Update

I'm getting complaints that I don't update my blog enough..LOL. Life is so busy right now. I got a new transcription account that keeps me so busy that I don't have time to do anything fun to even write about (except for babysitting my cute nephews..which was a nice break). I'm determined to get to Disneyland one day this weekend. I'm also missing scrapbooking. I do have a concert coming up the end of the month too! :)

Brendan is camping at a lake all week and will be home on Friday. I really miss him but he's having fun. He has been riding a sea-doo alot and excited he is old enough to actually drive it himself. They go on the boat every day all-day-long, wakeboarding, etc.. He's been a good boy and called his paranoid mom in the morning and evening, as I requested. Gary was teasing me that my umbilical cord didn't reach that far...I'm for sure out of my comfort zone! He's my baby. He's funny because he is having fun but he's missing his normal life here...playing Halo 2 on X-box live with our neighbor every single night until midnight, he missed a hockey game so he had me look up the game and see who won and go into the details of who did what, there's no Internet there.., etc. He sold his Guitar Hero II to someone, since he conquered it, and he was saving to by Wii but now Em got into it with her friends so she went and bought it again while Brendan was gone so we told him and now he's itching to play that again. I think he'll be ready to come home tomorrow.

Emily is getting ready for Steven to come home tomorrow from Alaska. He will be home for two weeks and then goes back to Alaska but will more than likely be sent to Afghanistan in November. Pretty scary. I'm excited for her though. She really misses him. They have a lot of fun stuff planned, Sea World, skydiving, Disneyland, etc. She is going to LAX tomorrow by herself to pick him up....she doesn't want anyone to go with her......should be an experience.

Along with my crazy work schedule, we are dealing with the caretakers for my Dad and trying to figure out whether or not to put him in a home or try to work something out with the caretakers. I knew this day would come for him but it's heartbreaking. It's so hard to see him going through this. He tries so hard to tell us things but we can't understand him and that's what makes me so sad. I hate that he can't talk to us. I remember when my Mom died I kept thinking I wish I could hear her voice again. Such a sad disease. He pretty much is 100% care with needing to be fed, help walking, can't drink by himself, etc. so it takes a whole different turn when we are looking for places or caretakers. We are also having medication issues and that's a whole other story that gives Laurie and I both a headache!

Well, there's my life right now. I'm actually not hating my heavy work schedule, which is nice. I've learned over the years I guess. In the past I've taken accounts and wondered what I've gotten myself into but so far I'm OK. I have a good network of help when needed too, which I will use. Can't pass up the good money!

I decided that I won't like it when my kids get old enough and move out. Em has been busy this week and with Brendan gone too I miss my kids. One night she did stay home with me and we got salads from her work (B.Js) and brought them home and hung out together, which was nice. It's nice to have some alone time but after too much I want them back home real quick. :)

THE IMPACT OF KIND WORDS

A few days ago I was talking to someone on the phone, who I don't talk to on a regular basis, maybe every three or four months, and in our conversation she just casually mentioned that she prays for me and asked if there is something specific I'd like her to pray about for me. It just caught me off-guard. I don't know why but I was so touched that she said that. Nobody ever asks that. I pray for people too but I never actually ask if they have anything in particular they'd like me to pray for on an everyday basis, unless it's an obvious thing they are going through and asking for prayer. Some people don't even know I pray for them.

I get caught up in my world and I'm really good at focusing on other people and doing things for them and helping others but I'm horrible at asking for help when I really need something, I don't want to put anyone out. I see a lot of my Mom in me in this department so much. She didn't like a lot of attention put on her. I always say if I ever needed an ambulance I'd try and drive myself there first because I wouldn't want them to have to come. I don't often ask anyone to pray for me. She had no idea how much it meant to me. I guess just coming from someone I don't get to talk to enough it was touching that she would even think of me in between phone calls.

I guess what I'm trying to say is it reminded me that we never know what kind of day someone is having or what they might be going through and how something we say could have an impact on them without even meaning to, even just something little. I'm sure she had no idea it affected me.

I'm A Proud Mom

Brendan has a white helmet on.





I love this picture. Brendan used to coach a

team of 3-year-olds at the YMCA and this

little boy used to idolize Brendan. He even had

the same jersey number #6 (which Brendan still has and
has had from day one of playing hockey). He would
also wear his hat backwards like Brendan did back then.
So cute! We still keep in touch with him and his
family. They've gone to Kings games together. This
picture was taken about 4 years ago. My baby has
grown so much. He looks so small here.

Jr. Ice dogs
Brendan with some of his favorite Kings players outside the rink where they practice.

It was in his blood at 2 when all he wanted to do was play hockey video games.

I was hesitant to let Brendan play in this league he’s in right now for hockey. It’s a “select team” that he had to try out for and he is playing with 18-year-olds. It’s a full-checking league, meaning they slam you against the boards at full strength! He plays at Anaheim Ice (where the Anaheim Ducks practice, formerly Disney Ice). I was really nervous because I was thinking these kids would be just huge compared to Brendan with bigger attitudes but I really don’t notice a big difference.

What I’ve noticed this season is how much Brendan has matured with self control. He is so hard on himself and would always get so mad if he felt like he played bad or if the goalie did bad or nobody was passing, etc…It was always a long ride home when they lost or if he didn’t score. It ruined his night. (I know, it runs in my family with my older brother but I’m breaking the cycle..Ha). They would post the stats from the game on the Internet the next day and he would wait impatiently for them to post and would study the stats and was always in competition with somebody to have the most goals and would be battling it out for 1st place in goals and assists. He knew what team he was playing next and knew if it was a team with someone on it he was close to in standings in goals and assists. It was an unhealthy competition. It always frustrated me that he would get so mad and I always threatened to take him out of sports if he didn’t stop….all these years.

This season he is on probably the worst team he’s ever been on but with the best attitude he’s ever had. I guess he grew up or has been humbled by this team and by not being in the top two in the whole league for points and goals and the pressure to stay up there isn’t there. We didn’t know anything about this league or the coaches when we signed him up. He was asked by someone to try out so he did and he went to his first practice and it got canceled (without prior notice) so a team that was on the ice practicing let him practice with them and he really liked them and the coach so he asked at the front desk if there was room on that team and they let him switch (he had never met the other coach or team yet). It just so happens that the coach of this team he switched to is getting married this weekend so has really not been there for this team. They haven’t had a lot of practice and so when out there they aren’t really in-tune with each other regarding passing so they are kind of on their own not knowing who to pass it to.


After their fourth loss the other night I was shocked when Brendan said he doesn’t even care if they lose, he’s just having fun and loves the game and just wants to play!! WHAT?? I was proud of him. In the past he would have complained that he wanted off this team and how he should have stayed on the first team (who are doing really, really well). Of course, in this league they post the stats the minute the game ends so the first thing he did when he got home was make sure they gave him credit for his goal online but they lost 6-1 so it I guess it’s just his subtle satisfaction to see it. He didn’t say anything about it. I actually enjoy his games so much more now!! He really loves this game!

My IPod Makes Me Happy

I think it’s one of the best things ever made. I have 2128 songs and 1 movie (Finding Nemo). I know it would take a long time to get through all those songs but at least I have them when ready…. I put almost every CD I have and on there and have gotten a lot of music from ITunes.. I use my playlist a lot for easy access and change it often to hear new songs. It’s so easy and convenient. I've got numerous lists for specific things set up, such as a playlist specifically for working out, or a new CD I just put on there that I want to listen to a lot, etc.



I know they are common now and a lot of people have them but I was just thinking how happy mine makes me. I clean with it on, take it in my car, exercise with it, take it to the ice rink when I’m watching Brendan’s hockey practice for an hour and I don’t want to go home. I even listen to it when I’m done typing this one particular doctor who doesn’t dictate the date of birth and I have a huge long document of 40-50 patients and I wait until the end to go in and input the date of birth from the patient list. It makes it go by fast. Music is so powerful and so mood-changing when I want to relax, energy for exercise, praise music to feel great, etc. I love that you can play it through speakers you don’t always have to have headphones on.

I have such random music its funny. Besides a ton of predictable country music, I also have everyone from Frank Sinatra to Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, Lifehouse, Third Day, Queen and tons more. Fun!

I love that ITunes has so much available. You can even download a show, such as Lost, for example, for free. I’ve done that in the past and watched it at Brendan’s practice or waiting to pick him up from school or the movies or just anywhere you find yourself waiting it’s great to have it. I’ve downloaded Podcasts and listened to interviews I wouldn’t normally have time to listen to. I’ve had it for over a year now and I was thinking I’d be really bummed if something happened to it. I know they have new ones out all the time that do extra things but I’m very content with mine and hope to have it for a very long time. I've come a long way from my portable CD player and cordless headphones. This just makes me happy.

Pirates Premiere At Disneyland

We went to the pirates premiere at Disneyland last Sunday. I like the pirate movies but I wouldn't say I'm a huge fan, it's just fun to go watch all the stars walk down Main Street on the red carpet. Laurie and I went last year and had so much fun but really didn't know what to expect and didn't have the best seats. We didn't even take a blanket to sit on we had to buy a Cinderella beach towel at Disneyland. This year we were determined to be on the rail in the very front and came prepared with snacks, blankets, cards, IPod, water (last year they sold out), etc. I read on a message board that people were going to start lining up at 3:30 a.m. so Laurie and I got there at 3 a.m...(I know, we're crazy! but we do almost that early for the day after Thanksgiving sales) and I dropped her off so I could go beg the guy at IHop to let me leave my car there until the parking garage opened at 5 a.m. I gave him my cell # and told him to call me if he needed me to move it and he let me do it.

In the meantime, Laurie called to tell me that there were already 250 people in front of her in line. It was amazing. By the time I got over there the line was so far past her it was incredible. I read later that there were 1000 people by 5 a.m. We didn't want to stay if we weren't going to get a good spot because it gets crazy. Emily and her friend Katie were really excited and came at about 4:45 and we both got our cars in the line that was forming for the parking garage. About that time Laurie had already gone through the security gates and was in line to get into Disneyland. We were anxious because they don't let you hold spaces and everyone turns crazy once inside there. We needed six seats. We finally got over to her and we told Em and Katie to go one direction and gave them all the scoop on what kind of spot we were looking for and how to throw your long blanket down and lay on it and call us to tell us and we could compare who had the best spot. They ended up getting the best possible spot. Laurie and I went in one direction and the media was all lined up and there were no seats and we just ran all down Main Street finding nothing and the girls called and said they were right in front of City Hall, a perfect spot with no problems at all, they didn't even have to run like we did. It was funny. Brendan and his girlfriend came at about 8 a.m. It was really packed so we basically stayed in our spots all day playing cards, etc. It was really hard to climb in and out of the spot to go on rides and even get food or go to the restroom.

The stars were real
ly friendly and since we were actually the first group they saw after media they came right over and signed autographs and took pictures. Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom actually said a few words to us. It was fun because there were so many random people there like the host of the Bachelor, stars from Dancing With The Stars, Teri Hatcher, too many to name. There were screaming, crying, girls there and it got crazy but it was worth it. Brendan was over it all long before the stars arrived but he was a trooper for his girlfriend. Emily had enough of the people around us too but once the arrivals started she and Katie had fun. Why did we go through this you ask??? Well, Laurie and I are determined to stay young so we thought being adventurous was a sure way. We both say we probably wouldn't do it a third time there was another movie. People around us did get crazy when they saw the stars and that part was annoying but that's another whole post and I'm trying to forget about them.

My First Blog Post

I'm finally sitting down to start my blog. It's been fun picking out formats and colors, it reminds me of scrapbooking. I know I will be playing with this more and will probably change my entire format and color.... I am surprised I wanted to do this but I have really enjoyed reading other blogs and reading what's going on with friends and family and seeing pictures. Having most of my family and friends close by you would think we'd be totally caught up on everything but not so. I also find myself sending frequent photo albums and E-mails to friends and family that I don't get to see so much so this is a great way to share life!

My kids are very happy I've finally settled on this blog site. They were horrified to think that I might get a MySpace account and embarrass them by asking their friends to be my friend like some of my friends have done. I must admit I do have my connections to checking those MySpace pages....so anyway, here's my first post.