How did we ever...

... live without cell phones?

Well, me, myself, I can take it or leave it. Mostly. I still have a land-line. I'm not ready for that break up. I do like my cell phone. It is certainly a convenience. But...

... Before cell phones I knew ALL of my family and friends' phone numbers. By heart. Now, well, not so much. Normally that wouldn't be such a big deal, but today my phone died. Completely. I had about 30 or so WONDERFUL pictures on it, and, of course, my entire phone book, complete with e-mail addresses, fax, cell and land-line numbers. Now they are gone. All gone.

I should have expected it. You know, with Murphy's Law and all. I've been getting messages from Verizon for months telling me that it was time for my "New every two" upgrade. I've been ignoring it because I was happy with my pretty pink razor with the pretty pink car charger, and pretty pink carry case purse looking thing and pretty pink cover all to match. Like the saying goes, "If it 'ain't broke, don't fix it." Well, now it's broke and I can't fix it, either.

Now I have a maroon LG something-or-other with way too many bells and whistles. I mean, what ever happened to a phone just simply being a phone? It has a camera, mp3 capability (whatever in the world that means), and a qwerty key board. Like I ever text. I much prefer to actually talk to live people and I really don't even like it when people text me. Call me, let me hear your voice, stop by and visit, let me see your face. I like things up-close-and-personal. Just like in those much famed good-ol'-days! I am most certainly an "old school" kind of girl, as I think I'd mentioned in a previous blog. :)

The point is, I suppose, if you are reading this and you'd like me to call you sometime, you're gonna' have to send me a message or give me a call.

I've kept my number, but baby, I ain't got yours.

On my way...

...to my old self. I'm not going to say how much I weigh, but it is a LOT more than I want. I found out after my mom died that I tend to eat under stress. Don't get me wrong, I had started gaining weight before that, during the last couple of years of my marriage. I wasn't happy. I didn't know how to fix it.

Anyway, one weekend while the kids were gone, I was sitting on the couch watching a movie feeling sorry for myself. I was in the middle of a nasty divorce, my mother was gone, my sister was gone, my kids were with their dad, I was all alone, had no job, bills to pay and was 20+ miles away from anything even resembling a friend or family and I was F.A.T. ! Could my life really be any worse? yep - my own personal pity party!

I had already eaten dinner. I was sitting on the couch in the stereotypical scene; sweatpants, baggy shirt, pony tail and HUGE bowl of ice cream. I felt physically full, but I was so hungry. As I shoveled a spoonful of chocolate covered ice cream in my mouth, I realized, "I am so full, I'm going to be sick!" and I took another bite. Just then, it was like a giant 2x4 hit me across the head. It was at that moment I realized what I was doing. A couple of weeks later I was talking to my aunt on the phone about it and she said, "Yep, I know. Your mom told me that with her death you'd either turn into a skeleton or blow up like a balloon. She was worried about you." Well, balloon it is! ( I wish it had been skeleton!)

That realization helped a little. At least it made me more aware. But over the course of the next year or so, with all the stresses going on, including my dad's near fatal heart attack, quadruple heart bypass surgery, other health problems and the dragging divorce, I still continued to gain weight.

So, the point is this. Late last winter I joined a gym. I've been working out, at first regularly, then not so much with summer and all, but still more than before. Now that the kids are back in school and things here are settling into a routine again, my gym routine can begin again, too. I'm also on a diet. So far I've gotten rid of (not "lost", I don't want my brain thinking I need to "find" it again *wink*wink*) over 20 pounds. At this rate, by Christmas I will be back to my old, younger, self. I am really excited about that.

I have to admit - the diet sucks! I don't like it. But, I am down nearly 2 pants sizes, and that part I LOVE! So, for those of you who have seen some of my pictures (there are very few)- just wait until Christmas. I'll actually be happy to have my picture taken :)

In the past 12 months...

...I have read a lot of books. When I first came to Oregon in late July we were staying at Darren's dad's house in Portland. I didn't want to be in the way, so I stayed in the basement and tried to not be a burden. We didn't have TV reception but we did have a tiny TV and Darren's X-box that we could use for a DVD player. Then when we moved to Salem last August we had no real TV reception. Darren was driving to Portland every day for work and I was hanging out in a one-room loft while we were waiting for the house we were moving into to be ready. During those few weeks (in Portland & Salem) I was getting burned out on movies (we watched them almost every night when Darren got home), so I read. Then, at Christmas, Darren bought me some more books.

When the kids aren't here I can plow through books, reading a novel in just 2 or 3 days, at most. I get bored with no friends or family here so I don't really know what to do with myself when they aren't around. When they are home, I still read, but usually only at bed time. Then, it takes me about a week or so.

Just for fun, here are the books I've read since Mid-July, 2008; in no particular order:
( I have probably read more, but these are the ones I can remember)

By Sherrie Lord
2 Christian Romance Novels

They were very easy and fun to read and can be found online at:

http://www.sherrielord.com

By Anita Diamant
Biblical Historical Fiction


I read this book over Christmas Break, while my kids were in Idaho visiting their dad. It was a little slow in the beginning, while they were laying down the foundation, but over all, I enjoyed it.

I left it at my aunt & uncle's house out at the coast. I hope she doesn't give it away. It's one that I would like to read again.




By Nicholas Sparks
(I read all of these books during the 3 weeks I was in Idaho at the end of June - I also watched a couple of the movies while I was in Idaho -- as usual, the books were MUCH better.)



At First Sight




Message in a Bottle

Dear John

The Choice







The Lucky One



The Notebook




The Wedding






By Robin Cook



Harmful Intent







By Janet Evanovich




One For the Money

This one Darren bought for me. He said he'd read it a long, long time ago. He thought I might like it...




By Peter Straub




Mystery






The rest of the books I've read have all been by Dean Koontz. I won't bother with covers because there have been too many. So, I will just list them.

Fear Nothing
The Darkest Evening of the year
The Good Guy
Brother Odd
Twilight Eyes
Shadow Fires
Tick Tock
Forever Odd
The Funhouse
Hideaway
Odd Hours
Phantoms
Demon Seed
Watchers
Darkfall
The Husband
By the Light of the Moon
The Eyes of Darkness
The Face of Fear

How many more can I read by Christmas? Hhhmmmm..... :0)

Feeling Sentimental

Mama, Daddy, Denise (my sister), me, Kevin (my younger brother), my nephew Johnny (in front of my dad), my nephew Michael ( in front of me)

I've been really missing my mom lately. She was such a huge part of my life. She was more than just my mom. We really did almost everything together. From paying bills, to grocery shopping, to yard work, house work, painting, wall papering, road trips, just about everything. When the fair came to town we'd go every single day!

I don't have many pictures of her with me, here in Oregon. Most of them are still in storage. But here are a few...

This is, of course, my parents and me - February 1998


My mom - she and I had gone to Jackson for a weekend - just the 2 of us. I'm thinking it was taken around 2000. I'm in the picture, too - but... well, let's just say it isn't too flattering :o)



This picture was taken just a couple of months before she died...
I really wanted a "Generation" picture. I am so happy she agreed. She was in a terrible amount of pain but took the time to do this for me. As usual, she put the desires of her children ahead of herself. She was an amazing woman. If I am able to become even half of what she was I will have accomplished a lot.

I miss her so much...