by the geography of the ward boundary. We worship where we live.

The only time Mormons can switch wards without also contacting a Realtor is when we attend specialty wards. For example, I went to a Spanish-speaking ward in West Jordan for a while. Specialty wards allow members with specific common needs to worship together and support each other in their exclusive part of the Lord's vineyard. There are (or have been) lots of LDS specialty wards, including singles wards, college wards, deaf wards, ethnic wards and nudist wards.

OK, I made up that last one. There are even seasonal "snowbird wards" in places where Mormon RV owners congregate.

I talked it over with my friend (despite a restraining order) Ken Wallentine. We think the specialty-ward idea needs to be improved on in our ever-changing and increasingly divided culture.

For example, there needs to be a late ward, a ward Mormons who are perpetually late for church could attend and not feel bad about dragging their herd in 15 minutes late. The only problem with a late ward would be showing up late for a meeting that was supposed to start late in the first place. Eventually, you would end up with a ward that ran out of
time before it started. "Welcome to the Tardy 3rd Ward, brothers and sisters. We will close now by singing hymn No.. 145."

Given the high birthrate among Mormons, I thought about the need for maternity wards. Except that we already have those. They're called married student wards.

A Star Trek ward might do well. The bishop would preside from "the bridge" instead of the stand. High-council Sunday would be referred to as a "Klingon Sunday."

Harley riders congregate to the exclusion of just about everyone else. Why not an LDS biker ward? White shirts and neckties go well with black leather.

Ken really wants to attend a concealed-weapons ward. He says church would be a lot more interesting if real personal risks were involved in disagreeing with a lesson.

There could be a texting ward for teenagers. Bear your testimony with your thumb. In 25 years, they'll all belong to carpal-tunnel wards.

At the less-active ward, maybe there'll be a meeting and maybe there won't.

Testimony meeting in an anger-management ward might be interesting. Nobody's going to sleep through, "HEY! I KNOW THE CHURCH IS TRUE, STUPID!"

A big hit would be the Multi Level Marketing ward, also known as a "Gadianton robber ward." With all the financial scamming that goes on in this culture, it would be nice to have them all in one place for a three-hour block weekly.

I think a Democrat wa rd is a good idea, although in Utah the best we could probably hope for is a Democrat branch.

I Have the Answers

2009-05-11T08:28:00.000-07:00

You can always rely on good old Maxine to have the Answers!

My cousin, Betty Wontorek sent this to me - it is thought provoking and very funny. What makes it funny is that it is so simplistic! Okay Washington! Why can't you come up with such easy answers? Hmmmmmm. . . ? (So all laughing out loud!)

Everyone concentrates on the problems we're having in this country lately -- illegal immigration, hurricane recovery, alligators attacking people in Florida.

...... not me -- I concentrate on solutions for the problems -- it's a win-win situation.

* Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border.
* Send the dirt to New Orleans to raise the level of the levees.
* Put the Florida alligators in the moat along the Mexican border.

Any other problems you would like for me to solve today?

Think about this:
1. Cows
2. The Constitution
3. The Ten Commandments

COWS
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow..

THE CONSTITUTION
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq .... why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse is this -- you cannot post 'Thou Shalt Not Steal' 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery' and 'Thou Shall Not Lie' in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians ... it creates a hostile work environment.

My Brother Walt Lingren

2009-04-21T21:13:00.000-07:00

I had not seen my older brother, Walt for more than 13 years. So imagine how happy I was to get a call from him a few weeks ago. He said he and his wife Janice were coming to LA to go on a cruise and wanted to know if they could visit us for a couple of days. I was ecstatic and of course told them yes. So on the appointed day I picked them up at LAX and brought them to our home. They were so pleased to come to our home, and we were so glad to have them. You see, in all my adult lifetime Walt has NEVER been to my home. I was glad to have him see how we live and what our lives are like. He found out we are VERY busy, all the time.

I took them to a concert at USC the night they flew in. The concert was really special because Lauren (our granddaughter) was playing in the symphony orchestra. Lauren is currently second chair cellist and this is only her sophomore year at USC, which tells you what kind of skills she has.

The concert was fabulous and we went to Gladstones for ice cream afterward and Lauren got to know them better, and they got to talk quite a bit with her.

The next day I took them sight-seeing. We went to The Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax and we got to go to the shop where Percia (another of our granddaughters) works.

We stayed for lunch and then I took them to Rodeo Drive so they could see the 'beautiful' people.

Then in the afternoon I took them to visit our church and I played the organ for them. Neither one of them ever knew I play the piano and the organ, so they were extremely surprised. That tickled me so much. I was very proud to play our lovely pipe organ we have at the Wilshire Building for them.

The next morning (Saturday - sailing day) I made a huge breakfast for us all, we devoured everything and really enjoyed ourselves. We left the house a 11 AM and got to the Port of Los Angeles at noon.

We stayed until they got their luggage taken and then we left. I wish we could have gone on the cruise with them, because Tony and I adore cruising. So we made a promise we will take one together the next time.

I was able to re-connect Walt with his former high school sweetheart, Janice a few months ago and they have been inseparable ever since. Janice has always been my dear friend and although we had not seen one another in 49 years we picked up our friendship right where we left it off. This was truly such a fantastic reunion and I'm so happy they made us part of it. I can't wait to see them again.

The Saga of the Vengeance of the Flu - 2009

2009-04-03T20:44:00.000-07:00

On March 23rd we picked up Elias, Katie and Justin (three of our grandchildren) and brought them home for the week while their parents and sister travelled across Europe as part of a Junior High School group from Lancaster, CA. That evening while watching TV poor Justin (only 5)hurled clear across the room - and the games began. He vomited all night and into the night as well. He wore a path from his bed to the bathroom several times, never quite making it each time. Poor kid. By the morning he was exhausted and slept off and on most of the following day.

By late afternoon the next day Elias began the same ritual. So Tony was hauling clothes and bedding back and forth from the laundry room - several times. He ended up washing all the boys clothes from their dresser drawers. Then Katie got it and on it went.

The next day I went down and spend more than 22 hours in bed, trying to keep from hurling and unable to move more than a finger. Tony was chief cook and bottle washer trying to keep us together body and soul. I barely made it out of the bed the next day and it was time to take Justin and Katie back to Lancaster to take them home so their mother could pick them up for the weekend.

Tony held on until we got home from dropping them off and then hit the toilet with his head in a vengeance! I was not good for anything, barely walking around like a zombie. Elias was recovering but still not able to eat well. None of us could eat a meal for about three days because of the constant nausea.

So - comes Monday morning and we had to take Elias to the airport to fly to Arizona to visit for the next week with his other grandparents. We saw him off and headed to Miguel and Greg's and had a delicious lunch of breaded filet of sole with refried beans and Greg's especially delicious rice. It tasted sooooo good. We hadn't been able to eat a complete meal for the whole week, so what a treat! Thank goodness for Miguel and Greg.

Then Ramona, Dan and Ewa returned from Europe. Two days later Dan promptly hit the bed with a bucket beside him and Ramona and Ewa are awaiting their turn. I pray they will be alright, especially Ramona because she's entering the 8th month of her pregnancy and I'm not certain what effect the flu would have on her and her unborn son. Such a terrible present for Ramona and her crew upon returning home from a whirlwind tour of Europe. They all have severe jet lag as it is, they don't need this as well. God bless them all.

The Purpose of Mormon Temples

2009-03-12T09:03:00.000-07:00

Take a look at this wonderful video - it explains the reason we build and use our temples. Remember, to click on the title of this article to take you to the web site and video.

Purpose of Mormon Temples From The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has created a short video that explains the purpose of Mormon temples.

Father's Day Shirt and Tie Card

2009-03-11T13:43:00.000-07:00

You know the drill, cick on the title of this post and it will take you to the instructions for making this great Father's Day Shirt and Tie card. Enjoy the craft, do it with or without children.

Father's Day Bookmarks

2009-03-11T13:34:00.000-07:00

I love these and have made the card that goes with them. I will post the card instructions separately. To access this web site just click on the title of this post, it will take you directly to Martha's page. Have fun!

French Bread Pizza

2009-03-06T22:21:00.000-08:00

I've been asked several times to post this recipe, so here it is.

This is an all-time family favorite in our house.

1 Loaf French Bread, sliced lengthwise
1 Small jar Prego Spaghetti Sauce
1 lb bulk sausage crumbled, fried and drained
or
1 Small pkg sliced pepperoni
1 Med Onion
1 Bell Pepper
1 Small Can Olives (sliced)
2 C Mozarella Cheese
1/2 C Parmesan Cheese
Margarine for spreading on French Bread

Slice onion into rings and pepper into narrow strips; saute veggies in oil until onions are translucent and pepper is wilted but still crisp. Drain on paper towel or paper bag and prepare sausage or lay rings of pepperoni on top of Prego.

Cover cookie sheet with foil, lay both halves of French Bread on cookie sheet. Spread margarine on both halves, then 1/2 jar Prego on each half of loaf. Divide prepared sausage or lay rings of pepperoni atop Prego. Sprinkle 1/2 Mozarella on each half of French Bread, then sprinkle each half generously with Parmesan cheese. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for about 10-12 minutes. Serves 4-6 generously.

You can add/subtract whatever your family likes on pizza.

*Note - you must spread the bread with margarine or the sauce will drain down into the bread, olive oil will not do.

This is my own original recipe and you can adjust it to you own taste. You can also re-constitute the veggies from dried food storage as well as use TVP in place of the meat.

Don't Mess With Old Ladies!

2009-03-05T07:18:00.000-08:00

An older lady gets pulled over for speeding...

Older Woman: Is there a problem, Officer?

Officer: Ma'am, you were speeding.

Older Woman: Oh, I see.

Officer: Can I see your license please?

Older Woman: I'd give it to you but I don't have one.

Officer: Don't have one?

Older Woman: Lost it, 4 years ago for drunk driving.

Officer: I see... Can I see your vehicle registration papers please.

Older Woman: I can't do that.

Officer: Why not?

Older Woman: I stole this car.

Officer: Stole it?

Older Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner.

Officer: You what?

Older Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see them.

The Officer looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car and calls for back up.

Within minutes 5 police cars circle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.

Officer 2: Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle please! The woman steps out of her vehicle.

Older woman: Is there a problem sir?

Officer 2: One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner.

Older Woman: Murdered the owner?

Officer 2: Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car, please.

The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.

Officer 2: Is this your car, ma'am?

Older Woman: Yes, here are the registration papers.
The officer is quite stunned.

Officer 2: One of my officers claims that you do not have a driving license.

The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse and hands it to the officer.

The officer examines the license. He looks quite puzzled.

Officer 2: Thank you ma'am, one of my officers told me you didn't have a license, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up the owner.

Older Woman: Bet the liar told you I was speeding, too.

Don't Mess With Old Ladies!!!

"W" - the Magic Letter

2009-03-04T08:45:00.000-08:00

Okay Roxy - here's my "W" Offering.

WORLDLY

- Something I try hard to avoid, and it is so hard because we live in Los Angeles, CA. I suppose it’s hard no matter where you live anymore. I love all the ‘things’ we have, but I am most happy when they are used to make others happy. You know, I have so many kitchen toys and I love to cook and serve others - and all my craft stuff, well I share them with anyone who is interested, but I do wish I could find someone who loves to play crafter as much as do I. The dictionary meaning of worldly is:

world•ly (wûrld
adj. world•li•er, world•li•est
1. Of, relating to, or devoted to the temporal world.
2. Experienced in human affairs; sophisticated or worldly-wise: "an experienced and worldly man who had been almost everywhere" Willa Cather.
adv.
In a worldly manner.

Worldly Wisdom
from 'The Historie of the World' by Sir Walter Raleigh (1614)
IF Fortune and Chance were not sometimes the causes of good and evil in men, but an idle voice, whereby we express success, how comes it then, that so many worthy and wise men depend upon so many unworthy and empty headed fools; that riches and honour are given to external men, and without kernel: and so many learned, virtuous, and valiant men wear out their lives in poor and dejected estates?
In a word there is no other inferior, or apparent cause, beside the partiality of mans affection, but the fashioning and not fashioning of our selves according to the nature of the time wherein we live, for whosoever is most able, and best sufficient to discern, and hath withall an honest and open heart and loving truth. If Princes, or those that govern, endure no other discourse then their own flatteries, then I say such an one, whose virtue and courage forbiddeth him to be base and a dissembler, shall evermore hang under the wheel, which kind of deserving well and receiving ill, we always falsely charge Fortune withall. For whosoever shall tell any great man or Magistrate, that he is not just, the General of an Army, that he is not valiant, and great Ladies that they are not fair, shall never be made a Counselor, a Captain, or a Courtier. Neither is it sufficient to be wise with a wise Prince, valiant with a valiant, and just with him that is just, for such a one hath no estate in his prosperity; but he must also change with the successor, if he be of contrary qualities, sail with the tide of the time, and alter form and condition, as the Estate or the Estates Master changeth: Otherwise how were it possible, that the most base men, and separate from all imitable qualities, could so often attain to honour and riches, but by such an observant slavish course? These men having nothing else to value themselves by, but a counterfeit kind of wondering at other men, and by making them believe that all their vices are virtues, and all their dusty actions crystalline, have yet in all ages prospered equally with the most virtuous, if not exceeded them. For according to Menander, Omnis insipiens arrogantia et plausibus capitur, Every fool is won with his own pride and others flattering applause: so as whosoever will live altogether out of himself, and study other men's humours, and observe them, shall never be unfortunate; and on the contrary, that man which prizes truth and virtue (except the season wherein he lives be of all these, and of all sorts of goodness fruitfull) shall never prosper by the possession or profession thereof. It is also a token of a worldly wise man, not to wait or contend in vain against the nature of times wherein he lives: for such a one is often the author of his own misery, but best it were to follow the advice, which the Pope gave the Bishops of that age, out of Ovid, while the Arian Heresy raged:

WINDOWS!

Boy! Do we ever have windows in our home - really important for me. (This picture shows our bedroom, which is currently under rennovation, to be completed this week) I want a daily perspective on my surroundings and I like to watch what’s going on around me. I guess what I’m saying is WINDOWS are for WATCHING!

When thinking about my childhood I love to remember the wonderful times I used to have at a lake in Washington State called Wandermere.

My Dad used to be a lifeguard there when he was a young man, so he used to take us there to swim and boat and have lots of family fun. When we would go there everyone knew him, we couldn’t walk ten feet without running into someone who recognized him. Those days were wonderful.

Whales!

How I love them. I like to go to the seaside and watch them when they are in season here, when they have come down to feed and play, they are stately and beautiful. I really like the Prudential Insurance Company’s TV commercials that show the blue whale.

World Conference

of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Probably the most wonderful time of the year, and we are so blessed because it happens twice a year. When we listen to the prophets speak we are uplifted and blessed in ways unspeakable. I remember a story about a man who was not a member of the church who was very prosperous and lived in Utah. When all his neighbors crops failed around him but his didn’t he was asked by them what he attributed his good fortune to - he said he listened to the prophet twice a year at conference time and did what he said to do. Isn’t that an amazing story? A Prophet is without honor in his own country - the Savior said.

“When you Wish Upon a Star” is a famous song sung by a cartoon figure by Walt Disney.

Jiminy Cricket

I wish for the best in all situations for each and everyone of us.

86 Year Old Lady's Letter to Her Bank

2009-02-26T22:53:00.000-08:00

Shown below, is an actual letter that was sent to a bank by an 86 year old woman. The bank manager thought it amusing enough to have it published in the New York Times.

Dear Sir:

I am writing to thank you for bouncing my check with which I endeavored to pay my plumber last month.
By my calculations, three nanoseconds must have elapsed between his presenting the check and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honor it. I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my entire pension, an arrangement which, I admit, has been in place for only eight years. You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and also for debiting my account $30 by way of penalty for the inconvenience caused to your bank. My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant financial ways.
I noticed that whereas I personally answer your telephone calls and letters, --- when I try to contact you, I am confronted by the impersonal, overcharging, prerecorded, faceless entity which your bank has become.

From now on, I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh-and-blood person. My mortgage and loan repayments will therefore and hereafter no longer be automatic, but will arrive at your bank, by check,addressed personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you must nominate.

Be aware that it is an offense under the Postal Act for any other person to open such an envelope. Please find attached an Application Contact which I require your chosen employee to complete. I am sorry it runs to eight pages, but in order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about me, there is no alternative. Please note that all copies of his or her medical history must be countersigned by a Notary Public, and the mandatory details of his/her financial situation (income, debts, assets and liabilities) must be accompanied by documented proof. In due course, at MY convenience, I will issue your employee with a PIN number which he/she must quote in dealings with me. I regret that it cannot be shorter than 28 digits but, again, I have modeled it on the number of button presses required of me to access my account balance on your phone bank service. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Let me level the playing field even further. When you call me, press buttons as follows:

IMMEDIATELY AFTER DIALING, PRESS THE STAR (*) BUTTON FOR ENGLISH

#1. To make an appointment to see me

#2. To query a missing payment.

#3. To transfer the call to my living room in case I am there.
#4 To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am sleeping

#5. To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attending to nature.

#6. To transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not at home

#7. To leave a message on my computer, a password to access my computer is required. Password will be communicated to you at a later date to that Authorized Contact mentioned earlier.

#8. To return to the main menu and to listen to options 1 through 7..
#9. To make a general complaint or inquiry. The contact will then be put on hold, pending the attention of my automated answering service.

#10. This is a second reminder to press* for English. While this may, on occasion, involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music will play for the duration of the call.

Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an establishment fee to cover the setting up of this new arrangement. May I wish you a happy, if ever so slightly less prosperous New Year?
Your Humble Client

(Remember: This was written by an 86 year old woman -'YA JUST GOTTA LOVE " US SENIORS" !!!!! )

And remember: Don't make old People mad. We don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to set us off.

The Trouble With Socialism

2009-02-26T08:49:00.000-08:00

"The trouble with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money"
–Margaret Thatcher.

The Invisible Mother

2009-02-26T07:18:00.001-08:00

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response,
the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the
phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't
you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously, not.

No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the
floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can
see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am
only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie
this? & can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm
a clock to ask, 'What time is it?'; I'm a satellite guide to
answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order,
'Right around 5:30, please.'

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return
of a friend from England .. Janice had just gotten back from a
fabulous trip, and she was going
on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there,
looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard
not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty
pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped
package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great
cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to
me until I read her inscription:

'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are
building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would
discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after
which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great
cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave
their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.
They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the
eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit
the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving
a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the
man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a
beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.'
And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It
was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte.

I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you

does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no

cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You

are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a
disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of
my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn
pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great
builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will
never see finished, to work on something that their name will never
be on.

When I really think about it, I don't want my daughter to tell the
friend she's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom
gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she
hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for
the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to
myself. I just want her to want to come home. And then, if there is
anything more to say to her friend, to add, 'you're gonna love it
there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot see if we're
doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will
marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has
been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

A Great Barnyard

2009-02-17T08:24:00.000-08:00

I got this e-mail from my friend Gail and just had to share it with you all.

The Little Red Hen called all of her neighbors together and said, 'If we plant this wheat, we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?'
'Not I,' said the cow.
'Not I,' said the duck.
'Not I,' said the pig.
'Not I,' said the goose.
'Then I will do it by myself,' said the little red hen, and so she did. The wheat grew very tall and ripened into golden grain.

'Who will help me reap my wheat?' asked the little red hen.
'Not I,' said the duck..
'Out of my classification,' said the pig.
'I'd lose my seniority,' said the cow.
'I'd lose my unemployment compensation,' said the goose.
'Then I will do it by myself,' said the little red hen, and so she did.

At last it came time to bake the bread.
'Who will help me bake the bread?' asked the little red hen.
'That would be overtime for me,' said the cow.
'I'd lose my welfare benefits,' said the duck.
'I'm a dropout and never learned how,' said the pig.
'If I'm to be the only helper, that's discrimination,' said the goose.

'Then I will do it by myself,' said the little red hen.
She baked five loaves and held them up for all of her neighbors to see. They wanted some and, in fact, demanded a share. But the little red hen said, 'No, I shall eat all five loaves.'

'Excess profits!' cried the cow. (Nancy Pelosi)
'Capitalist leech!' screamed the duck. (Barbara Boxer)
'I demand equal rights!' yelled the goose. (Jesse Jackson)
The pig just grunted in disdain. (Ted Kennedy) And they all painted 'Unfair!' picket signs and marched around and around the little red hen, shouting obscenities.

Then the farmer (Obama) came. He said to the little red hen, 'You must not be so greedy!
'But I earned the bread,' said the little red hen.

'Exactly,' said Barack the farmer. 'That is what makes our free enterprise system so wonderful. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants. But under our modern government regulations, the productive workers must divide the fruits of their labor with those who are lazy and idle.'

And they all lived happily ever after, including the little red hen, who smiled and clucked, 'I am grateful, for now I truly understand.'

But her neighbors became quite disappointed in her. She never again baked bread because she joined the 'party' and got her bread free. And all the Democrats smiled. 'Fairness' had been established.

Individual initiative had died, but nobody noticed; perhaps no one cared...so long as there was free bread that 'the rich' were paying for.

IS THIS A GREAT BARNYARD OR WHAT?

Doing The Laundry Without a Washer/Dryer

2009-02-15T14:46:00.000-08:00

Clothes Washing Kit

A way to do your laundry in an emergency. You can easily put this together yourself.

CLOTHES WASHING KIT
5-gallon bucket with lid (cut hole in middle of lid for plunger handle to fit through)
Toilet plunger (brand-new, clean)
Store in bucket:
Liquid laundry detergent
Stain remover/stain stick
Vinegar (add 1/2 cup to rinse water) helps remove soap
Rope (for clothes line)
Clothes pins

To Use:
Empty contents of bucket.
Place water, small amount of detergent, and clothes in bucket.
Move plunger up and down for a few minutes or until clothes are clean.
Remove soapy clothes and ring them out.
Dump out soapy water (on your garden or lawn.)
Place soapy clothes in bucket and fill with clear, clean water.
Add 1/2 cup vinegar to rinse water.
Move plunger up and down to rinse clothing.
Wring out clothes and hang to dry.
Conserve water - use rinse water for next load of laundry.

NOTE: You could store two 5-gallon buckets, stack one inside of the other. Use one bucket for the soapy water and the other for the rinse water. You may be able to wash and rinse a couple of batches of clothes without changing the soapy water depending on how dirty the clothes are.

Valentine's Day

2009-02-06T08:06:00.001-08:00

Valentines Day Comments
Myspace Comments - Upload Pics

I want to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day, I love giving Valentine's and receiving them too. I think it's a great holiday even if others think it's too commercial. I even like giving/receiving those little school style Valentine cards - they are so clever. Enjoy the day, it's easy to make and send a Valentine. Go to marthastewart.com for ideas if you like. . . I like.

Our New Chronis Grand Child

2009-02-01T23:00:00.000-08:00

We are so excited about Ramona and Dan expecting their new baby in the Spring. We can hardly wait to meet our new grandson. Right now we are in a naming war - I can't even imagine what it's like in Dan and Mona's home when the subject of naming the little guy comes up. With six other children already in the house there will definitely be some strong opinions as to a name for the little guy.

I don't really care what they name him, I just hope he comes to Earth safe, sound and healthy! This may be our last grand child so we are truly invested in this coming event. It's been nine years since we've had a new grandchild, so this is really exciting for everyone. Thank you Dan and Ramona for bringing a new child into our family. You are very brave.

I Can't Wrap My Head Around It . . .

2009-01-31T21:50:00.000-08:00

The days pass so quickly and I am overwhelmed when I look around the house and know I MUST get rid of almost everything within the next year and a half. I know we will do it, but it's painful and scary and impossible at the moment. After nearly 39 years together and all the homes we've enjoyed this one ends up being the last one. My friend told me tonight when she looked in my craft closet, "you can't move, look at all this stuff. Where will you put it?" And I just don't know. See - I don't intend on giving up my crafting hobbies at all, and I need all that 'stuff'. And I'll miss our lovely veggie garden so much, not to mention all the bulbs, bushes and flowers. My roses, oh my lovely roses. Oh - and the fruit trees that have provided shade, beauty and delicious fruits. I think I am beginning the mourning phase of the great loss that not living here will bring. I know we can be happy anywhere we are as long as we're together, but that's not the point. This home has sheltered so many people. Not just our family and grandchildren, but friends and acquaintances. Famous folks and regular every day people. I truly regret that it has become a burden to us now. I can only pray a nice family will be able to move here and have lots of fun with their children and grandchildren, just like us. Did I mention I'll miss George? Oh, you don't know him. He's our very fine and well-mannered ghost. I named him George years ago until I found out who he was. He is Marceline Eyraud, the man who built this home for his family more than a hundred years ago. He was born in 1869 in France. He came to the United States in the 1880's knowing the wine producing business. He didn't become a vintner though, he opened two large saloons in the old old city of Los Angeles, near 7th and Alameda. He and his wife built this house for their family and enjoyed it until they passed away in the 1940's. Their influence is all throughout this house. From the fabulous French kitchen to the spacious third floor great room. Mrs. Eyraud was a very religious woman, a devout Catholic. She had all the cupboards in the house built with a cross motif in each one. When we first moved here the children named the linen closets on the mezzanine 'the confessional'. They are crafted to look like the doors on a confessional, this theme is repeated in the big kitchen and the butler's pantry. I have felt the influence of this remarkable, strong and valiant woman who crossed the pond to rear her children in the greatest country in all the world. Her two youngest daughters lived together here until their deaths. The other children all moved out and built their own homes. There are no living descendants of the Eyraud family that are known. I have researched them all and have not found any. I truly wish some of them were still around. I'd have lots of questions for them. Perhaps in another time and place we will join with them and discuss "our home".

Eli's Blessing Day

2009-01-07T18:56:00.000-08:00

When we are young we are so busy being parents we forget to take in the blessings of family on a daily basis. I really believe that's why we're allowed to be grand parents and great-grandparents.

As I watched Tony bless and name Eli (our sixth great-grandchild) descriptive words of the moment failed me, because my heart was full to bursting.

That was November 3, 2008. Two months have passed and I've been able to put things more in perspective. At the time I was very ill and was to have had major surgery that very weekend, but because we had scheduled the blessing for that weekend I had to postpone it - not that I was excited about having the surgery either, but because that was the only day everyone in the family could come for the blessing.

The ceremony at church was beautiful and the words Tony spoke over the baby were unforgetable. The Spirit was so strong. After church we all went to our home for a post-blessing family dinner. I had prepared ham (a HUGE one), potato, macaroni and green salads. And Elisa had provided the cake, which was gorgeous. I'll try and post pictures of the food later. We had invited some very special, important people to our family and were enjoying ourselves immensely, catching up on everyone's life, when through the front door came our daughter Audrey and her daughters Jackie and Joscelyn and Jackie's two small boys (two of our great-grandchildren). You could have knocked everyone in the house over with a feather. We had not seen Audrey for 16 years. Jackie and found me on the internet via Classmates.com. She said she was looking for anyone who knew her mother in high school. I answered her back and told her I was her grandmother and had been looking for them for years. Then I told our daughter, Elisa that I had found Audrey - and she came to California from Utah to bring Lauren back to USC for the school year. Then Elisa and Lauren went out to Valencia and found Audrey and told her about the upcoming blessing and that we wanted them to come. And they did. We had a wonderful re-union and I cannot tell you how grateful I am for the internet and for Classmates.com! Hopefully we will remain connected from now on. I will never take my children for granted again. When I think that after my surgery I came close to leaving this old world then I am so dedicated to keeping my family together from now on. May God bless us all in that effort.

The Vargas Family November 2, 2008

2009-01-06T08:39:00.000-08:00

Seasonal Calendar

2009-01-05T11:28:00.000-08:00

Here's a great calendar so you'll know what to buy in what months of the year. You can access the way cool web site with all this kind of info on it by clicking on the word 'Seasonal' above. --Susan

Seasonal Sales Calendar 2009

January - New Years, Chinese New Year, Super Bowl Sales, Harmons Case Lot
Grocery Sales – Turkey, apples, grapefruit, oranges, and pears, breakfast cereal, canned chili, soups, dry bouillon, prepared meals, teriyaki and soy sauce, oriental noodles
Seasonal Sales – Winter clothing & accessories, winter boots & shoes, white sales, Christmas clearance, furniture, computers, storage containers, organizers, shelf organizers, planners, filing cabinets, CDs and DVDs, cookware, treadmills and other exercise equipment

February - Valentine's & President's Day Sales, Case Lot Sales (checking on dates)
Grocery Sales – Post Valentine’s Day candy, apples, grapefruit, oranges, pears, breakfast cereal, canned chili, Case lot sales (canned soups, fruit, vegetables, beans, meats, stew, honey, jelly, mac & cheese, Spam, hand grain mill, etc.), eggs, ham, paper products
Seasonal Sales – Winter coats, furniture, mattresses, snow blowers, digital cameras, DVD players, humidifiers

March - National Frozen Food Month
Grocery Sales – National Frozen Food Month (frozen vegetables, meats, breakfast items, and TV dinners)
Seasonal Sales – Spring cleaning supplies, garden supplies, spring clothing & shoes, luggage, infant clothing, winter sports clearance, computers, TV's

April - National Garden Month, Easter
Grocery Sales – Eggs, ham, marshmallows, broccoli, and cauliflower
Seasonal Sales – Spring clothing, men’s suits/ties, Easter dresses, paint, digital cameras

May - Cinco De Mayo, Mother's Day, Memorial Day
Grocery Sales – Hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs, buns, asparagus, pineapple, BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, frozen veggies, baked beans, paper goods, olives, taco sauce, enchilada sauce
Seasonal Sales – Athletic shoes & clothes, tires, home maintenance, white sales, women’s undergarments, sunscreens, bug spray, cordless phones

June - National Safety Month, Father's Day
Grocery Sales – Bottled water, dairy products, tomatoes, croutons, salad dressing, Gatorade powder, lemonade powder
Seasonal Sales – Summer clothing, dresses, summer sports gear, men's clothing, refrigerators, fabrics, building materials (wood for food storage shelves), computers, canning supplies, insect repellent, sunscreen

July - Canning Month, 4th of July
Grocery Sales – Bottled water, ketchup, BBQ sauce, steak sauce, mustard, croutons, salad dressing, mayonnaise, pickles, relish, hot dogs, ground beef, Jell-O, beef steaks, chicken, paper supplies, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, corn, cherries, squash, watermelons, cantaloupes, tomatoes, plums, peaches, and nectarines, Gatorade powder, lemonade powder
Seasonal Sales – Summer clothing clearance, shoes, camping equipment, hiking boots, used cars, air conditioners, fuel oil, summer sports equipment, carpet, radios, summer sports equipment, craft supplies, computers

August - Back to School Sales
Grocery Sales – Squash, green peppers, salad fixings, berries, apples, melons, peaches, apricots, and fresh fish, juice
Seasonal Sales – Camping equipment, barbecues, patio supplies, school supplies, new car clearance, lawn mowers, sprinklers, yard tools, school clothes, back to school, swim suits, computers

September - National Emergency Preparedness Month & Case Lot Sales
Grocery Sales – Case lot sales (canned soups, fruit, vegetables, beans, meats, stew, honey, jelly, mac. & cheese, Spam, Ravioli's, Spaghettios, hand grain mill, etc.), apples, broccoli, cauliflower, school snacks, Capri suns, fruit snacks, cereal, peanut butter/jelly, bottled spaghetti sauce
Seasonal Sales – Camping equipment, gas grills, gardening supplies clearance, bicycles, car parts, children’s clothes

October - National Fire Prevention Month, Halloween
Grocery Sales – Vegetable and other oils, canned pumpkins, cranberries, grapes, oranges, sweet potatoes, and yams, instant potatoes, stuffing, canned cranberries, marshmallows, ice cream, pie shells, whipped cream, crackers, candy making supplies, nuts, choc. chips, frozen pizza, corn syrup, soup mixes
Seasonal Sales – Gas grills, winter coats, school clothes clearance, hosiery, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, fire escape ladders, glow sticks

November - Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Sales
Grocery Sales – canned cranberries, canned pumpkin, stuffing, olives, whipping cream, cool whip, frozen vegetables, fresh cranberries (freeze for later), cream cheese, chicken broth, turkey, ham, sweet potatoes, yams, and post-Halloween bags of candy, condensed milk, cake mix, frosting, brownie mix, cooking spray, pie filling
Seasonal Sales – Coats, boots, gloves, quilts, blankets, heating devices, baby blankets, water heaters, appliances, men’s/boy’s suits, Thanksgiving week sales

December - Christmas Sales
Grocery Sales – Candy making supplies, flour, sugar, nuts, choc. chips, oranges, apples, and grapefruit, broth, soups, party foods, baking cocoa, hot cocoa, pasta, vanilla & other extracts, cream of tartar, cooking spray
Seasonal Sales – Winter coats, toys, gift items, bikes, new cars, quilts & blankets, electronics, small appliances, after Christmas sales, gift wrap, candles, cold medicine, thermometer, toothbrushes, batteries, vitamins

(updated 12/31/08)

2009

2009-01-02T20:38:00.000-08:00

I'm so happy to see 2009 come. 2008 was not very nice to our family, so we really need a break. My health went bad, Miguel lost his job, the stock market crashed and took a lot of our money with it. Housing prices fell to an all-time low, which is going to make it so hard to sell our home this coming year or 2010. We will sell it, but certainly not for what we could have gotten, and needed to buy another home outright. And I know all things happen to us for good reasons so I accept it all, yet with reservations because of all our retirement plans. All in all I don't think 2009 could be worse, and hoping it's so much better. I most heartily wish the best for all of you in 2009 in every way.

Moving On

2008-12-07T19:43:00.000-08:00

For those of you who follow my blog that do not know about my second hospitalization here goes:

Two days after I came home from my 6 day stay after the surgery I ended up with my head in a trash can throwing up blood and blood clots. Tony rushed me to the emergency room and after diagnosis I was treated via a nasal gastric tube to lavage my stomach of the blood and clots and was place in the Critical Care Unit for two days. After that I was put back into a regular room and was watched over like a hawk. I had developed two internal abcesses, one was on the back of my pelvic wall and the other a little higher up. The docs decided to put me on fast acting anti-biotics, they worked. But after not eating/drinking anything for 10 days I was left very weak and pitiful, I could barely walk. Consequently I have had a really rough recovery. In the beginning (after my second discharge) I had a nurse coming twice a day, then after a week once a day, and now only every other day. And as soon as I have no more drainage then I will be back on my own and very happy about it thank you!

I'm so glad to be in the middle of my recuperation. It means I don't have to be at the beginning of it. I'm much stronger and not so depressed for the inability to do things for myself. Tomorrow Tony goes back to work and leaves me home to fend for myself. I can do it, but I cannot do anything but make my meals, use the bathroom and the computer. I can open the door for my nurse and I can set everything up for him/her to re-pack my incision before he/she comes.

I can use my scooter to get around downstairs to decorate for Christmas in a limited way. As Neil A. Maxwell said, I cannot afford to visit the saloon of self-pity! I can listen to talks on BYU that are uplifting and spiritual, I can read or play my video games and I can finish my 'Twilight' book series. I do not feel sorry for myself, yet I am getting antsy about doing more in the house. I have been cooking with the aid of my kitchen high stool which hasn't been too confining, except I cannot cook/bake anything too complicated because I cannot go back and forth from the pantry to the kitchen.

I cannot thank God enough for allowing to get better so I can soon be doing all the very mundane things in life that most of us take for granted. So I vow to be good and not push myself too far. I want to be all better by Christmas so I can spend it happily with family and friends.

Recuperating

2008-11-15T21:22:00.000-08:00

It's been a week ago yesterday I went into the hospital to have hernia surgery. Something that was supposed to be fairly routine ended up being my worst nightmare.

Yeah, yeah, I know - my labor pains were worse than yours. That's not what this is all about though.

When the surgeon proceeded with the laser surgery he found he could not finish without opening me up incisionally. The first hernia surgery I had was the cause of all my problems. Wire mesh had been inserted to prevent another hernia in that particular area of my abdomen, but the mesh had wrapped and twisted itself around a large portion of my small bowel and had strangulated. Now I know why I suffered such excruciating pain when I would have an episode. To make a long story short - the surgeon ended up having to re-sect my small bowel after removing 5 inches of it.

The next day found me in bed packed in ice because I was spiking a fever of more than 102. I spend the next three days packed in ice, sweating profusely. I had nothing to eat or drink for five days and was watched over by a wonderful cadre of nurses and aids. I remained on a morphine drip for six days and when I finally woke up on Tuesday morning I realized I had not been okay. The surgeon told me he was so very, very worried about me. I was so messed-up I didn't even realize why the nurses kept packing me with ice. The worst of it for me was in the middle of the night when I would start perspiring so badly my sheets and gown would have to be replaced, and then again each morning.

I am so grateful to God for His kindesses to me and for allowing me to come back to the living all in one piece,and for the prayers of my family and friends, but most especially for my dear husband who has watched over me with unceasing love and kind attention.

Family Stuff

2008-10-23T10:19:00.000-07:00

So far this month has been uneventful, thank goodness!

Last month I was terribly ill, Miguel was a victim of his company's downsizing and became one of the many unemployed, Ramona and Dan were dealing with a severely unruly teen, Julia Ann was a lady-in-waiting and my head was spinning.

Now, Julia Ann has a darling little boy, Eli Anndrew, Miguel is teaching in a music school in Santa Monica, CA, I am still ill and am scheduled for surgery on November 7th. Thanksgiving is coming up (at Ramona's again this year) and Christmas is around the corner! Yikes! Where did the year go?

But I guess the BIG NEWS of the year will be the fact that we are back in contact with Audrey and her children and grandchildren and our great-grandchildren! Hallelujah! Forget the past I say and let's move on. Enough already. I still don't know why Audrey just walked away from the family - we didn't do a thing that I recall to precipitate her decision. At least we don't have to deal with anything like that.

We are happy to note that by the end of November we will be the proud great-grandparents of eight (8)! Yay!

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Fall to all out there in cyberland, and may you enjoy your family more in the coming months than you have for a long time. I know we will.

Dodgers!

2008-10-13T21:06:00.000-07:00

I'm so fed up with the Dodgers pooping out this late in post-season! Just Get 'er Done!

!Home Sweet Home!

2008-10-01T14:36:00.000-07:00

We've been home a whole week today and I finally feel back. Tony and I have scrubbed and sterilized the kitchen/pantry, and I've gotten a little cleaning done on the second floor. Basically it's as though we just moved in. Everything is still in boxes, etc.

We also had to buy and install a new stove in the apartment kitchen because the production company dropped the old one and broke the electronic ignition in it, along with the bottom back step of the back porch - which they replaced. But I couldn't prove they broke the stove so we were out $400.00... ouch! They also had to replace a mattress for one of the beds in the guest bedroom. I'm just glad to be home.

Miguel and Greg took such good care of us at their home, it was truly amazing. I only cooked twice in the whole five weeks we were there. I have really learned to appreciate our home and our comforts from this experience, and to never, never trust a production company when the people say they will take excellent care of our home.

Eli's Here! Our Newest Great-Grandson

2008-09-16T23:30:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Vargas Family Values

2008-09-09T23:13:00.001-07:00

Gettin' Antsy!

2008-09-09T22:13:00.000-07:00

Really missing home today, we only have a few days left now, so I'm hoping the MTV production is wrapping-up. I love staying with Miguel and Greg - they've been so nice to us, they hardly let me cook, and they are really good cooks. Yesterday I cleaned the stove top for them, they were amazed and I was really happy I could do something that made them happy.

I heard today that a former bishop of ours is fighting colon cancer, that saddened me greatly. I'm sorry he's had to suffer so much, life is tough enough without colon cancer!

Since we've been here Miguel was layed-off from his job and is having a difficult time finding work. We are really praying for his success in scoring in the job market.

I'm anxious to go to church this Sunday because it's my day to teach Relief Society. I love teaching and am happy to do it. It's really been hard commuting to church. This past Sunday Miguel and I went to his ward which is the Studio City Ward. They were not friendly, but I did enjoy their testimony meeting. Miguel didn't approve of the testimonies because he said it bugs him because members don't know what comprises a testimony. I know what he means, but I still enjoyed the meeting, especially having the opportunity to partake of the Sacrament.

Sabbath Day

2008-09-08T00:34:00.000-07:00

I'm just draggin' along over here. I think I'm depressed because I know I'm homesick! I can hardly wait to go home. I think I'm definitely going to appreciate our home more from now on.

Went to the Studio City Ward Sacrameeting meeting today with Miguel. I thought it was nice, it was testimony Sunday so we heard lots of stories.

Our bath tub has been plugged up ever since we came. It's water up to your ankles when you take a shower in it. Well, yesterday Miguel's landlord came and poured some acid down it. Didn't help at all - typical male, thinks anything is better than doing the right thing, it just needs to be snaked out!

It was hot - again today, waiting for the weather to take a cool turn. I worked on my genealogy today along with watching the "House" marathon on the USA channel and playing my Tony Hawk Pro-Skater 3 video game. Got very bored. Cooked a roast with all the fixins', but we didn't eat until 9:45 PM when Tony got home from church. Sometimes I feel like a widow!

First Followup

2008-08-27T14:18:00.000-07:00

So here we are ensconced at Miguel and Greg's house. We have our own room/bathroom, a TV (with cable) and our own cell phones. I miss our home. Miguel and Greg have been so kind and gracious in making our stay comfortable. We've been here a week tomorrow and so far all is well. We share cooking/cleaning and do our own laundry.

Our meals have been very interesting because they eat no fat or carbohydrates - and we eat all that garbage! However, I have ordered a month's worth of Medi-Fast meals on the recommendation of my friend Helen Peery. She's managed to lose a great deal of weight, so it's seemed the right time to take her advice. If I can stand the food I should do just fine, otherwise it will be a real struggle!

Lauren is back at USC and I'm so glad, I've missed knowing she was here. We will be spending Labor Day with her and some friends. It should prove to be a fun day.

Miguel was let go of his position at work and is looking madly to find new work. He has so many obligations, not the least of which is his daughter, Melissa. I hope and pray for his success. This is certainly a very cruel world, thank goodness we have so little time to think about it, since we all have to immediately move on.

Tony is home for the next two days. He has had a bad cold and has not been feeling well at all. He recently had a procedure done when he gave blood, that takes his red cells and packs them to be used in critically ill patients. After the procedure he immediately felt awful - the next day he came down with a raging head cold. He cannot have that procedure done again, I guess he's finally too old. Ha!

A Whirlwind Two Days!

2008-08-14T21:15:00.000-07:00

Hello all - okay, let me give you the skinny. A few months ago I took a huge step for myself in buying a site on "IWantFilming.com". We have always worked through location companies and they take 40% of the profit - this time I brokered the shoot myself, so we get 100% of the take. I put our house on there and waited. After checking a couple of times and seeing no hits, I gave up and said to myself, "when the time comes to re-instate the site I'm cancelling." Ha! The following week (earlier this week). I got a call from an Assistant Producer for MTV, he wanted to see our home because he thought it would suit a new reality TV show they are producing. I told him to come over. He did, and while he was here he called others on the production staff and told them to come quickly, he'd found the house he wanted. Two days later I was getting so nervous because members of the staff called and told me it was a 'done deal', yet I didn't hear from the 'powers that be' until I received an e-mail this morning that had been sent in the middle of the night. The contract was approved! Yaaaaaaay! Well, today has been a whirlwind of getting so much done, packing and getting ready to move everyone out of the house. Yes, the contract is for seven weeks, so we cannot remain in the house. Tony and I are moving to Miguel and Greg's home, and Linda and children and Kirk are moving to a nearby hotel - the production company will be paying for their stay, you do not want to know the cost!! I want you to know that we will not be incommunicado, I am taking all my computers/printers over with us, and will be keeping up with all that's going on.

To end the story I want to do two things, first I want to tell you that God hears and answers prayer. The day before the Assistant Producer called to see our home I had prayed most fervently that Heavenly Father would see fit to send us a really well-paying contract. As you all know, Tony is retiring in two years and we wanted to pay-off all our debts, pay tithing and be able to remain in our home 'til we decide where to move - that is with Heavenly Father's approval - and now we can do it. So we will be able to remain in our home until the housing market moves back up and we can sell our home for what it's worth. Thank you Heavenly Father!

Here's the e-mail I received in the middle of the night from the Assistant Producer:

Hi, Susan.

I have good news! We have been given the thumbs up from the network to use your house on our show. We started the signature process with the permit office early this morning because we were afraid if we waited we would run out of time. We now are waiting for the signature results, and I'm confident that will go well. We would like to move ahead with the moving company, and we have scheduled a time of 8 am for Friday, if that is okay with you. I'd like to have someone come through the house with a video camera beforehand, as I mentioned last night, to record where all of your belongings are, and to insure they are put back exactly where they were at the end of the show. Would Thursday be a good day for this? I'd like to do it before any of the things start to get moved so if that isn't a hassle for you, it would be great. We'd also like to take some measurements of the driveway, etc, so I'd like to send one of our coordinators over there tomorrow at your convenience. What time would work for you?

We realize that moving out basically on Thursday/Friday am is a tight timeline for you, so if you aren't able to find a place that quickly, we can put you up in a hotel room for a day or two if that helps at all. How many hotel rooms would you need? I just want to make sure you are covered for what you need.

We'd love to come in and do a scout of the house on Friday as well - our key production people figuring out exactly what they want to shoot and where. They will probably be working around the moving/packing people. We'd also like to have someone from our company there supervising the packing up of your house to insure that all goes where it should to keep it safe and protected. As I mentioned on the phone last night, we are looking to move all of your things into your reading area/office area upstairs on the second floor, as well as the third floor/attic/living area. We'd like to keep things on site so we can easily put it back after we finish shooting.

Please give me a call or email me to let me know if this would work for you.
We are so excited to make this work - thanks so much!

Amy

The picture is our home - we are so grateful God directed us to live here 15 years ago, we love our home and are so happy we can now stay here until we are ready to leave, and not beforehand.

E-Bay or Otherwise Millionaire - Ha!

2008-07-23T20:29:00.000-07:00

Alright, here's the skinny. I was in my bathroom washing my hands, after I dried my hands I turned around and looked down and my eyes fell upon the bathmat and what did I see? This. . .

Okay, does this mean I can go on E-Bay or another web site and sell this to the highest bidder? Remember, the toast that had a likeness of the Virgin Mary in the middle? It sold for several thousand dollars. I see the form of Jesus holding a lamb - what do you see? I always lose the opportunity to make it BIG. Arggghhh. . . Grrrrrr. . . !

Four For the Price of One

2008-07-22T21:30:00.000-07:00

Well, today I received marvelous pictures of my new, soon-to-be great-grandson, Eli Anndrew. He's just gorgeous! None of those old ultra-sound pics, he's in color and very, very real. Just take a look at him and tell me what you think. Of course I'm his gramma, so I get to say how wonderful he is. Tee Hee! He currently weighs 5.5 lbs and will be born on August 20, 2008. What a marvelous time we live in.

If You Know and Love a Teen

2008-07-22T15:50:00.000-07:00

I was at a wonderful birthday party last evening and ran into an old friend of mine, Joseph Larnyo. Joseph used to be a counselor to our former bishop and I have had occasion to work with him in our ward. He's a gentleman, has a beautiful wife and family, suffice it to say you would be very impressed by him. He has recently written a book for teens, which gives them the tools they need to succeed in life - couldn't I have used this when I was rearing my teens?

I am giving out his web site where you can order his book. I was so excited that he had already published it, because I'm going to give you the URL to his site to purchase his new book.

www.jijol.com

Some New Stuff

2008-07-17T15:33:00.000-07:00

Okay, you may have noticed I removed my Obama comments/picture. It is because I decided to start a new blog on my thoughts about world and national events, and other stuff that bugs me somewhat, or something about which I want to vent on. You can read this blog at:

http://susan-vargas.blogspot.com/

I feel I need to keep these two blogs separated. I hope you will visit both sites often.

A Mish Mosh of Thoughts

2008-07-14T22:19:00.000-07:00

Well, the time has come in our lives to begin deciding on what we expect to do at Tony's retirement. Our retirement funds are set up and we are ready to move onto this phase of our lives. We have to decide now whether or not to sell our home. The house is now so big with everyone but Linda and the kids and Kirk still here, we hardly spend time in many of the rooms. I have volunteered to have a small wedding reception for Jenelle Clawson and her (now) fiance, Damien Howard and a few of their converts and friends from her in L.A. They will be married August 22nd in the Nauvoo Temple and then they are coming out to L.A. for a week-long honeymoon, and they will be have this mini-reception during that time. I can't wait to see the both of them. They both served here in the L.A. CA Mission. The reception will be on August 28th and will be outdoors. I think we can manage a very nice reception for them. Well, I think we're just about ready for the Pioneer Trek next week and we are anxious to go now. I hope all goes well so that others will hear about it and want to go another time - perhaps in four years.

widget2

2008-07-14T22:04:00.001-07:00

A New Eternal Family

2008-07-11T22:54:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to announce that Dan and Ramona will be sealed together in the Los Angeles Temple on August 2, 2008 at 3:30 PM. Afterward they are having a reception at the Westwood Ballfield, behind the Temple. We are very excited for this event. It follows on the heels of Ewa-Solange's Birthday, which is August 1, 2008. She will be 12 years old, and that's so exciting. We are so proud of Ramona and Dan and all they have accomplished in such a short time. May Heavenly Father forever bless their union to the betterment of our Eternal Family. The Vargas Family and the Chronis Family.

Los Angeles Stake Pioneer Trek

2008-07-11T22:43:00.000-07:00

This is such a cool project. It has been set up for the youth of the stake, however there will be many adults/couples trekking too. I will be one of them, although I can't do the trek (can't walk that far) I will be driving the supplies vehicle and be in the distant background - unseeable to the trekkers. I will meet up with them every two hours for a rest stop and for meals and just before bedtime. The neat thing about this trek is that when we are finished we will show up at the Westwood Ballfield where the rest of the stake will have come to celebrate Pioneer Day. They will be there to greet us, just like the pioneers were greeted by the first parties of pioneers in 1847 in Salt Lake City. It will be a very spiritually reflective moment for all of us. I can hardly wait. We have been working on this for the past year. I personally created (with Ewa-Solange's help) the pioneer notebooks each youth will receive at the beginning of the trek. They will write their reflections of their hardships and 'aha' moments, and their testimonies. The book will be a remembrance they can always thumb through in later years to think upon their experiences on the trek. Tony has been so instrumental in all of this, along with Yvonne Bragg and so many others.

My Stomach

2008-07-10T20:49:00.000-07:00

Arggghhhh. . . ! I'm so tired of these hernias. The doc said after I had my last surgery that I have another one that's close to my navel, and that I should come to him when it starts hurting so bad I can no longer stand it. Well, I'm almost there! Yesterday's bout was just a little more than I can take. And I get so weak after I have an episode. Why didn't the doctor just take care of it when he was inside my stomach the last time? Well, enough of that. It's two weeks until we go on trek with the youth of the stake. I will be driving the supplies vehicle away from the trekkers. I won't be trekking, but I will meet up with them at the bathroom stops and for meals. I will be alone most of the time unless someone comes with me. Right now I think I'd rather be alone. I can read, or meditate or sleep or almost anthing. Well, I won't be able to use the internet. At least I don't think I can. Maybe I'll just take my laptop in case. Still waiting for money to rain from the Heavens. The attached picture is my niece, Laura Rose Lindgren. She is the daughter of my sweet brother, Matthew and his wife Kathy Lindgren. Isn't she gorgeous? All my nieces are movie star gorgeous!

Tired

2008-07-07T21:29:00.000-07:00

I am tired tonight and still have work I should finish. Looks like it isn't going to happen right now. I have another stomach ache. Glenn Perelman is staying for the next two nights because the Blackburn's are 'tenting' their house for termites. He took dinner with us tonight, so we'll probably share our evening meal with him for the next day or so. We put him in the bedroom in the downstairs apartment, he's happy there. I have so much genealogical work to do - scanning pictures, writing stories and more, I feel totally overwhelmed. I'm preparing to go on the trek as the driver for the trekker's supplies, etc. I'm anxious to go. It's only three days, but I will be totally alone for so much of the time. Ha! What's new? I have my lesson to prepare for Sunday, and Visiting Teaching paperwork to print out, yada, yada, yada. And on it goes.

Time Passes

2008-07-02T18:27:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I've neglected writing my blog lately. Tonight I ordered pizza online from Domino's Pizza. It came in no time at all, everything was in the order and it was hot - just the way we like it. We were supposed to go to church for a combined Wilshire/Adams barbecue. I just didn't feel like going since Tony has a meeting down in Torrance tonight, and I was going to have to take nearly our whole dinner over there, umph! Plus Ewa and Elias are here for the week and they want to just play games and rest. I'm so glad the kids are here for the week. I am also very excited for Dan and Mona because they finally have set their temple sealing date; August 2, 2008, the day after Ewa's birthday! I can hardly wait for the day to come. They are so happy, and they can finally think about having a baby now. Yay! Another grandchild to spoil rotten - love those grandkids! I'm swamped right now with making the notebooks for the kids that are going on the L.A. Stake Pioneer Trek in July. They are going to work out just fine. I had a little trouble finding the right paper and picture for the cover, but all of it came together and it's done. I just have to print them all out and bind them, that is the hard part. I'm going on the trek as one of the drivers. I will follow along with them carrying foodstuffs and other things. I'm excited to get to go.

The Heat

2008-06-22T19:47:00.000-07:00

I was afraid to mention the heat wave for the last few days - bad luck you know! Tonight it has cooled of considerably and I'm at my computer enjoying the cool breeze from outdoors. Today was the Sabbath so went to church. Accompanied Ginger while she sang, "What Would I Do". My playing sucked (as usual), but she was a good sport and got through it just fine. It always makes me nervous when Aaron is sitting behind me while I play, so I was worse than usual. Argghhhh. . . ! Melissa Marquis taught the RS lesson today and it was a very good lesson about 'saving the one'. She inspired me to try a little harder in bringing folks back into the ward by Visiting Teaching as well as other methods. I will try. Going to Dr. Molthen tomorrow - Yay! I so need an adjustment. Also, Tony will be leaving for the rest of the week on Tuesday to go to Stake Girls' Camp. I will be lonely for him.

Three Fun Days!

2008-06-17T07:52:00.000-07:00

Had so much fun yesterday. After Tony got home from work we drove up to Lancaster to have dinner with Mona, Ewa and Elias. Mona made a fantastic supper of white rice, fried rice and chicken/cream chesse filled wonton, pineapple and her special wonton dipping sauce (so delish!). For dessert she had made lemon curd squares - so tart and good. Then we packed up and brought them back to L.A. to stay for a couple of days while Dan is away with his Scout Group on a camp-out. We're taking them back Wednessday night. Today we'll wing-it and decide what we want to do. Anyway Mona is sleeping in, so is Ewa. Naturally Elias is sitting in my chair playing PS3 video games. He was probably doing that since 6 AM, before Tony left for work. Ha! It's so nice to hear the children's voices in the house. This home was built for children and a large family. We're going to relish the time we have them here this week. It's so good to see my grand babies and their Mom. The missionaries are coming to supper tonight, so I need to get a menu ready. Love having them over.

Quick Week, Faster Weekend!

2008-06-14T16:21:00.000-07:00

Here it is late Saturday afternoon and I'm waiting for Linda to finish dinner. She's making a birthday dinner for Tony. Tony is 60 today! Yay! Now I'm no longer alone - in my sixties! Ha! Dan, Ramona and Zack came down and stayed overnight last night because Zack had a soccer game at The Home Depot Center early this morning. Ramona brought a lovely dessert for a pre-birthday present for her Dad. I made barbecued ribs and macaroni salad for supper. We had a great time. Everyone but myself were in bed before 11 PM. Today Tony cleaned out the kitchen/dining room area in the downstairs apartment. He also took the blinds outside and steam cleaned them, they were very dirty. He also steam cleaned the pot rack over the stove in the apartment too. He knocked off about 3:30 PM, said he was tired - do ya' think? I wrapped his present. Had to make my own wrapping paper so I did it with brown service paper and patriotic stamps all over it, since Tony's birthday is also 'Flag Day'. It turned out nicely. Then I wrapped his presents and am ready. Oh, I also ironed a white shirt for him for tomorrow (Sunday). Kirk worked on the front lawn all day. He was trimming up the edges around the grass in the yard and out along the sidewalk. It always looks so much neater afterward. I'm playing the organ for Sacrament tomorrow, so I need to hit the piano for awhile tonight. Then it starts all over again tomorrow for Father's Day.

Money

2008-06-10T20:03:00.000-07:00

So tired of financial woes. This month is already a reminder to me that everything in life breaks. Tony is having trouble with his work car and I just don't want to shell-out the money to have it fixed. So instead we re-insured the Mustang, the worst car to have right now, with the price of gas! I knew these times were coming, but it's still all a surprise to me. Gotta' knuckle down now, no more playing around from now on. Back to tight budgeting again and using our year round Disneyland tickets! That'll be all the fun that is allowed. Still great fun though! I still love Disneyland. Pam was the first person to take me to Disneyland and I've never stopped. I had hoped that in our retirement we could travel some and take some of the grandkids with us each time. Still hoping, not sure we can do it though.

Sabbath Day

2008-06-08T22:54:00.000-07:00

I had quite a day today and I am very tired tonight, yet I don't want to go to sleep. I created and printed out - baby shower invites for the Wilshire Ward Relief Society, a lesson booklet for the Gospel Doctrine class in Adams Ward, I taught the class today, I also printed out scripture reminders for the Adams Ward Relief Society because I taught the class today, and I played the organ for Sacrament Service in Adams Ward too. Oh, and I created and printed out four (12 in all) more page covers for the LA Stake Pioneer Trek for Tony. I also am responsible for deciding on matching personal names for all our youth trekkers, and I need to have this done by this week. Well, I'm going to close this because I need to get up early tomorrow because Sister Sandra Barret (our Bishop's wife) is coming over to use my sewing machine to edge a quilt she is making for one of her sons who lives in Alaska. I've had more than a full day today.

Feeling Better

2008-06-05T19:27:00.000-07:00

Yes, I feel a little better, but not quite. I didn't go to Dr. Molthen today. I just couldn't drive that far. My stomach still doesn't feel okay. I'm expecting to feel better this weekend, I'm going to be very busy this Sunday again. Tony's birthday is pretty soon (the 14th), so the kids and I need to get a party goin'. I cannot believe he's going to be 60! Wow! We were just kids when we got married. Time has certainly flown by. Soon we will be great-grandparents, pretty incredible.

Not Food Poisoning

2008-06-04T18:38:00.000-07:00

Okay - turns out I had some weird kinda' flu. Several people have had it already, that I know and say they have really suffered with it. I concur. I am certainly much better today, although my stomach still hurts and so do my ribs from all the violent hurling! I'm kind of glad it was the flu because I wouldn't want to think my favorite salad poisoned me. Ha! By tomorrow I should be able to drive down to Tustin to get my treatment and get on with my week. I did get my Visiting Teaching report done today, as well as a lot of changes in the districts, plus I created a whole new district. I think that was a great deal of work for today. Tonight I just want to rest.

Food Poisoning

2008-06-03T18:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, food poisoning. I spent the entire night suffering, then when I awakened began hurling! I was so weak I couldn't stand. I finally was able to take a shower, then went back to bed and slept until 4 PM. I do feel better, but am still very weak. I had to cancel dinner with the Elders and my appointment with Dr. Molthen, plus Tony had to be in Westwood for a 6:45 PM meeting and I had to make sure he had a shirt and dinner. He took care of everything but the shirt and made it out of here in time. I expect to feel much better tomorrow.

Walnut Baklava

2008-05-31T21:09:00.000-07:00

This is one of my absolute favorite treats! And not too hard to make either.

INGREDIENTS:
4 cups finely chopped walnuts
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 cup butter, melted
1 (16 ounce) package frozen
phyllo dough, thawed

SYRUP:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a bowl, combine the walnuts, sugar and cinnamon; set aside. Grease a 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish with some of the melted butter. Unroll phyllo dough sheets (keep dough covered with plastic wrap while assembling).
2. Place one sheet of phyllo in baking dish; brush with butter. Top with a second sheet; brush with butter. Fold short ends under to fit the dish. Sprinkle with about 1/4 cup nut mixture. Repeat 18 times, layering two sheets, brushing with butter and sprinkling with nut mixture. Top with remaining dough; brush with butter. Cut into 2-in. diamonds with a sharp knife.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45-55 minutes or until golden brown. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine the syrup ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Pour over warm baklava. Cool on a wire rack.

Now I Understand. . .

2008-05-30T18:38:00.000-07:00

Here are Three of my Favorite People I can't wait to see again. Grandma Lindgren, Dad and his second wife, Louise.

In this life we are literally trying to find our way HOME! Home to Heavenly Father. In my Patriarchal blessing I was told that I was given all the gifts I needed before I came to Earth to get back to Father in Heaven. Well, I've been using them - all. I've tried to use my time, talents and energy with which I have been blessed to do just that, to find my way home. Now that I'm nearing the downward spiral of Earthly years I realize just how it all worked. I also know now that I wasn't as successful sometimes as I should have been or wanted to be. Life has been difficult sometimes, but that isn't what really matters. What really matters is that I have remained faithful and have learned all I could regarding the Gospel and it's attendant ordinances. This will serve me well when I do leave here to go home. This reflection has given me much comfort. I know now that I couldn't be perfect while here, and that I will get the opportunity to become perfect in the next life. But I really believe I did my best; yes, I made lots of mistakes, but I have learned from them. I have a testimony of the reason for our existense in this life now, and for that I am so grateful.

The Daily Grind

2008-05-29T12:03:00.000-07:00

Hey! The Daily Grind, that's what I ought to name a newsletter! Ha! Well, today that's what I feel like - that I'm in the daily grind. I spent some time trying to rally my old high school companions today. They are apparently so embarrassed at how they look they won't post any photos. Argghh. . . ! We are what we are. We received our new Disneyland Annual Passes in the mail today. I can't wait to go! We haven't been for quite awhile and I miss it. I've been talking to Mona about selling off all our stuff outa' the big house to get ready to downsize. She's going to come down when Dan is on his scouting trip to help me take inventory and make lists of stuff I wanna' sell on E-Bay, etc. I also have to research burial information for Lancaster. We need to buy our spots and pay a pre-need plan so the kids don't have to do anything but show up at our funerals. It's too hard for kids to go through all that when their parents die.

Life is Wonderful. . . and Short!

2008-05-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad to be alive today! I feel so good since I began going to Dr. Molthen, my pain is gone and I can lie down, stand, bend and sit without pain now. If you find you need chiropractic help contact me first. I have been to chiropractors in the past and thought I'd done all I could do, and to no avail. On a previous visit I asked the doctor how long it would be before I felt really well and didn't have to visit him so often. He reminded me that I have been ill for DECADES! Somehow that just hit me between the eyes, I realized how long I've been sick and seriously I don't know how I survived and lived thus far. I have become acutely aware of my body and all it's functions, where before I was just plain numb. It is so amazing what our bodies can endure in this life. I believe if we were adjusted after we exit our mother's womb we would not have to suffer so much. I absolutely recommend this method of chiropractic to everyone. It is non-manipulative, there's no pain when you are adjusted and the feeling of well-being is enhanced by a real physical change. It's not crunching your spine or twisting your head un-neccesarily at all. I am 63 years of age and knew that somewhere in the world the Lord had the answer for me. That answer came through genealogy of all things. A cousin of mine, Betty Wontorek, contacted me and we met and compared notes, but more than that we became friends and began talking about arthritis because both of us suffer from it. She began to tell me about Dr. Molthern and convinced me very quickly that I needed to go to him. So I did. I was truly on the edge of never being able to walk again. After my first adjustment I have not used my cane once. I haven't used my scooter in the house or elsewhere. I can't wait until I'm well enough to go to Disneyland again without having to rent a scooter! I owe my life to Betty, literally! And I thank God for sending her to me at this most crucial time in my life.

In Memorium

2008-05-24T17:16:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Chris passed away this week from ALS/Lou Gherig's Disease.

She has always been very dear to me and I will miss her terribly in this life.

"'Til We Meet Again" Chris.

Christine Effie Marriott, age 53, passed away Wednesday, May 21, 2008, in Centerville Utah.
She was born on July 1, 1954, in Provo, Utah, the daughter of Dean and Lanette Robison. Married Robert A. Marriott January 4, 1979 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. She was an active member all her life holding many positions, but the ones she enjoyed most were those serving in Young Women's organization. Her greatest joy was that of Mother, Wife, and love for her fellow man.
Survived by her Husband Robert, son Justin, daughter Sagan, her mother Lanette, sister LaDean, and brother Gary, along with many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held Wednesday, May 28, 2008, at the LDS Church located at 1298 North 400 West, Centerville, Utah, at 11:00 am with a viewing from 9:45 am to 10:45 am., under the direction of Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary.
Grave dedication will be held at Orem Cemetery, 1520 North 800 East, Orem, Utah, at 2:30 pm.
Thank you does not express the gratitude to those at LA Freightliner, her friends, countless Church members, Care Givers, and especially family whose devotion, service, and love for Christine provided comfort and joy through her struggle with ALS.

Working on Genealogy

2008-05-21T20:38:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am for a few minutes before I have to do something else. I am getting out my old, and I mean old - photos and creating albums with them. Hopefully I may have them finished in a few months. They are of my Kirkpatrick ancestors and I don't want to lose the pictures, but it's very hard work. But, onward and upward. I had to have another adjustment yesterday, today I had my massage. I feel better but my left back is bothering me again. I'm sure it's the weather. I have to win this battle! I want to go on the trek with Tony and the kids from the LA Stake. I'm adding a picture to this note to see what I'm working with, even some are tintypes. Very interesting.

James Francis "Frank" and Frances "Fannie" Ligon Kirkpatrick and Family - Early 1900's

URLs I Love

2008-05-18T23:04:00.000-07:00

Facebook

Plaxo

MyFamily

Ancestry

Family Search

Favorite Chicken/Turkey Salad

2008-05-18T23:01:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

1/2 cup mayonnaise (use Best Foods -absolutely not Miracle Whip!)
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons curry powder
2 cups cooked chicken or turkey -- chopped
1/4 cup diced celery
1/2 cup Thompson seedless grapes -- halved
1/4 cup almond slivers (cashews are also delicious)

Instructions:

Blend mayonnaise, lemon juice, and curry powder. Mix into remaining ingredients.

Chill at least one hour before serving.
Serving Ideas : Serve on whole leaves of Romaine lettuce.
Serving Size : 4
Preparation Time :0:20

I served this at Elisa's wedding supper at her request.

Obregon Family Members

2008-05-18T22:52:00.000-07:00

Tony's grandfather, Hilario Obregon with his sister, Luz Obregon Hernandez and her son, Ernesto Hernandez.

Wayne and Charla Sant

2008-05-18T22:50:00.001-07:00

Our dear friends, Wayne and Charla Sant enjoying their granddaughter at their home in Richland, WA.

Busy Day

2008-05-18T22:47:00.001-07:00

It's late now and I want to get a small blog up for the day - you see, I'm trying to remain faithful to it. Today was really busy and I didn't sleep well last night because of the excessive heat. I played the organ for Sacrament then taught Gospel Doctrine and played the piano for Relief Society. I haven't taught Gospel Doctrine for years, so this was different. However, it was with one exception the best calling I've ever had in the church - being Relief Society President was the BEST! I still miss it and it's been years since I was released. I'm looking forward to a rather busy week again, doctor appointment, make a lot of calls, especially to a woman who's investigating the church. Pay some urgent bills and try to survive until payday - again. Well, I'm tired so I am going to close. Hopefully I can add more to this the rest of the week.

Miguel's Car Accident

2008-05-17T08:36:00.000-07:00

Miguel called me on Tuesday morning of this week to say he'd been rear-ended by a driver while on the 101 Fwy. He had a lot of rear-end damage and was having trouble with his head/neck already. He stayed home the rest of the day instead of going to work. Next day he got a rental car and put his car in the shop. Friday he called to say his head/neck and legs are really bothering him, I advised him to see the doc - he said he had no time because of what he was doing at work - a huge deadline. His car sustained more than $4300.00 damage, so you know he took a pretty hard hit. The trunk lid had to be replaced, the bumper and lots of other necessary stuff. He has an Altima, so you know it would be expensive to repair it. However, I am most worried about his health. I know how serious back/neck/leg injuries are, maybe right now he can endure it, but later on he will have far worse symptoms. Car accidents are not to be taken lightly, even if there is no blood/flesh damage.

A Really Quiet House

2008-05-16T14:06:00.000-07:00

Linda and the kids are gone to Disneyland for the weekend so today it is very quiet here. I've been updating pictures and such on my web site, not really working today. This weekend is going to be very busy, on Sunday morning I'm playing the organ for Sacrament Service, after that - teaching Gospel Doctrine (the Adult Scripture Class), then I go to Relief Society to play the music and coordinate Visiting Teaching. I'm way behind in getting prepped for all this, so I feel lazy and guilty. Guess I'd better get with it, huh? Perhaps this is why I needed a quiet house this weekend. Also, today (Friday) I was to have met with the Missionaries for the Adams Ward at an investigator's home for lesson #2, but the lady, Margarite called the Missionaries to tell them she was still at the doctor's office and would have to re-schedule with us. The Missionaries then asked if I would look for Margarite on Sunday and see that she is fellowshipped. WOW! Hope I can do all that! Ha! By the way - it's 95 degrees F. here today.

Behold Your Little Ones

2008-05-14T21:49:00.000-07:00

I love this painting and always imagine myself as one of these children.

Vacation What?

2008-05-14T21:40:00.000-07:00

I've been so busy all week because Tony's been home on vacation. Usually I just do what I wanna' do, but we like to go places together. We had dinner at In n' Out this afternoon, then we came home and watched "Lord of the Rings, Return of the King", and then watched the Dodger game, and then watched the Lakers. Lots of tube viewing today. But that's okay, we practically never watch T.V, especially together. Today was Tony's last day of vacation, so he's back to work tomorrow. I have so many things to get done that take quite a bit of time - looking forward to the peace and quiet. Also, Linda and the kids are going to Disneyland for the weekend, so it will be especially quiet here this weekend. Yay!

However, Tony was able to paint all the woodwork in the breakfast room and re-painted the blue-bedroom as well as the woodwork in there too. He was sick with a really bad cold the first four days he was home, so he was disappointed he wasn't able to complete all his projects during this time. The purpose of his vacation was to do all the work he hasn't been able to complete. He also planted our veggie garden and cleaned out and trimmed the entire herb garden. He did lots of work!

Birthday Party

2008-05-12T22:06:00.000-07:00

Today Tony and I drove up to Lancaster and spent the afternoon with Ramona and her family. It was her birthday today, so we took all the fixin's to make enchiladas, and tacos. We all had a great time cooking and visiting with the grandchildren, and helping them with their homework. It was great.

When we left Ramona's to come home I said to Tony, "We brought so much up with us and hardly anything came back with us." He answered me, "Oh yes we brought plenty back with us - good memories."

He's right. I love being with my kids and grandkids, there's just nothing like it in the whole wide world.

I'm feeling so much better, I can't wait to go to my third appointment with Dr. Molthen tomorrow. I'm anxious to tell him of my improvement!

We were going to stop at Disneyland on the way home, but the Elders (missionaries) called just as we got home. They asked if I can meet them at an investigator's home tomorrow at 2 PM, so nix on Disneyland. Darn. Oh well, I love sitting through the missionary lessons with investigators, it's really spiritual and fulfilling. But I did want to go to Disneyland too. Oh well, next time.

Maybe I'm Getting the Hang of This - Ha!

2008-05-08T23:30:00.000-07:00

Today was very busy. I played the organ for the funeral of Aretha Johnson, who was a beautiful woman from our ward. She suffered a stroke in the past few months and never awakened from it. I also accompanied Doris Russell Lett as she sang, "His Eye Is On the Sparrow." She sang it beautifully. I didn't go to the internment, which was as Inglewood Cemetery, instead I stayed in the kitchen and visited with all the sisters from Relief Society who were preparing the repast. I left shortly before the family returned because I suddenly felt so tired. I came home and ate lunch, visited with Tony for awhile then went upstairs and took not one, but two naps. I am going back to the chiropracter tomorrow morning and I expect I will be tired when I get home, hence more naps. I felt really good today. So much improved from my previous condition, and I am anxious to get another adjustment to feel even better.

Easy Crochet Patterns

2008-05-08T23:24:00.000-07:00

Health Issues

2008-05-07T20:37:00.000-07:00

I went to my new chiropractor yesterday and so far, so good. No pain at all. I've had some stiffness because of the change in the weather, but it's right in the middle of my back, not where I've had the pain before. I am frankly very encouraged. I go back on Friday to see if my neck is holding the adjustment and to get another adjustment. This treatment is so radical to me since their is no manipulation of my spine at all. It's so hard to believe it works, but it does.

2008-05-05T14:33:00.000-07:00

I'm so tired of always having to worry about money! Always the bills coming in and the money going out. I want to gain complete control over our money and never listen to the Gods of Greed again!

It's so difficult to live with so much stress over money all the time. We're about ready to retire and I can hardly wait! Keeping up this big house has become such a burden. I used to look at it as a wonderful investment, now it's just weighing us down. We need to sell and move into a little apartment until we decide where to retire, and leave this "woman killer" for good and all. Even when we sell our home we are not leaving Los Angeles until Tony completes his calling and the Lord says he wants someone else to fill his shoes. He loves his calling so much that he cannot bear the thought of being released just to move. We will just find a small place to live until we are finished here and then move on, probably to Lancaster, CA where Mona and the kids are. It's so expensive to live in L.A. now.

I Have Great Ideas

2008-05-05T11:39:00.000-07:00

Today is "rest" day for me, since Sunday is always a whirlwind and merry-go-round day.

I'm checking out what crafts I need to complete so I can pick-up others on the side that are just waiting for me to get started. Oh yes, I have great ideas - but will I ever finish? Hmmm. . .

I am excited for tomorrow. I'm going to a new doctor who is reputed to be one of the best chiropracters in the U.S., and who specializes in my health issues.

I am picking up my cousin on the way to the doctor and afterward we are going to lunch before I go back home. So it should be a really good day for me.

Tony is at home today with a very bad cold. I hope he gets well right away because he will be on a working vacation for the next week beginning on Wednesday. There are some important things that need to be taken care of around the house that require more than a weekend. I hate to see him be sick his whole time off from work.

Apron Cookbook Craft - My Design

2008-05-04T23:48:00.000-07:00

Open each of the attached files (one at a time!).

Copy and paste them into your word processor (I use Lotus WordPro or Microsoft Works) any good word processor will work.

In your word processor, open a new page and cut and paste each picture onto separate page(s) , making sure the front and back covers are exactly the same size, (the recipe card fits inside the large squares of the front/back covers.)

You will need to cut/past and print-out several copies of the recipe card picture(obviously - to use for your recipes.)

Hand write or "cut/paste" your own recipes onto the recipe card(s), or paste your own recipe cards onto the "recipe card" template provided here.

Print on card stock quality paper (this makes it sturdy). I also laminate my pages and covers, however, if you don't have access to a laminator just be certain you use good quality paper and try not to spill anything on the pages/covers.

Finally, bind the pages and front/back covers together. I use the "Rollabind" system, but if you don't have that - a good hole punching apparatus will work, just make certain the holes are evenly punched-out.

Your completed project should look like the picture located in the "Review" files on the front page, which was entitled "Apron Cookbook".