tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269671222024-03-23T12:00:46.860-06:00Vonnie-musingsVonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-39600622810344225362009-01-25T16:55:00.002-07:002009-01-25T17:03:18.888-07:00Feeling YuckyTom and I have decided we need to be sick at the same time. It seems like one of us feels bad and then when one is well the other isn't. It's my turn today. I did go to church this morning but I couldn't sing because I was losing my voice. I tried to but some weird squeaky sound came out and I figured I better not try. I enjoyed hearing the voices around me but it just doesn't seem right not to be able to join in. I have to feel better tomorrow because our Monday afternoon lifegroup is celebrating a birthday at Olive Garden. I read awhile this afternoon - I've finished two more novels since Thursday but neither of them were good enough to blog about. Now I'm ready to read some blogs.Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-57551971331118226562009-01-21T15:17:00.003-07:002009-01-21T15:43:31.620-07:00More Books and a MovieSince I last wrote I have completed two books and today I saw "Marley and Me". I'll start with the movie. I cried. I was told I would cry but that didn't stop me. I love dogs and I have owned 9 dogs - ten if you count the only dog I had growing up. Most were shelter dogs and the two poodles of the three poodles were purchased. The most dogs we've owned at one time was three and now we just have one. I hope I always have a dog. Our preacher says there will be dogs in heaven and I believe he is right.<br /><br />I just completed Change of Heart by Jody Picoult. My friend <a href="http://slstolltucson.blogspot.com/">Sandy</a> recommended this author and I have read 4 of her books now. They all leave you with something to think about. This one deals with the death penalty and also talks about the gnostic gospels, which if it weren't for Bobby Valentine I wouldn't know anything about. The gnostic gospels not capital or capitol punishment. <br /><br />I read more fiction than non-fiction but I am trying to balance it out more. I also finished re-reading Renewing God's People by Gary Holloway and Douglas Foster. This goes along with our Sunday morning class on Discovering our Roots. Next I am going to reread Phillips Yancy's book "Whats so Amazing About Grace" because that is the topic of our Tuesday morning Ladies class taught by "guess who"- Bobby Valentine. If you are reading this Bobby skip the next line. I think BV is the best Bible teacher and preacher that I have ever had the privilege of listening to and I have heard a lot in 66 years. And it's not just because he thinks dogs will be in heaven.Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-62570607251421935142009-01-15T09:13:00.003-07:002009-01-15T09:20:33.316-07:00Books and Movies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qW1qw8HW9en1qQ9NZulED1gPOMb7hTfYW7BC1GuBLTh-7WUWjqW2q0aZYgbByhL6iDDebDDIf4QFfifippMkeyvyYGiUpakiidSuahaPaQLgm-CvFoNBMW93_UNAcETANgfu/s1600-h/picture.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 82px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qW1qw8HW9en1qQ9NZulED1gPOMb7hTfYW7BC1GuBLTh-7WUWjqW2q0aZYgbByhL6iDDebDDIf4QFfifippMkeyvyYGiUpakiidSuahaPaQLgm-CvFoNBMW93_UNAcETANgfu/s400/picture.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291554679003122210" /></a><br /><br />Night before last I finished reading Broken Paradise by Cecilia Samartin. I cried through the last four chapters. I wish I was a better writer and could give you a review<br />of it, but I will say I loved it. Go to the library or Amazon.<br /><br />Yesterday I saw the movie Doubt. Go see it.Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-87454887584966936602009-01-12T15:22:00.002-07:002009-01-12T15:42:19.260-07:00RamblingsSince I am back to writing I decided to update my links and somehow deleted all of them. When I figure it out I'll try to get them back on. <br /> We just finished our Monday afternoon Life group and it was quite interesting. We were talking about what we wanted to study and decided on trying to follow up on Sunday's sermon. Yesterdays sermon was "who needs Palo Verde" (the name of our congregation) We then had an interesting discussion about changes in the church. I won't go into any detail but I think this discussion is going on in a lot of places and not just here. All I am going to say about that is I am glad I am a member at Palo Verde because I think this is going to be an exciting year both for our church family and for me personally. On Wed night we have a Ladies class that is studying Beth Moore's series on Esther. This is the first Beth Moore study I have been involved in and I must say I am really enjoying it. We watch a video on Wed night and then there is a follow up on Sunday mornings which I haven't attended since Bobby Valentine is teaching on "Discovering our Roots" a study of the Stone Campbell Movement, which is excellent so I don't want to miss that. The study of Esther is helping me to look at my life and think about what God's purpose for me might be. I know he doesn't want me just sitting around and reading blogs although since I am retired I do that a lot.Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-59411610104971160882009-01-09T13:46:00.002-07:002009-01-09T14:08:45.163-07:00New Years ResolutionsI haven't written on my blog since April of last year. I'm not sure why but I think it has to do with privacy and not being sure that I really want to share my thoughts or musings. I love reading blogs and I guess I want to be a part of this world again. So with that said here I go again.<br /><br />Tom and I have made a commitment (not a resolution) to go the Y again and so far this week I have gone 4 times and Tom 3. This morning he was ready to go at 8:30 and I wasn't. I was ready by 10:30 and he wasn't so I went by myself. I walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes and walked a mile and a half. I listened to Don McLaughlin's (North Atlanta Church of Christ) first sermon of the New Year on my IPod. I listened to Rick Atchley(Richland Hills Church of Christ) yesterday. Both were great lessons. <br /><br />Of course the commitment that goes along with this is to eat more healthy and eat more meals at home. I have cooked more this week but we are easing into this more slowly.<br /><br />I have also decided to keep track of the books I read this year. I got this quote from a book reviewer - Sir Francis Bacon's (1561 - 1626) creed, "Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body". So far I have read two - "The Little Book" by Selden Edwards and "Between Sundays" by Karen Kingsbury. I got both of them from the library. Both of these authors were new to me. It took 30 years for Selden Edwards to write his book and it has to do with time travel and was interesting. Karen Kingsbury is a Christian writer and has written several books. It was an easy read and very predictable but it was a good story. The next book which I haven't started is called "Broken Paradise" by Cecilia Samartin. I'll let you know what I think.Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-57690718977103432522008-04-23T18:43:00.003-06:002008-04-23T19:06:16.999-06:00Update and EaglesI haven't been reading blogs so much lately since I have found a web site that has me hooked. The web site is http://chil.vcoe.org/eagle_cam.htm My friend Sandy turned me onto this and if you are a nature lover at all I think you will enjoy it. The site explains it better than I could. When you go click on the Eagle Cam to see what I'm talking about. Let me know if you like it. I'm sorry I couldn't get add a link to work, so you'll have to type it in.<br /><br />Tom Jr. began feeling better with his back but now has to have Oral surgery. He is going to have 3 wisdom teeth pulled (he already had one pulled several years ago) as well as two other molars, one top and bottom that match up. He is going to do all 5 on Friday, under general anesthetic. Say a prayer.<br /><br />On another subject. Mike Cope had a post about Wed night Bible classes a few days ago and he ask people to comment on their feelings about attendance. I didn't comment but if I had I would have said that I really look forward to Wed. night - not just because Bobby Valentine is our teacher, but our six year old neighbor, Laura, loves to go with us. She and her brother and sister came to our VBS that we had over a weekend last summer, and has been coming ever since. Her brother and sister -both older come too but are not as regular as Laura. They go to the Catholic church on Sundays and all three were baptized there after they started coming with us. Laura says she likes our church better because we speak English. :) They go to a Spanish speaking church. Speaking of Wed night - I guess I better get ready to go. Check out that website!Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-9688271271087681942008-04-09T11:53:00.002-06:002008-04-09T12:14:24.063-06:00Lazy DayI've just spent the last 2 hours reading blogs. I realized I needed to update. The first thing is that I would like to ask prayers for my son Tom Jr. We went to CA a couple of weeks ago for a family wedding which I should have posted about because it was special. Maybe the next post. Back to Tom Jr. He helped by carrying a TV from the mother of the groom's (my cousin) house to the car, to the wedding site, to the babysitting room. On our way home on Monday, the wedding had been on Saturday, he was miserable and I did almost all of the driving. On the way over I had only driven an hour and he drove the rest. He has been in bed with a backache most of the time since that trip. He did go with Tom to work at Camp Christian Echoes to help prepare for the retreat coming up in two weeks. Tom really needed him to drive which he did and I guess he did some physical work while he was there, so that didn't help.<br /><br /> BTW Randy Harris is going to be the speaker for the Palo Verde's Band of Brothers Men's Retreat. This is the second year Tom has been in charge and he loves all the organizing, but that is about all I hear about until it's over. I'm actually going with him today, when I get off the computer to fill in holes. When they were down there - about an hr and a half south of Tucson - they dug holes with the help of a man with a backhoe(I think that is what is was). They are awaiting trees that are going to be planted. Now they have found out the trees won't be delivered until May 1st (while we are at Pepperdine) and since the camp will be occupied the next three weekends we don't want anyone falling in a hole. So since I didn't go to help dig, I am going to help fill in. <br /><br />Thanks to everyone who gave their opinion about my hair. So far I have only had one person tell me I should dye it back and that person dyes her hair red.I'm still adjusting.Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-6665192938039014082008-03-23T22:26:00.001-06:002008-03-23T22:43:40.902-06:00Natural or Not?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEQYh94N3CpAi6Kn_GRXslxZNVY4vSg4V6yIpHUBSZ3L4EMS5dWt7xK8KCTwSnh3oapQ92QWRkFdrIA1og3khtGuJ5h_uydFA5QUlCFjJnIXOXyguspUeY3goSuy1UELuVGb8/s1600-h/IM000307_1.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEQYh94N3CpAi6Kn_GRXslxZNVY4vSg4V6yIpHUBSZ3L4EMS5dWt7xK8KCTwSnh3oapQ92QWRkFdrIA1og3khtGuJ5h_uydFA5QUlCFjJnIXOXyguspUeY3goSuy1UELuVGb8/s200/IM000307_1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181161404496443266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1yS13lpWzu5OLQ1THoqJzK0auw0E4Fa8TCvMihtMffqe7PWcJ-AgMtn4m-drWAhOVHkFeAPPf3LmSLEX5v0jbQSxy7YGrGR3-ZrVXIPusCVjAkdb1Bb_T5pGyJKrdC-Iz22U/s1600-h/IM000295.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1yS13lpWzu5OLQ1THoqJzK0auw0E4Fa8TCvMihtMffqe7PWcJ-AgMtn4m-drWAhOVHkFeAPPf3LmSLEX5v0jbQSxy7YGrGR3-ZrVXIPusCVjAkdb1Bb_T5pGyJKrdC-Iz22U/s200/IM000295.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181161288532326258" /></a><br /><br />For the past 10 years (or so) I have been coloring my hair - or I should say I have paid to have it done. This past October I had an important birthday - the one where you become eligible for medicare. Anyway I decided to embrace my age and go natural. I honestly had no idea what it would look like. It is not as grey as I thought it might be, but I am having a hard time adjusting. The picture on the left was taken this month, the one on the right when we were in Hawaii last year. I love red hair and most people thought it was my natural color, but it was getting expensive and I really want to accept myself as I am - even though I know I need to lose weight - another subject for another day. I thought by putting the two hair colors side by side it might help me to accept it, but I'm not sure. OK, ladies what do you think? I say ladies because you know men just don't get it.Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-49934017538643204572008-03-08T15:09:00.002-07:002008-03-08T15:15:38.884-07:00Tom is HomeWe just came home from the hospital. The name of Tom's surgery was a Femoropopliteal Bypass. He has an incision of about 15 or 20 inches on his right leg that was glued together. Amazing what they can do. He will be using a walker for awhile, but knowing Tom it won't be long before he is going to a ballgame. We are planning to go to a wedding in CA the end of the month, so we're hoping he will feel like it. Thanks for your prayersVonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-68814678590903238762008-03-07T09:01:00.002-07:002008-03-07T09:03:23.752-07:00Tom's SurgeryJust a quick update. Tom's surgery was successful but he had to spend the night in the recovery room because there were no rooms available. This morning they are moving him to a room and I am getting ready to go to the hospital. He may be released today or tomorrow.Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-52431782805233847902008-03-05T10:13:00.008-07:002008-03-05T10:50:34.789-07:00News about TomI am going to try to start posting more regularly. Tom is going in for surgery tomorrow. He will be having a bypass because of a blockage in his right leg. He had the same surgery on his left leg about 6 years ago. It was called a femoral by-pass. He will probably be spending the night and come home Saturday. <br /><br />Last Saturday he had a great day. He got to see<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gxOuQz8l55df-3tuI4HAXDV2Vxobi3OSZMz1NHuKnhHxAOq3Dhqyl0xDVWfzKZ0U16Qi-w4eBhVLe8PG5movxVXuXoSbjrQ9_9tcHDD4OiCNobd1JveJwpNq2mk10JZOhXdV/s1600-h/vladimir.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gxOuQz8l55df-3tuI4HAXDV2Vxobi3OSZMz1NHuKnhHxAOq3Dhqyl0xDVWfzKZ0U16Qi-w4eBhVLe8PG5movxVXuXoSbjrQ9_9tcHDD4OiCNobd1JveJwpNq2mk10JZOhXdV/s400/vladimir.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174315649967877378" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Tom has been a baseball fan all his life. His two favorite teams are the Los Angeles Angels and the Atlanta Braves. We have been to a lot of games and visited ball fields when vacationing but this was a special day. Our next door neighbor, Roberto Mejia is a professional baseball player who has played for the Rockies and I believe St. Louis. Since he has lived next door to us (about 3 years) he has played in a Mexican league. Right now he is not playing but adding a room on to his house. He is from the Dominican and knows just about all the Dominican players in the MLB - well, maybe not all, but a lot. He and Tom went to Phoenix last Saturday to an Angels Spring Training game and he got to go to the players locker room. Going down in the elevator he was among a group of Dominicans and the elevator operator ask if they had passes. Roberto told him they were Vladimers' family (his brother was in the group). Tom was in the middle and the guy said "What about him?". Roberto said, "Oh, he's a distant cousin."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLB0YmmytqtepNIaI0-c0NvwgpBjSyzyp9MvkQ-UE52b_vuT3WJrXe9xNzlcuaLd4iBH-waZ308h6oscEaK6GbJ_fwV2pHJ53UdDwqV9Ulciye_On8_9kzeNeZsrQevxPU1lB/s1600-h/Angels+Tempe+003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLB0YmmytqtepNIaI0-c0NvwgpBjSyzyp9MvkQ-UE52b_vuT3WJrXe9xNzlcuaLd4iBH-waZ308h6oscEaK6GbJ_fwV2pHJ53UdDwqV9Ulciye_On8_9kzeNeZsrQevxPU1lB/s320/Angels+Tempe+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174316045104868626" /></a><br /><br /><br />Of course he also got an autographed ball and told Vladimer he was going to come visit him in the Dominican. Today Tom and Roberto are going to a Colorado Rockies game here in Tucson. He says he is going Saturday after having surgery tomorrow but we'll see.Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-65315195988695394222007-12-20T19:29:00.000-07:002007-12-20T19:31:52.056-07:00Another UpdateWe went to the hospital this morning and Tom will NOT have to have radiation <br />therapy. The test that he took this am shows he does not have <br />hyperthyroidism but an inflamed thyroid and radiation will not help <br />him. He will be seeing the endocrinologist next week (hopefully) to <br />find out what kind of treatment he will need. Thank you for your <br />prayers.Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-45919045670105222052007-12-17T08:07:00.000-07:002007-12-17T08:14:50.104-07:00Update on TomI'm coming out of my break to let you know that the medication Tom was taking for his hyperthyroidism was not working so he is going to have a radiation treatment on Thursday. He will take a capsule that has iodine and the radiation which goes to the thyroid. Tom will be radioactive for a period of time - I think 24 hours. They send him home from the hospital and I have to stay away from him. We are hopeful that this works. Please pray for him.Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-1848632692587467232007-12-02T15:20:00.000-07:002007-12-02T15:24:15.467-07:00Taking a BreakMaybe I'm just a follower but since a couple of my long time blogging buddies, Scott and Beverly have taken a blogging break I think I'll do the same. I will still be reading, so you might see a comment now and then. Meanwhile have a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-13525820673459921782007-11-20T05:06:00.000-07:002007-11-20T05:20:51.356-07:00Almost ThanksgivingWe found out why Tom was getting so tired. He has Hyperthyroidism, which can cause fatigue. He has been on medication since Friday night, but because he has a cold he can't say that he is feeling any better. We are leaving for Atlanta on Thanksgiving morning so we are hoping he will be ready to travel. We are going to be there for a week. I have some other news but I will save it for when we get back. <br /><br /> I woke up at 4:00 AM and couldn't go back to sleep, so here I am on the computer, watching the news. The weatherman just said it would be around 77 on Thanksgiving and then by Friday it will be in the 60's. We broke a record on Sunday of 88. It has been nice in GA but it is supposed to start cooling off by Thanksgiving with some rain in the forecast. I know they need rain, but I wish it would wait until we got home.<br /> <br />So what are you doing for Thanksgiving?Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-21503820538404580582007-11-12T12:54:00.000-07:002007-11-12T13:03:48.481-07:00Feeling BetterI guess I just had a 24 hr bug. I feel fine today and I even got something accomplished. I don't know about you but I am terrible about filing receipts and just deciding if something needs to be kept or thrown away. I am pretty good at keeping bills in one place - most of the time, but what I end up with are stacks of papers I think I'll go through later. Later becomes later and much later. I actually started this job on Friday, cleaning out two drawers and the stuff on top of my dresser. I moved it all into the kitchen, along with my two different filing thingees and a large recycle can. I got it all out and then left it there since I was sick yesterday. I want you to know that it is all put away or thrown away and I have two very neat drawers waiting to be filled up with more junk. How about you? Do you have a system? Do you always do it on the same day each month? Or are you one of those real neat people who actually deal with it daily? Let me know. I am open to suggestions.Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-9512336559862072422007-11-11T17:35:00.000-07:002007-11-11T17:46:37.954-07:00Sick and TiredJust checking in to let you all know I am sick today. I have a head cold and have been in bed all day. I just ate some left over lasagna at 5:30. I'm not sure that was the best to eat on an empty stomach but it was easy and it sure tasted good. The tired in the title refers to Tom. He has been getting tired very easily and even went to the doctor because of it. He doesn't usually go to the doctor outside of his regular appointments. The doctor said he might have a viral infection but he couldn't give him anything for it. He has a physical scheduled for Tuesday. So keep us both in your prayers.Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-2217167244047918622007-10-29T18:24:00.000-06:002007-10-29T19:01:38.091-06:00More Birthday Parties & misc stuffAfter having a surprise party in CA I didn't expect more.....but. Friday night I thought we were going to dinner with Bobby and Pamella and their girls and our son. She thought the same. We arrived at the restaurant to find three more couples for a total of 13 people. It was a surprise for both of us because Pamella's birthday was today. She is considerably younger than me. Today our LIFE group went out to lunch and had cake to celebrate not only Pamella and my birthdays but two of the men in the group. At least I wasn't the oldest of that group. One of the men turned 85 this month and I think the other fellow is older than me, but I didn't ask and he didn't volunteer. The Mexican food was good and the chocolate cake (from Costco) was delicious. We had enough to send some home with those who wanted some, plus we left some for the waiters at the restuarant. <br /><br />I subbed today and I will again tomorrow. I am subbing for the aide in the Special Ed primary class. The teacher was absent also and another retired teacher was the sub teacher. We made it through the day, but it did not go quite as smoothly as it would have if the teacher had been there. Hopefully the teacher will be back tomorrow.<br /><br />Last weekend I was at a church retreat for the women in Casa Grande - between here and Phoenix - about an hours drive. We had a good turnout and the speaker was Rebecca Huey from Phoenix. The topic was The Bride of Christ and talked about the Jewish wedding customs during the time of Christ and how we could relate that to our relationship to Christ. It was only Friday night and Saturday morning and after lunch many of us went shopping. All in all a perfect women's weekend. The food was good too.<br /><br />The weather is still hot here In Tucson. I am really ready for fall to arrive. I think we get a week or so before it gets cold. If you consider in the 60's cold. When we first came to Tucson almost 4 years ago I saw the following in the local paper. The four seasons of Tucson - Almost summer, Summer. Still Summer and Construction. I guess we are in third season although I think construction is year round.Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-54104228012715009702007-10-17T17:50:00.000-06:002007-10-17T17:58:22.101-06:00We've Come A Long Way, BabyFound this on a baptist preacher's blog. He titled it Women Know Your Place (wink).<br /><object width="425" height="366"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vfu0aV1dkHw&rel=1&border=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vfu0aV1dkHw&rel=1&border=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="366"></embed></object>Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-83536497817651232452007-10-14T08:28:00.000-06:002007-10-15T09:36:03.652-06:00Disneyland, Birthday etc.Our trip to California was wonderful. We spent the night in Blythe on the way over and Gila Bend on the way back. When we were younger we could have driven in in one day - but now we try not to drive over 4-6 hours in one day. Friday night our GA family flew in and we picked them up at LAX. We then drove to Fort Mac Arthur to spend the night in Base housing. When my son said we were staying in San Pedro I couldn't imagine what kind of housing because I have never thought of San Pedro as a pretty city. I was wrong. I didn't get a picture of the base but you can see <a href="http://sanpedrochamber.com/champint/ftmac.htm">here</a>. Saturday morning we walked around Pt.Fermin Park. I got this picture of a racoon. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JKbsa6l3b2Gy0ZgTElmZ9CXIMo4PY-njbHBH0OgwRrPKLXeo85rSNTrNx5MyC7zZo0kFgh3wSTn6NmUHDARpAQIs1XPYf7Ulb9Gf6Nq1VkodfFj_MfyW7IE_2CZqWGOWQOMG/s1600-h/IM000992.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JKbsa6l3b2Gy0ZgTElmZ9CXIMo4PY-njbHBH0OgwRrPKLXeo85rSNTrNx5MyC7zZo0kFgh3wSTn6NmUHDARpAQIs1XPYf7Ulb9Gf6Nq1VkodfFj_MfyW7IE_2CZqWGOWQOMG/s400/IM000992.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121205760025788994" /></a><br /><br />After breakfast on Saturday we rode up the hill to Palos Verdes and visited <a href="http://www.wayfarerschapel.org/">Wayfarer's Chapel</a>. My uncle Jack (deceased) helped build this famous landmark. Here is a picture I took.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68RBYyaD6tZf6wRVzQ44WByPYmzYaIQRKxqCPJfjW_9LdMoUtDKY_OXcFBYMOpQyT9g463JmtjZAVNS-3-13GQ44TQjyni4i-DlJb4n_Mb1s-u2zZ3FmcNUrC5J-ODUU24uhk/s1600-h/IM000015.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68RBYyaD6tZf6wRVzQ44WByPYmzYaIQRKxqCPJfjW_9LdMoUtDKY_OXcFBYMOpQyT9g463JmtjZAVNS-3-13GQ44TQjyni4i-DlJb4n_Mb1s-u2zZ3FmcNUrC5J-ODUU24uhk/s400/IM000015.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121575724213699154" /></a><br /><br />I was worried that we wouldn't have time to visit with my cousin on Saturday because she said she had parties both Saturday and Sunday but she said if we arrived at 1:00 she would have an hour before she had to leave for a party at 2:00. She is a caterer. She hadn't seen my kids in a couple of years. Anyway we got there at 1:00 and the party she had on Saturday was for me. What a surprise! All my cousins and most of their families were there. I think I cried for ten minutes. It was truly a surprise.<br /><br />On Sunday we went to church at <a href="http:/www.newlandstreetchurch.com/">Newland St Church of Christ</a> in Garden Grove. One of my dearest friends who is 88 and still drives to church went to lunch with us and then it was off to Disneyland.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZV0Bapj9B4Aa8MnZkecFvBQvphkO53vICJoJnYuagJhNnLq2dB1TH4MoxAIJ2ukOq2yRxZqxcDHw7U3f58TsZcCbvwB7THGN77rcuT3UBdiubuDVm-7g2aAwJLSliwRt0M9g/s1600-h/IM000064.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZV0Bapj9B4Aa8MnZkecFvBQvphkO53vICJoJnYuagJhNnLq2dB1TH4MoxAIJ2ukOq2yRxZqxcDHw7U3f58TsZcCbvwB7THGN77rcuT3UBdiubuDVm-7g2aAwJLSliwRt0M9g/s400/IM000064.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121199575272882738" /></a><br /><br />As you can see Disneyland is decorated for Halloween. We got there about 2:00 and the kids stayed until it closed at midnight. Tom and I hung in there until about 8:30 and then took a shuttle back to our hotel where we were staying Sat and Sun nights. Disneyland is always fun. I was actually there in 1955 - the year it opened. It is a lot more fun when it is not so crowded but Sunday it was packed. Harrison (grandson) didn't care at all. He had a ball.<br /><br />On Monday we took our kids to the airport in Orange County to fly home and we spent one more night with my cousin before taking off for Tucson on Tuesday. She and I got to go to a movie on Monday afternoon - The Jane Austin Book Club - which was very good. <br /><br />I am so lucky to have such a wonderful biological family. If it wasn't for our church family here at Palo Verde I would be very unhappy not living closer to my family in California. Fortunately we are able to travel to see them and our kids in Georgia.Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-85859877661532513572007-10-02T10:51:00.000-06:002007-10-02T11:17:13.126-06:00Exercise and Randy HarrisI'm sure that title got your attention. Tom and I went to exercise this morning after about a two month lapse. I walked on the treadmill and listened to my iPod. Today I was listening to Randy Harris who was the guest speaker at <a href="http://prcoc.org/">Providence Road Church of Christ</a> in Charlotte NC where Jeff Walling preaches. You can get the podcasts from this website. This sermon was from September 9. Anyway, the sermon was on evangelism and if you've never heard Randy speak he always has some funny stories. In this sermon he was talking about exercise and said he didn't like it and didn't do it. He said partly because of genetics. He said people in his family lived to be 100 but their mind began to go at 70. So he figures if he didn't exercise his mind and body would go at the same time. He also said he didn't know why people resisted going to heaven. He said he would eat his chocolate donuts and see you there. Oh and his points on evangelism were good too. I only walked twenty minutes and finished listening when I got home. <br /><br />We are leaving Thursday for Orange County, CA. Our kids from GA are meeting us there and we are going to Disneyland to celebrate Harrison's (grandson) and my birthdays. Our birthdays are three days apart - Harrison will be 10 on the 23rd and I will be 65 on the 26th. I am now officially on Medicare and our Y memberships are being paid by our new Health plan - Healthnet. When I got my medicare card in the mail it seemed so funny. I thought only "old" people had medicare cards.Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-90736379775274050612007-09-24T20:30:00.000-06:002007-09-24T20:40:26.769-06:00SubstitutingToday I was the sub for the classroom I opened this year. The classroom's air conditioning has been fixed and oh what a difference! I was working with a small group and one third grader was checking out my elbow and said I had "old skin". I said "Yes, that's what happens when you get old." He replied with "but I don't want you to die." I assured him I wasn't THAT old. The kids all gave me hugs and told me they missed me. One student, actually I think it was the same one who asked about my old skin asked me if I had my birthday yet and I told him it was next month. What do you think that means?Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-2288923574413186712007-09-18T15:50:00.000-06:002007-09-18T16:15:18.475-06:00A Post at LastFor all of my loyal readers - at least Dee, I thought I better get back to blogging. When last you heard from me we had just returned home from Hawaii and I was starting a special ed classroom as the substitute. I did last the 16 days and got the higher rate of pay. The bad part was our classroom's air conditioner was broken and I was sick the whole last week I worked. The district transferred another teacher who had only one student in her class. She and I worked together that last week and I don't think I could have done it without her. I learned that my mind is still capable of teaching full time but my body isn't. I told the school on that last Friday not to call me the next week and I stayed in bed most of that week. Then last week I worked Monday and Tuesday. I don't imagine I will get any calls this week because it is parent conference week and school gets out at noon for conferences. I really did enjoy the students and they all gave me hugs on that last day. When I subbed last week I got more hugs. I am only going to substitute at that elementary school, which is what I did last year. So far this year I've worked 18 days and I don't think I worked that many days all of last school year. <br /><br />This time last year we were at the lectures at ACU but we didn't go this year. We listened to Landon Saunders speak last night on<br /><a href="http://totallyacappella.com/">totallyacappella's</a> website. You can listen tonight and tomorrow night at 7:00 Abilene time, which is 5:00 Tucson time. I think they also broadcast the 11:00 AM lecture. Last night's was awesome. <a href="http://preachermike.com//">Mike Cope</a> gives a short review on his blog today.Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-26566117775943418122007-08-20T19:37:00.000-06:002007-08-20T20:07:30.849-06:00Home and TiredWe had to stay an extra night in Hononlulu because we couldn't get a plane out on Sat night. We left Sunday night at 11:00, flew to San Francsisco, took the BART to Oakland, flew to Salt Lake City and got the last flight to Tucson on Monday night - getting home at 11:00 PM. School started Tuesday and I don't remember being as tired as I was every afternoon last week. This morning I was at the Y at 5:30 and swam 350 yards in twenty minutes. I do think it gave me more energy today. Oh yeah, one other minor detail - my classroom is one of three in the school with no air conditioning. It is broken and they are hoping it will be fixed this week. You know how hot it is in Tucson right now? We spent about twenty minutes in the hall, which has air after lunch and then we went to the cafeteria where it has air to work on math. I have 12 students, 3rd to fifth grade and three aides. Two boys have autism and they each have a one on one aide, then there is the classroom aide, who is a man. We are doing pretty good for one day of preparation before school started. I hope to make 16 days because then I start making $50 more a day and it is retroactive back to the first day. I've got to pay for the Hawaii trip, you know. My own goal is to make it nine weeks and I hope they have found a teacher by then. I do enjoy having my own class compared to being a substitute and I love the kids already but I'm not sure how long my body can take it.<br /><br />This afternoon our LIFE group had a birthday party at a Mexican restaurant for Lois who was eighty something and Bobby V who will be 39 on Saturday. We had a good meal and a delicious chocolate cake - from Costco. What? You thought I would bake a cake? Yeah right! The people at the restaurant were so nice we left half the cake for the staff. <br /><br />Guess I better quit blogging and plan for tomorrow. One day at a time. Pray for me.Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26967122.post-90543847703695936522007-08-10T10:57:00.001-06:002007-08-10T13:45:44.120-06:00Finally - Hawaii!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNcamxrdQj9UAxGW2LkYiwu3nuJSSYv6P2531LsU5wkLPsBZHqDji8J3H8oDcmMsfRES9ML8qTSaIBeJet-CKecRM_mbhnJdoL9wjssi72_CmmQJ_b3lTksy9zkx4rM_PhjQr/s1600-h/IM000881.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNcamxrdQj9UAxGW2LkYiwu3nuJSSYv6P2531LsU5wkLPsBZHqDji8J3H8oDcmMsfRES9ML8qTSaIBeJet-CKecRM_mbhnJdoL9wjssi72_CmmQJ_b3lTksy9zkx4rM_PhjQr/s400/IM000881.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097117439748176850" /></a><br /><br />We finally made it to Hawaii. If you read my blog you will remember that we tried at Easter and we got to Salt Lake City and we had a seat on the bus, as Tom likes to say, and the flight was canceled. Then in June we were going again and before we even left Tucson we realized we weren't going to get a flight to Hawaii so we went to Atlanta with the intentions of going to London. Well we ended up going to Boston and we really did enjoy that trip. <br /><br />I don't think I posted about our trip to San Francisco. We did that in July with our kids from Georgia. We stayed at a Coast Guard Temporary housing in Novato. Our son, who is the pilot is also in the Navy reserves so he can stay in these places. It was really nice - a two bedroom apartment. There were wild deer on the property. Novato is about 30 miles north of San Francisco and a great place to stay. My grandson, daughter-in-law and I saw Hairspray on the opening day while we were there.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4kuYpGf6k1UKFzC7DwyBM18GQgjr0pGoCZmTqkVOM_L-TXcclZiwEniy-vlorLHsocojtwRZom26oHZyBVN9EaDqbjY_0p2q_bPMCI6Q-NtMwq1YEqyjMQotWlxJ67vLQ5_s/s1600-h/IM000871.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4kuYpGf6k1UKFzC7DwyBM18GQgjr0pGoCZmTqkVOM_L-TXcclZiwEniy-vlorLHsocojtwRZom26oHZyBVN9EaDqbjY_0p2q_bPMCI6Q-NtMwq1YEqyjMQotWlxJ67vLQ5_s/s400/IM000871.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097121872154426338" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHeLOYqHpA35qVTGwr4I1h5I5xOCLmPLvoIal5b7JKwqHznMWwFKv12y1YSR0LVuKpougHK7z0V3Ce_dJgj9_2JO4XUr4yO9nmibZIPepI5itC4f_-LU0JYsWjvFKKxHdfakX2/s1600-h/IM000768.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHeLOYqHpA35qVTGwr4I1h5I5xOCLmPLvoIal5b7JKwqHznMWwFKv12y1YSR0LVuKpougHK7z0V3Ce_dJgj9_2JO4XUr4yO9nmibZIPepI5itC4f_-LU0JYsWjvFKKxHdfakX2/s400/IM000768.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097122829932133362" /></a><br /><br />I can't say enough about our hotel <a href="http://waikikisandvillahotel.com/">Waikiki Sand Villa</a> We stayed here in January but this time we didn't even make a reservation before we got here because of the chances of not making it. Anyway we booked it online from the airport in Honolulu and when we got here they remembered us and gave us a corner room on the 10th floor. We have this view from one balcony. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8Ickd709SA-CLkBvII4mmhSYdJnmhkARCHyh61ZOAgQaTOtn8M_BOcCmBdMnolU2JUangchpqtLt4_STbOSLEU47apBNLi1VApjXW3M6j6lt8GMIEJZV6OGOxudRgNuHvFzu/s1600-h/IM000884.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8Ickd709SA-CLkBvII4mmhSYdJnmhkARCHyh61ZOAgQaTOtn8M_BOcCmBdMnolU2JUangchpqtLt4_STbOSLEU47apBNLi1VApjXW3M6j6lt8GMIEJZV6OGOxudRgNuHvFzu/s400/IM000884.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097124968825846786" /></a><br /><br />and from the other corner balcony you can just see the ocean past the hotels. It is about 3 blocks to the Waikiki beach<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLblQfJ94T3Mk6SJBkhVdK0Oucluin_OpAhRZdrhnpheu5nZcG2BkrWEyQnP7X4S4vJAyy8NlX0bQoi9YxxRS2llssgkU0N2XXQyrnPI-tEvYmjY_w5y9v1Q_SD2rXMo1GVrpD/s1600-h/IM000883.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLblQfJ94T3Mk6SJBkhVdK0Oucluin_OpAhRZdrhnpheu5nZcG2BkrWEyQnP7X4S4vJAyy8NlX0bQoi9YxxRS2llssgkU0N2XXQyrnPI-tEvYmjY_w5y9v1Q_SD2rXMo1GVrpD/s400/IM000883.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097126158531787794" /></a><br /><br />Besides the fact that the prices are reasonable (a little higher than in January) the most scary but miraculous thing happened. Yesterday when we went to the beach we left Tom's wallet with both our ids and credit cards, cash, his cell phone and my ipod in a safe in the room. As we were walking back from the beach Tom asked me if I locked the safe. I said "No" did you? Well...<br />We got back to the room and even though the maid had cleaned up our open safe was untouched. We saw the maid in the hall and she told us she had called down for security to check it out. I thanked her profusely for being an honest person.<br /><br />We are going home tomorrow night because I have taken a long term sub position for a special education classroom at the elementary school where I usually sub. I didn't find out until Monday afternoon and we left Wed morning. I told them I couldn't be there for teachers first day on Friday. Our flight is an overnight flight - through San Francisco, then to SLC and finally by Sunday night we will be home. All the flights look good except the one to Tucson from Salt Lake, so worst case scenario is we will spend the night in SLC and come home Monday morning, also a teacher workday. Students show up on Tuesday. The school knows I may not be there until noon on Monday. I might tell you more about getting my room ready on Tuesday but my power on my laptop is getting low. we don't have wi-fi in the room but we do by the pool - where I have been eating breakfast and writing this. Dina, if you are reading this, I plan to call you today.Vonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797867245761696129noreply@blogger.com3